New Line Cinema’s “Annabelle” Kills at the Box Office, Earning More Than $150 Million Worldwide
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Line Cinema’s “Annabelle” has surpassed the $150 million mark at the worldwide box office, earning more than $166.1 million to date and counting. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President, International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
“There’s an appetite for scary movies the world over and ‘Annabelle’ has really struck a chord. With several markets still to open, the film is on a strong trajectory that should continue to gain momentum as new audiences everywhere experience the thrills and chills it provides.”
Director John R. Leonetti’s supernatural thriller, produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, enjoyed the largest opening weekend this year at the domestic box office for a horror film, at $37.1 million. The demonic doll, who first debuted in last summer’s global hit “The Conjuring,” has currently scared up more than $74.1 million at the domestic box office.
Internationally, “Annabelle” has taken in just over $92 million in 51 markets, including the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Australia and much of Asia, with a number of markets yet to open, including Mexico. The film set new opening records for the horror genre in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Chile and Colombia.
In making the announcement, Fellman said, “Who doesn’t love a creepy doll? Annabelle is back and audiences have certainly missed her, judging by their enthusiastic welcome in theaters across the country. We’re happy to have unleashed the spirit of Halloween a little early this year, and congratulate New Line and the filmmakers on reaching this impressive benchmark.”
Kwan Vandenberg stated, “There’s an appetite for scary movies the world over and ‘Annabelle’ has really struck a chord. With several markets still to open, the film is on a strong trajectory that should continue to gain momentum as new audiences everywhere experience the thrills and chills it provides.”
She terrified you in “The Conjuring,” but this is where it all began for Annabelle.
Capable of unspeakable evil, the actual doll exists locked up in an occult museum in Connecticut—visited only by a priest who blesses her twice a month.
New Line Cinema’s supernatural thriller “Annabelle” begins before the evil was unleashed.
John Form has found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia—a beautiful, rare vintage doll in a pure white wedding dress. But Mia’s delight with Annabelle doesn’t last long. On one horrific night, their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple. Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing they did will compare to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now...Annabelle.
Annabelle Wallis (“X-Men: First Class”) and Ward Horton (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) star as the Forms. Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard (“Cross Creek,” “Twelve Years a Slave”) stars as Evelyn, a neighbor who owns a bookstore. Rounding out the cast are Kerry O’Malley (TV’s “Those Who Kill”) and Brian Howe (“Devil’s Knot”) as neighbors Sharon and Pete Higgins; Tony Amendola (TV’s “Once Upon A Time”) as Father Perez; and Eric Ladin (TV’s “Boardwalk Empire,”) as Detective Clarkin.
“Annabelle” reunites the filmmakers behind 2013’s hugely successful supernatural thriller “The Conjuring.” John R. Leonetti, who served as cinematographer on “The Conjuring,” directed the film. James Wan, director of the global hit, produced “Annabelle” with Peter Safran.
Gary Dauberman wrote the script. Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter and Hans Ritter served as the executive producers. Also joining Leonetti behind the scenes were director of photography James Kniest, production designer Bob Ziembicki, editor Tom Elkins, and costume designer Janet Ingram. Joseph Bishara composed the score.
New Line Cinema presents an Atomic Monster/Safran Company Production, “Annabelle.” The film has been rated R for intense sequences of disturbing violence and terror. It is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.
www.annabellemovie.com
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Saturday, October 18, 2014
New Resident Evil Manga, "Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire," Set for November 18th, 2014 Release
Discover The Source Of The Outbreak Of The Deadly C-Virus In The Gritty Manga Prequel To CAPCOM’s Popular Resident Evil® 6 Game Property
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, gives gamers and action fans a special FREE sneak preview of its forthcoming RESIDENT EVIL: THE MARHAWA DESIRE manga (graphic novel) series as part of the company’s participation in 2014 Halloween ComicFest.
