Intellectual property — the books, films, characters and properties that get butts into seats — has long been a cornerstone of Hollywood moviemaking. But many of this year’s films have drawn from less likely, though perhaps inevitable, sources of inspiration: products and brands. Movies ranging from “Barbie” and “Air” to “BlackBerry” and Michael Mann’s upcoming “Ferrari” all to one extent or another leverage the namesake of the object, or the business associated with it in the name of attracting audiences to theaters.
This parade of product-driven titles seems to mark an inflection point in a crowded entertainment landscape where consumer recognizability has become one of the most important (or seemingly only) factor when deciding which movies to make.
At their best, these movies hit it out of the park with critics and moviegoers, as in the case with “Barbie,” the biggest movie of the year, or gain critical heat, as with “Air,...
This parade of product-driven titles seems to mark an inflection point in a crowded entertainment landscape where consumer recognizability has become one of the most important (or seemingly only) factor when deciding which movies to make.
At their best, these movies hit it out of the park with critics and moviegoers, as in the case with “Barbie,” the biggest movie of the year, or gain critical heat, as with “Air,...
- 11/17/2023
- by Todd Gilchrist
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Jon S. Baird, the Scottish filmmaker known for his work on Tetris and Stan & Ollie, has signed with Range Media Partners.
Baird’s most recent feature, the true-life thriller Tetris, earned him a nomination for Best Director – Fiction at the upcoming 2023 BAFTA Scotland Awards, after world premiering at SXSW. The Apple TV+ pic tells the story of Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton), a video game enthusiast turned entrepreneur, who stumbles upon a little-known title called Tetris at a tech expo and becomes embroiled in a high-stakes battle for its rights, facing off against rival companies, the Kgb, and even Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Baird previously directed Stan & Ollie, a feature about comedy legends Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Hardy (John C. Reilly), for eOne and BBC Films, which was nominated for Outstanding British Film of the Year at the BAFTA Film Awards. The filmmaker also with that title secured...
Baird’s most recent feature, the true-life thriller Tetris, earned him a nomination for Best Director – Fiction at the upcoming 2023 BAFTA Scotland Awards, after world premiering at SXSW. The Apple TV+ pic tells the story of Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton), a video game enthusiast turned entrepreneur, who stumbles upon a little-known title called Tetris at a tech expo and becomes embroiled in a high-stakes battle for its rights, facing off against rival companies, the Kgb, and even Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Baird previously directed Stan & Ollie, a feature about comedy legends Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Hardy (John C. Reilly), for eOne and BBC Films, which was nominated for Outstanding British Film of the Year at the BAFTA Film Awards. The filmmaker also with that title secured...
- 10/26/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The “Tetris” movie has inspired a new puzzle. The Apple Original film, which premiered at SXSW this year before arriving in theaters and the streaming platform in March, stars Taron Egerton as American video game salesman Henk Rogers, who discovered Tetris in 1988 and set out to acquire and popularize the Russian computer game.
The nonfiction 2016 book “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized the World” charted the history of Tetris. Now, author Dan Ackerman is alleging that the film illegally copied from his book without fair compensation. Ackerman, who is also the editor-in-chief of Gizmodo, is seeking at least $4.8 million in damages from Apple, “Tetris” screenwriter Noah Pink, and Tetris Co.
Per the lawsuit, as first reported by Reuters, Ackerman claimed he sent a pre-publication copy of “The Tetris Effect” to Tetris Co., but the company sent him a “strongly worded cease-and-desist letter” and refused to discuss adaptation rights, plus...
The nonfiction 2016 book “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized the World” charted the history of Tetris. Now, author Dan Ackerman is alleging that the film illegally copied from his book without fair compensation. Ackerman, who is also the editor-in-chief of Gizmodo, is seeking at least $4.8 million in damages from Apple, “Tetris” screenwriter Noah Pink, and Tetris Co.
Per the lawsuit, as first reported by Reuters, Ackerman claimed he sent a pre-publication copy of “The Tetris Effect” to Tetris Co., but the company sent him a “strongly worded cease-and-desist letter” and refused to discuss adaptation rights, plus...
- 8/9/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Daniel Ackerman, editor-in-chief of tech news site Gizmodo, has sued Apple and other parties over the 2023 Apple TV+ film ‘Tetris’, claiming that the movie unlawfully lifted content from his book about the classic video game. Ackerman’s book ‘The Tetris Effect: The Game That Mesmerized the World’, published in 2016, delves into the hit game’s origins in the former Soviet Union and the battle for global licencing rights, reports The Wrap.
“Ackerman’s book took a unique approach to writing about the real history of Tetris, as it not only applied the historical record but also layered his own original research and ingenuity to create a compelling narrative non-fiction book in the style of a Cold War spy thriller,” according to the lawsuit.
“Ackerman’s literary masterpiece, unlike other articles and writings, dispelled of the emphasis on the actual gameplay and fans, and instead concentrated on the surrounding narrative, action sequences,...
“Ackerman’s book took a unique approach to writing about the real history of Tetris, as it not only applied the historical record but also layered his own original research and ingenuity to create a compelling narrative non-fiction book in the style of a Cold War spy thriller,” according to the lawsuit.
“Ackerman’s literary masterpiece, unlike other articles and writings, dispelled of the emphasis on the actual gameplay and fans, and instead concentrated on the surrounding narrative, action sequences,...
- 8/9/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Dan Ackerman, the editor-in-chief of tech news website Gizmodo, filed a lawsuit on Monday against Apple claiming that the Apple TV+ movie “Tetris” unlawfully lifted content from his book about the classic video game.
Published in 2016, Ackerman’s book titled “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Mesmerized the Globe” delved into the hit game’s beginnings within the former Soviet Union and the battle for its worldwide licensing rights.
According to the lawsuit, “Ackerman’s book took a unique approach to writing about the real history of Tetris, as it not only applied the historical record, but also layered his own original research and ingenuity to create a compelling narrative non-fiction book in the style of a Cold War spy thriller.”
The lawsuit added, “Mr. Ackerman’s literary masterpiece, unlike other articles and writings, dispelled of the emphasis on the actual gameplay and fans, and instead concentrated on the surrounding narrative,...
Published in 2016, Ackerman’s book titled “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Mesmerized the Globe” delved into the hit game’s beginnings within the former Soviet Union and the battle for its worldwide licensing rights.
According to the lawsuit, “Ackerman’s book took a unique approach to writing about the real history of Tetris, as it not only applied the historical record, but also layered his own original research and ingenuity to create a compelling narrative non-fiction book in the style of a Cold War spy thriller.”
The lawsuit added, “Mr. Ackerman’s literary masterpiece, unlike other articles and writings, dispelled of the emphasis on the actual gameplay and fans, and instead concentrated on the surrounding narrative,...
- 8/9/2023
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Dan Ackerman, editor in chief of tech-news site Gizmodo, alleges Apple TV+ film “Tetris” illegally copied from his book on the popular video game, in a lawsuit he filed seeking at least $4.8 million in damages from Apple and others.
Ackerman’s “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized the World,” published in 2016, is about the game’s origins in the former Soviet Union and the fight for its global licensing rights. The lawsuit touted the book as a “literary masterpiece” and described it as “in the style of Cold War spy thriller.”
