Production has begun in South Africa on the action comedy London Calling starring Josh Duhamel, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Rick Hoffman, and Aidan Gillen. Highland Film Group handles international sales.
Director Allan Ungar reunites with Duhamel after they collaborated on action heist thriller Bandit. Omer Levin Menekse and Quinn Wolfe co-wrote the screenplay.
London Calling sees Duhamel play Tommy Ward, a mediocre hitman who goes on the run and gets stuck in Los Angeles after mistakenly killing the relative of London’s biggest crime lord (Gillen).
His only chance to get back to London to be with his son is to...
Director Allan Ungar reunites with Duhamel after they collaborated on action heist thriller Bandit. Omer Levin Menekse and Quinn Wolfe co-wrote the screenplay.
London Calling sees Duhamel play Tommy Ward, a mediocre hitman who goes on the run and gets stuck in Los Angeles after mistakenly killing the relative of London’s biggest crime lord (Gillen).
His only chance to get back to London to be with his son is to...
- 12/13/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Transformers actor Josh Duhamel is re-teaming with Canadian director Allan Ungar for the new action comedy London Calling, joined in the cast by Game of Thrones star Aidan Gillen, It actor Jeremy Ray Taylor and Rick Hoffman (Showtime’s Billions, USA Network’s Suits).
Duhamel, who starred in Ungar’s 2022 crime thriller Bandit, alongside Elisha Cuthbert and Mel Gibson, will play Tommy Ward, a mediocre hitman who accidentally kills a relative of London’s biggest crime boss (Aidan Gillen), forcing him to go on the run and landing him in L.A., far away from his London-based son. To get back, Tommy makes a deal with his new employer (Rick Hoffman): In exchange for safe passage, he agrees to teach his socially awkward teenage son Julian (Jeremy Ray Taylor) to be a man. But Tommy’s teachable moments include taking Julian to work, including on his latest contract killing of a renowned assassin.
Duhamel, who starred in Ungar’s 2022 crime thriller Bandit, alongside Elisha Cuthbert and Mel Gibson, will play Tommy Ward, a mediocre hitman who accidentally kills a relative of London’s biggest crime boss (Aidan Gillen), forcing him to go on the run and landing him in L.A., far away from his London-based son. To get back, Tommy makes a deal with his new employer (Rick Hoffman): In exchange for safe passage, he agrees to teach his socially awkward teenage son Julian (Jeremy Ray Taylor) to be a man. But Tommy’s teachable moments include taking Julian to work, including on his latest contract killing of a renowned assassin.
- 12/13/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Michele Civetta is the director of feature films “Agony” and “The Gateway” and music videos for Lou Reed, Sean Lennon, and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros.
We came from a generation…
With aspirations of what cinema is as an art form, what it can do to provoke change, illuminate dreams of individual stories, and propel cultural narratives. Inspired by the American New Wave of Cinema, living under the banner of the Cahiers du Cinema auteur theory, a world where writers, directors, and producers created stories in the emerging screen revolution colliding between world cinema and the 90s independent film boom. Looking inside the cinematic kaleidoscope, imagining how to penetrate the dream factory, Kevin Turen was born to be a maverick as he surmounted this unpaved road for our generation of friends and filmmaking talent. As New York City Kids, we crossed the threshold into our professional years. Kevin helped out...
We came from a generation…
With aspirations of what cinema is as an art form, what it can do to provoke change, illuminate dreams of individual stories, and propel cultural narratives. Inspired by the American New Wave of Cinema, living under the banner of the Cahiers du Cinema auteur theory, a world where writers, directors, and producers created stories in the emerging screen revolution colliding between world cinema and the 90s independent film boom. Looking inside the cinematic kaleidoscope, imagining how to penetrate the dream factory, Kevin Turen was born to be a maverick as he surmounted this unpaved road for our generation of friends and filmmaking talent. As New York City Kids, we crossed the threshold into our professional years. Kevin helped out...
- 11/21/2023
- by Michele Civetta
- Indiewire
Rambo: Last Blood (watch the extended cut of that Here) director Adrian Grunberg‘s shark thriller The Black Demon is set to reach theatres on April 28th, and I’ve been anxious to see a trailer for this one because the only publicity stills released up to this point have only shown lead actor Josh Lucas (The Forever Purge) and his character’s family standing on dry land. Now, the moment I’ve been waiting months for has arrived. IGN got the exclusive first look at a trailer for The Black Demon, and this finally gives the sight of Lucas and other characters out on the water, dealing with a “big ass shark”! You can watch the trailer in the embed above.
The Black Demon marks the first feature writing credit for Boise Esquerra. The story Esquerra crafted begins when oilman Paul Sturges takes his family on vacation to Bahia Azul.
The Black Demon marks the first feature writing credit for Boise Esquerra. The story Esquerra crafted begins when oilman Paul Sturges takes his family on vacation to Bahia Azul.
- 3/23/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exactly two months ago today, we heard that Rambo: Last Blood (watch the extended cut of that Here) director Adrian Grunberg‘s shark thriller The Black Demon was going to be reaching theatres on April 21st – a date that would, unfortunately, put it in direct competition with the new Evil Dead movie, Evil Dead Rise. Now we’ve learned that The Black Demon has wisely decided to give Evil Dead Rise a little space, shifting its release date back one week to April 28th. Now we just need to see a trailer for this thing.
The Black Demon marks the first feature writing credit for Boise Esquerra. The story Esquerra crafted begins when oilman Paul Sturges takes his family on vacation to Bahia Azul. There, the coastal town he and his wife once knew has mysteriously crumbled and the locals are nowhere to be found. Paul starts off his day...
The Black Demon marks the first feature writing credit for Boise Esquerra. The story Esquerra crafted begins when oilman Paul Sturges takes his family on vacation to Bahia Azul. There, the coastal town he and his wife once knew has mysteriously crumbled and the locals are nowhere to be found. Paul starts off his day...
- 2/6/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Rambo: Last Blood (watch the extended cut of that Here) director Adrian Grunberg‘s upcoming movie The Black Demon is a shark thriller, but you probably wouldn’t guess that from the promotional images that have been released. Here’s the first one, showing star Josh Lucas (The Forever Purge) standing on dry ground. Now another image from The Black Demon has been unveiled by USA Today, and this one also shows Lucas standing on dry ground. This time he’s joined by co-stars Fernanda Urrejola (Cry Macho) and Venus Ariel (Dmz). The new image can be found at the bottom of this article.
The Black Demon has a theatrical release date of April 21, 2023 (the same day Evil Dead Rise will be reaching theatres), so we should be seeing a trailer for this one soon. Then we’ll finally get some glimpses of this movie’s shark action.
The Black...
The Black Demon has a theatrical release date of April 21, 2023 (the same day Evil Dead Rise will be reaching theatres), so we should be seeing a trailer for this one soon. Then we’ll finally get some glimpses of this movie’s shark action.
The Black...
- 1/5/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Ten months have gone by since we saw a first look image from Rambo: Last Blood (watch the extended cut of that Here) director Adrian Grunberg‘s shark thriller The Black Demon – and that was actually the last time we heard anything about the movie, so I had forgotten about it. Thankfully, our friends at Bloody Disgusting were able to dig up the information that The Black Demon has a theatrical release date of April 21, 2023. Which will, unfortunately, put it in direct competition with the new Evil Dead movie, Evil Dead Rise.
Evil Dead Rise was originally going to be an HBO Max release, but it went over so well with test screening audiences that the decision was made to send it to theatres. So now it’s on a collision course with The Black Demon. Bloody Disgusting was also able to find out that The Black Demon will be...
Evil Dead Rise was originally going to be an HBO Max release, but it went over so well with test screening audiences that the decision was made to send it to theatres. So now it’s on a collision course with The Black Demon. Bloody Disgusting was also able to find out that The Black Demon will be...
- 12/6/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Josh Lucas will battle a giant shark in “The Black Demon,” a survival thriller from “Rambo: Last Blood” director Adrian Grunberg. The film was written by Boise Esquerra (“Blackwater”) and is set to start principal photography in December on location in the Dominican Republic.
Here’s the logline for this sea creature chiller: “The film follows oilman Paul Sturges (Lucas) as he takes his family on vacation to Bahia Azul. There, the coastal town he and his wife once knew has mysteriously crumbled and the locals are nowhere to be found. Paul starts off his day with a routine visit to inspect his nearby oil rig, but before he knows it, his entire family has landed with him on the rotting metal tower. From the depths of the ocean rises a massive megalodon known only by its name: the Black Demon. Under constant threat from this primeval species of shark,...
Here’s the logline for this sea creature chiller: “The film follows oilman Paul Sturges (Lucas) as he takes his family on vacation to Bahia Azul. There, the coastal town he and his wife once knew has mysteriously crumbled and the locals are nowhere to be found. Paul starts off his day with a routine visit to inspect his nearby oil rig, but before he knows it, his entire family has landed with him on the rotting metal tower. From the depths of the ocean rises a massive megalodon known only by its name: the Black Demon. Under constant threat from this primeval species of shark,...
- 10/27/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Heartland story is feature directing debut of Canada’s Lindsay Gossling.
Quiver Distribution has acquired North American rights to disaster thriller 13 Minutes, feature directing debut of Toronto-based filmmaker Lindsay Gossling.
With an ensemble cast including Trace Adkins, Thora Birch, Peter Facinelli, Anne Heche, Will Peltz, Davi Santos, Amy Smart, Sofia Vassilieva and Paz Vega, the film is set in a US heartland town where a tornado forces four families to overcome their differences in order to survive.
Quiver has set the film for a US/Canada release on October 29 in select theatres and on video-on-demand.
Gossling, whose previous credits...