The terrifying 5-volume apocalyptic action thriller was created by Naoki Serizawa and serves as a prequel to the storyline of CAPCOM’s bestselling Resident Evil® 6 game property. The manga series is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers and will launch on November 18th under the VIZ Signature imprint. RESIDENT EVIL: THE MARHAWA DESIRE Vol. 1 will carry a print MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN.
Held each year, Halloween ComicFest is celebrated at scores of comic shops and retailers nationwide on the Saturday before Halloween. On this day, participating shops offer fans and visitors a special FREE Halloween ComicFest sampler filled with previews of scores of exciting upcoming titles. For additional information and a list of participating retailers, please visit: www.halloweencomicfest.com.
The highly virulent C-virus became a global disaster, but where did the outbreak start? In the series’ opening volume, at the prestigious and elite Marhawa Academy in Singapore, a female student suffers a horrifying transformation. Called in to investigate, Professor Doug Wright and his nephew Ricky find themselves caught up in a deadly and growing tragedy. As things get rapidly out of hand, Chris Redfield and his team from the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance arrive on the scene, while behind it all a mysterious figure looms.
“Discover the sinister beginnings of the Resident Evil story in the first-ever manga series based on the smash hit game property,” says Michael Montesa, Editor. “Along with tracing the source of the deadly viral outbreak, the manga series also presents the debut of Piers Nivans, who appears in the Resident Evil 6 video game as Chris Redfield's new partner. Readers will not want to miss a special advance preview of RESDIENT EVIL as part of Halloween ComicFest. Catch the full launch of this spine tingling new series from the VIZ Signature imprint next month!”
Since the landmark release of Resident Evil in 1996, the CAPCOM franchise has firmly established itself as a truly worldwide entertainment brand and mainstay of contemporary culture with a series of live action movies, CG anime, manga, novels and numerous merchandising lines. To date the Resident Evil series of videogames has achieved global sales of over 50 million units, while the live action movies starring Milla Jovovich have grossed in excess of $525 million dollars at the box office.
RESIDENT EVIL artist/author Naoki Serizawa is a multi-talented photographer and cinematographer as well as a manga artist and writer. His other series Saru Lock was developed into a TV drama in Japan in 2009.
For more information on RESIDENT EVIL: THE MARHAWA DESIRE or other manga and/or anime titles published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.
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Negromancer Bits and Bites for the Week of October 12th to 18th, 2014 - Update #17
NEWS:
From CBS: Maggie Smith received a rare honor from Queen Elizabeth II. The Oscar-winning actress was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor, Friday, October 17, 2014.
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From YahooMovies: Warner Bros. announces DC Comics related movies from 2016 to 2020.
Those 10 DC movies named are:
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice directed by Zack Snyder (2016)
Suicide Squad directed by David Ayer (2016)
Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot (2017)
Justice League Part One directed by Snyder, with Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Amy Adams reprising their roles (2017)
The Flash starring Ezra Miller (2018)
Aquaman starring Jason Momoa (2018)
Shazam (2019)
Justice League Part Two directed by Zack Snyder (2019)
Cyborg starring Ray Fisher (2020)
Green Lantern (2020)
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From Deadline: Record ratings for debut episode of "The Walking Dead" Season 5.
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From Hitfix: Dave Bautista, a breakout star in Guardians of the Galaxy, is reportedly set to join the new James Bond film (working under the title "Bond 24"), which is set to start filming in this December.
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From Salon: A nice interview with one of my favorite actors/comics, Bob Odenkirk.
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From YahooCelebrity: Larry David responds to Jennifer Lawrence's crush on him.
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From TheWrap: David Fincher's Gone Girl holds onto the #1 spot for the second week in a row at the weekend box office. For the weekend of October 10th to 12, 2014, Gone Girl is the top grossing film with an estimated $26 million in sales.
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From YahooMovies: For its 20th Anniversary, 12 things you didn't know about Kevin Smith's Clerks.
