Support Leroy on Patreon.
MUSIC - From YahooNews: JAY-Z opens up about the Met Gala elevator whuppin' he got from his sister-in-law Solange, sister of his wife, Beyonce.
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MOVIES - From Variety: "Super Troopers 2" set to be released April 20, 2017.
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MOVIES - From Deadline: Billy Howle has joined "Outlaw King," the next film from director David Mackenzie of "Hell or High Water."
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CULTURE - From Splinter: Susan Bro, mother of Heather Heyer, the young woman killed by a Trump voter in Charlottesville, Virginia, offers a defiant eulogy for her daughter.
CULTURE - From Salon: Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up," The 40-Year-Old Virgin") explains why conservatives make bad entertainment.
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COMICS-FILM - From FlickeringMyth: Director David F. Sandberg gives an update on his DC Extended Universe film, "Shazam."
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TELEVISION - From TVLine: ABC has given a "put-pilot" order (which means they are more than likely to broadcast it, I think) for a live-action reboot of classic 1960s animated TV series, "The Jetsons." Robert Zemeckis is executive producing.
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DISNEY - From Variety: Netflix in talks with the Walt Disney Company for streaming rights to Marvel and Star Wars movies.
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CELEBRITY: YahooCelebrity: Iman shares rare photo of her daughter with David Bowie, Alexandria.
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HEALTH - From YahooFitness: 35-year-old fitness pro deliberately looks twice his age.
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COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: An international trailer for "Thor: Ragnarok" features Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange.
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MOVIES - From THR: "The Conjuring" has launched a cinematic universe (that includes the "Annabelle" films) that works.
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MOVIES - From THR: Cate Blanchett joins Jack Black in Eli Roth's "The House with a Clock in its Walls," based on the late John Bellairs' novel.
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MOVIES - From Variety: Lionsgate is developing an all-female production of Oscar Wilde's 1890 novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray."
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MOVIES - From THR: Production on "Mission: Impossible 6" will be shut down for 2 to 3 months while Tom Cruise recovers from an on-set injury.
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MOVIES - From Deadline: Justin Simien of "Dear White People" is working on his next film, "Bad Hair" with his "Dear White People" team.
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OBAMA - From YahooNews: Former President Barack Obama's #Charlottesville tweet is not the most popular in terms of "likes" in the history of Twitter.
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JAMES BOND - From THR: On "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Daniel Craig confirms that he is returning as James Bond for the film currently known as "Bond 25."
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MOVIES - From YahooMovies: The manager and friends of Joi "S.J." Harris, the stuntwoman who was killed while executing a stunt for "Deadpool 2," says she died doing what she loved.
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CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity: There is a contest in which the winner and a friend can drink wine with JLaw and even have a picnic with her.
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SPORTS - From YahooSports: Charlottesville, Virginia native, Chris Long, Defensive End of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, won't just "stick to sports."
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OBAMA - From YahooNews: Former President Barack Obama's tweet about this past weekend's violence in Charlottesville, Virginia is the third most popular tweet on Twitter (in terms of "likes") ever.
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TELEVISION - From Variety: Michael Sheen and David Tennant will star in Amazon's TV adaptation of "Good Omens," the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
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TELEVISION - From TVGuide: After 15 years of producing TV series for ABC (like "Grey's Anatomy"), Shonda Rhimes is moving to Netflix.
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POLITICS - From Reuters: Merck CEO Kenneth C. Frazier has quit President Trump's American Manufacturing Council. Frazier says that he is leaving over Trump's initial response to the Charlottesville White Nationalist riots, a response many consider lame and weak. Trump's response to Frazier leaving has been more critical than Trump's response to Nazis, the KKK, and White Nationalists.
From NBCSports: Under Armor CEO Kevin Plank also leaving Trump's manufacturing council because of the President's reluctance to criticize violent White supremacy.
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MOVIES - From Variety: A female stunt driver has died following a motorcycle accident on the set of "Deadpool 2."
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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 8/11 to 8/13/2017 weekend box office is "Annabelle: Creation" with an estimated take of $35 million.
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MOVIES - From THR: Tom Cruise apparently injured while performing a stunt for "Mission: Impossible 6."
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MOVIES - From Indiewire: David Lynch almost directed 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High" says the film's screenwriter, Cameron Crowe. Amy Heckerling did direct the film.
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MOVIES - From Variety: Paramount wins the bidding war over a biopic about Leonardo da Vinci, which will star Leonardo DiCaprio.
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OBIT:
From THR: Actor, playwright, and screenwriter, Joe Bologna, has died at the age of 82, Sunday, August 13, 2017. As an actor, he may be best remembered for his role in 1982's "My Favorite Year." As a screenwriter, Bologna received an Oscar nomination for 1970's "Love and Other Strangers."
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Crisis in Charlottesville:
From TheVillageVoice: Scenes from a bloody weekend in Charlottesville.
From RSN: Trump having hard time condemning his supporter's murderous actions.
From CNN: Two Virginia state troopers are killed in a helicopter crash near the Charlottesville White Nationalists rally.
From YahooFinance: Before White Nationalist James Alex Fields, Jr. drove the car that killed Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, he was photographed wearing "Vanguard America" uniform.
From YahooNews: 32-year-old Heather Heyer of Virginia has been identified as the victim the White Nationalist car attack in Charlottesville, Virginia.
From GuardianUK: Far-right rally descends into violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
From YahooNews: FBI begins investigation into car attack at White nationalist rally in Charlottesville.
From YahooNews: Clash in Charlottesville in pictures.
From TheDailyBeast: James Alex Fields, Jr. drove his car into a crowd in Charlottesville, Virginia, killing 1 and injuring at least 20.
From YahooNews: Mother of #Charlottesville car attacker speaks.
From LATimes: Opinion - President Trump bears some responsibility for racism on display in Charlottesville.
Showing posts with label Michael Sheen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Sheen. Show all posts
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from December 18th to 24th, 2016 - Update #31
Support Leroy on Patreon.
STAR WARS - From Deadline: Carrie Fisher is stable and out of emergency after having a heart attack on an airplane.
From ETCanada: According to Carrie's brother, Todd Fisher, Carrie is not in "stable condition."
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MOVIES - From THR: There is supposed to be a teaser released today in anticipation of the release of the first trailer for "Alien: Covenant," on Christmas Day.
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CELEBRITY - From YahooStyle: Kristen Stewart (Twilight) is dating Stella Maxwell.
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SPORTS - YahooSports: The NFL's Cleveland Browns will NOT become the second team to go winless in a 16-game NFL regular season. The Detroit were 0 and 16 in 2008. Several NFL teams have had seasons with no victories or ties.
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TELEVISION - From Deadline: The "Cruel Intentions" reboot TV series is officially dead, but could rise again.
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TELEVISION - From IndieWire: A&E's "Generation KKK" may get a name change.
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ANIMATION - From Variety: Fox Searchlight has purchased worldwide rights to Wes Anderson's next film, the animated "Isle of Dogs."
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POLITICS - From YahooMusic: Celine Dion says no to performing at the Trump inauguration.
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MOVIES - From Variety: After "Blade Runner 2049," Dennis Villeneuve may move onto Legendary Entertainment's "Dune" reboot.
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MOVIES - From IndieWire: Martin Scorsese offers an update on his upcoming film with Leonardo DiCaprio, "Devil in the White City." A script is being worked on.
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TELEVISION - From TheWrap: Michael Stuhlbarg added to "Fargo" Season 3.
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TELEVISION - From THR: Starz cancels "Blunt Talk" with Patrick Stewart.
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BOX OFFICE - From YahooMovies: Disney becomes the first movie studio to earn $7 billion in global box office.
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MOVIES - From YahooMovies: Yahoo's 10 worst movies of the year.
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CELEBRITY - From ETCanada: Margot Robbie secretly married in Australia.
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POLITICS - From YahooMovies: Comedian/actor Tom Arnold claims he has outtakes of President-elect Donald Trump making racists comments. It's too late to tell us that now - not that it would have changed the results of the election anyway...
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MUSIC - YahooMusic: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced the 2017 inductees into the hall: Pearl Jam, Tupac Shakur, Journey, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, and Joan Baez. Chic's Nile Rodgers will be given the Award For Musical Excellence. The induction ceremony will be held at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on April 7th, 2017.
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CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity: There was a star-studded memorial for Alan Thicke, which included appearances by Leonardo DiCaprio, anti-gay advocate Kirk Cameron, and Alan's son Grammy-nominated son, Robin Thicke.
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ECO - From RSN: Leonardo DiCaprio says the truth about climate change has spread like "wildfire."
From EW - DiCaprio remembers his co-star from his "Growing Pains" days, Alan Thicke.
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BOX OFFICE - BoxOfficeMojo: "Rogue One" wins the 12/16 to 12/18/2016 weekend box office with an estimated haul of $155 million.
From Variety: "Rogue One" has second largest December opening ever.
From TheWrap: Denzel Washington's "Fences" makes sturdy indie box office debut.
From YahooMovies: With an estimated $7 million take for the weekend, "Collateral Beauty" is a career low for Will Smith.
From Variety: In China, director Zhang Yimou's "The Great Wall" debuts with a $66 million box office.
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MOVIES - From IndieWire: Michael Sheen is not quitting acting to be an activist.
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OBIT - From YahooMovies: Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hollywood socialite and actress, has died at the age of 99, Sunday, December 18, 2016.
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BLACK LIVES MATTER - From Heavy: The subject of the "Google Doodle" for Sunday, December 18, 2016 is Steve Biko. Biko would have been 70-years-old today if he had not died while in police custody, essentially murdered by the White racist government of South Africa. Heavy has 5 facts you need to know about him.