According to the lawsuit, Ackerman sent a pre-publication copy of the book to the Tetris Co. in 2016 but that the company refused engage in a deal with him for any projects related to the book — and sent him a “strongly worded cease-and-desist letter.”
In the lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Ackerman asked the...
Ackerman’s “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized the World,” published in 2016, is about the game’s origins in the former Soviet Union and the fight for its global licensing rights. The lawsuit touted the book as a “literary masterpiece” and described it as “in the style of Cold War spy thriller.”
According to the lawsuit, Ackerman sent a pre-publication copy of the book to the Tetris Co. in 2016 but that the company refused engage in a deal with him for any projects related to the book — and sent him a “strongly worded cease-and-desist letter.”
In the lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Ackerman asked the...
- 8/8/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Taron Egerton, Toby Jones, Rick Yune, Ben Miles, Mara Huf, Nikita Efremov, Oleg Stefan, Roger Allam, Ayane Nagabuchi, Anthony Boyle | Written by Noah Pink | Directed by Jon S. Bird
If you are a retro / 80s nerd in the truest sense then I am here to tell you, my friends, that Tetris is about to become your new favourite movie. Yes, that game about the falling blocks you were obsessed with as a kid on your swanky Gameboy, now has a movie based on one man’s quest to secure the International licensing rights for one of the most, if not The most played games in history.
Taron Egerton teams up with Cass director Jon S. Bird to bring us a movie that is loosely based (and I do mean Loosely) on the true story of Henk Rogers. No stranger to biographical flicks with movies like Eddie the Eagle and Rocketman,...
If you are a retro / 80s nerd in the truest sense then I am here to tell you, my friends, that Tetris is about to become your new favourite movie. Yes, that game about the falling blocks you were obsessed with as a kid on your swanky Gameboy, now has a movie based on one man’s quest to secure the International licensing rights for one of the most, if not The most played games in history.
Taron Egerton teams up with Cass director Jon S. Bird to bring us a movie that is loosely based (and I do mean Loosely) on the true story of Henk Rogers. No stranger to biographical flicks with movies like Eddie the Eagle and Rocketman,...
- 4/11/2023
- by Kevin Haldon
- Nerdly
Henk Rogers "cried" when he saw the 'Tetris' movie.The 69-year-old entrepreneur secured the rights to the classic video game - which sees players match descending coloured pieces in order to clear them from the screen before it fills up - in the early 1980s and admitted that he was moved to tears by the new biopic, in which he is played by Taron Egerton.He told Collider: "Well, for me, I remember I cried several times during the movie, and I don’t cry easily, but I was moved, you know? There was the bit where my wife comes home with my daughter, and she has to sing? "Oh my gosh, that was so touching. Yeah, how can you not cry during that scene? But, I was blown away by the movie. It’s a movie! It’s not a documentary, it’s a movie. It’s a story,...
- 4/9/2023
- by Jordan Beck
- Bang Showbiz
Apple TV+ found the perfect fit for its ever-growing lineup with the launch of ‘Tetris” on March 31. The film tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pazhitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is described as “a Cold War-era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish.”
Following its March 15 premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, critics praised the film, earning it an 82% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads, “While it’s nowhere near as addictive or fast-paced as the game, ‘Tetris’ offers a fun, fizzy account of the story behind an 8-bit classic.
Following its March 15 premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, critics praised the film, earning it an 82% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads, “While it’s nowhere near as addictive or fast-paced as the game, ‘Tetris’ offers a fun, fizzy account of the story behind an 8-bit classic.
- 4/8/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
A good rule of thumb for movies about video games is that the movie should be at least as interesting as the game on which it’s based. Apple’s Tetris film does an admirable job reminding viewers of the addictive attraction of the 1980s Game Boy classic, which mesmerized millions. In fact, it’s so successful, that I found myself constantly reaching for my phone, trying to sneak in a level or two while the film meandered from cliché to cliché.
Of course, Jon Baird’s film is not an adaptation of the game of “Tetris;” I’m not even clear how that would work. It’s instead the story of real-life businessman Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) and his quest to bring the game to Nintendo Game Boys and arcade cabinets worldwide in the mid-1980s. The actual machinations to get “Tetris” from the Soviet Union to the free...
Of course, Jon Baird’s film is not an adaptation of the game of “Tetris;” I’m not even clear how that would work. It’s instead the story of real-life businessman Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) and his quest to bring the game to Nintendo Game Boys and arcade cabinets worldwide in the mid-1980s. The actual machinations to get “Tetris” from the Soviet Union to the free...
- 4/5/2023
- by Chris Williams
- CinemaNerdz
Jon S. Baird’s Apple+ movie about the journey of one man who went through a grueling process of acquiring the rights to a game from beyond the Iron Curtain to have it published for the entire world, called “Tetris,” has just premiered, and it’s a surprisingly accurate telling of the actual events. The story follows the CEO of Bullet-Proof Software, Henk Rogers’s (Taron Egerton) journey from being a small-time game publisher to being the joint owner of the most famous video game in the world. With multiple transactions and a lot of deals happening throughout the movie, it may get difficult to keep track, so here’s a detailed explanation of all the possible queries you might’ve had while enjoying this almost entirely accurate adaptation of a true story.
Spoilers Ahead
How Did Henk Find Out About Tetris?
In 1988, while trying to attract crowds to a game he had published,...
Spoilers Ahead
How Did Henk Find Out About Tetris?
In 1988, while trying to attract crowds to a game he had published,...
- 4/2/2023
- by Indrayudh Talukdar
- Film Fugitives
Millions have played some version of Tetris, but nobody plays the game for its story. After all, the addictive puzzler has captivated generations of gamers with its neatly easy-to-learn, but tough-to-master, gameplay rather than its total lack of narrative. It’s not The Last of Us.
Yet Tetris does have an incredible story. It’s a tale about how a software designer named Henk Rogers and Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov helped get the game fully out of the Soviet Union and into the hands of many of those millions of fans via the game’s legendary Game Boy port. You won’t find that story in the games themselves, but you will find it in Tetris: the movie about the game’s real-life history that is now streaming on Apple TV+.
The story of Tetris‘ journey to the Game Boy is a gripping tale of espionage, political intrigue, friendship,...
Yet Tetris does have an incredible story. It’s a tale about how a software designer named Henk Rogers and Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov helped get the game fully out of the Soviet Union and into the hands of many of those millions of fans via the game’s legendary Game Boy port. You won’t find that story in the games themselves, but you will find it in Tetris: the movie about the game’s real-life history that is now streaming on Apple TV+.
The story of Tetris‘ journey to the Game Boy is a gripping tale of espionage, political intrigue, friendship,...
- 4/1/2023
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
Believe it or not, game development is not what most people would consider to be sexy. But anyone familiar with the story of Tetris knows there can be exceptions to the rule.
Originally depicted in the 2004 BBC documentary Tetris: From Russia with Love, and now dramatized in the Apple TV+ film Tetris (now streaming), it’s the kind of story that has it all: corporate espionage, personal betrayal, and an outcome that would change the world forever. No, really.
It’s the story of a Soviet-era Russian engineer, Alexey Pajitnov...