COMIC BOOKS: Comics and Movies:
From The Wrap YahooMovies: An extra on the set of "Batman Vs. Superman" could be fined $5 million dollars for breaching his confidentiality agreement to reveal that Batman's sidekick, Robin, will be female.
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From TheVerge: Iron Man is forever, but is Robert Downey, Jr.
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From THR: a "Batman Lego" movies is in the works.
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From ScreenRant: Lots of news surrounding "Captain America 3."
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From YahooNews (UK and Ireland): An article about Jade Pinkett Smith and her role as "Fish Mooney" on the FOX series, "Gotham."
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From YahooGames: Wonder Woman is a demi-god in "Batman Vs. Superman."
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From Deadline: From a few weeks back, the heirs of Jack Kirby, the guy who created much of the Marvel Universe of characters, settled their lawsuit against Disney/Marvel
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From CinemaBlend: More evidence that Spider-Man will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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From Deadline and Examiner: Marvel Comics cancels the Fantastic Four comic book series. Why?
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From Mashable: A Guardians of the Galaxy cartoon will debut on Disney XD in 2015.
STAR WARS:
From YahooMovies: The latest Star Wars document dump that MAY reveal possible story points... Or it could be cointelpro shiznit.
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From WebProNews and Mashable: James Earl Jones will reprise the role of Darth Vader for TV. On October 26th, ABC will rebroadcast Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion, the hour-long introduction to the Disney XD animated series, "Star Wars Rebels." There will be a new extra scene for the ABC showing that includes Darth Vader
OBITS:
From InsideMovies: The body of the actress, Missy Upham, who had been missing for several days, was found by family and friends on Thursday, October 16, 2014. Upham had recently appeared in the film August: Osage County.
MISC:
From YahooSports: Blake Griffin's strange tale of his former Los Angeles Clippers' boss, Donald Sterling.
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From YahooHealth: 5 alternatives to Viagra... if you need that.
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From GrindTV: Photo of the moment a jet breaks the sound carrier.
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From Salon via RSN: NFL covered up "hundreds and hundreds" of domestic violence cases.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Official Trailer for Chris Rock's "Top Five" Released
To view the trailer, go to http://youtu.be/jejCmmawzLY
In select theaters starting Dec. 5th 2014 and nationwide Dec. 12th 2014
Official Site: http://www.topfivemovie.com
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TopFiveMovie
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/TopFiveMovie
Official Instagram: http://instagram.com/topfivemovie
Official YouTube: http://youtube.com/topfivefilm
#TopFiveMovie
Neil Patrick Harris Announced as Host of the 2015 Oscars Show
Neil Patrick Harris To Host The 2015 Oscars®
Award-winning star of stage and screen Neil Patrick Harris will host the 87th Oscars®, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced. This will be Harris’ first time hosting the ceremony. The show will air live on ABC on Oscar® Sunday, February 22, 2015.
"We are thrilled to have Neil host the Oscars," said Zadan and Meron. "We have known him his entire adult life, and we have watched him explode as a great performer in feature films, television and stage. To work with him on the Oscars is the perfect storm, all of his resources and talent coming together on a global stage."
“It is truly an honor and a thrill to be asked to host this year’s Academy Awards. I grew up watching the Oscars and was always in such awe of some of the greats who hosted the show,” said Harris. “To be asked to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres, and everyone else who had the great fortune of hosting is a bucket list dream come true.”
“We share Craig and Neil’s excitement in welcoming the incredibly talented Neil Patrick Harris,” said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy President. “He is the consummate entertainer. Neil’s distinctive charm and showmanship make him the ideal host to honor the Oscar legacy and ensure we all enjoy another unforgettable celebration.”
“Neil is a terrific actor, singer, risk-taker and collaborator,” said Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO. “We can't wait to see the show that he and Craig and Neil create together.”
“Neil Patrick Harris is highly energetic and a definitive entertainer,” said Paul Lee. “We are thrilled to have him as our 2015 Oscar host.”