From YahooNews: RE - Dylann Roof - don't be so quick to forgive.
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TRAILERS:
From YouTube: This is the first official teaser trailer for "Blade Runner 2019," which is due October 2017.
From YouTube: "xXx: Return of Xander Cage" first official trailer, which was released in early November 2016.
STAR WARS - From Deadline: Carrie Fisher is stable and out of emergency after having a heart attack on an airplane.
From ETCanada: According to Carrie's brother, Todd Fisher, Carrie is not in "stable condition."
----------
MOVIES - From THR: There is supposed to be a teaser released today in anticipation of the release of the first trailer for "Alien: Covenant," on Christmas Day.
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CELEBRITY - From YahooStyle: Kristen Stewart (Twilight) is dating Stella Maxwell.
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SPORTS - YahooSports: The NFL's Cleveland Browns will NOT become the second team to go winless in a 16-game NFL regular season. The Detroit were 0 and 16 in 2008. Several NFL teams have had seasons with no victories or ties.
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TELEVISION - From Deadline: The "Cruel Intentions" reboot TV series is officially dead, but could rise again.
----------
TELEVISION - From IndieWire: A&E's "Generation KKK" may get a name change.
----------
ANIMATION - From Variety: Fox Searchlight has purchased worldwide rights to Wes Anderson's next film, the animated "Isle of Dogs."
----------
POLITICS - From YahooMusic: Celine Dion says no to performing at the Trump inauguration.
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: After "Blade Runner 2049," Dennis Villeneuve may move onto Legendary Entertainment's "Dune" reboot.
----------
MOVIES - From IndieWire: Martin Scorsese offers an update on his upcoming film with Leonardo DiCaprio, "Devil in the White City." A script is being worked on.
----------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap: Michael Stuhlbarg added to "Fargo" Season 3.
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TELEVISION - From THR: Starz cancels "Blunt Talk" with Patrick Stewart.
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BOX OFFICE - From YahooMovies: Disney becomes the first movie studio to earn $7 billion in global box office.
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MOVIES - From YahooMovies: Yahoo's 10 worst movies of the year.
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CELEBRITY - From ETCanada: Margot Robbie secretly married in Australia.
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POLITICS - From YahooMovies: Comedian/actor Tom Arnold claims he has outtakes of President-elect Donald Trump making racists comments. It's too late to tell us that now - not that it would have changed the results of the election anyway...
----------
MUSIC - YahooMusic: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced the 2017 inductees into the hall: Pearl Jam, Tupac Shakur, Journey, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, and Joan Baez. Chic's Nile Rodgers will be given the Award For Musical Excellence. The induction ceremony will be held at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on April 7th, 2017.
----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity: There was a star-studded memorial for Alan Thicke, which included appearances by Leonardo DiCaprio, anti-gay advocate Kirk Cameron, and Alan's son Grammy-nominated son, Robin Thicke.
----------
ECO - From RSN: Leonardo DiCaprio says the truth about climate change has spread like "wildfire."
From EW - DiCaprio remembers his co-star from his "Growing Pains" days, Alan Thicke.
----------------------------------------
BOX OFFICE - BoxOfficeMojo: "Rogue One" wins the 12/16 to 12/18/2016 weekend box office with an estimated haul of $155 million.
From Variety: "Rogue One" has second largest December opening ever.
From TheWrap: Denzel Washington's "Fences" makes sturdy indie box office debut.
From YahooMovies: With an estimated $7 million take for the weekend, "Collateral Beauty" is a career low for Will Smith.
From Variety: In China, director Zhang Yimou's "The Great Wall" debuts with a $66 million box office.
----------------------------------------
MOVIES - From IndieWire: Michael Sheen is not quitting acting to be an activist.
----------
OBIT - From YahooMovies: Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hollywood socialite and actress, has died at the age of 99, Sunday, December 18, 2016.
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BLACK LIVES MATTER - From Heavy: The subject of the "Google Doodle" for Sunday, December 18, 2016 is Steve Biko. Biko would have been 70-years-old today if he had not died while in police custody, essentially murdered by the White racist government of South Africa. Heavy has 5 facts you need to know about him.
From YahooNews: RE - Dylann Roof - don't be so quick to forgive.
----------
TRAILERS:
From YouTube: This is the first official teaser trailer for "Blade Runner 2019," which is due October 2017.
From YouTube: "xXx: Return of Xander Cage" first official trailer, which was released in early November 2016.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Amazon Launches International Hit, "Bookaboo" on Prime Video in U.S.
Amazon Launches Original Kids Series Bookaboo on October 28 on Prime Video in the US and UK
New preschool show, featuring special guests Paula Abdul, Selma Blair, Guillermo Diaz, Michael Sheen, Adam Copeland, Rachelle Lefevre, Molly Parker, Hannah Simone, and Emily Van Camp combines puppetry, live action and CGI animation to help families find their reading rhythm
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon announced its brand-new Amazon Original Kids Series, Bookaboo, is set to premiere October 28, 2016 on Prime Video in the US and UK. Already a full-fledged international hit, the series for preschool-aged children celebrates the fun and benefits of adults and children reading together. Bookaboo inventively combines puppetry, live action and CGI animation, and every episode features a different celebrity guest, who goes “backstage” to share their favorite picture book with Bookaboo, the adorable world-famous drummer puppy and star of the show who needs to be read a book a day or he just can’t play.
Among the series special guests are Paula Abdul (American Idol), Rachelle Lefevre (Twilight), Molly Parker (House of Cards), Hannah Simone (New Girl), Emily Van Camp (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Selma Blair (Legally Blonde), Michael Sheen (The Queen), Guillermo Diaz (Scandal), WWE Wrestler Adam Copeland, NASA Astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield, and NFL player Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bookaboo, the latest addition to Amazon’s award-winning preschool programming slate, is created by Lucy Goodman, Founder of Happy Films, and produced by Happy Films and Sinking Ship Entertainment (Odd Squad, Annedroids).
“Each episode incorporates funny storytelling and great books, specifically chosen to capture young viewers’ attention and imagination.”
Bookaboo will debut on October 28 exclusively for Prime members via the Amazon Video app for TVs; connected devices, including Fire TV, mobile devices; and online—Prime members can also download the series to mobile devices for offline viewing.
“Bookaboo is an exciting show developed to promote literacy by inspiring parents to read to and with their children and help instill a lifelong love of reading,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. “Each episode incorporates funny storytelling and great books, specifically chosen to capture young viewers’ attention and imagination.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with Amazon Prime Video to bring Bookaboo and its important message to families all across the country,” said Goodman. “With only half as many parents reading to their kids as there were a generation ago, the time to make a difference is now. Every child should have the opportunity to share great books with someone they love.”
The rocking series follows Bookaboo as he tours the globe with his bandmates Paws and Growler, playing drums to packed stadiums of adoring fans. There’s only one hitch – Bookaboo just can't play without a story a day! The precocious pup finds creative ways to avoid performing, leading to laugh-out-loud comedy sketches and silly songs. To empower Bookaboo to return to the stage, a famous face appears in each episode to share a favorite story. The picture book that the celebrity guest brings in the special “bookabag” is brought to vibrant life through animation and an interactive, energetic reading that restores Bookaboo’s “bojo.”
The entire first season of Bookaboo will be available for Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Video app for TVs; connected devices, including Amazon Fire TV and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/originals, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already a Prime member can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Amazon Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream. Bookaboo will also be available as part of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, the all-you-can-eat subscription service designed from the ground up for kids. FreeTime Unlimited is available exclusively on Amazon devices, including Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, and a year-long subscription is included with every Fire Kids Edition.
About Amazon Video
Amazon Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch, and how to watch it. Amazon Video is the only service that provides all of the following:
In addition to Prime Video, the Prime membership includes unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items across all categories, more than one million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, early access to select Lightning Deals all year long, free secure, unlimited photo storage in Amazon Cloud Drive with Prime Photos, one free pre-released book a month with Kindle First, and more. To sign up for Prime or to find out more, visit: www.amazon.com/prime.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about.
------------------
New preschool show, featuring special guests Paula Abdul, Selma Blair, Guillermo Diaz, Michael Sheen, Adam Copeland, Rachelle Lefevre, Molly Parker, Hannah Simone, and Emily Van Camp combines puppetry, live action and CGI animation to help families find their reading rhythm
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon announced its brand-new Amazon Original Kids Series, Bookaboo, is set to premiere October 28, 2016 on Prime Video in the US and UK. Already a full-fledged international hit, the series for preschool-aged children celebrates the fun and benefits of adults and children reading together. Bookaboo inventively combines puppetry, live action and CGI animation, and every episode features a different celebrity guest, who goes “backstage” to share their favorite picture book with Bookaboo, the adorable world-famous drummer puppy and star of the show who needs to be read a book a day or he just can’t play.
Among the series special guests are Paula Abdul (American Idol), Rachelle Lefevre (Twilight), Molly Parker (House of Cards), Hannah Simone (New Girl), Emily Van Camp (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Selma Blair (Legally Blonde), Michael Sheen (The Queen), Guillermo Diaz (Scandal), WWE Wrestler Adam Copeland, NASA Astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield, and NFL player Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bookaboo, the latest addition to Amazon’s award-winning preschool programming slate, is created by Lucy Goodman, Founder of Happy Films, and produced by Happy Films and Sinking Ship Entertainment (Odd Squad, Annedroids).
“Each episode incorporates funny storytelling and great books, specifically chosen to capture young viewers’ attention and imagination.”
Bookaboo will debut on October 28 exclusively for Prime members via the Amazon Video app for TVs; connected devices, including Fire TV, mobile devices; and online—Prime members can also download the series to mobile devices for offline viewing.
