20 Animated Features Submitted for 2014 Oscar Race
LOS ANGELES, CA – Twenty features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 87th Academy Awards.
The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:
“Big Hero 6”
“The Book of Life”
“The Boxtrolls”
“Cheatin’”
“Giovanni’s Island”
“Henry & Me”
“The Hero of Color City”
“How to Train Your Dragon 2”
“Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart”
“Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return”
“The Lego Movie”
“Minuscule – Valley of the Lost Ants”
“Mr. Peabody & Sherman”
“Penguins of Madagascar”
“The Pirate Fairy”
“Planes: Fire & Rescue”
“Rio 2”
“Rocks in My Pockets”
“Song of the Sea”
“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”
Several of the films have not yet had their required Los Angeles qualifying run. Submitted features must fulfill the theatrical release requirements and comply with all of the category’s other qualifying rules before they can advance in the voting process. At least eight eligible animated features must be theatrically released in Los Angeles County within the calendar year for this category to be activated.
Films submitted in the Animated Feature Film category also may qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture, provided they meet the requirements for those categories.
The 87th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Warner Bros. Obtains Max Joseph's "We Are Your Friends"
Warner Bros. Pictures to Release “We Are Your Friends”
Max Joseph directed the Working Title and Studiocanal production starring Zac Efron, Emily Ratajkowski and Wes Bentley
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that it has obtained the domestic distribution rights for Max Joseph’s (MTV’s “Catfish: The TV Show”) feature film directorial debut, “We Are Your Friends.” The film, from Working Title Films and Studiocanal, stars Zac Efron (“Neighbors”), Emily Ratajkowski (“Gone Girl”) and Wes Bentley (“Interstellar,” “The Hunger Games”). The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
“The breadth and depth of our slate allows us to proudly bring features from every genre, scope and scale to our audiences, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to usher in Max Joseph’s fresh, raw image of a love story set in today’s modern-day music scene.”
“We Are Your Friends” is about what it takes to find your voice. Set in the world of electronic music and Hollywood nightlife, an aspiring 23-year-old DJ named Cole (Efron) spends his days scheming with his childhood friends and his nights working on the one track that will set the world on fire. All of this changes when he meets a charismatic but damaged older DJ named James (Bentley), who takes him under his wing. Things get complicated, however, when Cole starts falling for James’ much younger girlfriend, Sophie (Ratajkowski). With Cole’s forbidden relationship intensifying and his friendships unraveling, he must choose between love, loyalty, and the future he is destined for.
In making the announcement, Silverman stated, “We are so thrilled to finally be in business with Working Title, and know this is the beginning of a great relationship. The same can be said for Max, a wonderful new voice who will, hopefully, make many movies here. It is also thrilling to have our dear friend Zac back, as well as Emily, who will appear in ‘Entourage,’ and Wes, who is so wonderful in ‘Interstellar.’”
Kroll added, “The breadth and depth of our slate allows us to proudly bring features from every genre, scope and scale to our audiences, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to usher in Max Joseph’s fresh, raw image of a love story set in today’s modern-day music scene.”
“I couldn't be happier to have Warner Bros releasing my first feature film,” director Joseph said. “Having their passion and expertise behind ‘We Are Your Friends’ is a dream come true.”
Joseph directs from a screenplay he wrote with Meaghan Oppenheimer, from a story by Richard Silverman. The producers are Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Liza Chasin, with Silverman executive producing and Johanna Byer serving as co-producer. Randall Poster (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Divergent,” “Spring Breakers”) is the film’s music supervisor.
“We Are Your Friends” will be distributed in North America by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. Studiocanal, who financed the film, is handling international sales and will be distributing in France, UK, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.
About Working Title Films
Founded in 1983, Working Title Films has been co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner since 1992. The pair has produced more than 100 feature films which have amassed over $5 billion worldwide. Their films have won 9 Academy Awards®, and earned over 50 Academy Award® nominations, and won 24 BAFTAs, garnering over 100 BAFTA nominations.
About Studiocanal
Studiocanal is a subsidiary of the Canal+ Group. It is one of Europe’s leading companies in the market for co-production, acquisition, distribution and sales of international feature films and TV series. Studiocanal is the only studio operating simultaneously in the three main European territories—France, the United Kingdom and Germany—as well as in Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, Studiocanal owns one of the most important libraries in the world, with more than 5,000 international titles.
Max Joseph directed the Working Title and Studiocanal production starring Zac Efron, Emily Ratajkowski and Wes Bentley
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that it has obtained the domestic distribution rights for Max Joseph’s (MTV’s “Catfish: The TV Show”) feature film directorial debut, “We Are Your Friends.” The film, from Working Title Films and Studiocanal, stars Zac Efron (“Neighbors”), Emily Ratajkowski (“Gone Girl”) and Wes Bentley (“Interstellar,” “The Hunger Games”). The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
“The breadth and depth of our slate allows us to proudly bring features from every genre, scope and scale to our audiences, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to usher in Max Joseph’s fresh, raw image of a love story set in today’s modern-day music scene.”