Quiver Distribution has acquired North American rights to disaster thriller 13 Minutes, feature directing debut of Toronto-based filmmaker Lindsay Gossling.
With an ensemble cast including Trace Adkins, Thora Birch, Peter Facinelli, Anne Heche, Will Peltz, Davi Santos, Amy Smart, Sofia Vassilieva and Paz Vega, the film is set in a US heartland town where a tornado forces four families to overcome their differences in order to survive.
Quiver has set the film for a US/Canada release on October 29 in select theatres and on video-on-demand.
Gossling, whose previous credits...
- 7/9/2021
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Caramel Films serves as producer.
Saban Films will distribute in the Us the Josh Hartnett crime thriller Most Wanted, which the company boarded at script stage with previously unannounced Highland Film Group.
The latter handles international sales on the film, which Daniel Roby wrote and directed, and André Rouleau and Valérie d’Auteuil produced through their Caramel Films.
In Most Wanted, previously known as Gut Instinct, Hartnett plays an investigative journalist who tries to free a man from a Thai jail after he was coerced by undercover police into carrying out a drug deal. Jim Gaffigan and Antoine Olivier Pilon round out the key cast.
Saban Films will distribute in the Us the Josh Hartnett crime thriller Most Wanted, which the company boarded at script stage with previously unannounced Highland Film Group.
The latter handles international sales on the film, which Daniel Roby wrote and directed, and André Rouleau and Valérie d’Auteuil produced through their Caramel Films.
In Most Wanted, previously known as Gut Instinct, Hartnett plays an investigative journalist who tries to free a man from a Thai jail after he was coerced by undercover police into carrying out a drug deal. Jim Gaffigan and Antoine Olivier Pilon round out the key cast.
- 4/9/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Caramel Films serves as producer.
Saban Films will distribute in the Us the Josh Hartnett crime thriller Most Wanted, which the company boarded at script stage with previously announced Highland Film Group.
The latter handles international sales on the film and partnered with Saban Films at script stage.
Hartnett plays an investigative journalist who tries to free a man from a Thai jail after he was coerced by undercover police into carrying out a drug deal. Jim Gaffigan and Antoine Olivier Pilon round out the key cast.
Daniel Roby wrote and directed Most Wanted, and André Rouleau and Valérie d’Auteuil produced through their Caramel Films.
Saban Films will distribute in the Us the Josh Hartnett crime thriller Most Wanted, which the company boarded at script stage with previously announced Highland Film Group.
The latter handles international sales on the film and partnered with Saban Films at script stage.
Hartnett plays an investigative journalist who tries to free a man from a Thai jail after he was coerced by undercover police into carrying out a drug deal. Jim Gaffigan and Antoine Olivier Pilon round out the key cast.
Daniel Roby wrote and directed Most Wanted, and André Rouleau and Valérie d’Auteuil produced through their Caramel Films.
- 4/9/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Saban Films has acquired the Daniel Roby-directed Most Wanted starring Josh Hartnett, Antoine Olivier Pilon (Mommy) and Jim Gaffigan (Chappaquiddick). The crime-thriller will debut in the U.S. this summer. André Rouleau and Valérie d’Auteuil produce the film under their Caramel Films banner. Saban Films teamed with Highland Film Group on the project.
Inspired by a true story and written by Roby, Most Wanted follows an investigative journalist (Hartnett) as he unravels a twisted case of entrapment wherein a guy from the wrong side of the tracks, Daniel (Pilon), is forced into a dangerous drug deal against his will and is sentenced to 100 years in a Thai prison. As Daniel endures torture and abuse, the journalist must track down the shady undercover cops benefiting off the conspiracy, while also fighting for Daniel’s freedom.
Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley said, “We are so proud to have been involved with this film since its early stages. Our audiences will be captivated by every twist and turn of this gripping story as Daniel Roby does a brilliant job bringing it to life.”
Bill Bromiley and Jonathan Saba negotiated the deal for Saban Films along with Highland Film Group’s Arianne Fraser on behalf of the filmmakers. Executive Producers are Highland Film Group’s Delphine Perrier, Arianne Fraser and Henry Winterstern, Goldrush Entertainment’s Eric Gozlan and Richard Iott, Les Films Seville’s Patrick Roy and Anne-Claire Villeneuve, Daniel Roby, Yvann Thibaudeau and Marc Côté. Highland Film Group is handling international sales.
Inspired by a true story and written by Roby, Most Wanted follows an investigative journalist (Hartnett) as he unravels a twisted case of entrapment wherein a guy from the wrong side of the tracks, Daniel (Pilon), is forced into a dangerous drug deal against his will and is sentenced to 100 years in a Thai prison. As Daniel endures torture and abuse, the journalist must track down the shady undercover cops benefiting off the conspiracy, while also fighting for Daniel’s freedom.
Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley said, “We are so proud to have been involved with this film since its early stages. Our audiences will be captivated by every twist and turn of this gripping story as Daniel Roby does a brilliant job bringing it to life.”
Bill Bromiley and Jonathan Saba negotiated the deal for Saban Films along with Highland Film Group’s Arianne Fraser on behalf of the filmmakers. Executive Producers are Highland Film Group’s Delphine Perrier, Arianne Fraser and Henry Winterstern, Goldrush Entertainment’s Eric Gozlan and Richard Iott, Les Films Seville’s Patrick Roy and Anne-Claire Villeneuve, Daniel Roby, Yvann Thibaudeau and Marc Côté. Highland Film Group is handling international sales.
- 4/9/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Saban Films has acquired the rights to the crime-thriller “Most Wanted,” which stars Antoine Olivier Pilon, Jim Gaffigan and Josh Hartnett, the distributor announced Thursday. It will distribute the film in the U.S. this summer.
Daniel Roby wrote and directed the thriller that’s based on a true story. André Rouleau and Valérie d’Auteuil produced under their Caramel Films banner. Executive producers are Highland Film Group’s Delphine Perrier, Arianne Fraser and Henry Winterstern, Goldrush Entertainment’s Eric Gozlan and Richard Iott, Les Films Seville’s Patrick Roy and Anne-Claire Villeneuve, Daniel Roby, Yvann Thibaudeau and Marc Côté.
“Most Wanted” follows an investigative journalist (Hartnett) as he unravels a twisted case of entrapment in which Daniel (Pilon) is forced into a dangerous drug deal and is sentenced to 100 years in a Thai prison. As he endures torture and abuse, the journalist has to track down the shady cops and fight for Daniel’s freedom.
Daniel Roby wrote and directed the thriller that’s based on a true story. André Rouleau and Valérie d’Auteuil produced under their Caramel Films banner. Executive producers are Highland Film Group’s Delphine Perrier, Arianne Fraser and Henry Winterstern, Goldrush Entertainment’s Eric Gozlan and Richard Iott, Les Films Seville’s Patrick Roy and Anne-Claire Villeneuve, Daniel Roby, Yvann Thibaudeau and Marc Côté.
“Most Wanted” follows an investigative journalist (Hartnett) as he unravels a twisted case of entrapment in which Daniel (Pilon) is forced into a dangerous drug deal and is sentenced to 100 years in a Thai prison. As he endures torture and abuse, the journalist has to track down the shady cops and fight for Daniel’s freedom.
- 4/9/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Vertical Entertainment has swopped on U.S. rights to Open Source, the upcoming action thriller starring Bruce Willis and Jesse Metcalf.
Pic is being directed by Matt Eskandari, from a screenplay by Chris Lamont and Joe Russo. Also starring are Natalia Eva Marie (Inconceivable) and Lala Kent (Trauma Center). Project is in post and Vertical will release theatrically in the fall.
The story follows a billionaire tech CEO (Willis) who hires a team of fearless mercenaries to protect a piece of technology that, if exposed, could destroy the world. Their mission becomes even higher risk when the CEO’s daughter is kidnapped by an extremely dangerous terrorist group who will stop at nothing to obtain the tech.
Producers are Randall Emmett and George Furla at Emmett Furla Oasis Films, who negotiated the U.S. deal with Peter Jarowey and Rich Goldberg at Vertical. Highland Film Group is handling international sales at Efm.
Pic is being directed by Matt Eskandari, from a screenplay by Chris Lamont and Joe Russo. Also starring are Natalia Eva Marie (Inconceivable) and Lala Kent (Trauma Center). Project is in post and Vertical will release theatrically in the fall.
The story follows a billionaire tech CEO (Willis) who hires a team of fearless mercenaries to protect a piece of technology that, if exposed, could destroy the world. Their mission becomes even higher risk when the CEO’s daughter is kidnapped by an extremely dangerous terrorist group who will stop at nothing to obtain the tech.
Producers are Randall Emmett and George Furla at Emmett Furla Oasis Films, who negotiated the U.S. deal with Peter Jarowey and Rich Goldberg at Vertical. Highland Film Group is handling international sales at Efm.
- 2/20/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Rlje Films has acquired A Score to Settle, an action thriller starring Nicolas Cage that reteams the Mandy star with the indie horror hit’s distributor. The latest pic will hit theaters day-and-date with digital on August 2.
Directed by Beautiful Boy‘s Shawn Ku from a script from Get Shorty‘s John Newman, the plot centers on a former mob enforcer (Cage) who is released from prison after serving 22 years for a crime he didn’t commit. He sets out on a path for revenge against the people who wronged him. Benjamin Bratt and Noah Le Gros co-star.
Goldrush Entertainment’s Eric Gozlan, Minds Eye Entertainment’s Kevin DeWalt and
Danielle Masters produced the pic. Executive producers are Cage, Richard Iott, Mark Weissman, Robert Bricker, Arianne Fraser, Delphine Perrier, Henry Winterstern, Daniel Negret, Stephen Dailey, Simon Williams, Silvia Schmidt, Sam Ai, Mike King, Jeff Rice and Luke Daniels.