Originally depicted in the 2004 BBC documentary Tetris: From Russia with Love, and now dramatized in the Apple TV+ film Tetris (now streaming), it’s the kind of story that has it all: corporate espionage, personal betrayal, and an outcome that would change the world forever. No, really.
It’s the story of a Soviet-era Russian engineer, Alexey Pajitnov...
- 4/1/2023
- by Christopher Cruz
- Rollingstone.com
Welcome to another weekend light on viable new awards-contending movies to stream. But just because none of the movies below are likely to win Oscars, that doesn’t mean they’re not worth watching. Far from it! Our top pick is one of the best new romantic comedies of the year so far, and the rest of them will at the very least hold your attention.
The contender to watch this weekend: “Rye Lane”
This British romantic comedy was a hit at Sundance, and heads to Hulu today. It might not get any major awards attention this year, but its director, Raine Allen-Miller, is a filmmaker to watch. This is her debut feature, and she has such a strong vision out of the gate that she’ll surely be getting bigger opportunities very soon. Vivian Oparah (“I May Destroy You”) and David Jonsson (“Industry”) star as recently heartbroken South London...
The contender to watch this weekend: “Rye Lane”
This British romantic comedy was a hit at Sundance, and heads to Hulu today. It might not get any major awards attention this year, but its director, Raine Allen-Miller, is a filmmaker to watch. This is her debut feature, and she has such a strong vision out of the gate that she’ll surely be getting bigger opportunities very soon. Vivian Oparah (“I May Destroy You”) and David Jonsson (“Industry”) star as recently heartbroken South London...
- 4/1/2023
- by Liam Mathews
- Gold Derby
Starting today you can play “Tetris.”
Not the game of colorful blocks falling from the sky, but the new feature film about how the rights to “Tetris” were maneuvered out of the former Soviet Union by an American programmer and game developer named Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton). It’s a wild and deeply compelling story, the kind of Cold War caper that is even more incredible because it really happened.
Produced by “Kingsman” mastermind Matthew Vaughn, the movie has a decidedly poppy tone and visual aesthetic (embroidered with 8-bit flourishes) that makes it even more fun to watch. And you can watch it right now, on Apple TV+.
TheWrap spoke to “Tetris” director Jon S. Baird (who previously brought the story of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to the big screen in “Stan & Ollie”) about how the project came about, whether or not he was a “Tetris” die-hard and...
Not the game of colorful blocks falling from the sky, but the new feature film about how the rights to “Tetris” were maneuvered out of the former Soviet Union by an American programmer and game developer named Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton). It’s a wild and deeply compelling story, the kind of Cold War caper that is even more incredible because it really happened.
Produced by “Kingsman” mastermind Matthew Vaughn, the movie has a decidedly poppy tone and visual aesthetic (embroidered with 8-bit flourishes) that makes it even more fun to watch. And you can watch it right now, on Apple TV+.
TheWrap spoke to “Tetris” director Jon S. Baird (who previously brought the story of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to the big screen in “Stan & Ollie”) about how the project came about, whether or not he was a “Tetris” die-hard and...
- 3/31/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
With over 500 million copies sold, Tetris is one of the most successful and beloved video game franchises ever. The game was even recently adapted into a seemingly unlikely movie that tells the equally unlikely story of its origins. Of course, Tetris’ lifetime sales numbers are bolstered by the numerous spin-offs and reimaginings of the original game that are still being made and enjoyed today. 2018’s Tetris Effect even managed to grab a few Game of the Year awards en route to becoming a best-seller, which is really a testament to both the creative power and sales success of this truly remarkable franchise.
Yet Tetris is unlike most other modern entertainment franchises in many ways. These days, anything that is even remotely successful is practically guaranteed to get an immediate sequel that ideally retains as much of the original’s creative team as possible. The inevitability of such projects makes it...
Yet Tetris is unlike most other modern entertainment franchises in many ways. These days, anything that is even remotely successful is practically guaranteed to get an immediate sequel that ideally retains as much of the original’s creative team as possible. The inevitability of such projects makes it...
- 3/31/2023
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
Most of us like to play games, whether it is for relaxation or entertainment, and if it gives us money, all the better. Do you remember the “Maze Runner” trilogy where Thomas, the protagonist, is placed in a maze with no memory of the outside world? He tries to put together the ideas that come to him through his dreams and plans an escape from the maze into the real world. Observing his varied moves and the obstacles that he faces allows the viewer to be creative and think of possible plans of action to find an escape.
So it is with “Tetris,” When you feel that the characters are playing against each other, you just want the real hero to win. But the real hero in this game is Alexey Pajitnov, who has nothing to gain or lose. Nevertheless, we have another hero who wants to make a fortune out of Tetris,...
So it is with “Tetris,” When you feel that the characters are playing against each other, you just want the real hero to win. But the real hero in this game is Alexey Pajitnov, who has nothing to gain or lose. Nevertheless, we have another hero who wants to make a fortune out of Tetris,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Carlos Luis
- Film Fugitives
Tetris is an iconic video game that has captivated players for four decades. Originally the product of one man in Soviet Russia, the game became a global sensation when bundled with the Nintendo GameBoy in 1989. While there have been countless iterations of the game over the years, few know the real story of how the puzzle game broke through the Iron Curtain. Despite books and documentaries on the subject, the new AppleTV+ film Tetris tells the story many never knew.
Starring Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers, Tetris takes us through the tumultuous rights negotiations between British company Mirrorsoft, run by Robert Maxwell, and Dutch-American Rogers. While navigating the tricky Soviet political machine, Rogers befriends the creator of Tetris, Alexey Pajitnov, and the duo embarks on a risky venture to bring the game to the world. Playing out like a spy thriller, Tetris is an exciting look at the Cold War...
Starring Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers, Tetris takes us through the tumultuous rights negotiations between British company Mirrorsoft, run by Robert Maxwell, and Dutch-American Rogers. While navigating the tricky Soviet political machine, Rogers befriends the creator of Tetris, Alexey Pajitnov, and the duo embarks on a risky venture to bring the game to the world. Playing out like a spy thriller, Tetris is an exciting look at the Cold War...
- 3/31/2023
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Who doesn’t love Tetris? There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching those variably-shaped blocks fall perfectly into place, which can turn into nightmarish frustration when they don’t line up. But do you know the tale of how Tetris came to the United States? That’s the focus of “Tetris,” the new original movie coming to Apple TV+ on March 31. It’s a thrilling tale of espionage, deceit and catchy music that you won’t want to miss. You can watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+.
How to Watch 'Tetris' Movie When: Friday, March 31, 2023 Where: Apple TV+ Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+. 7-Day Free Trial$6.99 / month apple.com About 'Tetris' Movie
“Tetris” tells the stranger-than-fiction story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers...
How to Watch 'Tetris' Movie When: Friday, March 31, 2023 Where: Apple TV+ Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+. 7-Day Free Trial$6.99 / month apple.com About 'Tetris' Movie
“Tetris” tells the stranger-than-fiction story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers...