“We Are Your Friends” is about what it takes to find your voice. Set in the world of electronic music and Hollywood nightlife, an aspiring 23-year-old DJ named Cole (Efron) spends his days scheming with his childhood friends and his nights working on the one track that will set the world on fire. All of this changes when he meets a charismatic but damaged older DJ named James (Bentley), who takes him under his wing. Things get complicated, however, when Cole starts falling for James’ much younger girlfriend, Sophie (Ratajkowski). With Cole’s forbidden relationship intensifying and his friendships unraveling, he must choose between love, loyalty, and the future he is destined for.
In making the announcement, Silverman stated, “We are so thrilled to finally be in business with Working Title, and know this is the beginning of a great relationship. The same can be said for Max, a wonderful new voice who will, hopefully, make many movies here. It is also thrilling to have our dear friend Zac back, as well as Emily, who will appear in ‘Entourage,’ and Wes, who is so wonderful in ‘Interstellar.’”
Kroll added, “The breadth and depth of our slate allows us to proudly bring features from every genre, scope and scale to our audiences, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to usher in Max Joseph’s fresh, raw image of a love story set in today’s modern-day music scene.”
“I couldn't be happier to have Warner Bros releasing my first feature film,” director Joseph said. “Having their passion and expertise behind ‘We Are Your Friends’ is a dream come true.”
Joseph directs from a screenplay he wrote with Meaghan Oppenheimer, from a story by Richard Silverman. The producers are Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Liza Chasin, with Silverman executive producing and Johanna Byer serving as co-producer. Randall Poster (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Divergent,” “Spring Breakers”) is the film’s music supervisor.
“We Are Your Friends” will be distributed in North America by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. Studiocanal, who financed the film, is handling international sales and will be distributing in France, UK, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.
About Working Title Films
Founded in 1983, Working Title Films has been co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner since 1992. The pair has produced more than 100 feature films which have amassed over $5 billion worldwide. Their films have won 9 Academy Awards®, and earned over 50 Academy Award® nominations, and won 24 BAFTAs, garnering over 100 BAFTA nominations.
About Studiocanal
Studiocanal is a subsidiary of the Canal+ Group. It is one of Europe’s leading companies in the market for co-production, acquisition, distribution and sales of international feature films and TV series. Studiocanal is the only studio operating simultaneously in the three main European territories—France, the United Kingdom and Germany—as well as in Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, Studiocanal owns one of the most important libraries in the world, with more than 5,000 international titles.
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg Unite for "Daddy's Home"
FERRELL AND WAHLBERG TO STAR IN “DADDY’S HOME” FOR PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND RED GRANITE IN ASSOCIATION WITH GARY SANCHEZ
Paramount Pictures and Red Granite Pictures in association with Gary Sanchez Productions announced today that Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are set to star in “DADDY’S HOME.” Red Granite Pictures will co-produce and co-finance the film, which Paramount Pictures will distribute worldwide. The film is expected to begin shooting later this year.
Sean Anders (“HORRIBLE BOSSES 2,” “THAT’S MY BOY”) will direct the screenplay written by Brian Burns (“Blue Bloods,” “Entourage”), with revision by Anders and John Morris (“HORRIBLE BOSSES 2,” “DUMB AND DUMBER TO”), Chris Henchy (“THE CAMPAIGN,” “THE OTHER GUYS”), Adam McKay (“ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEDGEND CONTINUES,” “THE CAMPAIGN”) and Etan Cohen (“MEN IN BLACK 3,” “TROPIC THUNDER”).
Morris will produce with Ferrell, Henchy and McKay through their Gary Sanchez Productions banner (“TAMMY,” “GET HARD”). The executive producers are Riza Aziz, Joey McFarland and David Koplan (“DUMB AND DUMBER TO,” “THE WOLF OF WALL STREET”) from Red Granite Pictures along with Kevin Messick (“ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES,” “THE OTHER GUYS”) and Jessica Elbaum (“ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES”) of Gary Sanchez, Sean Anders and Diana Pokorny (“HORRIBLE BOSSES” 1 & 2, “THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE”).
Adam Goodman, President of Paramount Film Group said, “Will and Mark are the absolute perfect on-screen duo to take on this hilarious project. With Anders at the helm, and our partners Red Granite on-board, we are thrilled this movie is getting underway.”
Riza Aziz, Co-Chairman of Red Granite Pictures adds, “We're particularly excited not only to reunite with the wonderful Paramount team but to collaborate again with the comical genius of Sean Anders and John Morris, who we had the pleasure of working with on Dumb and Dumber To. And we are thrilled to partner with Will, Mark and Gary Sanchez. We look forward to an inspiring, hilarious adventure.”