The deal...
Directed by Beautiful Boy‘s Shawn Ku from a script from Get Shorty‘s John Newman, the plot centers on a former mob enforcer (Cage) who is released from prison after serving 22 years for a crime he didn’t commit. He sets out on a path for revenge against the people who wronged him. Benjamin Bratt and Noah Le Gros co-star.
Goldrush Entertainment’s Eric Gozlan, Minds Eye Entertainment’s Kevin DeWalt and
Danielle Masters produced the pic. Executive producers are Cage, Richard Iott, Mark Weissman, Robert Bricker, Arianne Fraser, Delphine Perrier, Henry Winterstern, Daniel Negret, Stephen Dailey, Simon Williams, Silvia Schmidt, Sam Ai, Mike King, Jeff Rice and Luke Daniels.
The deal...
- 4/23/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Highland Film Group handles international sales.
Rlje Films has acquired North American rights to the Nicolas Cage action thriller A Score To Settle, which Highland Film Group handles for international sales.
Benjamin Bratt and Noah Le Gros round out the principal cast on the story about a former mob enforcer released from prison after 22 years who sets out to find the people who framed him.
Beautiful Boy screenwriter Shawn Ku directed from a screenplay by John Newman. Goldrush Entertainment’s Eric Gozlan and Minds Eye Entertainment’s Kevin DeWalt and Danielle Masters produced.
Rlje Films plans an August 2 theatrical and...
Rlje Films has acquired North American rights to the Nicolas Cage action thriller A Score To Settle, which Highland Film Group handles for international sales.
Benjamin Bratt and Noah Le Gros round out the principal cast on the story about a former mob enforcer released from prison after 22 years who sets out to find the people who framed him.
Beautiful Boy screenwriter Shawn Ku directed from a screenplay by John Newman. Goldrush Entertainment’s Eric Gozlan and Minds Eye Entertainment’s Kevin DeWalt and Danielle Masters produced.
Rlje Films plans an August 2 theatrical and...
- 4/23/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The actors have joined Margot Robbie on board the noir thriller that Highland Film Group (Hfg) continued to sell internationally in Cannes.
Production has started in Hungary on Terminal, which now also features Max Irons and Dexter Fletcher.
Vaughn Stein directs from his screenplay about two hitmen to be played by Fletcher and Irons on a suicide mission for a mysterious employer.
David Barron of BeaglePug, Molly Hassell, and Hfg’s Arianne Fraser will produce alongside Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, Sophia Kerr and Robbie through their LuckyChap Entertainment banner.
Hfg arranged financing with Ingenious Media, RuYi Media and Miscellaneous Entertainment. CAA represents Us rights.
Terminal’s executive producers are John Jencks, D. Todd Shepherd, Joe Simpson, George Waud, Shelley Madison, Charles Auty, Simon Williams, Hfg’s Delphine Perrier, and Henry Winterstern.
Production has started in Hungary on Terminal, which now also features Max Irons and Dexter Fletcher.
Vaughn Stein directs from his screenplay about two hitmen to be played by Fletcher and Irons on a suicide mission for a mysterious employer.
David Barron of BeaglePug, Molly Hassell, and Hfg’s Arianne Fraser will produce alongside Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, Sophia Kerr and Robbie through their LuckyChap Entertainment banner.
Hfg arranged financing with Ingenious Media, RuYi Media and Miscellaneous Entertainment. CAA represents Us rights.
Terminal’s executive producers are John Jencks, D. Todd Shepherd, Joe Simpson, George Waud, Shelley Madison, Charles Auty, Simon Williams, Hfg’s Delphine Perrier, and Henry Winterstern.
- 5/24/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Kate Beckinsale is back as Selene in the latest installment of Screen Gems and Lakeshore Entertainment’s Underworld Awakening. Check out the latest trailer below.
Underworld Awakening brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. The fourth installment stars Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley and Charles Dance.
Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
The action/horror film is directed by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Len Wiseman, Richard Wright, executive produced by Eric Reid, David Kern, David Coatsworth, James McQuaide,...
Underworld Awakening brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. The fourth installment stars Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley and Charles Dance.
Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
The action/horror film is directed by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Len Wiseman, Richard Wright, executive produced by Eric Reid, David Kern, David Coatsworth, James McQuaide,...
- 11/2/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Photo By: Joe Lederer
From Screen Gems and Lakeshore Entertainment, check out this first trailer from Underworld Awakening.
Underworld Awakening brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. The fourth installment stars Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley and Charles Dance.
Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
The action/horror film is directed by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Len Wiseman, Richard Wright, executive produced by Eric Reid, David Kern, David Coatsworth, James McQuaide, Skip Williamson, Henry Winterstern with a screenplay by Len Wiseman,...
From Screen Gems and Lakeshore Entertainment, check out this first trailer from Underworld Awakening.
Underworld Awakening brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. The fourth installment stars Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley and Charles Dance.
Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
The action/horror film is directed by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Len Wiseman, Richard Wright, executive produced by Eric Reid, David Kern, David Coatsworth, James McQuaide, Skip Williamson, Henry Winterstern with a screenplay by Len Wiseman,...
- 8/18/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Photo By: Joe Lederer
From Screen Gems and Lakeshore Entertainment, check out this first still from Underworld Awakening.
Underworld Awakening brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. The fourth installment stars Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley and Charles Dance.
Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
The action/horror film is directed by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Len Wiseman, Richard Wright, executive produced by Eric Reid, David Kern, David Coatsworth, James McQuaide, Skip Williamson, Henry Winterstern with a screenplay by Len Wiseman,...
From Screen Gems and Lakeshore Entertainment, check out this first still from Underworld Awakening.
Underworld Awakening brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. The fourth installment stars Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley and Charles Dance.
Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
The action/horror film is directed by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Len Wiseman, Richard Wright, executive produced by Eric Reid, David Kern, David Coatsworth, James McQuaide, Skip Williamson, Henry Winterstern with a screenplay by Len Wiseman,...
- 7/18/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Sony's Screen Gems reports that the official title of the Vancouver-lensed, fourth "Underworld" installment, from Lakeshore Entertainment, is "Underworld: Awakening", directed by Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein, starring Kate Beckinsale, India Eisley and Michael Ealy.
"Underworld: Awakening", focusing on the continuing battle between 'Vampires' and werewolf 'Lycans', is the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D.
Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in the lead role as vampire warrior 'Selene', who escapes imprisonment, only to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both of the immortal species.
"Underworld: Awakening" is produced by Tom Rosenberg, Len Wiseman and executive producers David Kern, David Coatsworth, Henry Winterstern and Skip Williamson.
The previous 3 "Underworld" features, "Underworld" (2003), "Underworld: Evolution" (2006) and "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" (2009) internationally earned a box...
"Underworld: Awakening", focusing on the continuing battle between 'Vampires' and werewolf 'Lycans', is the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D.
Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in the lead role as vampire warrior 'Selene', who escapes imprisonment, only to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both of the immortal species.
"Underworld: Awakening" is produced by Tom Rosenberg, Len Wiseman and executive producers David Kern, David Coatsworth, Henry Winterstern and Skip Williamson.
The previous 3 "Underworld" features, "Underworld" (2003), "Underworld: Evolution" (2006) and "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" (2009) internationally earned a box...
- 7/16/2011
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
New movie posters from Conan the Barbarian, for Conan (Jason Momoa), Corin (Ron Perlman), Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang), Marique (Rose McGowan) and Tamara (Rachel Nichols). The new posters from the eagerly anticipated release directed by Marcus Nispel, should get your uber-excited about the Lionsgate epic adventure. Conan the Barbarian is scripted by Thomas Dean Donnelly, Sean Hood and Joshua Oppenheimer, based on the Conan character created by Robert E. Howard. Danny Lerner, Les Weldon, Joe Gatta, John Baldecchi and Henry Winterstern produced the film. “I live. I love. I slay…I am content.” - Conan The Barbarian. The most legendary Barbarian of all time is back this Summer. Having thrived and evolved for eight consecutive decades in the public imagination- in prose and graphics, on the big screen and small, in games and properties of all kinds- Conan’s exploits in the Hyborian Age...
- 6/6/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
New movie posters from Conan the Barbarian, for Conan (Jason Momoa), Corin (Ron Perlman), Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang), Marique (Rose McGowan) and Tamara (Rachel Nichols). The new posters from the eagerly anticipated release directed by Marcus Nispel, should get your uber-excited about the Lionsgate epic adventure. Conan the Barbarian is scripted by Thomas Dean Donnelly, Sean Hood and Joshua Oppenheimer, based on the Conan character created by Robert E. Howard. Danny Lerner, Les Weldon, Joe Gatta, John Baldecchi and Henry Winterstern produced the film. “I live. I love. I slay…I am content.” - Conan The Barbarian. The most legendary Barbarian of all time is back this Summer. Having thrived and evolved for eight consecutive decades in the public imagination- in prose and graphics, on the big screen and small, in games and properties of all kinds- Conan’s exploits in the Hyborian Age...
- 6/6/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
New movie posters from Conan the Barbarian, for Conan (Jason Momoa), Corin (Ron Perlman), Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang), Marique (Rose McGowan) and Tamara (Rachel Nichols). The new posters from the eagerly anticipated release directed by Marcus Nispel, should get your uber-excited about the Lionsgate epic adventure. Conan the Barbarian is scripted by Thomas Dean Donnelly, Sean Hood and Joshua Oppenheimer, based on the Conan character created by Robert E. Howard. Danny Lerner, Les Weldon, Joe Gatta, John Baldecchi and Henry Winterstern produced the film. “I live. I love. I slay…I am content.” - Conan The Barbarian. The most legendary Barbarian of all time is back this Summer. Having thrived and evolved for eight consecutive decades in the public imagination- in prose and graphics, on the big screen and small, in games and properties of all kinds- Conan’s exploits in the Hyborian Age...