“Bookaboo is an exciting show developed to promote literacy by inspiring parents to read to and with their children and help instill a lifelong love of reading,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. “Each episode incorporates funny storytelling and great books, specifically chosen to capture young viewers’ attention and imagination.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with Amazon Prime Video to bring Bookaboo and its important message to families all across the country,” said Goodman. “With only half as many parents reading to their kids as there were a generation ago, the time to make a difference is now. Every child should have the opportunity to share great books with someone they love.”
The rocking series follows Bookaboo as he tours the globe with his bandmates Paws and Growler, playing drums to packed stadiums of adoring fans. There’s only one hitch – Bookaboo just can't play without a story a day! The precocious pup finds creative ways to avoid performing, leading to laugh-out-loud comedy sketches and silly songs. To empower Bookaboo to return to the stage, a famous face appears in each episode to share a favorite story. The picture book that the celebrity guest brings in the special “bookabag” is brought to vibrant life through animation and an interactive, energetic reading that restores Bookaboo’s “bojo.”
The entire first season of Bookaboo will be available for Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Video app for TVs; connected devices, including Amazon Fire TV and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/originals, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already a Prime member can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Amazon Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream. Bookaboo will also be available as part of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, the all-you-can-eat subscription service designed from the ground up for kids. FreeTime Unlimited is available exclusively on Amazon devices, including Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, and a year-long subscription is included with every Fire Kids Edition.
About Amazon Video
Amazon Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch, and how to watch it. Amazon Video is the only service that provides all of the following:
- Prime Video: Thousands of movies and TV episodes, including popular licensed content plus critically-acclaimed and award-winning Amazon Original Series and Movies from Amazon Studios like Transparent, The Man in the High Castle, Chi-Raq and kids series Tumble Leaf, available for unlimited streaming as part of an Amazon Prime membership
- Add-on Subscriptions: Dozens of subscriptions to networks like SHOWTIME, STARZ and more, available to Amazon Prime members as add-ons to their membership
- Rent or Own: Hundreds of thousands of titles, including new-release movies and current TV shows available for on-demand rental or purchase for all Amazon customers
- Instant Access: Instantly watch anytime, anywhere through the Amazon Video app on TVs, mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, and Fire tablets, or online. For a list of all compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream
- Premium Features: Top features like 4K Ultra HD, High Dynamic Range (HDR) and mobile downloads for offline viewing of certain content
In addition to Prime Video, the Prime membership includes unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items across all categories, more than one million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, early access to select Lightning Deals all year long, free secure, unlimited photo storage in Amazon Cloud Drive with Prime Photos, one free pre-released book a month with Kindle First, and more. To sign up for Prime or to find out more, visit: www.amazon.com/prime.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about.
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Friday, June 24, 2016
Michael Sheen Gets Financing for His Directorial Debut, "Green River Killer"
QC ENTERTAINMENT TO FINANCE MICHAEL SHEEN’S FEATURE FILM DIRECTORIAL DEBUT “GREEN RIVER KILLER”
Sheen To Star As Infamous Serial Killer Gary Ridgway
QC Entertainment, Dark Horse Entertainment and Sheen To Produce
LOS ANGELES, CA — QC Entertainment announced today the company will produce and finance the true crime thriller “Green River Killer,” which marks the feature film directorial debut of acclaimed actor Michael Sheen who will also star in the film. The screenplay written by Sheen made the coveted The Black List in 2015, and is adapted from the Dark Horse Entertainment’s award-winning graphic novel Green River Killer: A True Detective Story. The novel was written by Jeff Jensen, based on his father Tom Jensen, and artist Jonathan Case.
The film will be produced by Dark Horse Entertainment’s Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg, Sheen and QC Entertainment’s Sean McKittrick and Ray Mansfield. QC’s Edward H. Hamm Jr. and Shaun Redick will serve as Executive Producers. The film will be co-represented for domestic film sales by ICM Partners and QC Entertainment, which is the recently formed partnership between McKittrick, Hamm, Mansfield and Redick.
The film is the story of Tom Jensen, the man who spent twenty years looking for the ‘Green River Killer,’ and Gary Ridgway (to be played by Sheen), the man he caught. After a two-decade hunt and forty-nine official murders, the two men are forced to live and work together in a dark alliance to uncover the truth.
“Michael has written an elegant script which brings his sophisticated vision to subverting the typical serial killer movie,” said QC Principals McKittrick and Mansfield. “Jensen and Ridgway are terrific roles for both an actor of Michael’s caliber and the actor cast opposite him. As producers who have long championed actors making the move to directing, we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.”
“This is a dark story but one that ultimately finds hope and meaning in that darkness,” said Sheen. “The story of Tom and Gary, and how they are bound together in time, pulled me in from the beginning and wouldn’t let go. I hope that by now bringing it to life on screen it can make audiences feel the same way.”
“’Green River Killer’ presents the ultimate insider’s account of America’s most prolific serial killer,” said Dark Horse Entertainment President Mike Richardson. “Michael Sheen’s passion for the material was clear when he insisted on adapting the book on spec. His screenplay proves that Jeff Jensen’s Eisner Award-winning graphic novel is perfectly suited for the screen.”
Sheen is repped by ICM Partners, Tammy Rosen of Sanders Armstrong Caserta Management and attorneys James Adams and Ira Schreck of Schreck Rose Dapello & Adams LLP. The deal for Sheen was negotiated by ICM Partners and Schreck Rose Dapello & Adams LLP. The deal for Dark Horse Entertainment was negotiated by attorney Keith G. Fleer. Ray Mansfield negotiated the deals on behalf of QC Entertainment.
ABOUT MICHAEL SHEEN
Michael Sheen has proved himself equally accomplished on both stage and screen.
Sheen’s diverse range of film credits include starring in three Best Picture Academy Award®-nominated films: “The Queen,” directed by Stephen Frears; “Frost/Nixon,” directed by Ron Howard, and “Midnight in Paris,” directed by Woody Allen. He also starred in the blockbuster “Twilight” saga films as a vampire, and as a werewolf in “The Underworld” franchise. His other feature credits include the role of William Boldwood opposite Carey Mulligan in Thomas Vinterberg’s “Far From The Maddening Crowd”; as Brian Clough in “The Damned United,” directed by Tom Hooper; the white rabbit in Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland”; and Zuse in “Tron: Legacy,” directed by Joseph Kosinski.
Among his upcoming films: “Oppenheimer Strategies,” opposite Richard Gere; and the sci-fi film “Passengers,” opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt and directed by Morten Tyldum opening later this year from Sony.
On stage, among Sheen’s many award-winning performances are: the starring role in “Caligula,” directed by Michael Grandage at the Donmar Warehouse; as David Frost in “Frost/Nixon,” directed by Grandage at the Donmar Warehouse; and the starring role of “Hamlet” at the Young Vic. In addition, Sheen created, co-directed, and performed in the groundbreaking three-day live event “The Passion” in his hometown of Port Talbot for National Theatre Wales.
On television, Sheen earned awards for his starring roles in “Kenneth Williams: “Fantabulosa!” directed by Andy De Emmony, and “Dirty Filthy Love,” directed by Adrian Shergold. Additional credits include as “Wesley Snipes” opposite Tina Fey on “30 Rock”; starring in Funny or Die’s three-part miniseries spoof, “The Spoils Before Dying”; and HBO’s sports mockumentary, “7 Days in Hell.” In 2010, he received an Emmy® nomination for his starring role as Tony Blair in HBO’s “The Special Relationship,” directed by Richard Loncraine.
Currently, Sheen can be seen in his critically acclaimed starring role as William Master on Showtime’s “Masters of Sex,” which he also serves as a producer. Among the accolades Sheen has received include a 2014 Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama, as well as a Critics’ Choice TV Award nomination. The Golden Globe-nominated series was named the “Most Exciting New Series “from the Broadcast Television Critics’ Association in its first season as well as being named on AFI’s Top 10 Outstanding Television Programs. “Masters of Sex” will have its Season 4 premiere on Sunday, September 11.
In 2009, Sheen was honored by the Queen of England with an O.B.E. for his services to Drama.
ABOUT QC ENTERTAINMENT
QC Entertainment is the recently formed partnership between veteran filmmakers Sean McKittrick and Ted Hamm’s Darko Entertainment and Movie Package Company’s Ray Mansfield and Shaun Redick to finance and produce director driven films.
With principals who have a consistent track record for championing and supporting filmmakers with a unique voice and raising the profile of independent films to a wider audience, QC – standing for Quality Control – is focused on expanding that same quality in producing feature films and television within a controlled, fiscally responsible budget range. A one-stop solution for filmmakers looking to have all business and creative matters handled in-house by one company, QC can develop, produce on-set, finance productions, handle sales and distribution, and everything in between.
Among QC projects: “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” released earlier this year; the recently wrapped “Get Out,” which the company teamed with horror master Blumhouse Productions on to produce the feature directorial debut of Jordan Peele who wrote the script for this fresh take on the horror-thriller genre; and Executive Producing the Netflix feature, “A Futile & Stupid Gesture,” directed by David Wain and starring Will Forte and Domhnall Gleeson that is currently in production.
ABOUT DARK HORSE
Dark Horse Comics founder and publisher Mike Richardson determined early on that great stories are great stories, no matter the medium in which they’re told. This belief led the publisher to explore the world of filmmaking and started him on the path to Hollywood, where he established his own filmmaking company, Dark Horse Entertainment, in 1992.
The company’s first two major films – “The Mask,” starring Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz, and “Timecop,” starring Jean-Claude Van Damme -- were based on Richardson’s creations and premiered to enthusiastic audiences. Under his leadership Dark Horse has produced over two dozen film and television projects since 1994 including “Mystery Men,” “R.I.P.D.,” Fox Kids’ Saturday-morning cartoon series “Big Guy and Rusty The Boy Robot,” the “Hellboy” film series, and the Emmy Award–winning documentary, “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.” Current projects include “Tarzan” for Warner Bros., starring Alexander Skarsgard, opening July 1, 2016; and “Dark Matter” for SyFy, which has its second season upcoming this summer.