“DADDY’S HOME” follows a mild-mannered radio executive (Ferrell) who strives to become the best stepdad to his wife’s two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father (Wahlberg) arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
About Red Granite Pictures
Red Granite Pictures is an American film finance, development, production, and distribution company, co-founded by Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland in 2010. Aziz and McFarland serve as co-Chairmen and producing partners. Randy Hermann serves as CFO, David Boyle serves as Business Affairs and Production Legal, David Koplan serves as President of Production, while Danny Dimbort and Christian Mercuri serve as co-Presidents of the distribution arm, Red Granite International. The company was formed in 2010 but formally announced its executive team in May 2011 at the Cannes Film Festival. Red Granite has developed, produced, and structured financing for a slate of films representing more than $400 million in revenue.
Red Granite Pictures made its debut with Friends with Kids, a romantic comedy written and directed by Jennifer Westfeldt. Friends with Kids stars Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, and Megan Fox. Following Friends with Kids, Red Granite Pictures executive-produced and handled foreign distribution for the dramatic thriller Out of the Furnace starring Christian Bale, Zoe Saldana, Forest Whitaker, and Casey Affleck and directed by Scott Cooper. Out of the Furnace was released on December 6, 2013 by Relativity Media.
Red Granite Pictures next released the highly anticipated film The Wolf of Wall Street on December 25, 2013. The Wolf of Wall Street was directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Jon Favreau and Rob Reiner. The Wolf of Wall Street is based on the memoir of the same name by Jordan Belfort. The Wolf of Wall Street has achieved tremendous box office success and critical acclaim - including a Golden Globe win for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy for star Leonardo DiCaprio and five Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Terry Winters).
Following The Wolf of Wall Street, Red Granite Pictures Produced Horns and Dumb and Dumber To. Horns, a supernatural thriller starring Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple, Max Minghella, Joe Anderson, Heather Graham and directed by Alex Aja is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Joe Hill. Horns will be released October 31, 2014 by Dimension-RADiUS. Dumb and Dumber To is an American buddy comedy film co-written and directed by Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly. It is a sequel to the 1994 film Dumb and Dumber. The film stars Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Laurie Holden, Rob Riggle and Kathleen Turner. Dumb and Dumber To will be released on November 14, 2014 by Universal Pictures.
Red Granite’s development slate for 2015 includes The Brigands of Rattleborge and The General. The Brigands of Rattleborge, blacklist’s number 1 script of 2006, is a western revenge story and The General is a gritty look at the story of George Washington.
Paramount Pictures and Red Granite Pictures in association with Gary Sanchez Productions announced today that Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are set to star in “DADDY’S HOME.” Red Granite Pictures will co-produce and co-finance the film, which Paramount Pictures will distribute worldwide. The film is expected to begin shooting later this year.
Sean Anders (“HORRIBLE BOSSES 2,” “THAT’S MY BOY”) will direct the screenplay written by Brian Burns (“Blue Bloods,” “Entourage”), with revision by Anders and John Morris (“HORRIBLE BOSSES 2,” “DUMB AND DUMBER TO”), Chris Henchy (“THE CAMPAIGN,” “THE OTHER GUYS”), Adam McKay (“ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEDGEND CONTINUES,” “THE CAMPAIGN”) and Etan Cohen (“MEN IN BLACK 3,” “TROPIC THUNDER”).
Morris will produce with Ferrell, Henchy and McKay through their Gary Sanchez Productions banner (“TAMMY,” “GET HARD”). The executive producers are Riza Aziz, Joey McFarland and David Koplan (“DUMB AND DUMBER TO,” “THE WOLF OF WALL STREET”) from Red Granite Pictures along with Kevin Messick (“ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES,” “THE OTHER GUYS”) and Jessica Elbaum (“ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES”) of Gary Sanchez, Sean Anders and Diana Pokorny (“HORRIBLE BOSSES” 1 & 2, “THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE”).
Adam Goodman, President of Paramount Film Group said, “Will and Mark are the absolute perfect on-screen duo to take on this hilarious project. With Anders at the helm, and our partners Red Granite on-board, we are thrilled this movie is getting underway.”
Riza Aziz, Co-Chairman of Red Granite Pictures adds, “We're particularly excited not only to reunite with the wonderful Paramount team but to collaborate again with the comical genius of Sean Anders and John Morris, who we had the pleasure of working with on Dumb and Dumber To. And we are thrilled to partner with Will, Mark and Gary Sanchez. We look forward to an inspiring, hilarious adventure.”
“DADDY’S HOME” follows a mild-mannered radio executive (Ferrell) who strives to become the best stepdad to his wife’s two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father (Wahlberg) arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
About Red Granite Pictures
Red Granite Pictures is an American film finance, development, production, and distribution company, co-founded by Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland in 2010. Aziz and McFarland serve as co-Chairmen and producing partners. Randy Hermann serves as CFO, David Boyle serves as Business Affairs and Production Legal, David Koplan serves as President of Production, while Danny Dimbort and Christian Mercuri serve as co-Presidents of the distribution arm, Red Granite International. The company was formed in 2010 but formally announced its executive team in May 2011 at the Cannes Film Festival. Red Granite has developed, produced, and structured financing for a slate of films representing more than $400 million in revenue.