- 6/6/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Just last month, we told you that Michael Ealy (FlashForward, Californication) had signed on to play the male lead in Underworld: New Dawn. Ealy is playing a police detective who hunts the vampires and ultimately joins forces with Kate Beckinsale‘s Selene in the Screen Gems and Lakeshore Entertainment film.
Now, production on the film is officially underway in Vancouver and according to the press release, India Eisley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager) has joined the cast. Though her role hasn’t been revealed, some are speculating that she may be portraying Selene’s daughter in the film.
Press Release:
Production is underway in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the 4th installment in the highly successful Screen Gems/Lakeshore Entertainment Underworld franchise. Underworld 4 brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D.
Kate Beckinsale,...
Now, production on the film is officially underway in Vancouver and according to the press release, India Eisley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager) has joined the cast. Though her role hasn’t been revealed, some are speculating that she may be portraying Selene’s daughter in the film.
Press Release:
Production is underway in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the 4th installment in the highly successful Screen Gems/Lakeshore Entertainment Underworld franchise. Underworld 4 brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D.
Kate Beckinsale,...
- 4/6/2011
- by Jason Moore
- ScifiMafia
The Underworld 4: New Dawn Official Plot Synopsis, Cast, and Crew Details for the upcoming vampire, werewolf horror movie has been released. The official plot synopsis, cast, and crew details for Underworld 4: New Dawn (2012) is below.
Underworld 4 brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
Kate Beckinsale is revealing herself to be one of films’ most versatile and charismatic actresses. Beckinsale recently wrapped production on the thriller “Contraband” opposite Mark Wahlberg. She was last seen in the independent dramas “Snow Angels” opposite Sam Rockwell,...
Underworld 4 brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
Kate Beckinsale is revealing herself to be one of films’ most versatile and charismatic actresses. Beckinsale recently wrapped production on the thriller “Contraband” opposite Mark Wahlberg. She was last seen in the independent dramas “Snow Angels” opposite Sam Rockwell,...
- 4/5/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
Further to our first reports March 8, 2011, production is now underway (March 7, 2011 to June 3, 2011) in Vancouver on the 4th installment in the Screen Gems/Lakeshore Entertainment "Underworld" movie franchise.
"Underworld 4: New Dawn", following the battle between 'Vampires' and 'Lycans', is the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D.
Actress Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress 'Selene', who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
"Underworld 4" is directed by Mans Marlind & Bjorn Stein ("Shelter") for producers Tom Rosenberg, Len Wiseman and executive producers David Kern, David Coatsworth, Henry Winterstern and Skip Williamson.
The previous 3 "Underworld" features, "Underworld" (2003), "Underworld: Evolution" (2006) and "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) internationally earned a box office total of $298,376,455.
"Underworld 4" is...
"Underworld 4: New Dawn", following the battle between 'Vampires' and 'Lycans', is the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D.
Actress Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress 'Selene', who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
"Underworld 4" is directed by Mans Marlind & Bjorn Stein ("Shelter") for producers Tom Rosenberg, Len Wiseman and executive producers David Kern, David Coatsworth, Henry Winterstern and Skip Williamson.
The previous 3 "Underworld" features, "Underworld" (2003), "Underworld: Evolution" (2006) and "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) internationally earned a box office total of $298,376,455.
"Underworld 4" is...
- 4/5/2011
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Check out the trailer for Conan the Barbarian! Marcus Nispell film stars Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang, Rose McGowan, Saïd Taghmaoui and Ron Perlman. Thomas Dean Donnelly, Sean Hood and Joshua Oppenheimer wrote the screenplay based on the original works by Robert E. Howard. Conan the Barbarian opens on August 19, 2011 and is produced by Danny Lerner, Les Weldon, Joe Gatta, John Baldecchi and Henry Winterstern. Conan the Barbarian Synopsis: “I live. I love. I slay…I am content.” - Conan The Barbarian. The most legendary Barbarian of all time is back this Summer. Having thrived and evolved for eight consecutive decades in the public imagination- in prose and graphics, on the big screen and small, in games and properties of all kinds- Conan’s exploits in the Hyborian Age now come alive like never before in a colossal 3D action-adventure film...
- 3/14/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out the trailer for Conan the Barbarian! Marcus Nispell film stars Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang, Rose McGowan, Saïd Taghmaoui and Ron Perlman. Thomas Dean Donnelly, Sean Hood and Joshua Oppenheimer wrote the screenplay based on the original works by Robert E. Howard. Conan the Barbarian opens on August 19, 2011 and is produced by Danny Lerner, Les Weldon, Joe Gatta, John Baldecchi and Henry Winterstern. Conan the Barbarian Synopsis: “I live. I love. I slay…I am content.” - Conan The Barbarian. The most legendary Barbarian of all time is back this Summer. Having thrived and evolved for eight consecutive decades in the public imagination- in prose and graphics, on the big screen and small, in games and properties of all kinds- Conan’s exploits in the Hyborian Age now come alive like never before in a colossal 3D action-adventure film...
- 3/14/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Sources say that Leo Howard, twelve-year-old who played the young Snake Eyes in the recent "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," has joined Lionsgate's "Conan." Apparently, he'll be seen in the intro within the first fifteen minutes or so in the film. Jason Momoa is in as the adult Conan, a role originally played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Film is being helmed by Marcus Nispel. Earlier screenplay comes from Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer based on the characters created by Robert E. Howard. The film is being produced by George Furla, Avi Lerner, Joe Gatta, Fredrik Malmberg and Henry Winterstern. Let's hope they don't butcher a classic winner.
- 2/16/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Marcus Nispel has been hired by Nu Image/Millennium Films to direct "Conan." This ends a nine-year development hardship to reinvent the Robert E. Howard-created barbarian first played onscreen by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1982.According to Variety, Nu Image/Millennium is making the film in a co-production with Lionsgate. Avi Lerner and Joe Gatta are producing with Fredrick Malmberg. Malmberg runs Paradox, the company that holds the rights to "Conan" and the other hero franchises in the Howard library. Boaz Davidson, George Furla, Henry Winterstern, Trevor Short and Danny Dimfort are executive producers.Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer wrote the script..Conan. had seen several high profile directors such as Larry and Andy Wachowski, Robert Rodriguez and Brett Ratner flirt with the project over...
- 6/12/2009
- by Adnan Tezer
- Monsters and Critics
According to Aint It Cool News, Brett Ratner is now attached to the Conan project that Lionsgate has been developing. Nu Image/Millennium Films made a North American distribution rights deal with Lionsgate for a new film series based on the Robert E. Howard-created character Conan the Barbarian earlier this year. Variety reported that the first film will be written by the team of Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer ("Sahara," “Cowboys & Aliens"). The film will be produced by Lerner, Boaz Davidson, Joe Gatta, Paradox Entertainment’s Fredrick Malmberg, George Furla and Henry Winterstern. Trevor Short and Dimbort are exec producers. Malmberg made the seven-figure deal with Millennium after he declined to renew Warner Bros.’ option on the Conan property after seven years. No official word on when the film is set to go into production, but now that Ratner’s at the helm, do you honestly care?...
- 10/21/2008
- UGO Movies
NEW YORK -- Nu Image principals Avi Lerner, Danny Dimbort and Trevor Short said Wednesday that their film company has acquired a controlling 52% financial stake in First Look Studios, including its theatrical distribution arm First Look Pictures. The deal was in the $65 million-$75 million range.
Short will step in as the acting CEO, running day-to-day operations as Nu Image decides on the direction of the company. The company interviewed a handful of potential CEO candidates this week.
The deal between the two Los Angeles-based companies, brokered by William Morris Independent, will add a hefty amount of new capital to FLS and restructure debt the company acquired since it was formed in July 2005 (HR 3/20). The studio obtained a three-year, $80 million credit line from Merrill Lynch in the summer after receiving $20 million in initial funding from Prentice Capital Management.
In a twist, the deal arose out of former CEO Henry Winterstern's aborted effort to persuade his fellow board members Chris Cooney, Mitch Goldstein and Chas Phillips to buy Nu Image's 300-title library. Nu Image wanted about $300 million, but Winterstern wanted to pay closer to $100 million.
The companies couldn't agree on terms, and FLS was said to be vulnerable because of overspending in the face of low revenue.
Short will step in as the acting CEO, running day-to-day operations as Nu Image decides on the direction of the company. The company interviewed a handful of potential CEO candidates this week.
The deal between the two Los Angeles-based companies, brokered by William Morris Independent, will add a hefty amount of new capital to FLS and restructure debt the company acquired since it was formed in July 2005 (HR 3/20). The studio obtained a three-year, $80 million credit line from Merrill Lynch in the summer after receiving $20 million in initial funding from Prentice Capital Management.
In a twist, the deal arose out of former CEO Henry Winterstern's aborted effort to persuade his fellow board members Chris Cooney, Mitch Goldstein and Chas Phillips to buy Nu Image's 300-title library. Nu Image wanted about $300 million, but Winterstern wanted to pay closer to $100 million.
The companies couldn't agree on terms, and FLS was said to be vulnerable because of overspending in the face of low revenue.
- 3/22/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Avi Lerner's Nu Image is on the verge of becoming the major shareholder of First Look Studios, gaining access to all divisions of the company and merging its library of more than 300 films with First Look's library of more than 700 titles.
Nu Image is expected to raise capital for the deal based on the value of the library and existing assets. Under the deal, the final details of which were being worked out Monday, Nu Image would take former CEO Henry Winterstern's place as the largest shareholder in First Look.