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Sunday, November 25, 2012
Review: "Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" is a Wonderful Finale
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012)
Running time: 115 minutes (1 hour, 55 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sensuality and partial nudity
DIRECTOR: Bill Condon
WRITER: Melissa Rosenberg (based upon the novel by Stephenie Meyer)
PRODUCERS: Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt, and Stephenie Meyer
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Guillermo Navarro
EDITOR: Virginia Katz
COMPOSER: Carter Burwell
FANTASY/DRAMA/ROMANCE
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Mackenzie Foy, Julia Jones, Chaske Spencer, Alex Rice, Cameron Bright, and Maggie Grace, with Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is the fifth film in The Twilight Saga film franchise. Like the previous films: Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn – Part 1, Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is based upon the wildly popular Twilight book series by author, Stephenie Meyer. Each of the first three films is based upon one of the first three books in the series; however, the fourth book, Breaking Dawn, has been adapted into two movies.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 continues the love story a young human woman, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), and her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), who were married in the previous film. The story begins as Bella opens her eyes to find her senses sharpened. The transformation is complete; she is now a vampire. Still, all is not perfect.
Bella is shocked to learn that her recently born infant daughter has imprinted on her friend and former love interest, Native American werewolf, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Bella must also find a way to explain her new situation to her worried father, Police Chief Charlie Swan (Billy Burke). Meanwhile, Bella and Edward’s daughter does not stay an orphan for long. Renesmee Cullen (Mackenzie Foy) is undergoing a tremendous growth spurt, which leads to a bigger problem. When a false allegation puts their family in front of the Volturi to likely face a death sentence, the Cullens gather other vampire clans and old allies in order to protect Renesmee.
I enjoyed Breaking Dawn – Part 1, but I found the film to be mostly joyless, even dour and morbid. Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is quite the opposite. It is joyful and celebratory. Like Renesmee, Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is fresh and new and curious about the world. It almost seems like a brand new thing, unconnected to the other films, although it is.
I think this is the result of having a director like Bill Condon, who is not just good with character drama. He is also a standout, and he did not get enough credit for what he did with Dreamgirls, getting so much more out of the material than it offered. Here, in his second Twilight movie, he gives all the supernatural characters mortality, not just Edward and Bella (who have seemed forever on the edge of demise in this series). Mortality for the immortals means that not only do their actions have real consequences, but also that those consequences can mean the end of them. When everyone has “skin in the game,” conflict is rich and complicated.
However, the sense of death does not dampen this movie’s themes of hope and happiness. Who knows how many days lie ahead for each character? There may be many days (or not), but they will be happy days, with family and friends. There will also be dark days, as in any human’s life. In fact, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is about loving family, close friends, and new friends and allies made.
For Twilight as a whole, the franchise gets something that escapes even the best franchises, a superior ending. Compared to The Dark Knight Rises, the end of Christopher Nolan’s so-called “The Dark Knight trilogy,” Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is Oscar-worthy.
8 of 10
A
Sunday, November 25, 2012
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Friday, January 20, 2012
"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" Rises on Its Own
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
Running time: 92 minutes (1 hour, 32 minutes)
MPAA – R for bloody violence and some sexuality
DIRECTOR: Patrick Tatopoulos
WRITERS: Danny McBride, Dirk Blackman, and Howard McCain; from a story by Len Wiseman, Robert Orr, and Danny McBride (based on characters created by Kevin Grevioux, and Len Wiseman, and Danny McBride)
PRODUCERS: Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, Skip Williamson, Len Wiseman, and Richard S. Wright
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ross Emery
EDITORS: Peter Amundson and Eric Potter
COMPOSER: Paul Haslinger
HORROR/FANTASY/ACTION/ROMANCE
Starring: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra, Steven Mackintosh, Kevin Grevioux, David Aston, and Elizabeth Hawthorne
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a 2009 American vampire/werewolf fantasy film. It is the third film in the Underworld film series and is also a prequel to the first two films, Underworld (2003) and Underworld: Evolution (2006). Rise of the Lycans is part origin story and also depicts how the Vampire-Lycan war (the centerpiece of the original film) began.
Rise of the Lycans opens in the Dark Ages of Europe. Viktor (Bill Nighy) is the ruthless elder lord of a vampire coven. Human nobles pay him to protect them from the ravenous, uncontrollable werewolves that are unable to return to their original human form. One day, a female werewolf gives birth to human child who grows up to be Lucian (Michael Sheen), the first werewolf able to take human form. Viktor uses Lucian to create a new breed of werewolf that can keep guard over the coven during the daylight hours, a breed Viktor calls “Lycans.”
Lucian and Viktor’s daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), are in a relationship that they struggle to keep hidden. Lucian also begins to struggle with the way Viktor and the other vampires treat his werewolf brothers. After he encounters Raze (Kevin Grevioux), a brave human destined to be turned into a werewolf, Lucian is inspired to plot a revolution. Love and revolution, however, may cost Lucian and Sonja everything.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is essentially a stand alone film. One need not have seen the first two films in order to enjoy Rise of the Lycans. In a way, this film’s story is like an aristocratic melodrama in which a noble lord’s precious daughter has a forbidden romance with the help or, in this case, a werewolf slave. This movie is as much about its themes of mixed race romance, racism, discrimination, and exploitation as it is about the tropes of modern vampire versus werewolf fiction. That makes Rise of the Lycans different from the other Underworld films, but not necessarily inferior, although I do think that it is the least of the three in terms of quality.
As a big fan of the series, I can say that I liked Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, and Michael Sheen’s vigorous and physical performance gives the film much dramatic credibility. Rhona Mitra and the reliable Bill Nighy also deliver sturdy performances. Director Patrick Tatopoulos is straight-forward, seeming to care more about the film than showing off to prove what a hotshot fantasy film director he is.
6 of 10
B
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
"Underworld: Evolution" Also Slick, Sexy and Cool
Underworld: Evolution (2006)
Running time: 105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)
MPAA – R for pervasive strong violence and gore, some sexuality/nudity, and language
DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman
WRITERS: Danny McBride; based upon a story by Danny McBride and Len Wiseman (based upon characters created by Kevin Grevioux and Danny McBride and Len Wiseman)
PRODUCERS: Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, and Richard Wright
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Simon Duggan
EDITOR: Nicolas De Toth
FANTASY/ACTION/HORROR with elements of sci-fi
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Tony Curran, Bill Nighy, Derek Jacobi, Shane Brolly, Michael Sheen, and Steven Mackintosh
After the chaos at the end of Underworld, the war between the vampires and the lycans (werewolves) has taken a backseat to unlocking the secrets to the beginnings of the ancient feud. Vampire heroine, Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a Death Dealer (one who hunts lycans), and Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), the human who became a lycan/vampire hybrid, have found their quest to unlock the secrets of their bloodlines hampered by the reawakening of Marcus (Tony Curran), the first vampire – also a powerful hybrid.
Marcus is hunting for the crypt where his brother William, the first werewolf, has been imprisoned for eight centuries. That also means Marcus must uncover the machinations of Viktor (Bill Nighy), the vampire lord who imprisoned William and who was killed at the end of the first film. [Viktor only appears in this film via flashbacks). Marcus is willing to kill anyone who stands in his way, including Selene, Michael… and Alexander Corvinus (Derek Jacobi), who is Marcus and William’s father and the man who was the first immortal.
Underworld: Evolution, as a sequel, is like Superman II to Superman and Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Kahn to Star Trek: The Motion Picture, more kick-ass than the original. I would call Evolution better than its predecessor. Although this film is even more of an action flick than the first, the two films are different. Whereas the first could be seen as some kind of riff on the Blade films with a twist of Goth style and music video cool, Underworld: Evolution has the explosiveness of a Lethal Weapon movie or a Michael Bay film (say, The Rock or Bad Boys II). It’s a fantasy mini-epic, but more video game fantasy than Tolkien.
The acting is as good as before. Kate Beckinsale is as magnetic and as alluring as the sexist action babe or femme fatale, and she can give a beat down that would make Charles Bronson proud. Scott Speedman is a solid leading man, and he plays second fiddle to Ms. Beckinsale without disappearing; he actually makes us miss him when he’s off screen. The music is better, and there is a nice addition to the costumes in the form of the vampire war armor. The film’s hues are warmer than in the first film – the better to fit Evolution’s hot passions and blood feuds.
But the architects of the film’s success remain director Len Wiseman and screenwriter Danny McBride; they seem to hit all the right notes. Here, it’s the fabulous and intricate back-story of the vampires and lycans that engages the viewer as much as the visual pyrotechnics and theatrics that Wiseman pumps into the film. If there is any reason for this franchise to continue, it’s certainly to see the twists, turns, and surprises that McBride and Wiseman may have in store. In the meantime, Underworld: Evolution simultaneously satisfies and whets the appetite. It will only take a few minutes of this excellent entertainment to make the viewer want to invest himself in the wild ride.
8 of 10
A
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
"Underworld" Still Slick, Sexy and Cool
Underworld (2003)
Running time: 121 minutes (2 hours, 1 minute)
MPAA – R for strong violence/gore and some language
DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman
WRITERS: Danny McBride, from a story by Kevin Grevioux, Danny McBride, and Len Wiseman
PRODUCERS: Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, and Richard Wright
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tony Pierce-Roberts
EDITOR: Martin Hunter
COMPOSER: Paul Haslinger
HORROR/FANTASY/ACTION
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Shane Brolly, Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Erwin Leder, Sophia Myles, Danny McBride, and Kevin Grevioux
Underworld is a 2003 action/fantasy film about a war between vampires and werewolves (called Lycans). I believe that this film exists in a fantasy world that looks so good and convincing on screen because of modern cinematic technology.