Red Granite Pictures made its debut with Friends with Kids, a romantic comedy written and directed by Jennifer Westfeldt. Friends with Kids stars Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, and Megan Fox. Following Friends with Kids, Red Granite Pictures executive-produced and handled foreign distribution for the dramatic thriller Out of the Furnace starring Christian Bale, Zoe Saldana, Forest Whitaker, and Casey Affleck and directed by Scott Cooper. Out of the Furnace was released on December 6, 2013 by Relativity Media.
Red Granite Pictures next released the highly anticipated film The Wolf of Wall Street on December 25, 2013. The Wolf of Wall Street was directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Jon Favreau and Rob Reiner. The Wolf of Wall Street is based on the memoir of the same name by Jordan Belfort. The Wolf of Wall Street has achieved tremendous box office success and critical acclaim - including a Golden Globe win for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy for star Leonardo DiCaprio and five Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Terry Winters).
Following The Wolf of Wall Street, Red Granite Pictures Produced Horns and Dumb and Dumber To. Horns, a supernatural thriller starring Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple, Max Minghella, Joe Anderson, Heather Graham and directed by Alex Aja is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Joe Hill. Horns will be released October 31, 2014 by Dimension-RADiUS. Dumb and Dumber To is an American buddy comedy film co-written and directed by Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly. It is a sequel to the 1994 film Dumb and Dumber. The film stars Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Laurie Holden, Rob Riggle and Kathleen Turner. Dumb and Dumber To will be released on November 14, 2014 by Universal Pictures.
Red Granite’s development slate for 2015 includes The Brigands of Rattleborge and The General. The Brigands of Rattleborge, blacklist’s number 1 script of 2006, is a western revenge story and The General is a gritty look at the story of George Washington.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Review: "Maleficent" is Not Just Another Hollywood Fantasy Film
Maleficent (2014)
Running time: 97 minutes (1 hour, 37 minutes)
Rating: MPAA – PG for sequences of fantasy action and violence, including frightening images
DIRECTOR: Robert Stromberg
WRITER: Linda Woolverton (based on the screenplay, Sleeping Beauty, by Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright, and Milt Banta; and the story adaptation by Erdman Penner; based on the story “La Belle au bois dormant” by Charles Perrault)
PRODUCER: Joe Roth
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dean Semler (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Chris Lebenzon and Richard Pearson
COMPOSER: James Newton Howard
FANTASY/ACTION/DRAMA with elements of adventure
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Sam Riley, Brenton Thwaites, Kenneth Cranham, Isobelle Molloy, and Ella Purnell
Maleficent is a 2014 fantasy and action film from director Robert Stromberg and writer Linda Woolverton. Released by Walt Disney Pictures and produced by Joe Roth, the film re-imagines Walt Disney's 1959 animated feature film, Sleeping Beauty, and focuses on the point of view of Maleficent, the villain in Sleeping Beauty and a classic Disney villain. In Maleficent the movie, a vengeful fairy curses an infant princess and becomes fascinated with the child as she grows up.
Maleficent is set in a land where there are two kingdoms, the Moors, the magical realm of the faeries, and a human kingdom that borders it. An ambitious human monarch, King Henry (Kenneth Cranham), covets the Moors, but finds his efforts to conquer it stymied by Maleficent (Angelina Jolie), the queen fairy.
Stefan (Sharlto Copley), a human who has known Maleficent since they both were children, believes that he has a solution to the conflict between the humans and the denizens of the Moors. However, this solution leads Maleficent to place a curse on Aurora, an infant human princess. Years later, Maleficent discovers that Aurora (Elle Fanning) may be the only one who can restore peace and hope to the troubled land.
One the books that I have had in my possession for the longest time is the 1980 edition of The Classic Fairy Tales by the husband-and-wife folklorists team, Ioan and Peter Opie. The book contains some of the best-known fairy tales in the English language, including “Sleeping Beauty” (as “The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood”). The emphasis of The Classic Fairy Tales is on the earliest English publications of stories like “Sleeping Beauty,” “Cinderella,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” rather than reprinting, as the text on the back cover declares, later “prettified” versions of those classic fairy tales.
Maleficent is certainly pretty, even gorgeous. The costumes, clothing, head-wraps, and jewelry that Angelina Jolie dons as Maleficent can be described as “classic couture.” The production design is lavish and simply beautiful; in fact, the director of Maleficent, Robert Stromberg, is an Oscar-winning production designer for how work on Avatar (2009) and Alice in Wonderland (2010). The creature design and CGI on the fairies of the Moors and on the dragon in the final battle have qualities that make them both tangible and magical; they're quite lovely.