A triple-threat performer, Harris has enjoyed a successful career in entertainment. He can currently be seen starring opposite Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike in David Fincher’s critically-acclaimed feature film, “Gone Girl.” Harris garnered multiple Emmy® and Golden Globe award nominations for his role as Barney Stinson on the hit television series, “How I Met Your Mother,” and he won an Emmy for his guest-starring role on “Glee” in 2010. He also recently starred in the title role of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” on Broadway, earning the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Harris served as host of the 61st and 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as the 63rd, 65th, 66th and 67th Tony Awards, for which he won four Emmys. Most recently, Harris added the title of author to his list of accomplishments with the release of his autobiography from Crown Publishing, “Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography.”
The last two Oscars telecasts, which were produced by Zadan and Meron, received a major spike in the ratings. The 86th Oscars was TV’s most-watched entertainment event in 10 years and attracted the biggest viewership since 2000, with more than 45 million viewers. The show resulted in dramatic gains in younger demos and social media conversation, with more than one billion impressions generated on Twitter and 25 million interactions happening on Facebook on Oscar Sunday. Additionally, the star-studded “selfie” became the most retweeted photo of all time with 32.8 million views.
The Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
Host
Neil Patrick Harris: http://twitter.com/ActuallyNPH
Oscars Producers
Neil Meron: http://twitter.com/neilmeron
Craig Zadan http://twitter.com/craigzadan
Hashtags:
#Oscars
Academy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
Twitter: http://twitter.com/theacademy
Instagram: http://instagram.com/theacademy
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/oscars
Google +: https://plus.google.com/+Oscars
------------------
Award-winning star of stage and screen Neil Patrick Harris will host the 87th Oscars®, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced. This will be Harris’ first time hosting the ceremony. The show will air live on ABC on Oscar® Sunday, February 22, 2015.
"We are thrilled to have Neil host the Oscars," said Zadan and Meron. "We have known him his entire adult life, and we have watched him explode as a great performer in feature films, television and stage. To work with him on the Oscars is the perfect storm, all of his resources and talent coming together on a global stage."
“It is truly an honor and a thrill to be asked to host this year’s Academy Awards. I grew up watching the Oscars and was always in such awe of some of the greats who hosted the show,” said Harris. “To be asked to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres, and everyone else who had the great fortune of hosting is a bucket list dream come true.”
“We share Craig and Neil’s excitement in welcoming the incredibly talented Neil Patrick Harris,” said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy President. “He is the consummate entertainer. Neil’s distinctive charm and showmanship make him the ideal host to honor the Oscar legacy and ensure we all enjoy another unforgettable celebration.”
“Neil is a terrific actor, singer, risk-taker and collaborator,” said Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO. “We can't wait to see the show that he and Craig and Neil create together.”
“Neil Patrick Harris is highly energetic and a definitive entertainer,” said Paul Lee. “We are thrilled to have him as our 2015 Oscar host.”
A triple-threat performer, Harris has enjoyed a successful career in entertainment. He can currently be seen starring opposite Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike in David Fincher’s critically-acclaimed feature film, “Gone Girl.” Harris garnered multiple Emmy® and Golden Globe award nominations for his role as Barney Stinson on the hit television series, “How I Met Your Mother,” and he won an Emmy for his guest-starring role on “Glee” in 2010. He also recently starred in the title role of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” on Broadway, earning the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Harris served as host of the 61st and 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as the 63rd, 65th, 66th and 67th Tony Awards, for which he won four Emmys. Most recently, Harris added the title of author to his list of accomplishments with the release of his autobiography from Crown Publishing, “Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography.”
The last two Oscars telecasts, which were produced by Zadan and Meron, received a major spike in the ratings. The 86th Oscars was TV’s most-watched entertainment event in 10 years and attracted the biggest viewership since 2000, with more than 45 million viewers. The show resulted in dramatic gains in younger demos and social media conversation, with more than one billion impressions generated on Twitter and 25 million interactions happening on Facebook on Oscar Sunday. Additionally, the star-studded “selfie” became the most retweeted photo of all time with 32.8 million views.
The Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
Host
Neil Patrick Harris: http://twitter.com/ActuallyNPH
Oscars Producers
Neil Meron: http://twitter.com/neilmeron
Craig Zadan http://twitter.com/craigzadan
Hashtags:
#Oscars
Academy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
Twitter: http://twitter.com/theacademy
Instagram: http://instagram.com/theacademy
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/oscars
Google +: https://plus.google.com/+Oscars
------------------
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Review: Documentary "Dirty Wars" Sheds Light on America's Covert Wars
Dirty Wars (2013)
Running time: 87 minutes (1 hour, 27 minutes)
Not rated by the MPAA
DIRECTOR: Rick Rowley
WRITERS: David Riker and Jeremy Scahill
PRODUCERS: Anthony Arnove, Brenda Coughlin, and Jeremy Scahill
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Rick Rowley
EDITORS: David Riker and Rick Rowley
COMPOSER: David Harrington
Academy Award nominee
DOCUMENTARY – War
Starring: Jeremy Scahill, Hugh Shelton, Matthew Hoh, Andrew Exum, Malcolm Nance, Sheikh Saleh Bin Fareed, Abdulrahman Barman, and Senator Ron Wyden
Dirty Wars is a 2013 documentary film directed by Rick Rowley and written by Jeremy Scahill and David Riker. The film accompanies Scahill's 2013 book, Dirty Wars: The World is a Battlefield. Dirty Wars the movie follows Scahill as he tries to find the hidden truth behind America's ever-expanding covert wars.
Jeremy Scahill is an investigative journalist, perhaps best known for his book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army. He is also the founding editor of the online news publication, The Intercept.
Dirty Wars begins with Scahill's investigation of a series of night raids in the country of Afghanistan, and one particular raid captures his attention. It occurs in Gardez (the capital of the Paktai province) on February 12, 2010, in which five people, including two pregnant women, are killed by armed men.
Scahill's investigation leads him to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which is charged with identifying and eliminating terror cells worldwide. Scahill learns that JSOC's mission is expanding to more countries and includes a constantly growing “kill list.”
Dirty Wars provides an overview of America's covert wars, beginning with the invasion of Afghanistan and the war in Iraq. Scahill, who narrates and stars in the film, presents a gripping premise, but his subject or topic is too big and too broad for a film that does not last an hour-and-a-half. Scahill names specific players, points to specific victims, and seems to be traveling back and forth over half the world. Still, everything seems a bit vague, as if some kind of context is missing.
Perhaps, Scahill should have focused on fewer victims and targeted specific American politicians and players in the covert wars for longer on-camera interviews. I think that what is on-screen in Dirty Wars is investigative journalism that is important for everyone to see, and not just Americans. Scahill's story also makes for a riveting movie narrative. The look on Scahill's face during an appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher” is priceless and says a lot about the sorry state of American political commentary. Dirty Wars is, however, a small movie that is a bit too sweeping in its scope.
7 of 10
B+
Thursday, October 9, 2014
NOTES:
2014 Academy Awards, USA: 1 nomination: “Best Documentary, Features” (Rick Rowley and Jeremy Scahill)
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
"Our Brand is Crisis" Begins Shooting in New Orleans
Cameras Roll on “Our Brand is Crisis”
Principal photography begins on “Our Brand is Crisis,” starring Sandra Bullock and Billy Bob Thornton under the direction of David Gordon Green
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Filming is underway in New Orleans on director David Gordon Green’s (“Pineapple Express,” “George Washington”) feature adaptation of the critically acclaimed 2005 documentary “Our Brand is Crisis,” starring Oscar winners Sandra Bullock (“The Blind Side”) and Billy Bob Thornton (“Sling Blade”).