- 3/31/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Video games have been a huge part of popular culture for decades now, particularly following the home console boom in the '80s. In all that time, few games have endured quite like "Tetris" has. It's become an absolute staple of this era, with people playing the simple yet addicting game for hours on end on the original Game Boy, the Nes, or at their nearest arcade. So, perhaps it's only fitting that, in an era when video game movies are finally starting to click in a real way, this beloved title would finally get the big screen treatment. No, it's not an adaptation. Rather, it's more of a biopic in the form of director Jon S. Baird's "Tetris," which arrives on Apple TV+ this week. In a roundabout way, it instantly earns its place as one of the greatest video game movies to date.
"Tetris" is an incredibly...
"Tetris" is an incredibly...
- 3/31/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Tetris is a biographical film directed by Jon S. Baird, starring Taron Egerton and Toby Jones.
The story of Henk Rogers who developed a video game that was quite successful which maybe some of you remember: Tetris, a game so simple, exciting and addictive that “some of us” have played… a couple of quick games.
Excellent production and with a very intelligent script: good cinema.
Tetris (2023) Movie Review
Tetris takes everything it can get out of the history of the video-game, and also, with style and personality, knows how to bring out that “something more” that turns a good movie into an excellent movie.
First of all (and I will end up being right after repeating it so much): with a good script, things go better. This one has an excellent script, good dialogue and a solid structure. Moreover, it doesn’t limit itself to developing mechanically, it knows how to stamp humour and,...
The story of Henk Rogers who developed a video game that was quite successful which maybe some of you remember: Tetris, a game so simple, exciting and addictive that “some of us” have played… a couple of quick games.
Excellent production and with a very intelligent script: good cinema.
Tetris (2023) Movie Review
Tetris takes everything it can get out of the history of the video-game, and also, with style and personality, knows how to bring out that “something more” that turns a good movie into an excellent movie.
First of all (and I will end up being right after repeating it so much): with a good script, things go better. This one has an excellent script, good dialogue and a solid structure. Moreover, it doesn’t limit itself to developing mechanically, it knows how to stamp humour and,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Martin Cid
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
A slew of new movies celebrate the boardroom mavericks of the 1980s and 90s – as well as the products they flogged. What’s behind this corporate nostalgia?
Steam trains, tuberculosis, sexual repression, the shadow of a coming war and Colin Firth: the stuff of a period piece was once unchanging. But history is not what it was. Now conjuring the past on screen means 8-bit graphics and Money for Nothing. And Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig will do a synchronised bop before the vintage logos of Pringles and Pepsi.
That last detail comes from the credits of White Noise, Noah Baumbach’s recent adaptation of the 1985 Don DeLillo novel. The book was, among other things, a droll study of the godly place of brands in the US during the 80s. But two giggly new movies now spotlight the same moment with hindsight. In Air, Ben Affleck directs himself and...
Steam trains, tuberculosis, sexual repression, the shadow of a coming war and Colin Firth: the stuff of a period piece was once unchanging. But history is not what it was. Now conjuring the past on screen means 8-bit graphics and Money for Nothing. And Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig will do a synchronised bop before the vintage logos of Pringles and Pepsi.
That last detail comes from the credits of White Noise, Noah Baumbach’s recent adaptation of the 1985 Don DeLillo novel. The book was, among other things, a droll study of the godly place of brands in the US during the 80s. But two giggly new movies now spotlight the same moment with hindsight. In Air, Ben Affleck directs himself and...
- 3/31/2023
- by Danny Leigh
- The Guardian - Film News
The official page of the film says that “Tetris” is a biographical drama, and yes, it is, but when you watch it, it’s more than just a memoir; it’s about the game “Tetris.” When you were a kid, for sure, you played this game, on a handheld game console and got addicted to it, but you never asked how it came about or who its author and developer was. “Tetris” confirms our obsession with games, which for the director Jon S. Baird, is poetry that magically creates synchronicity between art and mathematics to form a perfect amusement and recreation that enslaves us. At the beginning of the movie, you may trip because of the hard-core information that is thrown at you to make you aware of the chronological licensing, or should I say? Tetris-related piracy and plagiarism, but as it progresses, the pace increases, as does your...
- 3/31/2023
- by Carlos Luis
- Film Fugitives
Okay, so we’re mere days away from the release of an animated CGI feature based on one of the biggest video game properties. Y’know about the two plumber siblings? Perhaps you’re needing another big “game” dive, but don’t want to try and stream the recent Sonic flicks, or any of a dozen movies lifted from the very successful gaming franchises. Well. we’ve got a new film all about that late 80s game where you try to fill in a wall at the bottom of your screen with a series of four brightly colored blocks. Really, a flick of those downward-floating bricks? They couldn’t grab the rights to Pong? Oh no, this is all about the creation and marketing of that game, and it’s almost a cold war thriller. Don’t roll your eyes, because there was a lot of high-stakes intrigue in the story of Tetris.
- 3/31/2023
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
In Apple TV+'s upcoming film, "Tetris," we're presented with the true story of Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov, the two men most responsible for the worldwide takeover of one of the most addicting video games ever created. Pajitnov was the creator of the game and Rogers was the businessman who negotiated the rights with the very anti-capitalist Soviet company that Pajitnov worked for during the height of Cold War tensions between Russia and the U.S.
The resulting movie is filled with humor, tension, and even some 8-bit surreality. When I was offered the chance to talk with director Jon S. Baird and the two actual guys this movie is based on, Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov, I knew I had to ask about how close to the mark the movie actually is to what happened and what incorporating those 8-bit surreal elements added to the movie.
"It wasn't really in the script,...
The resulting movie is filled with humor, tension, and even some 8-bit surreality. When I was offered the chance to talk with director Jon S. Baird and the two actual guys this movie is based on, Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov, I knew I had to ask about how close to the mark the movie actually is to what happened and what incorporating those 8-bit surreal elements added to the movie.
"It wasn't really in the script,...
- 3/30/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
Taron Egerton has expressed his strong disdain for wearing fake moustaches, going so far as to compare the “horrendous” experience to childbirth.
The 33-year-old Welsh actor stars as real-life videogame designer Henk Rogers in Apple TV Plus’ new movie Tetris – released on Friday (31 March) – which tells the story of how the Russian video game made its way to the West.
To accurately portray a young Rogers, Egerton was made to wear a fake moustache throughout the film.
“It’s absolutely horrendous, I will never do it ever again, it doesn’t matter how much you pay me. Don’t let me wear a fake moustache ever again,” the Kingsman: The Secret Service actor pleaded during an appearance on Good Morning Britain’s Thursday (30 March) episode.
Recalling that he had sported one years ago in 2016’s sports drama Eddie the Eagle, Egerton explained: “I wore that for part of the movie,...
The 33-year-old Welsh actor stars as real-life videogame designer Henk Rogers in Apple TV Plus’ new movie Tetris – released on Friday (31 March) – which tells the story of how the Russian video game made its way to the West.
To accurately portray a young Rogers, Egerton was made to wear a fake moustache throughout the film.
“It’s absolutely horrendous, I will never do it ever again, it doesn’t matter how much you pay me. Don’t let me wear a fake moustache ever again,” the Kingsman: The Secret Service actor pleaded during an appearance on Good Morning Britain’s Thursday (30 March) episode.
Recalling that he had sported one years ago in 2016’s sports drama Eddie the Eagle, Egerton explained: “I wore that for part of the movie,...