However, Maleficent is not prettified. It is not the prettiness and beauty or the baroque wonderland that is the Moors that make Maleficent a unique and splendid film. The thematic richness that digs beneath the pretty and simplified surface of classic fairy tales makes Maleficent something that is rare in modern film – a fairy tale that is an allegory about the complexities of the human condition. Linda Woolverton composes a screenplay that offers a feminist reinterpretation of Sleeping Beauty, and the result is Maleficent. This is a film that does not portray women as princesses waiting for the prince-hero or knight-hero who will save them and then, marry them happily-ever-after. This film is about women, but it portrays them with complexity and subtly in depicting their relationships with other women, with the world, and with themselves.
That is not to say that this movie does not kick-ass. The battle scenes in Maleficent are far more exciting and visually interesting, even striking, than all those fantasy movies that desperately tried to copy Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. Somehow, the man versus magical creature battles in Maleficent manage to seem fresh and new.
I do have some complaints about Maleficent. Much of the first half-hour of this film lacks a sense of direction and is stiff. [Perhaps, that is why writer/director John Lee Hancock assisted on the re-shoots of the opening scenes.] The pixie trio and Stefan are under-realized characters, exemplifying the character missteps that keep this film from being a truly exceptional fantasy masterpiece.
Overall, however, I like this movie a lot. Angelina Jolie proves her star power and talent, because this movie could not exist without her playing the lead. Maleficent is not a Disney classic, but I think it will be memorable, because it is a distinctive dark fantasy film, where as so many other American epic fantasy films seem as if they come from the same bag of stale cookies.
7 of 10
B+
Friday, October 31, 2014
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Review: "Sleeping Beauty" Not an Exceptional Disney Animated Feature
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Running time: 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes)
DIRECTOR: Clyde Geronimi (supervising director), Les Clark, Eric Larson, and Wolfgang Reitherman,
WRITERS: Erdman Penner (story adaptation) with additional story by Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright, and Milt Banta (based on “La Belle au bois dormant” by Charles Perrault, “The Sleeping Beauty” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and “Little Briar Rose” by The Brothers Grimm)
PRODUCER: Walt Disney
EDITORS: Roy M. Brewer Jr. and Donald Halliday
Academy Award nominee
ANIMATION/FANTASY/FAMILY with elements of comedy
Starring: (voices) Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy, Barbara Jo Allen, Taylor Holmes, and Bill Thompson
Sleeping Beauty is a 1959 animated musical fantasy film from Walt Disney Productions. It is the 16th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, but it was the last animated Disney film based on a fairy tale until The Little Mermaid in 1989.
Sleeping Beauty is based on two similar fairy tales: “La Belle au bois dormant” by Charles Perrault and “Little Briar Rose” by The Brothers Grimm. The film also features adaptations and arrangements of musical numbers from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 1890 ballet, The Sleeping Beauty. In Disney's Sleeping Beauty, three good fairies protect a princess from a malevolent fairy who placed a curse on her when she was an infant.
Sleeping Beauty opens in the 14th century in an unnamed kingdom, where King Stephan (Taylor Holmes) and the Queen (Verna Felton) have been childless for years. Then, they welcome the birth of a daughter, Aurora, and they proclaim a holiday so that their subjects can celebrate her birth. At that celebration, the infant Aurora is betrothed to young Prince Phillip, the son King Hubert (Bill Thompson). Three fairies: Flora (Verna Felton), Fauna (Barbara Luddy), and Merryweather (Barbara Jo Allen) arrive to bless the child with gifts.
However, an welcomed visitor, the evil fairy queen, Maleficent (Eleanor Audley), arrives, furious that she has been snubbed by King Stephan and Queen Leah (who is only called “the Queen” in the film). So she places a curse on baby Aurora that will killer her on her 16th birthday. However, the fairies are able to temper the curse, and later, they spirit the child away in order to protect her. Sixteen years later, Aurora, now named “Briar Rose” (Mary Costa), meets a handsome young man (Bill Shirley) and falls in love with him, while unaware of the death curse hanging over her sixteenth birthday.
Sleeping Beauty is not one of Walt Disney's better animated feature films, but it features one of Disney's most memorable villains, Maleficent, a classic animated character because of her unique look. In fact, the overall look of Sleeping Beauty is something that makes it stand out, in large measure because of the work of Disney production designer regular, Ken Anderson, and Disney artist, Eyvind Earle, who was Sleeping Beauty's color stylist and chief background designer. Chuck Jones, the legendary Looney Tunes and Warner Bros. Pictures animation director, was a layout artist for Sleeping Beauty, but did not receive a credit in the film. The musical score and the songs in the film are also a hallmark of this film and are also Disney musical favorites.
Another thing about Sleeping Beauty is that it is also a bit irregular as fantasy films go. People may remember it as a fairy tale romance with its happily-ever-after ending about a Disney princess finding her prince. However, Sleeping Beauty is also a comic fantasy with a generous amount of humor, some of it involving even Maleficent. Sleeping Beauty is an oddity in the Disney animated feature film pantheon, but there are reasons to remember it. Like most Disney films, those reasons are why it is shared from one generation to the next.