Winterstern resigned from his post this month but stayed on as an adviser. He reacquired Capital Entertainment Group, which he had merged with First Look in 2005.
First Look International is expected to merge with Nu Image's international sales division sometime after May's Festival de Cannes, where the companies will operate separately selling their respective slates.
Neither Nu Image nor First Look executives would comment Monday. It is not known who will become the new CEO replacing Winterstern, who stepped down amid talk of overspending in the face of low boxoffice returns.
Nu Image is expected to raise capital for the deal based on the value of the library and existing assets. Under the deal, the final details of which were being worked out Monday, Nu Image would take former CEO Henry Winterstern's place as the largest shareholder in First Look.
Winterstern resigned from his post this month but stayed on as an adviser. He reacquired Capital Entertainment Group, which he had merged with First Look in 2005.
First Look International is expected to merge with Nu Image's international sales division sometime after May's Festival de Cannes, where the companies will operate separately selling their respective slates.
Neither Nu Image nor First Look executives would comment Monday. It is not known who will become the new CEO replacing Winterstern, who stepped down amid talk of overspending in the face of low boxoffice returns.
- 3/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
AUSTIN -- Is it possible to make a stoner comedy without a pair of buddies at the heart of it? Yes, as Gregg Araki's "Smiley Face" demonstrates. Is it advisable? That's a debatable question not quite resolved by an intermittently funny day-in-the-life that should do well with the drug-humor core audience but is unlikely to break into "Harold & Kumar" territory.
In a big shift from Araki's icky "Mysterious Skin", the picture hasn't a shred of interest in probing psyches or social ills. A pure, mostly dumb comedy, it's the tale of one impossibly out-of-it girl, Anna Faris' Jane F., who spends her day stumbling from mishap to mishap in an effort to avoid her drug dealer's wrath.
She encounters a string of familiar faces along the way, but few stick around long enough to take any weight off Faris, whose performance relies heavily on a hanging-open mouth, droop-lidded eyes and long periods of dumbstruck silence. Some viewers will embrace this textbook caricature; for others, it will make the film's 87 minutes feel like hours.
Jane, who smokes her share to begin with, has accidentally eaten a tray of pot-laced cupcakes that her roommate ("That '70s Show's" Danny Masterson, not the only actor known for pothead roles who plays sober here) is saving for a sci-fi convention. She knows she has to make him a new batch, and she also needs to pay the electric bill in time to make an audition. She tries to string these chores together into a plan, but getting past Step 1 presents an insurmountable challenge.
Inadvisably leaving her house, Jane stumbles through encounters with the straight world, trying to round up enough cash to placate her dealer. Most of the episodes add to her troubles, and by the tale's end she has a posse tracking her to Venice Beach. (One led by John Krasinski of "The Office", who wears a prosthetic nose and plays a love-struck nerd.) At one point, she gets some help from Harold himself, John Cho -- whose appearance might be an unwelcome reminder of how much pot comedies benefit from a buddy setup's dumb-and-dumber chemistry.
Even so, the movie's best gags do work entirely within the heroine's head: Her Homer Simpson-like slowness in putting together the obvious pieces of an escape route, her Marxist lecture in a meat-packing plant and an inspired plan for a "meta" joke involving a presidential portrait. Viewers who don't tire of Faris' "I'm sooooo stoned" shtick within the first 20 minutes should enjoy the ride. Chances are, they'll be in a condition to forget it quickly, then enjoy it again and again on DVD.
SMILEY FACE
First Look Pictures
First Look Pictures/Anonymous Content/Desperate Pictures
Credits:
Director: Gregg Araki
Screenwriter: Dylan Haggerty
Producers: Henry Winterstern, Kevin Turen, Steve Golin, Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Gregg Araki
Executive producers: Jorg Westerkamp, Thomas Becker, Stuart Burkin, H. Jason Beck
Director of photography: Shawn Kim
Production designer: John Larena
Music: David Kitay
Co-producer: Hans C. Ritter
Costume designer: Alix Hester
Editor: Gregg Araki
Cast:
Jane F.: Anna Faris
Steve the Roommate: Danny Masterson
Steve the Dealer: Adam Brody
Brevin: John Krasinski
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating...
In a big shift from Araki's icky "Mysterious Skin", the picture hasn't a shred of interest in probing psyches or social ills. A pure, mostly dumb comedy, it's the tale of one impossibly out-of-it girl, Anna Faris' Jane F., who spends her day stumbling from mishap to mishap in an effort to avoid her drug dealer's wrath.
She encounters a string of familiar faces along the way, but few stick around long enough to take any weight off Faris, whose performance relies heavily on a hanging-open mouth, droop-lidded eyes and long periods of dumbstruck silence. Some viewers will embrace this textbook caricature; for others, it will make the film's 87 minutes feel like hours.
Jane, who smokes her share to begin with, has accidentally eaten a tray of pot-laced cupcakes that her roommate ("That '70s Show's" Danny Masterson, not the only actor known for pothead roles who plays sober here) is saving for a sci-fi convention. She knows she has to make him a new batch, and she also needs to pay the electric bill in time to make an audition. She tries to string these chores together into a plan, but getting past Step 1 presents an insurmountable challenge.
Inadvisably leaving her house, Jane stumbles through encounters with the straight world, trying to round up enough cash to placate her dealer. Most of the episodes add to her troubles, and by the tale's end she has a posse tracking her to Venice Beach. (One led by John Krasinski of "The Office", who wears a prosthetic nose and plays a love-struck nerd.) At one point, she gets some help from Harold himself, John Cho -- whose appearance might be an unwelcome reminder of how much pot comedies benefit from a buddy setup's dumb-and-dumber chemistry.
Even so, the movie's best gags do work entirely within the heroine's head: Her Homer Simpson-like slowness in putting together the obvious pieces of an escape route, her Marxist lecture in a meat-packing plant and an inspired plan for a "meta" joke involving a presidential portrait. Viewers who don't tire of Faris' "I'm sooooo stoned" shtick within the first 20 minutes should enjoy the ride. Chances are, they'll be in a condition to forget it quickly, then enjoy it again and again on DVD.
SMILEY FACE
First Look Pictures
First Look Pictures/Anonymous Content/Desperate Pictures
Credits:
Director: Gregg Araki
Screenwriter: Dylan Haggerty
Producers: Henry Winterstern, Kevin Turen, Steve Golin, Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Gregg Araki
Executive producers: Jorg Westerkamp, Thomas Becker, Stuart Burkin, H. Jason Beck
Director of photography: Shawn Kim
Production designer: John Larena
Music: David Kitay
Co-producer: Hans C. Ritter
Costume designer: Alix Hester
Editor: Gregg Araki
Cast:
Jane F.: Anna Faris
Steve the Roommate: Danny Masterson
Steve the Dealer: Adam Brody
Brevin: John Krasinski
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 3/16/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Ruth Vitale is leaving her post as president of First Look Studios, effective April 30. Her departure marks the first earthquake at the indie studio since First Look Pictures CEO Henry Winterstern's abrupt departure March 5.
"(First Look founding investor) Prentice Capital has been nothing but wonderful," Vitale said in an interview Wednesday. She will oversee the April 13 wide release of the animated Cartoon Network series adaptation "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters" and consult on First Look theatrical releases, including Paris je t'aime, through year's end.
Vitale said she has no other plans after her departure but described her resignation as a "mutual decision." First Look was close to finalizing a deal for what would have been this year's first South by Southwest Film Festival theatrical film acquisition, David Mackenzie's British drama Hallam Foe, before it fell through.
"It saddens me, but moving on is the best for everyone in light of First Look's decision to conduct its theatrical business on a smaller scale," Vitale said. "I leave behind a strong team and take pride in the projects that I helped bring to First Look."
The move caught some at the company by surprise, even though there was uncertainty and a lack of clarity about the company's direction in the wake of Winterstern's departure.
"(First Look founding investor) Prentice Capital has been nothing but wonderful," Vitale said in an interview Wednesday. She will oversee the April 13 wide release of the animated Cartoon Network series adaptation "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters" and consult on First Look theatrical releases, including Paris je t'aime, through year's end.
Vitale said she has no other plans after her departure but described her resignation as a "mutual decision." First Look was close to finalizing a deal for what would have been this year's first South by Southwest Film Festival theatrical film acquisition, David Mackenzie's British drama Hallam Foe, before it fell through.
"It saddens me, but moving on is the best for everyone in light of First Look's decision to conduct its theatrical business on a smaller scale," Vitale said. "I leave behind a strong team and take pride in the projects that I helped bring to First Look."
The move caught some at the company by surprise, even though there was uncertainty and a lack of clarity about the company's direction in the wake of Winterstern's departure.
- 3/15/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- In their first production since Henry Winterstern’s surprise resignation this past March, First Look Pictures announced that Naomi Watts will headline the indies adaptation of Amy Sutherland’s novel about her time at a school for animal training. Kicked, Bitten and Scratched is set to be developed as a romantic comedy working around Sutherland’s tome "Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World's Premiere School for Exotic Animal Trainers", which focuses on the year she spent with students at the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program at Moorpark College. The unique program allows students to learn how to communicate with animals such as camels, emus, baboons, cougars, wolves and snakes. Alumni hold posts at the world's top zoos, aquariums and sanctuaries or become trainers who work in television and film. The adaptation is being scribed by Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff, who last teamed up
- 3/12/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
NEW YORK -- First Look Studios president, CEO and co-chairman of the board Henry Winterstern resigned his posts after a meeting late last week with the company's board of directors.