- 3/30/2023
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - Film
With its coloured blocks tumbling through the air as players frantically jigsaw them together, Tetris remains one of the world’s most elegantly simple video games. Even now, 39 years on from its creation. But not many know the story behind the game. When filmmaker Jon S Baird (of Stan & Ollie and the Irvine Welsh adaptation Filth) first heard it, after reading the script for what became his Apple TV+ film Tetris, he did a double take. “I was like, ‘Is that really true? Wow, that is crazy!’”
Crazy doesn’t even begin to cover a story that ties together the Soviet Politburo, the late media mogul Robert Maxwell, and the launch of Nintendo’s iconic GameBoy – as various interested parties all scrambled to get the rights to Tetris. Invented in 1984 by Russian coder Alexey Pajitnov, the game’s title came from “tetra” and “tennis” (one of Pajitnov’s favourite sports). Gradually,...
Crazy doesn’t even begin to cover a story that ties together the Soviet Politburo, the late media mogul Robert Maxwell, and the launch of Nintendo’s iconic GameBoy – as various interested parties all scrambled to get the rights to Tetris. Invented in 1984 by Russian coder Alexey Pajitnov, the game’s title came from “tetra” and “tennis” (one of Pajitnov’s favourite sports). Gradually,...
- 3/30/2023
- by James Mottram
- The Independent - Film
A new film shows how the addictive game found its way out of the Soviet Union and into the hands of millions
When he looks back on it now – gambling his house, battling Robert Maxwell, turning up in the Soviet Union on a wing and a prayer – Henk Rogers still insists that he never considered giving up. “People ask me how much naivety was involved?” he recalls. “I would say 20% naivety/stupidity and 80% determination.”
That may be the key to success in many aspects of life. In Rogers’s case, he was a video game publisher who knew he had discovered the next big thing: Tetris, a strangely addictive puzzle in which players must arrange falling bricks of differing shapes to form a solid wall.
When he looks back on it now – gambling his house, battling Robert Maxwell, turning up in the Soviet Union on a wing and a prayer – Henk Rogers still insists that he never considered giving up. “People ask me how much naivety was involved?” he recalls. “I would say 20% naivety/stupidity and 80% determination.”
That may be the key to success in many aspects of life. In Rogers’s case, he was a video game publisher who knew he had discovered the next big thing: Tetris, a strangely addictive puzzle in which players must arrange falling bricks of differing shapes to form a solid wall.
- 3/30/2023
- by David Smith in Washington
- The Guardian - Film News
If, like me, you happen to own a copy of David Sheff's book Game Over* then you may already know some of the somewhat improbable story of how Nintendo came to bundle Tetris with the Gameboy. There are all sorts of tales associated, including that George Bush senior was seen playing during his Presidency in recovery from a medical procedure. Roughly two chapters, an eighth (so more than a bite) of that book are devoted to the acquisition (and retention) of the rights to publish the game. While the real story is, if anything, even more complicated, it also lacks a chase sequence.
Taran Egerton plays Henk Rogers, the director of Bullet-Proof Software. You might recognise that name depending on your vintage, I can picture it in the pixel letters of a Gameboy Screen without thinking too hard about it. That there was a complicated story behind a title screen that.
Taran Egerton plays Henk Rogers, the director of Bullet-Proof Software. You might recognise that name depending on your vintage, I can picture it in the pixel letters of a Gameboy Screen without thinking too hard about it. That there was a complicated story behind a title screen that.
- 3/29/2023
- by Andrew Robertson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Apple Original Films has released a fascinating new featurette for the highly anticipated thriller, “Tetris,” starring Taron Egerton. The actors and filmmakers discuss the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe.
Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish.
“Tetris” is directed by Jon S. Baird from a script by Noah Pink. The film is produced by Matthew Vaughn, Gillian Berrie, Claudia Vaughn, Len Blavatnik and Gregor Cameron, with Zygi Kamasa, Carlos Peres, Iain Mackenzie, Noah Pink, Taron Egerton, Danny Cohen, Amanda Ghost,...
Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish.
“Tetris” is directed by Jon S. Baird from a script by Noah Pink. The film is produced by Matthew Vaughn, Gillian Berrie, Claudia Vaughn, Len Blavatnik and Gregor Cameron, with Zygi Kamasa, Carlos Peres, Iain Mackenzie, Noah Pink, Taron Egerton, Danny Cohen, Amanda Ghost,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Film festivals tend to have at least one trend. Cannes 2021 was the year of ... well, cunnilingus, while TIFF 2018 was the year of movies about troubled musicians. In 2023, South by Southwest was the year of the brand movie or product biopic (the prodpic?). Finally, Hollywood has realized that people are tired of the same old biopics that distill someone's entire life into a truncated narrative full of cliches and tropes, reducing moments of genuine innovation into contrived deus ex machinas.
Besides, who cares about people anyway? Not Hollywood, apparently, because they have finally recognized that audience's huge interest in recognizable IP and nostalgia means they don't care about people or characters, they care about products. And so, this year's SXSW saw movie writers and producers realize that they could just cut the middlemen and deliver what the people want right to them — movies about products!
That's right. This was the year...
Besides, who cares about people anyway? Not Hollywood, apparently, because they have finally recognized that audience's huge interest in recognizable IP and nostalgia means they don't care about people or characters, they care about products. And so, this year's SXSW saw movie writers and producers realize that they could just cut the middlemen and deliver what the people want right to them — movies about products!
That's right. This was the year...
- 3/23/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
"Tetris is a cultural zeitgeist, and it's quite exciting to think that the backstory to this phenomenon will finally get its moment in the sunlight." Apple has unveiled a new featurette for the Tetris movie (full trailer here), taking a closer look at the actual story this is based on. "The game you couldn't put down, the story you couldn't make up." Taron Egerton stars in this film inspired by the true story of how one man risked his life to outsmart the Kgb in the 1980s and help turn Tetris into a worldwide sensation. The game was created by a Soviet software engineer named Alexey Pajitnov in 1984. After a battle for rights and a period of publication by Nintendo, the rights reverted to Pajitnov in 1996, who then co-founded the Tetris Company with Henk. In addition to Egerton, the cast includes Nikita Efremov, Sofia Lebedeva, Anthony Boyle, Roger Allam, and Toby Jones.
- 3/20/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Taron Egerton recently voiced his interest in starring in something “Star Wars” related despite turning down the role of Han Solo.
Egerton caught up with Et Canada‘s Carlos Bustamante at the premiere of his new Apple TV+ film “Tetris”, a film about video game salesman Henk Rogers and his discovery of the video game in 1988.
Read More: ‘Tetris’ Trailer: Taron Egerton Brings The Riveting Tale Of The Iconic Game To Life
When asked why he turned down the role of Han Solo, the actor expressed that the part didn’t feel suitable for him.
“I was involved in some auditions that I wasn’t actually offered the role, but I got quite near to it. But, I think there’s an instinctive thing that comes into play about feeling like not just whether you think it’s going to be good or not, but sometimes whether you think you...
Egerton caught up with Et Canada‘s Carlos Bustamante at the premiere of his new Apple TV+ film “Tetris”, a film about video game salesman Henk Rogers and his discovery of the video game in 1988.