7 of 10
B+
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
NOTES:
1960 Academy Awards, USA: 1 nomination: “Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture” (George Bruns)
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
2014 Austin Film Festival Winners Announced
Austin Film Festival Announces Winners of 2014 Screenplay & Teleplay Competition, Film Competition, and Audience Awards
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Austin Film Festival (AFF) announces its 2014 Jury and Audience Awards. A record number of scripts were received and Finalists were reviewed by an industry jury.
Screenplay and Teleplay Awards:
Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: Dead River Girl, Morris Long
Comedy Screenplay Award: Three Months, Jared Frieder
Enderby Entertainment Award: Suicide Boy, Laura Hainke
Fade to Black Award: I Fucked James Bond, Josh Hallman
Darkwoods Productions Horror Award: The 700 Year Itch, Molly Stein & Moon Unit Zappa
Darkwoods Productions Sci-Fi Award: The Incomparable Donald Strange, James Fant & Zach Cannon
AMC One-Hour Teleplay Pilot: Ascension, Wes Brown
Sitcom Teleplay Pilot: Great Points Park, Danny Sullivan
One-Hour Teleplay Spec: The Americans: Barium Meals, Adam Turner
Sitcom Teleplay Spec: Bob’s Burgers: Mr. Whiskers, Damir Konjicija & Dario Konjicija
The 2014 Jury award-winning films included the inaugural Comedy Vanguard Award. AFF’s competition juries include talented filmmakers and notable industry insiders Dan Guando (The Weinstein Company) and Tom Skerritt (founder, The Film School), among others. Animated, Documentary, and Narrative Short Jury Winners are eligible for Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences nomination.
Jury Awards:
Narrative Feature: The Kings Surrender, Philipp Leinemann
Documentary Feature Jury Award: Once Upon a Crime: The Borrelli-Davis Conspiracy, Sheldon Wilson
Dark Matters Feature: One Eyed Girl, Nick Matthews and Craig Behenna
Comedy Vanguard Feature: Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero, Maz Jobrani & Amir Ohebsion
Narrative Short: Skunk, Annie Silverstein
Documentary Short: The Next Part, Erin Sanger
Animated Short: Between Times, Ru Kuwahata & Max Porter
Narrative Student Short: Luke, Conor Hamill
Young Filmmakers Program Competition: Special Is Just a Word, Abby Thompson
During the Festival, audiences scored each film, resulting in 2014 Audience Award Winners.
Audience Awards:
Narrative Feature: Terrible Love, Luke Helmer & Christopher Thomas
Documentary Feature: The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young, Annika Iltis & Timothy Kane
Dark Matters Feature: The Suicide Theory, Michael J. Kospiah
Comedy Vanguard Feature: Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero, Maz Jobrani & Amir Ohebsion
Narrative Short: Mimi & Me, Marly Reed
Documentary Short: Albert, Daniel Jaffe
Animated Short: TIE The Dam Keeper, Robert Kondo & Dice Tsutsumi | The Last Resort, Gillian Park
Student Short: Luke, Conor Hamill
Heart of Film: Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West, Mike Thompson, Jerry Thompson, & Gregory Popovich
Stories From Abroad: Taking it Back, Andreas Schmied
Texas Independents: Flutter, Eric Hueber
Marquee Feature: Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, James Keach
About Austin Film Festival
Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Austin Economic Growth & Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division.
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Austin Film Festival (AFF) announces its 2014 Jury and Audience Awards. A record number of scripts were received and Finalists were reviewed by an industry jury.
Screenplay and Teleplay Awards:
Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: Dead River Girl, Morris Long
Comedy Screenplay Award: Three Months, Jared Frieder
Enderby Entertainment Award: Suicide Boy, Laura Hainke
Fade to Black Award: I Fucked James Bond, Josh Hallman
Darkwoods Productions Horror Award: The 700 Year Itch, Molly Stein & Moon Unit Zappa
Darkwoods Productions Sci-Fi Award: The Incomparable Donald Strange, James Fant & Zach Cannon
AMC One-Hour Teleplay Pilot: Ascension, Wes Brown
Sitcom Teleplay Pilot: Great Points Park, Danny Sullivan
One-Hour Teleplay Spec: The Americans: Barium Meals, Adam Turner
Sitcom Teleplay Spec: Bob’s Burgers: Mr. Whiskers, Damir Konjicija & Dario Konjicija
The 2014 Jury award-winning films included the inaugural Comedy Vanguard Award. AFF’s competition juries include talented filmmakers and notable industry insiders Dan Guando (The Weinstein Company) and Tom Skerritt (founder, The Film School), among others. Animated, Documentary, and Narrative Short Jury Winners are eligible for Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences nomination.