"From the very beginning, it was always my intention to build the company but not run it," said Winterstern, who merged his Capital Entertainment Group with First Look Pictures in July 2005 to form FLS. He will remain its largest individual shareholder, reacquire Capital, take on an advisory role and set up a FLS production deal. "I was always trying to find the right guy to run things, or the right girl, but that was very difficult in Hollywood," he said. "We're now ready to get a proper operator."
According to sources inside the company, Winsterstern's resignation also resulted from the fact that he wanted more theatrical production, while his fellow board members wanted more of a focus on distribution and the company's video division. "We've had these debates for two years," Winterstern said. "Some board members were more interested in just distribution, but I'm a big believer you can't have one without the other, and you need a pipeline."
There also was internal concern over spending, including the company's move last month to lavish offices inside the new CAA building in Century City in the face of poor boxoffice returns from such theatrical features as "The Dead Girl", "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" and "Wassup Rockers". Winterstern said this was "absolutely not true. If you look at the numbers behind the space, it was a well-negotiated deal," though he could not provide specific figures.
Winterstern said that because of his expansion of FLS -- including his purchase of Blockbuster production, acquisition and distribution arm DEJ Prods. for $25 million, video distributor Ventura Distribution for about $20 million and TV syndication packages from Pinnacle Entertainment -- the resulting 140 employees justified the new space.
"From the very beginning, it was always my intention to build the company but not run it," said Winterstern, who merged his Capital Entertainment Group with First Look Pictures in July 2005 to form FLS. He will remain its largest individual shareholder, reacquire Capital, take on an advisory role and set up a FLS production deal. "I was always trying to find the right guy to run things, or the right girl, but that was very difficult in Hollywood," he said. "We're now ready to get a proper operator."
According to sources inside the company, Winsterstern's resignation also resulted from the fact that he wanted more theatrical production, while his fellow board members wanted more of a focus on distribution and the company's video division. "We've had these debates for two years," Winterstern said. "Some board members were more interested in just distribution, but I'm a big believer you can't have one without the other, and you need a pipeline."
There also was internal concern over spending, including the company's move last month to lavish offices inside the new CAA building in Century City in the face of poor boxoffice returns from such theatrical features as "The Dead Girl", "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" and "Wassup Rockers". Winterstern said this was "absolutely not true. If you look at the numbers behind the space, it was a well-negotiated deal," though he could not provide specific figures.
Winterstern said that because of his expansion of FLS -- including his purchase of Blockbuster production, acquisition and distribution arm DEJ Prods. for $25 million, video distributor Ventura Distribution for about $20 million and TV syndication packages from Pinnacle Entertainment -- the resulting 140 employees justified the new space.
NEW YORK -- First Look Studios chairman and CEO Henry Winterstern is leaving his post effective immediately, a spokesperson confirmed Friday.
First Look's board of directors is now in discussions with Winterstern regarding his future role, if any, with the company. The board, comprised of members Chris Cooney, Mitch Goldstein and Chas Phillips, accepted Winterstern's resignation, according to the spokesperson.
Winterstern was on a plane from New York to Los Angeles early Friday afternoon and could not be reached for comment. No news of his replacement was immediately available.
His departure comes as his company was said to be engaging in talks with Avi Lerner's Nu Image/Millennium Films to merge their extensive film libraries.
"At this stage, there's not going to be a deal. When we heard that we were going to have a deal with them, we laughed," said Lerner, who added that he's been talking with many companies about the sale of his nearly 300-title slate.
First Look's board of directors is now in discussions with Winterstern regarding his future role, if any, with the company. The board, comprised of members Chris Cooney, Mitch Goldstein and Chas Phillips, accepted Winterstern's resignation, according to the spokesperson.
Winterstern was on a plane from New York to Los Angeles early Friday afternoon and could not be reached for comment. No news of his replacement was immediately available.
His departure comes as his company was said to be engaging in talks with Avi Lerner's Nu Image/Millennium Films to merge their extensive film libraries.
"At this stage, there's not going to be a deal. When we heard that we were going to have a deal with them, we laughed," said Lerner, who added that he's been talking with many companies about the sale of his nearly 300-title slate.
NEW YORK -- First Look Studios CEO and co-chairman of the board Henry Winterstern is leaving his posts effective immediately, a spokesperson confirmed Friday.
Winterstern, who merged his Capital Entertainment Group with First Look Pictures in July 2005 to form First Look Studios, has reached an agreement with the studio's board of directors to reacquire Capital and set up a First Look production agreement. He will continue to be the largest individual shareholder of the company. Capital will take an advisory role with First Look and other media companies, as well as investment organizations.
The First Look board, comprised of members Chris Cooney, Mitch Goldstein and Chas Phillips, accepted Winterstern's resignation, according to the spokesperson. "Henry Winterstern played a leading role in transforming First Look into an independent, fully-integrated entertainment studio," said the board members in a statement Friday evening. "His broad understanding of the industry and his demonstrated skill as a deal maker and strategist will serve the future clients of Capital Entertainment well and we are pleased that he will continue to be a resource to First Look."
Winterstern was on a plane from New York to Los Angeles Friday afternoon and could not be reached for comment.
Winterstern, who merged his Capital Entertainment Group with First Look Pictures in July 2005 to form First Look Studios, has reached an agreement with the studio's board of directors to reacquire Capital and set up a First Look production agreement. He will continue to be the largest individual shareholder of the company. Capital will take an advisory role with First Look and other media companies, as well as investment organizations.
The First Look board, comprised of members Chris Cooney, Mitch Goldstein and Chas Phillips, accepted Winterstern's resignation, according to the spokesperson. "Henry Winterstern played a leading role in transforming First Look into an independent, fully-integrated entertainment studio," said the board members in a statement Friday evening. "His broad understanding of the industry and his demonstrated skill as a deal maker and strategist will serve the future clients of Capital Entertainment well and we are pleased that he will continue to be a resource to First Look."
Winterstern was on a plane from New York to Los Angeles Friday afternoon and could not be reached for comment.
PARK CITY -- As the Sundance Film Festival winds to a close, First Look Pictures acquired North American rights to "King of California" for slightly less than $3 million Thursday night, sources close to the negotiations said.
A dark comedy from first-time screenwriter-director Mike Cahill, "King" stars Michael Douglas as a father who returns home after being released from a mental institution, much to the chagrin of his beleaguered 16-year-old daughter Evan Rachel Wood). She reluctantly embarks on one of her father's long string of crazy schemes: a plan to unearth gold buried by Spanish missionaries in California.
A First Look representative confirmed that the studio was in negotiations for rights to the project, produced by Alexander Payne, Michael London, Avi Lerner and Randall Emmett.
According to a source involved in the deal, the Weinstein Co., Lionsgate and ThinkFilm circled the film after its world premiere Wednesday night at the Eccles Theatre. One factor that gave First Look the edge, a source said, was that the studio's CEO Henry Winterstern read the script and was tracking the project because of his previous position as CEO at Capital Entertainment, where he once expressed interest in getting involved in the production.
A dark comedy from first-time screenwriter-director Mike Cahill, "King" stars Michael Douglas as a father who returns home after being released from a mental institution, much to the chagrin of his beleaguered 16-year-old daughter Evan Rachel Wood). She reluctantly embarks on one of her father's long string of crazy schemes: a plan to unearth gold buried by Spanish missionaries in California.
A First Look representative confirmed that the studio was in negotiations for rights to the project, produced by Alexander Payne, Michael London, Avi Lerner and Randall Emmett.
According to a source involved in the deal, the Weinstein Co., Lionsgate and ThinkFilm circled the film after its world premiere Wednesday night at the Eccles Theatre. One factor that gave First Look the edge, a source said, was that the studio's CEO Henry Winterstern read the script and was tracking the project because of his previous position as CEO at Capital Entertainment, where he once expressed interest in getting involved in the production.
- 1/26/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- It comes as no surprise that leading this year’s pack of nominees are Little Miss Sunshine and Half Nelson, but this year’s mix of contenders are a mixed breed coming from films that were showcased a little everywhere – including this year’s Sundance. And the 2007 Independent Spirit nominees are...Feature (Award given to the Producer)"American Gun," Ted Kroeber, producer"The Dead Girl," Tom Rosenberg, Henry Winterstern, Gary Lucchesi, Richard Wright, Eric Karten, Kevin Turen, producers"Half Nelson," Jamie Patricof, Alex Orlovsky, Lynette Howell, Anna Boden, Rosanne Korenberg, producers"Little Miss Sunshine," Marc Turtletaub, David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf, Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa, producers"Pan's Labyrinth," Bertha Navarro, Alfonso Cuaron, Frida Torresblanco, Alvaro Augustin, Guillermo Del Toro, producersFIRST Feature (Award given to the director and producer)"Day Night Day Night," Julia Loktev, director; Julia Loktev, Melanie Judd, Jessica Levin, producers"Man Push Cart," Ramin Bahrani, director; Ramin Bahrani,
- 11/29/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
MADRID -- First Look Studios has picked up North American rights to The Kovak Box, starring Timothy Hutton, Spanish production house Filmax announced Monday.
Box, directed by Spaniard Daniel Monzon and produced by Filmax and Estudios Picasso, tells the story of a best-selling author whose fictional world becomes all too real when an idea from one of his books is taken by a reclusive scientist and used in a plot to drive people to commit suicide.
"We are proud to be working with Filmax on this exciting title," First Look CEO Henry Winterstern said in a statement. "We hope this is the first of many films that First Look and Filmax will handle together in the future."...
Box, directed by Spaniard Daniel Monzon and produced by Filmax and Estudios Picasso, tells the story of a best-selling author whose fictional world becomes all too real when an idea from one of his books is taken by a reclusive scientist and used in a plot to drive people to commit suicide.
"We are proud to be working with Filmax on this exciting title," First Look CEO Henry Winterstern said in a statement. "We hope this is the first of many films that First Look and Filmax will handle together in the future."...