Read More: ‘Tetris’ Trailer: Taron Egerton Brings The Riveting Tale Of The Iconic Game To Life
When asked why he turned down the role of Han Solo, the actor expressed that the part didn’t feel suitable for him.
“I was involved in some auditions that I wasn’t actually offered the role, but I got quite near to it. But, I think there’s an instinctive thing that comes into play about feeling like not just whether you think it’s going to be good or not, but sometimes whether you think you...
- 3/17/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
Plot: “Tetris” tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish.
Review: Tetris should have been a dumb movie. The sheer idea of making a film out of the worldwide best-selling video game instantly conjured images from Adam Sandler’s bizarre, awful 2015 movie, Pixels. When details came forward that the movie would instead chronicle the too crazy to not be true story of how the game made its way out of Soviet Russia and onto Nintendo’s GameBoy,...
Review: Tetris should have been a dumb movie. The sheer idea of making a film out of the worldwide best-selling video game instantly conjured images from Adam Sandler’s bizarre, awful 2015 movie, Pixels. When details came forward that the movie would instead chronicle the too crazy to not be true story of how the game made its way out of Soviet Russia and onto Nintendo’s GameBoy,...
- 3/17/2023
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
The world premiere of “Tetris” gave the crowd at South by Southwest a whole new look at Taron Egerton.
From his first appearance on screen, the Austin audience couldn’t keep quiet, cheering and applauding for his impassioned speeches, dad jokes and 1970s porn-stache.
The film, which reveals a political thriller hidden within the history of its titular video game, stars Egerton as designer and entrepreneur Henk Rogers. After a simple deal at a Las Vegas electronics convention goes wrong, Rogers finds himself embroiled in overlapping conflicts between every gaming company worth its salt, an English billionaire and the Soviet Union itself, with his life threatened multiple times along the way.
The story behind “Tetris” is true — in part, anyway. The real Henk Rogers appeared for a post-screening a Q&a alongside Alexey Pajitnov, the Russian designer behind the game, played by Nikita Yefremov in the film. If SXSW was excited to see Egerton,...
From his first appearance on screen, the Austin audience couldn’t keep quiet, cheering and applauding for his impassioned speeches, dad jokes and 1970s porn-stache.
The film, which reveals a political thriller hidden within the history of its titular video game, stars Egerton as designer and entrepreneur Henk Rogers. After a simple deal at a Las Vegas electronics convention goes wrong, Rogers finds himself embroiled in overlapping conflicts between every gaming company worth its salt, an English billionaire and the Soviet Union itself, with his life threatened multiple times along the way.
The story behind “Tetris” is true — in part, anyway. The real Henk Rogers appeared for a post-screening a Q&a alongside Alexey Pajitnov, the Russian designer behind the game, played by Nikita Yefremov in the film. If SXSW was excited to see Egerton,...
- 3/16/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
"Tetris" is a fantastic retelling of the rather incredible story behind the game. This is not really about the game, mind you, but about the bizarre, complex, and — if you were to believe the film — almost country-ending story behind the acquisition of the rights to the game. Thanks to yet another compelling and hugely entertaining performance by Taron Egerton, some genuinely thrilling moments, and some imaginative visuals, "Tetris" is as addictive and exciting as the game that inspired it.
A lot has been said about video game adaptations, from those who believe "The Last of Us" is the first good video game adaptation to those who know "Arcade," "Castlevania" and "Sonic the Hedgehog" proved video games could make for incredible TV and film. But there is no plot driven by puzzles or moving different shapes here. Instead, we follow developer and publisher Henk Rogers (Egerton) as he tries to get...
A lot has been said about video game adaptations, from those who believe "The Last of Us" is the first good video game adaptation to those who know "Arcade," "Castlevania" and "Sonic the Hedgehog" proved video games could make for incredible TV and film. But there is no plot driven by puzzles or moving different shapes here. Instead, we follow developer and publisher Henk Rogers (Egerton) as he tries to get...
- 3/16/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
No, no, it’s not a movie like the titular video game, it’s a movie about the titular video game. Tetris? The ’80s-game Tetris? That gets a whole film about its creation? Wouldn’t blocks falling from above be more dramatic? Well, actually… the creation, discovery, and licensing of Tetris is kind of wild (first hint: it was made by a Soviet software engineer long before the Soviet Union collapsed). But, spoiler alert: It’s not wild enough to engender an often weirdly straightforward historical dramedy dedicated to its legend.
But . If nothing else, you’ll walk away from “Tetris” knowing a heck of a lot more about the game and the many people who battled each other for the opportunity to bring it to the masses.
That’s not to say that “Tetris” doesn’t have some fun. Baird deploys said kicky 8-bit animated graphics from the film...
But . If nothing else, you’ll walk away from “Tetris” knowing a heck of a lot more about the game and the many people who battled each other for the opportunity to bring it to the masses.
That’s not to say that “Tetris” doesn’t have some fun. Baird deploys said kicky 8-bit animated graphics from the film...
- 3/16/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The Game Boy was slightly before my time, but I remember the Game Boy Color vividly. It was an introduction to handheld consoles, and a chance to finally have Mario and Pokémon in my pocket. Yet to my surprise, the best companion for long road trips was neither Pikachu nor those bouncy Italian plumbers; it was a game comprised of falling blocks and the Russian folk song “Korobeiniki.” It was Tetris.
I’d been aware of Tetris before then. It existed on my mother’s computer, but it was barely considered a video game there. Mario or Sonic were games that kids played. But Tetris was for everyone; she’d even play it on occasion. This was the power which made it the second highest selling game franchise of all-time: Everyone gets addicted to visions of falling blocks. Getting those visions in front of everyone, however, turns out to be...
I’d been aware of Tetris before then. It existed on my mother’s computer, but it was barely considered a video game there. Mario or Sonic were games that kids played. But Tetris was for everyone; she’d even play it on occasion. This was the power which made it the second highest selling game franchise of all-time: Everyone gets addicted to visions of falling blocks. Getting those visions in front of everyone, however, turns out to be...
- 3/16/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
There’s a promising and even semi-adult comedy at the heart of “Tetris,” an otherwise corny action-adventure based on the real-life story of how the iconic 1980s computer and video game was licensed outside of Russia. Most of the plot of “Tetris” concerns the political maneuvering and corporate espionage required to smuggle “Tetris,” the iconic brick-laying puzzle game, out of Moscow and away from greedy businessmen.
The lead protagonist of “Tetris” (the movie) also happens to be its main hero, an uncomplicated leading man whose personal motives don’t matter so much as the vague and never credibly represented virtues of “Tetris” (the game). Meet Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton), a fast-talking Dutch-American salesman living and working in Tokyo. Henk needs to license “Tetris” to the Japanese gaming company Nintendo so that his family business, Bullet Proof Software, can survive. Henk also needs to sell “Tetris” to Nintendo so that he...
The lead protagonist of “Tetris” (the movie) also happens to be its main hero, an uncomplicated leading man whose personal motives don’t matter so much as the vague and never credibly represented virtues of “Tetris” (the game). Meet Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton), a fast-talking Dutch-American salesman living and working in Tokyo. Henk needs to license “Tetris” to the Japanese gaming company Nintendo so that his family business, Bullet Proof Software, can survive. Henk also needs to sell “Tetris” to Nintendo so that he...