Jury Awards:
Narrative Feature: The Kings Surrender, Philipp Leinemann
Documentary Feature Jury Award: Once Upon a Crime: The Borrelli-Davis Conspiracy, Sheldon Wilson
Dark Matters Feature: One Eyed Girl, Nick Matthews and Craig Behenna
Comedy Vanguard Feature: Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero, Maz Jobrani & Amir Ohebsion
Narrative Short: Skunk, Annie Silverstein
Documentary Short: The Next Part, Erin Sanger
Animated Short: Between Times, Ru Kuwahata & Max Porter
Narrative Student Short: Luke, Conor Hamill
Young Filmmakers Program Competition: Special Is Just a Word, Abby Thompson
During the Festival, audiences scored each film, resulting in 2014 Audience Award Winners.
Audience Awards:
Narrative Feature: Terrible Love, Luke Helmer & Christopher Thomas
Documentary Feature: The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young, Annika Iltis & Timothy Kane
Dark Matters Feature: The Suicide Theory, Michael J. Kospiah
Comedy Vanguard Feature: Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero, Maz Jobrani & Amir Ohebsion
Narrative Short: Mimi & Me, Marly Reed
Documentary Short: Albert, Daniel Jaffe
Animated Short: TIE The Dam Keeper, Robert Kondo & Dice Tsutsumi | The Last Resort, Gillian Park
Student Short: Luke, Conor Hamill
Heart of Film: Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West, Mike Thompson, Jerry Thompson, & Gregory Popovich
Stories From Abroad: Taking it Back, Andreas Schmied
Texas Independents: Flutter, Eric Hueber
Marquee Feature: Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, James Keach
About Austin Film Festival
Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Austin Economic Growth & Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division.
VIZ Media Announces Neon Alley Updates for November 2014
VIZ MEDIA DELIVERS SUBSTANTIAL NOVEMBER UPDATE FOR NEON ALLEY ANIME FREE STREAMING PLATFORM
Premieres For COPPELION And NARUTO SHIPPUDEN SPIN OFF: ROCK LEE, New SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL Subtitled Episodes, And Updates For BLEACH, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, RANMA ½ And More!!
VIZ Media opens November with a new update for its Neon Alley free anime streaming platform that features a wide array of exciting new additions and episodes.
Notable new additions this month include the complete post-apocalyptic sci-fi action series COPPELION (Episodes 1-13), English dubbed for the first time, which will join the already available subtitled complete series on November 27th and will be available in the U.S. via Neon Alley, Hulu and Hulu Plus for a limited time. COPPELION takes place in the not-so-distant future as a catastrophic event has turned the old capital of Japan into a wasteland, forever changing the lives of its people. Decades later, three schoolgirls set foot into the now forsaken city. They are the Coppelion, genetically engineered humans created by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces to operate under the lethal conditions of the contaminated city. Trained since birth, the girls must use all of their skills and resources to carry out their one and only mission: to rescue those left behind.
Also making its exclusive Neon Alley English dub debut will be the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime spin-off comedy series, ROCK LEE AND HIS NINJA PALS (Episodes 1-13), available on November 28th to join the already available subtitled complete series consisting of 13 episodes. Welcome to the Hidden Leaf Village, home to the famous Naruto Uzumaki, star of NARUTO/NARUTO SHIPPUDEN. Here, ninja train day and night to be able to carry out important missions. But wait! This show isn’t about Naruto, the mightiest ninja! It’s about Rock Lee, the one who can’t use ninjutsu at all!
Ninja action fans are also invited to catch the simulcasts of the latest subtitled NARUTO SHIPPUDEN episodes every Thursday. Visit www.NeonAlley.com for complete episodic details and airdates.
SAILOR MOON and SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL fans can look forward to new episodes throughout November. SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL subtitled simulcast Episode 9, “Serenity Princess,” premieres on November 1st, followed by Episode 10, “Moon,” on November 15th. Two brand new subtitled episodes of SAILOR MOON will be added every Monday!
The latest Neon Alley monthly update is also augmented by nearly 100 additional episodes from other top-rated VIZ Media anime series including:
ACCEL WORLD
Season 1, Set 2 (Episodes 13-24) of the edgy series launches on Neon Alley beginning on November 1st and blends a highly imaginative online game with real world impact that adds a new twist to one teen’s solution to being bullied.
The entire series, Episodes 1-24, is also available subtitled on Neon Alley.
BLEACH
· English dubbed episodes 243–255 will be added to the current library of episodes of this action-packed series!
· Fans also can catch the entire series subtitled on Neon Alley (366 episodes total)!
NARUTO
· Neon Alley adds dubbed Episodes 53-65 of the original NARUTO anime series.
· With the newest addition, check out a total of 65 English dubbed episodes and the complete subtitled anime (all 220 episodes) series!
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN
· Don’t miss simulcasts of the latest subtitled episodes of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN every Thursday in November beginning with Episode 385 on November 13th.
· Also enjoy the action-packed additions of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN English dubbed Episodes 13-18 bringing the total of available dubbed episodes of the series to over 100.
NURA RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN
· Catch Season 2, Episodes 14-26 available beginning on November 20th which now means you can watch the entire series dubbed!
· The entire series comprising of two seasons with a total of 52 episodes, is now available subtitled on the streaming platform.