Quite a few people have come to believe that computers generated special effects have elevated what was once traditional Hollywood B-movie material (science fiction, fantasy, horror, etc.) to A-list status. Once upon a time quality story telling was king because even the best that special effects could do no more than make an obviously fake flying saucer look like an obviously fake flying saucer. Now, special effects can convincingly create fantastic worlds, outlandish creatures, and bizarre scenarios. A plain old movie drama pales next to some two-and-a-half hour vampire, car chase, kung fu, and alien invasion action movie.
I’d like to believe that Underworld, with its straight-forward tale about a centuries-long blood feud between werewolves and vampires, could still be very entertaining without the aid of computer generated effects (CGI) or any kind of SFX, for that matter. There’s no doubt that the movie proudly wears its B-movie heritage on its sleeve, and the creators sold the studio on the movie by pitching the idea, “Romeo and Juliet with vampires and werewolves.” Truthfully, very little about Underworld vampire/werewolf conflict makes much sense. The feud only seems a reason for Vampires to walk around in fancy and expensive leather gear and shoot hundreds of rounds of ammunitions. For the werewolves, or Lycans as they called in this film, the conflict gives them a reason to hide in the city’s underbelly, crawling around like low-rent thugs and thieves and engage in homoerotic intra clan feuds, as there are apparently no female Lycans.
Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is a death dealer, a Vampire warrior who hunts the Lycans. The Lycans were supposed to be on the run ever since their great leader Lucian (Michael Sheen) was killed six centuries prior, but the war never ended. Selene’s people are clan of secretive, modern sophisticates, as much dilettantes as they are vampires, and she alone seems to hold a hard line against the Lycans. Now, Selene has found the werewolves tracking a handsome young human man named Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), and she is determined to discover why, even as she suspects her clan leader Kraven (Shane Brolly) is involved in a great conspiracy that could endanger all of her kind.
Visually, Underworld resembles The Matrix films, and stylistically the story is quite similar to the Blade films (maybe even a bit of The Crow), but director Len Wiseman and his cohorts create their own crazy dish from the various sources they raided to concoct Underworld. It’s by no means a great movie, and the acting is as much unintentionally funny as it is dreadfully serious. It’s oh-so-dark and oh-so-seriously gothic and Goth, and the dialogue is so stiff and formal that I can almost swear that no character spoke one word of contraction.
Still, though this film is ponderous and painfully derivative, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I found Underworld to be quite good, and I’ll see it again. I can’t imagine that many fans of genre films would not see it, though many may actually not like it. For me, it’s one of those “ultimate” popcorn flicks – horror, fantasy, and action all put together and filmed as if it were a very, very, very long music video. It’s gloriously and hilariously dark eye candy for the comic book and sci-fi geeks. The nitpicker in me might sneer, but the film geek in me wants more. I’ll take it warts and all.
7 of 10
B+
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Review: Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" is Magical and One of the Year's Best Films
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Running time: 94 minutes (1 hour, 34 minutes)
MPAA – R for some sexual references and smoking
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Woody Allen
PRODUCERS: Letty Aronson, Jaume Roures, and Stephen Tenenbaum
CINEMATOGRAPHERS: Darius Khondji with Johanne Debas
EDITOR: Alisa Lepselter
ROMANCE/COMEDY/DRAMA/FANTASY
Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kurt Fuller, Mimi Kennedy, Michael Sheen, Nina Arianda, Carla Bruni, Corey Stoll, Alison Pill, Tom Hiddleston, Yves Heck, Kathy Bates, Marcial Di Fonzo Bo, Adrien Brody, Sonia Rolland, Adrien de Van, and Léa Seydoux
Midnight in Paris is a 2011 romantic comedy/drama and fantasy film written and directed by Woody Allen. The film focuses on a struggling novelist who has magical experiences in Paris which begin each night at midnight. Midnight in Paris is the first high-quality Woody Allen film since Match Point (2005), and it is his best film since the early to mid 1990s, certainly the best since Bullets Over Broadway (2004).
Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) is a successful Hollywood screenwriter, but he hates the kind of movies with which he is usually involved. He travels to Paris with his fiancée, Inez (Rachel McAdams), and her wealthy, conservative parents, John (Kurt Fuller) and Helen (Mimi Kennedy), for a vacation. Gil is struggling to finish his first novel, and he believes a permanent move to Paris would be a good thing. Inez, who wants to live in Malibu, sees this desire as a foolish romantic notion, and this disagreement is but one of many of the couple’s divergent goals.
One night, a drunken Gil wanders the streets of Paris. At the stroke of midnight, an antique car pulls up and the passengers, who are dressed in 1920s clothing, beckon Gil to join them. Gil soon finds himself in a bar enjoying a performance by Josephine Baker (Sonia Rolland), watching Cole Porter (Yves Heck) sing and play the piano, having a meeting of the minds with Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll), and chatting up Zelda (Allison Pill) and F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston). Gil realizes that he has been transported back to Paris of the 1920s, an era he idolizes. He visits the home of Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates), where he meets Pablo Picasso (Marcial Di Fonzo Bo) and Picasso’s mistress, a young woman named Adriana (Marion Cotillard). Gil and Adriana are quickly attracted to each other, but their strange romance also reveals their unhappiness with their current personal situations.
In a broad sense, Midnight in Paris specifically deals with nostalgia as a theme, especially people’s nostalgia for a time that existed before they were born – a golden age. For instance, Gil yearns for the 1920s, which occurred decades before he was born. Allen’s script allows Gil to revel in his ability to go back into the past, which is perhaps the only way for Gil to come to grips both with reality and with his idealization of a time in which he didn’t live. Allen resolves this in a way both sensible and satisfying.
On a personal and character drama level, Midnight in Paris plays with themes of denial and cognitive dissonance. The characters have desires and find ways to sabotage or sully their desires when they find them difficult to obtain or perhaps too costly. Both in his script writing and directing, Allen subtly tells us that only those who are honest with themselves about what they want can be happy.
Beyond that, I have to say that Midnight in Paris is just an utterly magical film. There are fantasy films that only feel like Hollywood action movie product and lack a sense of enchantment. Then, there are others that, when you watch them, you can feel the magic emanating and oozing from the screen. That’s how Midnight in Paris is, and Darius Khondji’s shimmering, golden-hued, ember-infused cinematography is a big reason why Midnight in Paris looks like one big enchanted holiday. This movie moves, sounds, looks, and feels like a romantic film.
I am a big fan of Woody Allen and have been for nearly 30 years. I love his films that take place in the past, like Radio Days (1987), which is set in a period when my parents would have been small children or toddlers. I also like his films that are infused with magic, like Alice (1990). For me, Midnight in Paris is the best of both those worlds. A lot of people may dismiss Allen, but they would have to be honest after seeing this film. Few feel-good movies feel better than Midnight in Paris.
9 of 10
A+
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Actually Dark and Moody
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (2011)
Running time: 117 minutes (1 hour, 57 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, sexuality/partial nudity and some thematic
DIRECTOR: Bill Condon
WRITER: Melissa Rosenberg (based upon the novel by Stephenie Meyer)
PRODUCERS: Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt, and Stephenie Meyer
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Guillermo Navarro
EDITORS: Virginia Katz
COMPOSER: Carter Burwell
FANTASY/DRAMA/ROMANCE
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Julia Jones, Chaske Spencer, Gil Birmingham, Boo Boo Stewart, and Michael Sheen
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is the fourth film in the Twilight Saga film franchise. Like the previous films: Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is based upon the wildly popular Twilight book series by Stephenie Meyer. Each of the first three films is based upon one of the first three books in the series; however, the fourth book, Breaking Dawn, is being adapted into two movies.
Breaking Dawn – Part 1 continues the love story a young human woman, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), and her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), as the two join hands in marriage. Not everyone is happy about the nuptials, especially Bella’s friend, the Native American werewolf, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Jacob vehemently objects to Edward’s honeymoon plans for the couple, as he believes what Edward plans could kill Bella. The couple honeymoon on the private island of Isle Esme in Brazil, but Bella makes a shocking discovery that puts a strain on her relationship with Edward. That discovery also threatens the Cullens’ treaty with Jacob’s tribe and Bella’s very life.
Although I enjoyed it, I don’t have as much to say about The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 as I had about the previous movies. Most of this film is joyless, but it isn’t slow. The story deals with the darker side of romance and family; even the wedding is filled with omens and portents. This is a jarring difference from the rest of the series, which depicted young love growing stronger and more confident. I would be lying if I did not admit that I wanted more of that. There were times in this movie that I was begging for the unhappiness to hurry up and end.
For those hungry for more vampire vs. werewolf action, that dominates the second half of the Breaking Dawn – Part 1. This physical, tribal, racial conflict offers an energetic anecdote to the gloomy Gus that is most of this film. Also of note: I don’t know if it was because of the theatre in which I saw Breaking Dawn – Part 1, but there were times in the film that the musical score was so loud that I could not hear the dialogue.
Anyway, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is, thus far, the least of the series, but it is not at all a bad movie. It tells a good story, but it does come across as weird (even weirder than vampire stories normally are) and wonky.