- 11/21/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This review was written for the festival screening of "The Dead Girl".AFI Fest
By the movie's end, writer-director Karen Moncrieff's "The Dead Girl" delivers considerable emotional impact. But that doesn't mean you've enjoyed the journey. Moncrieff chooses to scrutinize highly unpleasant material but, fortunately, she never takes an exploitative or sensationalistic approach. The movie has its integrity. Her female characters are deeply troubled individuals, and there is little to comfort viewers that any of these lives might turn around or improve. Yet Moncrieff views these people, these victims, with compassionate understanding.
While Moncrieff spares you gruesome details, she demands that you look at what happens to people seemingly out of control of their lives and obsessions, who get caught up in fateful chain of events that can come to no good. The First Look release, which debuted at AFI Fest, opens Dec. 29 in Los Angeles and New York before a January national rollout. Despite an impressive cast, only adventurous adult viewers will head to art houses for "Dead Girl".
The movie unfolds in five vignettes about seemingly unrelated people. It soon is clear enough that these lives are connected to a dead girl discovered in a vacant field. You further suspect the murder to be the work of a serial killer.
Serial killers are an old staple in crime novels and movie thrillers, but such Hannibal Lecters are fictional monsters, good for quick chills and a laugh. Moncrieff will have none of this; she is after the horrifyingly mundane reality of victims, killers and those tragically connected to either or both.
Each vignette focuses on a central female character. Arden (Toni Collette) discovers the body, but her lonely life as a caretaker to her ill, abusive mother (Piper Laurie) is turned upside down by reporting her discovery to police. Her mother is furious, and she attracts unwanted attention from strangers, including a grocery store clerk (Giovanni Ribisi) who confuses his sexual desire with an obsession with serial killers. Arden is just lonely enough in life to give herself to this man.
Leah (Rose Byrne) is a forensics grad student who, when confronted with the mutilated body of the dead girl, thinks that perhaps she might be her young sister who went missing so many years before. Gruesome as it would be, this discovery would at least bring closure for her and her parents (Mary Steenburgen, Bruce Davison), who still wallow in denial.
An aging couple, Ruth Mary Beth Hurt) and her husband Carl (Nick Searcy), quarrel constantly over Carl's constant absences at night. Then she discovers one unit in the storage facility Carl runs contains ominous personal effects belonging to young women.
Melora Marcia Gay Harden) comes to Los Angeles searching for answers about the dead girl, who was her runaway daughter. She meets the daughter's roommate, Rosetta (Kerry Washington), a battered hooker, and learns a piece of news that changes her life. Finally, in a flashback, the movie shows the last day in the life of Krista (Brittany Murphy), a woman riven by violence, drug use and severe psychological issues yet desperate to reclaim her innocence.
The story is set in Los Angeles, but Moncrieff has selected the most desolate, almost barren urban landscape imaginable. Here people lead hopeless, angry lives, never certain what went wrong or, worse, how to repair them. There is a suggestion of hope in the mother-roommate vignette. In this sequence alone, people are lead to understand what happened and how they might salvage their lives.
Cinematographer Michael Grady and designer Kristan Andrews subtly depict this world of isolation with just the right tones, details and compositions that that link environment to character.
THE DEAD GIRL
First Look Pictures
Lakeshow Entertainment/Pitbull Pictures
Credits:
Screenwriter-director: Karen Moncrieff
Producers: Richard Wright, Eric Karten, Kevin Turen, Tom Rosenberg, Henry Winterstern, Gary Lucchesi
Director of photography: Michael Grady
Production designer: Kristan Andrews
Music: Adam Gorgoni
Costume designer: Susie DeSanto
Editor: Toby Yates
Cast:
Krista: Brittany Murphy
Arden: Toni Collette
Rudy: Giovanni Ribisi
Mother: Piper Laurie
Leah: Rose Byrne
Beverly: Mary Steenburgen
Bill: Bruce Davison
Ruth: Mary Beth Hurt
Carl: Nick Searcy
Melora: Marcia Gay Harden
Rosetta: Kerry Washington
Tarlow: Josh Brolin
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
By the movie's end, writer-director Karen Moncrieff's "The Dead Girl" delivers considerable emotional impact. But that doesn't mean you've enjoyed the journey. Moncrieff chooses to scrutinize highly unpleasant material but, fortunately, she never takes an exploitative or sensationalistic approach. The movie has its integrity. Her female characters are deeply troubled individuals, and there is little to comfort viewers that any of these lives might turn around or improve. Yet Moncrieff views these people, these victims, with compassionate understanding.
While Moncrieff spares you gruesome details, she demands that you look at what happens to people seemingly out of control of their lives and obsessions, who get caught up in fateful chain of events that can come to no good. The First Look release, which debuted at AFI Fest, opens Dec. 29 in Los Angeles and New York before a January national rollout. Despite an impressive cast, only adventurous adult viewers will head to art houses for "Dead Girl".
The movie unfolds in five vignettes about seemingly unrelated people. It soon is clear enough that these lives are connected to a dead girl discovered in a vacant field. You further suspect the murder to be the work of a serial killer.
Serial killers are an old staple in crime novels and movie thrillers, but such Hannibal Lecters are fictional monsters, good for quick chills and a laugh. Moncrieff will have none of this; she is after the horrifyingly mundane reality of victims, killers and those tragically connected to either or both.
Each vignette focuses on a central female character. Arden (Toni Collette) discovers the body, but her lonely life as a caretaker to her ill, abusive mother (Piper Laurie) is turned upside down by reporting her discovery to police. Her mother is furious, and she attracts unwanted attention from strangers, including a grocery store clerk (Giovanni Ribisi) who confuses his sexual desire with an obsession with serial killers. Arden is just lonely enough in life to give herself to this man.
Leah (Rose Byrne) is a forensics grad student who, when confronted with the mutilated body of the dead girl, thinks that perhaps she might be her young sister who went missing so many years before. Gruesome as it would be, this discovery would at least bring closure for her and her parents (Mary Steenburgen, Bruce Davison), who still wallow in denial.
An aging couple, Ruth Mary Beth Hurt) and her husband Carl (Nick Searcy), quarrel constantly over Carl's constant absences at night. Then she discovers one unit in the storage facility Carl runs contains ominous personal effects belonging to young women.
Melora Marcia Gay Harden) comes to Los Angeles searching for answers about the dead girl, who was her runaway daughter. She meets the daughter's roommate, Rosetta (Kerry Washington), a battered hooker, and learns a piece of news that changes her life. Finally, in a flashback, the movie shows the last day in the life of Krista (Brittany Murphy), a woman riven by violence, drug use and severe psychological issues yet desperate to reclaim her innocence.
The story is set in Los Angeles, but Moncrieff has selected the most desolate, almost barren urban landscape imaginable. Here people lead hopeless, angry lives, never certain what went wrong or, worse, how to repair them. There is a suggestion of hope in the mother-roommate vignette. In this sequence alone, people are lead to understand what happened and how they might salvage their lives.
Cinematographer Michael Grady and designer Kristan Andrews subtly depict this world of isolation with just the right tones, details and compositions that that link environment to character.
THE DEAD GIRL
First Look Pictures
Lakeshow Entertainment/Pitbull Pictures
Credits:
Screenwriter-director: Karen Moncrieff
Producers: Richard Wright, Eric Karten, Kevin Turen, Tom Rosenberg, Henry Winterstern, Gary Lucchesi
Director of photography: Michael Grady
Production designer: Kristan Andrews
Music: Adam Gorgoni
Costume designer: Susie DeSanto
Editor: Toby Yates
Cast:
Krista: Brittany Murphy
Arden: Toni Collette
Rudy: Giovanni Ribisi
Mother: Piper Laurie
Leah: Rose Byrne
Beverly: Mary Steenburgen
Bill: Bruce Davison
Ruth: Mary Beth Hurt
Carl: Nick Searcy
Melora: Marcia Gay Harden
Rosetta: Kerry Washington
Tarlow: Josh Brolin
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 11/8/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
AFI Fest
By the movie's end, writer-director Karen Moncrieff's "The Dead Girl" delivers considerable emotional impact. But that doesn't mean you've enjoyed the journey. Moncrieff chooses to scrutinize highly unpleasant material but, fortunately, she never takes an exploitative or sensationalistic approach. The movie has its integrity. Her female characters are deeply troubled individuals, and there is little to comfort viewers that any of these lives might turn around or improve. Yet Moncrieff views these people, these victims, with compassionate understanding.
While Moncrieff spares you gruesome details, she demands that you look at what happens to people seemingly out of control of their lives and obsessions, who get caught up in fateful chain of events that can come to no good. The First Look release, which debuted at AFI Fest, opens Dec. 29 in Los Angeles and New York before a January national rollout. Despite an impressive cast, only adventurous adult viewers will head to art houses for "Dead Girl".
The movie unfolds in five vignettes about seemingly unrelated people. It soon is clear enough that these lives are connected to a dead girl discovered in a vacant field. You further suspect the murder to be the work of a serial killer.
Serial killers are an old staple in crime novels and movie thrillers, but such Hannibal Lecters are fictional monsters, good for quick chills and a laugh. Moncrieff will have none of this; she is after the horrifyingly mundane reality of victims, killers and those tragically connected to either or both.
Each vignette focuses on a central female character. Arden (Toni Collette) discovers the body, but her lonely life as a caretaker to her ill, abusive mother (Piper Laurie) is turned upside down by reporting her discovery to police. Her mother is furious, and she attracts unwanted attention from strangers, including a grocery store clerk (Giovanni Ribisi) who confuses his sexual desire with an obsession with serial killers. Arden is just lonely enough in life to give herself to this man.