RANMA ½
· Enjoy the addition of 2 new dubbed RANMA ½ episodes each week throughout November beginning with Season 5, Episodes 111-112 on November 7th and every Friday thereafter.
Neon Alley is VIZ Media’s consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. with over 3,200 subtitled and English dubbed episodes and movies from more than 36 series! Neon Alley also reaches an expansive on-demand U.S.-based audience on the free, ad-supported Hulu and Hulu Plus subscription service, which enables viewers to watch shows anytime, anywhere across devices including Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 (PS3®) or PlayStation®4 (PS4™) systems Roku, Chromecast, and mobile devices. A full list of Hulu and Hulu Plus-enabled devices can be found at http://www.hulu.com/plus/devices.
Additional information on Neon Alley is available at: www.NeonAlley.com.
Premieres For COPPELION And NARUTO SHIPPUDEN SPIN OFF: ROCK LEE, New SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL Subtitled Episodes, And Updates For BLEACH, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, RANMA ½ And More!!
VIZ Media opens November with a new update for its Neon Alley free anime streaming platform that features a wide array of exciting new additions and episodes.
Notable new additions this month include the complete post-apocalyptic sci-fi action series COPPELION (Episodes 1-13), English dubbed for the first time, which will join the already available subtitled complete series on November 27th and will be available in the U.S. via Neon Alley, Hulu and Hulu Plus for a limited time. COPPELION takes place in the not-so-distant future as a catastrophic event has turned the old capital of Japan into a wasteland, forever changing the lives of its people. Decades later, three schoolgirls set foot into the now forsaken city. They are the Coppelion, genetically engineered humans created by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces to operate under the lethal conditions of the contaminated city. Trained since birth, the girls must use all of their skills and resources to carry out their one and only mission: to rescue those left behind.
Also making its exclusive Neon Alley English dub debut will be the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime spin-off comedy series, ROCK LEE AND HIS NINJA PALS (Episodes 1-13), available on November 28th to join the already available subtitled complete series consisting of 13 episodes. Welcome to the Hidden Leaf Village, home to the famous Naruto Uzumaki, star of NARUTO/NARUTO SHIPPUDEN. Here, ninja train day and night to be able to carry out important missions. But wait! This show isn’t about Naruto, the mightiest ninja! It’s about Rock Lee, the one who can’t use ninjutsu at all!
Ninja action fans are also invited to catch the simulcasts of the latest subtitled NARUTO SHIPPUDEN episodes every Thursday. Visit www.NeonAlley.com for complete episodic details and airdates.
SAILOR MOON and SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL fans can look forward to new episodes throughout November. SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL subtitled simulcast Episode 9, “Serenity Princess,” premieres on November 1st, followed by Episode 10, “Moon,” on November 15th. Two brand new subtitled episodes of SAILOR MOON will be added every Monday!
The latest Neon Alley monthly update is also augmented by nearly 100 additional episodes from other top-rated VIZ Media anime series including:
ACCEL WORLD
Season 1, Set 2 (Episodes 13-24) of the edgy series launches on Neon Alley beginning on November 1st and blends a highly imaginative online game with real world impact that adds a new twist to one teen’s solution to being bullied.
The entire series, Episodes 1-24, is also available subtitled on Neon Alley.
BLEACH
· English dubbed episodes 243–255 will be added to the current library of episodes of this action-packed series!
· Fans also can catch the entire series subtitled on Neon Alley (366 episodes total)!
NARUTO
· Neon Alley adds dubbed Episodes 53-65 of the original NARUTO anime series.
· With the newest addition, check out a total of 65 English dubbed episodes and the complete subtitled anime (all 220 episodes) series!
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN
· Don’t miss simulcasts of the latest subtitled episodes of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN every Thursday in November beginning with Episode 385 on November 13th.
· Also enjoy the action-packed additions of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN English dubbed Episodes 13-18 bringing the total of available dubbed episodes of the series to over 100.
NURA RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN
· Catch Season 2, Episodes 14-26 available beginning on November 20th which now means you can watch the entire series dubbed!
· The entire series comprising of two seasons with a total of 52 episodes, is now available subtitled on the streaming platform.
RANMA ½
· Enjoy the addition of 2 new dubbed RANMA ½ episodes each week throughout November beginning with Season 5, Episodes 111-112 on November 7th and every Friday thereafter.
Neon Alley is VIZ Media’s consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. with over 3,200 subtitled and English dubbed episodes and movies from more than 36 series! Neon Alley also reaches an expansive on-demand U.S.-based audience on the free, ad-supported Hulu and Hulu Plus subscription service, which enables viewers to watch shows anytime, anywhere across devices including Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 (PS3®) or PlayStation®4 (PS4™) systems Roku, Chromecast, and mobile devices. A full list of Hulu and Hulu Plus-enabled devices can be found at http://www.hulu.com/plus/devices.
Additional information on Neon Alley is available at: www.NeonAlley.com.
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