- 3/16/2023
- by Simon Abrams
- The Wrap
At last, a video game movie that’s more than just a video game movie.
In theory, “Tetris” — that primitive and highly addictive block-stacking strategy game — doesn’t lend itself to the big-screen treatment any more than Rubik’s Cube or Tic-Tac-Toe might. But Noah Pink has found an ingenious solution to a classic puzzle. The screenwriter realized that there’s more to Tetris than most people knew. Namely, there’s a terrific backstory about how this Soviet-hatched computer software made its way over the Iron Curtain, and telling it could play like a Cold War thriller as three teams of Western rivals race one another to Russia to secure the rights.
In a sense, the video game movie that “Tetris” most resembles is 1984’s “Cloak & Dagger,” which made an Atari cartridge the MacGuffin that all kinds of untrustworthy people want to get their hands on. Here, it’s...
In theory, “Tetris” — that primitive and highly addictive block-stacking strategy game — doesn’t lend itself to the big-screen treatment any more than Rubik’s Cube or Tic-Tac-Toe might. But Noah Pink has found an ingenious solution to a classic puzzle. The screenwriter realized that there’s more to Tetris than most people knew. Namely, there’s a terrific backstory about how this Soviet-hatched computer software made its way over the Iron Curtain, and telling it could play like a Cold War thriller as three teams of Western rivals race one another to Russia to secure the rights.
In a sense, the video game movie that “Tetris” most resembles is 1984’s “Cloak & Dagger,” which made an Atari cartridge the MacGuffin that all kinds of untrustworthy people want to get their hands on. Here, it’s...
- 3/16/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Full disclosure: Sue me but not only have I never played the iconic ’80s video game Tetris, I had never heard of it before encountering this new film Tetris, which world premiered tonight at SXSW and comes from Apple Original Films. I realize that probably makes me a bit of an oddity to the gamer generation, but I can only say my lack of knowledge on this product did not hurt one bit in being wildly entertained by a movie that tells its origin story. In fact it seems to be part of an encouraging but unlikely new genre this young year: movies all about the backstory of well-known products. BlackBerry from IFC and Paramount, Flamin’ Hot from Searchlight, and now Tetris from Apple have been on display this week at SXSW (BlackBerry actually premiered at Berlin), and if you think watching the emergence of a smartphone, a Cheetos brand...
- 3/16/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Somewhere along the way in Jon S. Baird’s fleet and compelling fictionalized look at the invention of Tetris, you forget that you’re watching a film about a video game. Zippy car chases, farcical negotiation scenes and a tour of 1980s-era conference rooms around the world make Tetris, which premiered at SXSW and airs on Apple TV+ at the end of March, more than an ordinary origin story. Baird (Stan & Ollie) uses the convoluted licensing battle around the game to frame a sturdy and occasionally funny drama about capitalism, intellectual property and the specter of the Soviet Union’s dissolution. Tetris’ willingness to tackle these themes indeed makes it more absorbing than your average streamer fare, but it also makes you wish the film went farther in exploring its ambivalence about the relationship between creative expression and greed.
The story starts in ’80s Las Vegas, where Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton...
The story starts in ’80s Las Vegas, where Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton...
- 3/16/2023
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jon S. Baird has just closed Twitter. The trailer for Tetris was released an hour ago, and the director’s been watching the online reaction closely ever since. There’s one joke that everyone seems to be making—where are the talking tetriminos?
“It’s absolutely not that at all,” the Scottish filmmaker tells Den of Geek with a laugh. “I hear that a lot, but I like that people are noticing that it’s a bit different.”
Tetris is certainly a different proposition from other video game movies. Rather than being about falling blocks that need to neatly fit into lines, Tetris tells the story of Henk Rogers, the mustachioed man who secured the rights to distribute the eponymous game around the world. While that doesn’t exactly sound like the plot of a fun thriller at first glance, the fight to get Tetris on the Game Boy took...
“It’s absolutely not that at all,” the Scottish filmmaker tells Den of Geek with a laugh. “I hear that a lot, but I like that people are noticing that it’s a bit different.”
Tetris is certainly a different proposition from other video game movies. Rather than being about falling blocks that need to neatly fit into lines, Tetris tells the story of Henk Rogers, the mustachioed man who secured the rights to distribute the eponymous game around the world. While that doesn’t exactly sound like the plot of a fun thriller at first glance, the fight to get Tetris on the Game Boy took...
- 3/12/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: Toby Jones says he initially had concerns of being “bored out my mind” working on summer blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but the actor tells Deadline that he’s “so relieved that I had done it” because “actually, I absolutely loved working on that film.”
The fifth instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise is “so different” from the flow of more recent films he’s appeared in such as Sam Mendes’ heartfelt drama Empire of Light and Sebastián Lelio’s thrilling Irish tale The Wonder. “It’s so massive!” he says.
Related Story Charles Finch Says Luxury Brands Are “Naturally Evolving” Toward Making Feature Movies Related Story International Disruptors: '1917' & 'The Good Nurse' Scribe Krysty Wilson-Cairns On Collaborating With Top Creatives & Her Mission To Empower Young Talent Through Her Banner Great Company Related Story Sandy Powell Becomes First Costume Designer To Receive BAFTA...
The fifth instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise is “so different” from the flow of more recent films he’s appeared in such as Sam Mendes’ heartfelt drama Empire of Light and Sebastián Lelio’s thrilling Irish tale The Wonder. “It’s so massive!” he says.
Related Story Charles Finch Says Luxury Brands Are “Naturally Evolving” Toward Making Feature Movies Related Story International Disruptors: '1917' & 'The Good Nurse' Scribe Krysty Wilson-Cairns On Collaborating With Top Creatives & Her Mission To Empower Young Talent Through Her Banner Great Company Related Story Sandy Powell Becomes First Costume Designer To Receive BAFTA...
- 2/18/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced its prizewinners Saturday morning, with “26.2 to Life,” directed by Christine Yoo, winning the audience choice award. The Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema went to “I Like Movies,” directed by Chandler Levack, while the international feature film award went to “A Man (Aru Otoko),” directed by Kei Ishikawa. “A Bunch of Amateurs,” directed by Kim Hopkins, won the documentary award.
See more winners here:
Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema: Manuela Directed by Clara Cullen
Best Middle Eastern/Israeli Film Award: The Taste Of Apples Is Red Directed by Ehab Tarabieh
Best Nordic Film Award: Summerlight And Then Comes The Night (SUMARLJÓS Og Svo Kemur NÓTTIN) Directed by Elfar Aðalsteins
Social Justice Award for Documentary Film: Black Mambas Directed by Lena Karbe
Adl Stand Up Award, sponsored by Adl Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties, the Skinner Social Impact Fund, and Steve & Cindy Lyons...
See more winners here:
Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema: Manuela Directed by Clara Cullen
Best Middle Eastern/Israeli Film Award: The Taste Of Apples Is Red Directed by Ehab Tarabieh
Best Nordic Film Award: Summerlight And Then Comes The Night (SUMARLJÓS Og Svo Kemur NÓTTIN) Directed by Elfar Aðalsteins
Social Justice Award for Documentary Film: Black Mambas Directed by Lena Karbe
Adl Stand Up Award, sponsored by Adl Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties, the Skinner Social Impact Fund, and Steve & Cindy Lyons...