6 of 10
B
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Review: "Blood Diamond" Has Strong Leads in DiCaprio and Hounsou (Happy B'day, Leonardo DiCaprio)
Blood Diamond (2006)
Running time: 143 minutes (2 hours, 23 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong violence and language
DIRECTOR: Edward Zwick
WRITERS: Charles Leavitt; from a story by C. Gaby Mitchell and Charles Leavitt
PRODUCERS: Edward Zwick, Marshall, Herskovitz, Paula Weinstein, Graham King, and Gillian Gorfil
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Eduardo Serra (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Steven Rosenblum
2007 Academy Award nominee
ACTION/DRAMA/WAR
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Sheen, Arnold Vosloo, David Harewood, Basil Wallace, Ntare Mwine, Jimi Mistry, and Kagiso Kuypers
Set during Sierra Leone’s bloody civil war in 1999, director Edward Zwick’s Blood Diamond blends challenging themes, social awareness, and riveting entertainment into a rip-roaring story about two different African men on a common quest. Along the way, Zwick creates a lovely thriller out of the devastating chaos of civil war in a Third World country.
While imprisoned, Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), an ex-mercenary from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) turned diamond smuggler, discovers that fellow inmate Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) may have found a large, rare pink diamond. Rebels had taken Solomon from his family and forced him to work in their diamond fields where he found the extraordinary gem. Solomon hid the diamond in hopes of retrieving it and using it to help his family escape their war torn country. Now, Solomon will also have to find the diamond to save his son, Dia (Kagiso Kuypers), who was taken by rebels and brainwashed into becoming a murderous child soldier.
Enter idealistic American journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), in Sierra Leone to uncover the truth about conflict diamonds – diamonds used to finance war. Archer and Solomon have formed a reluctant partnership, with the former guiding the latter back to the buried diamond. Maddy uses her journalistic credentials to help the duo embark on a dangerous track through rebel held territory, although each member of this intrepid trio has his or her own agenda. Maddy wants the journalistic expose. Danny wants the diamond that will help him to finally leave Africa. Solomon is seeking something far more precious – his son.
Zwick turns in one of the top directorial efforts of 2006. He dresses his powerful polemic into a breathtakingly handsome travelogue through Africa, whose striking beauty is marred by horrific and mind-numbing violence. He creates a drama as engaging as any other about civil war, but Zwick makes it into an international social cause – to close the market for conflict diamonds. Zwick grabs the viewer by the heart with his gut-wrenching action and explosive violence. Then, he squeezes your heart to wring out the tears at the sight of such misery and despair and also at the sight of such devotion and kindness amidst the cruelty.
It helps that Zwick has a fine screenplay and story that is of the same epic proportions at just under two-and-a-half hours as a movie over three hours long. And the characters are so rich and well formed that even the script’s preachy dialogue that tends to show up sounds so much better coming out of the mouths of highly skilled actors. The cast brings a stunning sense of authenticity to the roles. For some of them, I could almost believe that they are the characters in the film.
Right now, I’m having a hard time believing that Leonardo DiCaprio has ever been better. He takes the whole cloth of the screenplay and creates in Danny Archer a real, living and breathing person. To hell with those who say that his white African dialect was weird. It sounds so real coming from him. He is Danny Archer; it’s in every word he says, every move he makes, and even in his eyes.
Djimon Hounsou isn’t very far behind. He is rapidly revealing that he is a great dramatic actor with the kind of power and stage presence for which we’ve usually only credit British actors of the Shakespearean stage of having. Hounsou is magnificent. I could make a movie just with him… on a stage empty of props and sets. Jennifer Connelly starts off rough, but her performance grows into the film just as Maddy Bowen starts to really feel Africa.
It’s great that Blood Diamond will make people aware of conflict diamonds, but the drama is so good that the film’s social conscious gets lost behind the beautiful fiction and sweeping storytelling. Blood Diamond is that thing for which movie lovers hope when they go to the theatre – a film with winning characters, a magnificent setting, and a great story. What more is there to say? It’s all on screen.
10 of 10
NOTES:
2007 Academy Awards: 5 nominations: “Best performance by an actor in a leading role” (Leonardo DiCaprio), “Best performance by an actor in a supporting role” (Djimon Hounsou), “Best achievement in editing” (Steven Rosenblum), “Best achievement in sound editing” (Lon Bender), and “Best achievement in sound mixing” (Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, and Ivan Sharrock)
2007 Golden Globes: 1 nomination: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama” (Leonardo DiCaprio)
2007 Black Reel Awards: 1 win: “Best Supporting Actor” (Djimon Hounsou)
2007 Image Awards: 1 win: “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” (Djimon Hounsou); 1 nomination: “Outstanding Motion Picture”
Monday, April 23, 2007
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
2011 British Independent Film Awards Nominations Announced
At least for me, the 2012 movie award season (for movies released in 2011) has begun with the announcement yesterday (Monday, October 31, 2011) of the nominations for the 2011 British Independent Film Awards.
Created in 1998, The British Independent Film Awards, by its own description, celebrates merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking, honor new film talent, and promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public. Here, is the press release:
NOMINATIONS AND JURY REVEALED FOR THE MOËT BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS
The nominations and jury members for the 14th annual Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced today, Monday 31October at St Martins Lane, London by Helen McCrory.
Joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards’ Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson said: “This year’s nominees really highlight the immense wealth of British talent in this country today. We are incredibly proud that the Awards have grown to a level that garners attention worldwide, helping to bring British talent and independent filmmaking to the international stage.”
The highest number of nominations this year goes to three films, Shame, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Tyrannosaur, all with seven nods. All three titles are battling for the coveted Best British Film Award, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor or Actress awards. We Need to Talk About Kevin and Kill List each receive six nominations with Submarine following closely with five.
Nominations for Best Actress go to Rebecca Hall (The Awakening), Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre), MyAnna Buring (Kill List), Olivia Colman (Tyrannosaur) and Tilda Swinton (We Need To Talk About Kevin). Leading men hoping to take home the Best Actor award include Brendan Gleeson (The Guard), Neil Maskell (Kill List), Michael Fassbender (Shame), Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Peter Mullan (Tyrannosaur).
Directors who have delivered dynamic debuts this year and are fighting for the Douglas Hickox Award are Joe Cornish (Attack The Block), Ralph Fiennes (Coriolanus), John Michael McDonagh (The Guard), Richard Ayoade (Submarine) and Paddy Considine (Tyrannosaur).
Elsa Corbineau, Marketing Director Moët & Chandon commented: “Moët & Chandon is thrilled to continue to support the Awards this year. There are some truly remarkable films in today's nominations which reflect the talent of the British filmmakers. We look forward to celebrating all of the nominees and winners on 4 December."
The Raindance Award nominees for 2011 include: Acts of Godfrey, Black Pond, Hollow, Leaving Baghdad and A Thousand Kisses Deep. This Award honours exceptional achievement for filmmakers working against the odds, often with little or no industry support. Elliot Grove, Founder Raindance Film Festival and Moët British Independent Film Awards added: "Delighted to see that this year's nominations prove that once again British independent filmmakers have risen to the creative challenge of making astounding movies in the midst of economic chaos."
The Pre-Selection Committee of 70 members viewed nearly 200 films, out of which they selected the nominations, which were decided by ballot.
The winners of The Moët British Independent Film Awards are decided by an independent jury comprised of leading professionals and talent from the British film industry.
The Jury for 2011 includes:
Josh Appignanesi (Director / Writer), Lucy Bevan (Casting Director), Edith Bowman (Broadcaster), Mike Goodridge (Editor), Ed Hogg (Actor), Neil Lamont (Art Director), Mary McCartney (Photographer), Molly Nyman (Composer), Debs Paterson (Director / Writer), Tracey Seaward (Producer), Charles Steel (Producer), David Thewlis (Actor), Ruth Wilson (Actress) and Justine Wright (Editor).
The winners will be announced at the much anticipated 14th awards ceremony, which will take place on Sunday 4 December at the impressive Old Billingsgate in London.
Proud supporters and patrons of The Moët British Independent Film Awards include Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, Samantha Morton, Michael Sheen, Trudie Styler, Tilda Swinton, Meera Syal, David Thewlis, Ray Winstone and Michael Winterbottom.
The Moët British Independent Film Awards would like to thank all its supporters, especially: Moët & Chandon, The British Film Institute, 3 Mills Studios, BBC Films, Deluxe142, The Creative Partnership, Exile Media, M.A.C, Raindance, Soho House, Studiocanal, Swarovski, Variety, Working Title and Zander Creative.
About BIFA
Created in 1998, The British Independent Film Awards set out to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking, to honour new talent, and to promote British filmmaking and British talent to a wider public.
In recognition of Moët & Chandon’s generous contribution as headline sponsor, the 2011 event is referred to as The MOËT British Independent Film Awards.
For further information on BIFA, visit http://www.bifa.org.uk/
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Review: "Underworld: Unrated Extended Cut" is For Hardcore Fans (Happy B'day, Kate Beckinsale)
Underworld (2003)
2 Disc Unrated Extended Cut – May 25, 2004
Running time: 134 minutes (2 hours,14 minutes)
DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman
WRITERS: Danny McBride; from a story by Kevin Grevioux and Danny McBride Len Wiseman
PRODUCERS: Tom Rosenburg, Gary Lucchesi, and Richard Wright
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tony Pierce-Roberts, BSC
EDITOR: Martin Hunter
ACTION/DRAMA/FANTASY/HORROR/THRILLER
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Bill Nighy, Erwin Leder, Sophia Myles, Robby Gee, Wentworth Miller, and Kevin Grevioux
In the 2003 film, Underworld, there has been a war between the Vampire and Lycan (Werewolf) clans for about 1000 years. The film focuses on Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a young vampire warrior known as a Death Dealer. The Death Dealers are the ones who hunt, track, and kill Lycans. During a hunt at the beginning of the film, she discovers two Lycans following a young American medical intern, Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman). Michael is the key to the Lycan leader, Lucian’s (Michael Sheen), plot to unite the two warring species, but Selene discovers that Michael is also advertently a link to a centuries-old conspiracy between Lucian and the Vampire’s current leader, Kraven (Shane Brolly). As the web of conspiracy broadens, Selene must use her resourcefulness and martial skills to save her clan and Michael.