When a group of American consultants accept the challenge of getting an unpopular Bolivian president re-elected, they realize they need help. Tracking down retired maverick political consultant Jane Bodine (Bullock) to her cabin in the woods, they persuade her to lead the team—a decision they quickly come to regret, as “Calamity” Jane begins to live up to her nickname, unleashing her very own brand of chaos on the campaign.
Just as all seems lost, the loathsome Pat Candy (Thornton), Jane’s worst enemy, arrives in town to work for the opposition. Suddenly things become personal and as the battle begins the consultants get to see Jane the legend in action.
The film also stars Anthony Mackie (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”), Scoot McNairy (“Gone Girl,” “Argo”), Zoe Kazan (“Ruby Sparks”), Ann Dowd (“Side Effects,” HBO’s “The Leftovers”), Reynaldo Pacheco (“Beginners”), Dominic Flores (“Rampart”), Louis Arcella (NBC’s “The Blacklist”), Octavio Gómez BerrÃos (“Che: Part One”) and Joaquim de Almeida (“Fast Five”).
Green directs from a screenplay by Oscar nominee Peter Straughan (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), based on the documentary by Rachel Boynton, which outlined the American political campaign marketing tactics employed in the real-life 2002 Bolivian presidential election.
The film is being produced by Oscar-winning Smokehouse Pictures’ principals George Clooney and Grant Heslov (“Argo”), with Bullock, Participant Media’s Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King, and Stuart Besser serving as executive producers. Participant Media is a co-financier on the film.
Green’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes frequent collaborators director of photography Tim Orr, editor Colin Patton and production designer Richard A. Wright (“Manglehorn”), as well as costume designer Jenny Eagan (“Now You See Me”).
“Our Brand is Crisis” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.
Principal photography begins on “Our Brand is Crisis,” starring Sandra Bullock and Billy Bob Thornton under the direction of David Gordon Green
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Filming is underway in New Orleans on director David Gordon Green’s (“Pineapple Express,” “George Washington”) feature adaptation of the critically acclaimed 2005 documentary “Our Brand is Crisis,” starring Oscar winners Sandra Bullock (“The Blind Side”) and Billy Bob Thornton (“Sling Blade”).
When a group of American consultants accept the challenge of getting an unpopular Bolivian president re-elected, they realize they need help. Tracking down retired maverick political consultant Jane Bodine (Bullock) to her cabin in the woods, they persuade her to lead the team—a decision they quickly come to regret, as “Calamity” Jane begins to live up to her nickname, unleashing her very own brand of chaos on the campaign.
Just as all seems lost, the loathsome Pat Candy (Thornton), Jane’s worst enemy, arrives in town to work for the opposition. Suddenly things become personal and as the battle begins the consultants get to see Jane the legend in action.
The film also stars Anthony Mackie (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”), Scoot McNairy (“Gone Girl,” “Argo”), Zoe Kazan (“Ruby Sparks”), Ann Dowd (“Side Effects,” HBO’s “The Leftovers”), Reynaldo Pacheco (“Beginners”), Dominic Flores (“Rampart”), Louis Arcella (NBC’s “The Blacklist”), Octavio Gómez BerrÃos (“Che: Part One”) and Joaquim de Almeida (“Fast Five”).
Green directs from a screenplay by Oscar nominee Peter Straughan (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), based on the documentary by Rachel Boynton, which outlined the American political campaign marketing tactics employed in the real-life 2002 Bolivian presidential election.
The film is being produced by Oscar-winning Smokehouse Pictures’ principals George Clooney and Grant Heslov (“Argo”), with Bullock, Participant Media’s Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King, and Stuart Besser serving as executive producers. Participant Media is a co-financier on the film.
Green’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes frequent collaborators director of photography Tim Orr, editor Colin Patton and production designer Richard A. Wright (“Manglehorn”), as well as costume designer Jenny Eagan (“Now You See Me”).
“Our Brand is Crisis” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.
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