- 2/18/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay, Julia MacCary, Charna Flam and Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
Apple Original Films unveiled the trailer for the highly anticipated thriller, ‘Tetris,’ starring Taron Egerton.
The movie tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988 and then risks everything by travelling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes, and a nail-biting race to the finish.
Directed by Jon S. Baird, Toby Jones, Roger Allam, Anthony Boyle, Togo Igawa, Ken Yamamura, Ben Miles, and Matthew Marsh also star.
Also in trailers – “This hit is for you, Mr Wick…” Bold new trailer lands for ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’
The film will premiere globally on Apple TV...
The movie tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988 and then risks everything by travelling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes, and a nail-biting race to the finish.
Directed by Jon S. Baird, Toby Jones, Roger Allam, Anthony Boyle, Togo Igawa, Ken Yamamura, Ben Miles, and Matthew Marsh also star.
Also in trailers – “This hit is for you, Mr Wick…” Bold new trailer lands for ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’
The film will premiere globally on Apple TV...
- 2/17/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Two-time Screen Actors Guild nominee Taron Egerton stars in the “so weird it has to be a true” story of how Tetris became a worldwide sensation. The Tetris trailer reveals that Henk Rogers (Egerton) was hooked the moment he first played the matching game. Henk describes the game as addictive, with art and math working in magical synchronicity. Unable to get Tetris out of his head, Henk becomes obsessed with sharing the “perfect game” with the world.
The thriller also stars Nikita Efremov, Sofia Lebedeva, Anthony Boyle, and Toby Jones.
Jon S. Baird (I’m Dying Up Here) directed and Matthew Vaughn, Gillian Berrie, Claudia Vaughn, Len Blavatnik, and Gregor Cameron produced. Zygi Kamasa, Carlos Peres, Iain Mackenzie, Noah Pink, Taron Egerton, Danny Cohen, Amanda Ghost, Vince Holden, Henk Rogers, Alexey Pajitnov, and Maya Rogers served as executive producers.
Tetris will premiere on Apple TV+ on March 31, 2023.
Taron Egerton and Nikita...
The thriller also stars Nikita Efremov, Sofia Lebedeva, Anthony Boyle, and Toby Jones.
Jon S. Baird (I’m Dying Up Here) directed and Matthew Vaughn, Gillian Berrie, Claudia Vaughn, Len Blavatnik, and Gregor Cameron produced. Zygi Kamasa, Carlos Peres, Iain Mackenzie, Noah Pink, Taron Egerton, Danny Cohen, Amanda Ghost, Vince Holden, Henk Rogers, Alexey Pajitnov, and Maya Rogers served as executive producers.
Tetris will premiere on Apple TV+ on March 31, 2023.
Taron Egerton and Nikita...
- 2/16/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
The first trailer for Apple’s “Tetris” film has been released. The film depicts the incredible true tale of the battle for the rights to Alexey Pajitnov’s iconic game between Western publishers, Nintendo and the Soviet Union.
Read More: Taron Egerton Reveals He’s Met With Marvel About Taking Over As Wolverine From Hugh Jackman
“Tetris” stars Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers, a Dutch businessman who gets so smitten with the game it’s named after that he visits the Soviet Union at the conclusion of the Cold War to obtain the rights to distribute it.
The movie, which is directed by Jon S. Baird, appears to take a rather broad approach to the subject matter, immersing it in ’80s pop needle drops, car chases, retro game effects evoking the awful Adam Sandler picture Pixels, and Egerton sobbing as he discusses “the perfect game.”
“Tetris” will stream from March...
Read More: Taron Egerton Reveals He’s Met With Marvel About Taking Over As Wolverine From Hugh Jackman
“Tetris” stars Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers, a Dutch businessman who gets so smitten with the game it’s named after that he visits the Soviet Union at the conclusion of the Cold War to obtain the rights to distribute it.
The movie, which is directed by Jon S. Baird, appears to take a rather broad approach to the subject matter, immersing it in ’80s pop needle drops, car chases, retro game effects evoking the awful Adam Sandler picture Pixels, and Egerton sobbing as he discusses “the perfect game.”
“Tetris” will stream from March...
- 2/16/2023
- by Aashna Shah
- ET Canada
In the first trailer for the Apple original film “Tetris,” Taron Egerton’s character Henk Rogers is on a mission to bring the addictive game to America. The only problem? It’s 1988, the Cold War is still on, and the inventor is Russian. Rogers must not only line up U.S. investors, he’s got to convince the Soviets he means no harm.
The film, which is billed as “a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes, and a nail-biting race to the finish,” co-stars Nikita Efremov as inventor Alexey Pajitnov. It also stars Toby Jones, Roger Allam, Anthony Boyle, Ben Miles, Matthew Marsh and Rick Yune.
Also Read:
‘Extrapolations’: Watch the Trailer for Apple’s Climate Change Drama Series (Video)
“Tetris” is directed by Jon S. Baird, with screenplay by Noah Pink. Producers are Gillian Berrie, Leonard Blavatnik, Gregor Cameron, and Matthew Vaughn. The studio is AI Film.
The film, which is billed as “a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes, and a nail-biting race to the finish,” co-stars Nikita Efremov as inventor Alexey Pajitnov. It also stars Toby Jones, Roger Allam, Anthony Boyle, Ben Miles, Matthew Marsh and Rick Yune.
Also Read:
‘Extrapolations’: Watch the Trailer for Apple’s Climate Change Drama Series (Video)
“Tetris” is directed by Jon S. Baird, with screenplay by Noah Pink. Producers are Gillian Berrie, Leonard Blavatnik, Gregor Cameron, and Matthew Vaughn. The studio is AI Film.
- 2/16/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
’80s babies solely remember Tetris as the video game that inspired countless dreams of falling blocks, but a new trailer for the Apple TV+ film based on its true story reveals the dramatic lengths it took to secure rights for the Nintendo Game Boy.
Taron Egerton stars as Henk Rogers, an entrepreneur who makes it his mission to bring Tetris to as many people as possible. Describing it as “poetry, art, and math all working in magical synchronicity,” he calls it “the perfect game” while trying to sell the idea to skeptical executives. In order to obtain its rights from the Soviet Union, he teams with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to navigate complicated licensing disputes and puts himself in the crossfire of the most powerful men in the Communist Party.
Watch the Tetris trailer, soundtracked by Europe’s “The Final Countdown,” below.
“Tetris tells the unbelievable story of how...
Taron Egerton stars as Henk Rogers, an entrepreneur who makes it his mission to bring Tetris to as many people as possible. Describing it as “poetry, art, and math all working in magical synchronicity,” he calls it “the perfect game” while trying to sell the idea to skeptical executives. In order to obtain its rights from the Soviet Union, he teams with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to navigate complicated licensing disputes and puts himself in the crossfire of the most powerful men in the Communist Party.
Watch the Tetris trailer, soundtracked by Europe’s “The Final Countdown,” below.
“Tetris tells the unbelievable story of how...
- 2/16/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Film News
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