Underworld (2 Disc Unrated Extended Cut) contains 12 minutes of extra footage, which amounts to more backstory on Michael Corvin and the Lycans, a new battle scene at the end, and a subplot involving the sexy and catty, Erika (Sophia Myles). There is also 11 minutes of recut or “replacement footage.” According to Wiseman’s commentary, this is not a “director’s cut,” because he cut the 12 minutes in the original film for pacing, and as he says, you’ll hardly notice the difference, as I didn’t.
I liked the film the first time I saw it and I like it even more the second time. The movie is a blend of Blade, The Crow, and The Matrix. Conceptually, it borrows from the Blade franchise, but visually, it’s takes from The Crow and absolutely leans on and loots The Matrix. However, it is a superbly made bit of fluff that is divinely tasty eye candy. Although the concept and script are full of holes, it’s kind of like a gorgeous looking high-concept music video with much more story than music video normally have. By the way, “unrated” doesn’t mean we get to see skin from Ms. Beckinsale. This is a must-have for hardcore fans of the film, even if it means dumping the first DVD edition.
7 of 10
A-
NOTES:
DVD includes a 48-page Underworld comic book and a 16-page production sketch booklet, which contains several storyboard-to-screen comparisons. Disc 1 contains the extended cut of the film with (1) director and cast (Ms. Beckinsale and Speedman) commentaries; (2) outtakes; (3) the American Movie Classic (AMC) television special “Fang vs. Fiction”; (4) two TV spots; (4) and previews of four (then) upcoming movies distributed by Sony Pictures. Disc 2 has several features including a music video by the band Finch (“Worms of the Earth”) and several looks at designing the look and sounds of the film.
-------------------------
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Review: "TRON: Legacy" is All Good All on its Own
TRON: Legacy (2010)
Running time: 125 minutes (2 hours, 5 minutes)
MPAA – PG sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language
DIRECTOR: Joseph Kosinski
WRITERS: Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz; from a story by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal (based upon the characters created by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird)
PRODUCERS: Sean Bailey, Steven Lisberger, and Jeffrey Silver
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Claudio Miranda
EDITOR: James Haygood
COMPOSER: Daft Punk
Academy Award nominee
SCI-FI/ACTION/DRAMA
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett, and Michael Sheen
TRON: Legacy is a 2010 science fiction film. It is the sequel to Walt Disney Pictures’ 1982 sci-fi film, Tron. Tron: Legacy follows Sam Flynn, the son of Kevin Flynn, the innovative software engineer who entered the Digital World, a place that existed inside a computer (as depicted in the original Tron).
In 1989, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), who was also the CEO of ENCOM International, disappeared seven years after he defeated the Master Control Program in the Digital World. Twenty years later, Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), now a tech-savvy 27-year-old, has little interest in ENCOM, although he is the controlling shareholder. His father’s friend and ENCOM executive, Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner), tells Sam that he has received a mysterious page from a number originating at Kevin Flynn’s old arcade, which has been shutdown for 20 years.
Entering the arcade, Sam finds a concealed computer laboratory hidden in the basement. Sitting at his father’s computer, Sam accidentally transports himself to the Grid, a virtual world inside his father’s computer. There, he finds a world of gladiatorial games and fierce computer programs, and the Grid is ruled by CLU, a renegade program that looks like a young Kevin Flynn and was actually created by Flynn. Escaping CLU’s attempt to kill him, Sam is reunited with his now older father and Quorra (Olivia Wilde), a warrior and Kevin Flynn’s confidant. Together, reunited father and son try to stop CLU’s plot to invade the real world.
With its dazzling visuals and state-of-the-art production design, Tron: Legacy is one of the most innovative films of the last few years. It is a digital light show that dazzles the mind via the eyes, sometimes threatening to fry both. The computer-generated, younger version of Jeff Bridges as CLU is quite impressive, except for those few moments when CLU looks too plastic and moves awkwardly.
As in the original Tron, the human characters and story occasionally get lost in Tron: Legacy, especially amidst the elegant, eye-popping special effects. It is not that the story is bad. This is a standard action movie pitting good guys against bad guys, but a movie this visually adventurous deserves a more daring story. However, with the imaginative landscapes and production design and inventive costume design, this standard action movie doesn’t look so standard.
At this point, I have to say that you, dear reader, should see this visually splendid film for yourself. Some of the effects are breathtaking, and the simply magnificent score by the electronic music duo, Daft Punk, is the perfect soundtrack for a milestone film like Tron: Legacy. Modern with the touch of retro-1980’s synthesizer music, Daft Punk’s score thunders and swells, and best of all, it sweeps you off your feet just like film. It may be a little soft on story and character, but Tron: Legacy soars to the next level visually, sonically, and musically.
8 of 10
A
NOTES:
2011 Academy Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague)
Friday, June 10, 2011
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Thursday, April 28, 2011
Helen Mirren Saves "The Queen"
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 69 (of 2007) by Leroy Douresseaux
The Queen (2006)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: UK, France, and Italy
Running time: 103 minutes (1 hour, 43 minutes)
MPAA – R for brief strong language
DIRECTOR: Stephen Frears
WRITER: Peter Morgan
PRODUCERS: Christine Lagan, Tracey Seaward, and Andy Harries
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Affonso Beato, ASC, ABC (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Lucia Zucchetti
Academy Award winner
DRAMA
Starring: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Sylvia Syms, Alex Jennings, Helen McCrory, Roger Allam, and Tim McMullan
The Queen, a film by Stephen Frears, is a fictional and highly speculative account of the behind the scenes incidents in the week following the shocking death of Prince Diana. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren, in a role that won her a Best Actress Oscar) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) engage in intimate talks as Blair tries to convince the Queen that the Royal Family should memorialize Princess Diana in a manner beyond standard protocol. The Queen tries to manage the death on a personal and private level with her family, some members of which, want to follow protocol. Meanwhile, Blair deals with the public and members of his own administration that are demanding that the royals give a grand, public funeral for their beloved Diana: the “people’s princess.”
Peter Morgan’s script presents this story as a character study, but the only truly interesting and engaging character in the film is Queen Elizabeth. The Prince Charles of this scenario is almost criminally libelous in the portrayal of the first heir to the British crown as a watery soup of a man. Alex Jennings plays him as a self-serving crybaby looking to lay his troubles at his mother, the Queen’s door. Prince Phillip, the Queen’s husband, is an irretrievable asshole, a noisy loudmouth, and a conceited, stuck-up jerk, and James Cromwell sticks to the script in portraying him that way.
The strongest supporting character in this tale is Prime Minister Tony Blair, and the script presents him as an over-eager suck-up to the Queen – a sad commoner dying for Her Majesty’s attention or maybe scraps from her table. Michael Sheen plays him as such, so it’s hard to distinguish Blair from the Queen’s pet dogs.
Stephen Frears seems to spend most of his time lavishing attention and much of the film’s detail on Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth. If there are times in which The Queen seems like a nimble high comedy or a strong, behind-the-scenes character drama, it’s mostly because of Mirren’s performance. She makes this film, and perhaps Frears, who is quite good at character dramas, deserves some credit for both helping Mirren find the character and for letting Mirren as Elizabeth define this film.
Mirren’s physical transformation as Elizabeth is stunning, and though we may credit some of that to makeup, the character performance is Mirren’s own. Every gesture – a turn of the head, a scowl, a frown, a quiet moment of reflection, a tear, or barked order at a subservient establishes this film’s mood, its setting, its overall character, and even moves the plot like no other element in The Queen. Mirren can take a tart comment and turn this movie into an impudent comedy. Just the manner in which she observes someone or something (the stag on the hunting grounds of her estate) can transform the movie into a grand drama about the life of a monarch.
Luckily, Mirren gives such a wonderful performance because, otherwise, The Queen is mediocre.
6 of 10
B
NOTES:
2007 Academy Awards: 1 win for “Best performance by an actress in a leading role” (Helen Mirren); 5 nominations: “Best achievement in costume design” (Consolata Boyle), “Best achievement in directing” (Stephen Frears), “Best achievement in music written for motion pictures, original score” (Alexandre Desplat), “Best motion picture of the year” (Andy Harries, Christine Langan, and Tracey Seaward), and “Best writing, original screenplay” (Peter Morgan)
2007 BAFTA Awards: 2 wins: “Best Actress in a Leading Role” (Helen Mirren) and “Best Film” (Tracey Seaward, Christine Langan, and Andy Harries; 8 nominations: “Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film” (Tracey Seaward, Christine Langan, Andy Harries, Stephen Frears, and Peter Morgan), “Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music” (Alexandre Desplat), “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” (Michael Sheen), “Best Costume Design” (Consolata Boyle), “Best Editing” (Lucia Zucchetti), “Best Make Up & Hair” (Daniel Phillips), “Best Screenplay – Original” (Peter Morgan), and “David Lean Award for Direction” (Stephen Frears)
2007 Golden Globes: 2 wins: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama” (Helen Mirren) and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Peter Morgan); 2 nominations: “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Stephen Frears) and “Best Motion Picture – Drama”
Friday, April 27, 2007
Monday, April 4, 2011
Michael Sheen on TRON: Legacy
Welsh actor Michael Sheen has appeared in such films as Underworld, The Queen, Frost/Nixon, and The Twilight Saga: New Moon. He also appeared in TRON: Legacy as Castor/Zuse. Walt Disney provided this interview with Sheen:
AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL SHEEN FOR TRON: LEGACY
What was the initial inspiration for your character in TRON: Legacy?