Leah (Rose Byrne) is a forensics grad student who, when confronted with the mutilated body of the dead girl, thinks that perhaps she might be her young sister who went missing so many years before. Gruesome as it would be, this discovery would at least bring closure for her and her parents (Mary Steenburgen, Bruce Davison), who still wallow in denial.
An aging couple, Ruth Mary Beth Hurt) and her husband Carl (Nick Searcy), quarrel constantly over Carl's constant absences at night. Then she discovers one unit in the storage facility Carl runs contains ominous personal effects belonging to young women.
Melora Marcia Gay Harden) comes to Los Angeles searching for answers about the dead girl, who was her runaway daughter. She meets the daughter's roommate, Rosetta (Kerry Washington), a battered hooker, and learns a piece of news that changes her life. Finally, in a flashback, the movie shows the last day in the life of Krista (Brittany Murphy), a woman riven by violence, drug use and severe psychological issues yet desperate to reclaim her innocence.
The story is set in Los Angeles, but Moncrieff has selected the most desolate, almost barren urban landscape imaginable. Here people lead hopeless, angry lives, never certain what went wrong or, worse, how to repair them. There is a suggestion of hope in the mother-roommate vignette. In this sequence alone, people are lead to understand what happened and how they might salvage their lives.
Cinematographer Michael Grady and designer Kristan Andrews subtly depict this world of isolation with just the right tones, details and compositions that that link environment to character.
THE DEAD GIRL
First Look Pictures
Lakeshow Entertainment/Pitbull Pictures
Credits:
Screenwriter-director: Karen Moncrieff
Producers: Richard Wright, Eric Karten, Kevin Turen, Tom Rosenberg, Henry Winterstern, Gary Lucchesi
Director of photography: Michael Grady
Production designer: Kristan Andrews
Music: Adam Gorgoni
Costume designer: Susie DeSanto
Editor: Toby Yates
Cast:
Krista: Brittany Murphy
Arden: Toni Collette
Rudy: Giovanni Ribisi
Mother: Piper Laurie
Leah: Rose Byrne
Beverly: Mary Steenburgen
Bill: Bruce Davison
Ruth: Mary Beth Hurt
Carl: Nick Searcy
Melora: Marcia Gay Harden
Rosetta: Kerry Washington
Tarlow: Josh Brolin
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
By the movie's end, writer-director Karen Moncrieff's "The Dead Girl" delivers considerable emotional impact. But that doesn't mean you've enjoyed the journey. Moncrieff chooses to scrutinize highly unpleasant material but, fortunately, she never takes an exploitative or sensationalistic approach. The movie has its integrity. Her female characters are deeply troubled individuals, and there is little to comfort viewers that any of these lives might turn around or improve. Yet Moncrieff views these people, these victims, with compassionate understanding.
While Moncrieff spares you gruesome details, she demands that you look at what happens to people seemingly out of control of their lives and obsessions, who get caught up in fateful chain of events that can come to no good. The First Look release, which debuted at AFI Fest, opens Dec. 29 in Los Angeles and New York before a January national rollout. Despite an impressive cast, only adventurous adult viewers will head to art houses for "Dead Girl".
The movie unfolds in five vignettes about seemingly unrelated people. It soon is clear enough that these lives are connected to a dead girl discovered in a vacant field. You further suspect the murder to be the work of a serial killer.
Serial killers are an old staple in crime novels and movie thrillers, but such Hannibal Lecters are fictional monsters, good for quick chills and a laugh. Moncrieff will have none of this; she is after the horrifyingly mundane reality of victims, killers and those tragically connected to either or both.
Each vignette focuses on a central female character. Arden (Toni Collette) discovers the body, but her lonely life as a caretaker to her ill, abusive mother (Piper Laurie) is turned upside down by reporting her discovery to police. Her mother is furious, and she attracts unwanted attention from strangers, including a grocery store clerk (Giovanni Ribisi) who confuses his sexual desire with an obsession with serial killers. Arden is just lonely enough in life to give herself to this man.
Leah (Rose Byrne) is a forensics grad student who, when confronted with the mutilated body of the dead girl, thinks that perhaps she might be her young sister who went missing so many years before. Gruesome as it would be, this discovery would at least bring closure for her and her parents (Mary Steenburgen, Bruce Davison), who still wallow in denial.
An aging couple, Ruth Mary Beth Hurt) and her husband Carl (Nick Searcy), quarrel constantly over Carl's constant absences at night. Then she discovers one unit in the storage facility Carl runs contains ominous personal effects belonging to young women.
Melora Marcia Gay Harden) comes to Los Angeles searching for answers about the dead girl, who was her runaway daughter. She meets the daughter's roommate, Rosetta (Kerry Washington), a battered hooker, and learns a piece of news that changes her life. Finally, in a flashback, the movie shows the last day in the life of Krista (Brittany Murphy), a woman riven by violence, drug use and severe psychological issues yet desperate to reclaim her innocence.
The story is set in Los Angeles, but Moncrieff has selected the most desolate, almost barren urban landscape imaginable. Here people lead hopeless, angry lives, never certain what went wrong or, worse, how to repair them. There is a suggestion of hope in the mother-roommate vignette. In this sequence alone, people are lead to understand what happened and how they might salvage their lives.
Cinematographer Michael Grady and designer Kristan Andrews subtly depict this world of isolation with just the right tones, details and compositions that that link environment to character.
THE DEAD GIRL
First Look Pictures
Lakeshow Entertainment/Pitbull Pictures
Credits:
Screenwriter-director: Karen Moncrieff
Producers: Richard Wright, Eric Karten, Kevin Turen, Tom Rosenberg, Henry Winterstern, Gary Lucchesi
Director of photography: Michael Grady
Production designer: Kristan Andrews
Music: Adam Gorgoni
Costume designer: Susie DeSanto
Editor: Toby Yates
Cast:
Krista: Brittany Murphy
Arden: Toni Collette
Rudy: Giovanni Ribisi
Mother: Piper Laurie
Leah: Rose Byrne
Beverly: Mary Steenburgen
Bill: Bruce Davison
Ruth: Mary Beth Hurt
Carl: Nick Searcy
Melora: Marcia Gay Harden
Rosetta: Kerry Washington
Tarlow: Josh Brolin
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 11/8/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- First Look Studios has secured a three-year, $80 million line of credit with Merrill Lynch, which also is taking a minority stake in the company. The credit is based on the company's accounts receivable, its library of film titles and its upcoming film slate. "When we acquired the company last July, we knew we were going to take out JPMorgan's credit facility and add more equity," First Look Studios CEO Henry Winterstern said. "Merrill Lynch's facility will not only be leveraged against past revenues but also future ones based on our estimates of the theatrical, video and TV revenue from our films." Winterstern plans to use the new funds to increase his theatrical slate from First Look's five releases this year to 10 releases next year. The new funding will complement the Hollywood-based company's current financial support from Prentice Capital Management.
- 6/22/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- First Look Studios has secured a three-year, $80 million line of credit with Merrill Lynch, which also is taking a minority stake in the company. The credit is based on the company's accounts receivable, its library of film titles and its upcoming film slate. "When we acquired the company last July, we knew we were going to take out JPMorgan's credit facility and add more equity," First Look Studios CEO Henry Winterstern said. "Merrill Lynch's facility will not only be leveraged against past revenues but also future ones based on our estimates of the theatrical, video and TV revenue from our films." Winterstern plans to use the new funds to increase his theatrical slate from First Look's five releases this year to 10 releases next year. The new funding will complement the Hollywood-based company's current financial support from Prentice Capital Management.
- 6/22/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Catherine Keener and Ellen Page will star in An American Crime, a gritty drama being directed by Tommy O'Haver. First Look Studios' Henry Winterstern and Kevin Turen are producing, in addition to Killer Films' Christine Vachon, Katie Roumel and Jocelyn Hayes-Simpson. The story, which O'Haver wrote with Irene Turner, tells the true story of Sylvia Likens, a 16-year-old girl who died in 1965 while under the care of a woman named Gertrude Baniszewski. She put Sylvia through an ordeal that included beatings in the guise of discipline, burnings with cigarettes and matches and scalding hot baths, among other tortures. Encouraging a Lord of the Flies-type cult, Baniszewski involved her own children and children from her Indianapolis neighborhood in the punishments. Keener is playing Baniszewski, while Page plays Likens.
- 5/17/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ventura Entertainment Enterprises, on the block for more than a year, has been partially acquired by First Look Studios, the fast-growing indie assembled by film producer and financier Henry Winterstern. Ventura, a confederation of about 60 in-house labels and distributed lines with more than 7,000 titles, reportedly has been experiencing financial difficulties for some time. With a new management team, headed by former Paramount Home Entertainment president Eric Doctorow, the company was poised for a turnaround, but then came the Musicland bankruptcy and the loss of millions of dollars in unobtainable receivables. Larry Hayes, who founded Ventura in 1993 as a way to offer producers and content providers an option to studio distribution, reportedly informed staffers of the sale Friday. "We're holding our own", one administrative staff member said.
- 3/21/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Anna Faris is starring in Smiley Face, a stoner comedy being directed by Gregg Araki. The film, which begins production this week, is being produced by First Look Studios' Henry Winterstern and Kevin Turen along with Anonymous Content's Steve Golin and Alix Madigan. The story, penned by first-timer Dylan Haggerty, centers on a young actress and hopeless slacker (Faris) who, after she inadvertently ingests her roommate's pot-laced brownies, attempts to manage her day as it goes awry through a series of misadventures. Also cast in the film are John Krasinski (The Office), John Cho (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) and Jane Lynch (The 40-Year-Old Virgin). International presales for Smiley Face are being handled through First Look International.
- 3/15/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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