SHEEN: When I first talked to the director – Joseph Kosinski – about my character, he showed me lots of art work to illustrate what they were looking for. They wanted a character that would be able to bring a completely different energy to the world of TRON. They wanted someone who was larger than life and a real showman. Castor is a guy who runs a nightclub, so he’s an entertainer and a host. He knows everything and he’s ambiguous in lots of ways. Joseph talked about characters like the MC from Cabaret, which got me thinking about Bob Fosse and All That Jazz. All of these things inspired Castor.
How did the character develop?
SHEEN: Slowly, I started to think about the idea that all these beings on the grid in the TRON world are computer programs, so I wondered what sort of program my character would be. He’s someone that would be able to adapt to anything that comes along. He’s a survivor, he’s a circus showman, he’s adaptable, and he’s a comedian. It made me think about people I knew in pop culture who are chameleon-like and take on different personalities at different times. David Bowie is exactly that person, so I came up with a Ziggy Stardust look and feel to Castor. I ended up regretting it when I found myself walking around in 6-inch heels for days on end. However, it was a great character to play.
Apart from the heels, was it fun to wear Castor’s costume?
SHEEN: The days of going to the bathroom were long gone in that costume. Once it was on, that was it. I couldn’t sit down, and I had to have a special bicycle contraption on poles to lean against when the cameras stopped rolling. It was tough and it took me hours to get into that costume, but there was a lot of enthusiasm on the set that kept the energy levels high. There was a great atmosphere on the set. We could’ve complained all day long about the uncomfortable nature of the outfits or we could get on with it, so we choose to get on with it. To be honest, I think this attitude trickles down from the top. Garrett Hedlund [who plays Sam Flynn in TRON: Legacy] had to wear an amazingly constrictive outfit, but he was so enthusiastic about everything and he was so eager to work that it rubbed off on us all. He loved meeting everyone involved in the project and he loved being a part of this monumental movie, so it made us all realize how grateful and excited we should be.
Did you ever get close to complaining about your 6-inch heels?
SHEEN: No, I was fine. I think it also helped that most of my scenes were with the actress, Beau Garrett. It helped a lot to have Beau standing near me in her crazy outfit for most of the day. An outfit like that can get you through anything.
What are your memories of the original TRON movie?
SHEEN: I watched the first film in Wales when I was 11 years old. A friend of mine took me to cinema and I remember it blowing my mind. I was the perfect audience member because I remember the movie having an effect on my life as soon as I left the cinema. I was taken into another world while watching the movie, but when I walked outside, the world looked completely different. You know what? It’s mind blowing to think that I’m starring in the sequel 28 years later. It’s crazy.
What attracted you to the sequel?
SHEEN: When I read the script, the first thing that came to my mind was, ‘This is really good.’ It’s such a classic story about a son who goes looking for his father. It’s a human story and I think that’s really important in the high-tech world of TRON. As a fan of the original movie, I knew it was going to be a futuristic adventure and I knew the amazing effects were going to blow everyone away, but I also knew that it had to have an emotional story. I think it delivers that and so much more.
What went through your mind the first time you saw footage from the finished film?
SHEEN: I loved it. I was blown away by the special effects and I would get excited about each new bit of design that I hadn’t seen before. However, the footage that had the biggest impact on me was the scene where Kevin Flynn meets Sam. I love watching Jeff Bridges act. He’s brilliant. But to see him there with Garrett really hit me in the heart. I really believed that this was a father and son meeting up again. It’s an amazing scene.
Did you enjoy working with the special effects in the movie?
SHEEN: I didn’t have to work with too many special effects, although I worked on a scene where Jeff Bridges portrays a younger version of himself. That was pretty amazing. I had to act against Jeff, who was wearing a helmet with cameras pointing at his face. They would then replace Jeff’s face with a younger version in post production. How incredible is that? It was like a dream come true to work on something like that. This film really pushes the envelope in terms of what you can do with technology. The motion-capture, the costumes, the special effects… It all blew me away.
Did you have any green screen scenes?
SHEEN: Not really. Most of my scenes were in the nightclub, which was a real set. Everyone else had spent weeks in front of green screens, but I went old school on a proper set with hundreds of extras. It helped my character a lot because he’s very energetic and dynamic, and walking onto a set is very similar to walking onto a stage. He’s a showman, so the stage is his home.
How do you think the new generation of children will react to the world of TRON?
SHEEN: I honestly believe that this film delivers everything you could possibly want to see as a kid. I don’t think I’d be sitting here talking to you now if I didn’t believe that. This movie takes you on a classic journey to a magical world and it delivers on so many levels. It has incredible special effects and it has a human, emotional tale. The minute Sam Flynn puts that coin into the arcade machine and heads through that door you think, ‘Wow!’ It opens up a whole new world to the audience; a whole new world everybody is going to love.
Tron: Legacy (Two-Disc BD Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download April 5th!
AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL SHEEN FOR TRON: LEGACY
What was the initial inspiration for your character in TRON: Legacy?
SHEEN: When I first talked to the director – Joseph Kosinski – about my character, he showed me lots of art work to illustrate what they were looking for. They wanted a character that would be able to bring a completely different energy to the world of TRON. They wanted someone who was larger than life and a real showman. Castor is a guy who runs a nightclub, so he’s an entertainer and a host. He knows everything and he’s ambiguous in lots of ways. Joseph talked about characters like the MC from Cabaret, which got me thinking about Bob Fosse and All That Jazz. All of these things inspired Castor.
How did the character develop?
SHEEN: Slowly, I started to think about the idea that all these beings on the grid in the TRON world are computer programs, so I wondered what sort of program my character would be. He’s someone that would be able to adapt to anything that comes along. He’s a survivor, he’s a circus showman, he’s adaptable, and he’s a comedian. It made me think about people I knew in pop culture who are chameleon-like and take on different personalities at different times. David Bowie is exactly that person, so I came up with a Ziggy Stardust look and feel to Castor. I ended up regretting it when I found myself walking around in 6-inch heels for days on end. However, it was a great character to play.
Apart from the heels, was it fun to wear Castor’s costume?
SHEEN: The days of going to the bathroom were long gone in that costume. Once it was on, that was it. I couldn’t sit down, and I had to have a special bicycle contraption on poles to lean against when the cameras stopped rolling. It was tough and it took me hours to get into that costume, but there was a lot of enthusiasm on the set that kept the energy levels high. There was a great atmosphere on the set. We could’ve complained all day long about the uncomfortable nature of the outfits or we could get on with it, so we choose to get on with it. To be honest, I think this attitude trickles down from the top. Garrett Hedlund [who plays Sam Flynn in TRON: Legacy] had to wear an amazingly constrictive outfit, but he was so enthusiastic about everything and he was so eager to work that it rubbed off on us all. He loved meeting everyone involved in the project and he loved being a part of this monumental movie, so it made us all realize how grateful and excited we should be.
Did you ever get close to complaining about your 6-inch heels?
SHEEN: No, I was fine. I think it also helped that most of my scenes were with the actress, Beau Garrett. It helped a lot to have Beau standing near me in her crazy outfit for most of the day. An outfit like that can get you through anything.
What are your memories of the original TRON movie?
SHEEN: I watched the first film in Wales when I was 11 years old. A friend of mine took me to cinema and I remember it blowing my mind. I was the perfect audience member because I remember the movie having an effect on my life as soon as I left the cinema. I was taken into another world while watching the movie, but when I walked outside, the world looked completely different. You know what? It’s mind blowing to think that I’m starring in the sequel 28 years later. It’s crazy.
What attracted you to the sequel?
SHEEN: When I read the script, the first thing that came to my mind was, ‘This is really good.’ It’s such a classic story about a son who goes looking for his father. It’s a human story and I think that’s really important in the high-tech world of TRON. As a fan of the original movie, I knew it was going to be a futuristic adventure and I knew the amazing effects were going to blow everyone away, but I also knew that it had to have an emotional story. I think it delivers that and so much more.
What went through your mind the first time you saw footage from the finished film?
SHEEN: I loved it. I was blown away by the special effects and I would get excited about each new bit of design that I hadn’t seen before. However, the footage that had the biggest impact on me was the scene where Kevin Flynn meets Sam. I love watching Jeff Bridges act. He’s brilliant. But to see him there with Garrett really hit me in the heart. I really believed that this was a father and son meeting up again. It’s an amazing scene.
Did you enjoy working with the special effects in the movie?
SHEEN: I didn’t have to work with too many special effects, although I worked on a scene where Jeff Bridges portrays a younger version of himself. That was pretty amazing. I had to act against Jeff, who was wearing a helmet with cameras pointing at his face. They would then replace Jeff’s face with a younger version in post production. How incredible is that? It was like a dream come true to work on something like that. This film really pushes the envelope in terms of what you can do with technology. The motion-capture, the costumes, the special effects… It all blew me away.
Did you have any green screen scenes?
SHEEN: Not really. Most of my scenes were in the nightclub, which was a real set. Everyone else had spent weeks in front of green screens, but I went old school on a proper set with hundreds of extras. It helped my character a lot because he’s very energetic and dynamic, and walking onto a set is very similar to walking onto a stage. He’s a showman, so the stage is his home.
How do you think the new generation of children will react to the world of TRON?
SHEEN: I honestly believe that this film delivers everything you could possibly want to see as a kid. I don’t think I’d be sitting here talking to you now if I didn’t believe that. This movie takes you on a classic journey to a magical world and it delivers on so many levels. It has incredible special effects and it has a human, emotional tale. The minute Sam Flynn puts that coin into the arcade machine and heads through that door you think, ‘Wow!’ It opens up a whole new world to the audience; a whole new world everybody is going to love.
Tron: Legacy (Two-Disc BD Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download April 5th!
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