Tag Archives: alicia vikander

Review: ‘The Danish Girl’

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The Danish Girl-posterThe Danish Girl is a powerful story of the hardships of living a life for which you do not belong. Director Tom Hooper takes on the story, which is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by David Ebershoff which centers around Lili Elbe, a Danish transgender woman and one of the first identifiable recipients of sex reassignment surgery.

The Danish GirlThe story takes place in 1920’s Copenhagen, where artist Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander) and her husband and fellow artist Einar Wegener (Eddie Redmayne) reside. A normal young couple with aspirations of being successful painters and raising a family, until a secret from Einar’s past is awakened. After Gerda asks Einar to to stand in for a female model, the paintings begin to receive a lot of attention which leads Gerda to continue to paint Einar as a woman. Einar begins to enjoy this new found alter ego and begins to live under the name Lili. Feeling that he is not meant to live his life as a man any longer, he begins to become distant from his loving wife, a move which leads to his quest to have sex reassignment surgery. Will a love that once bloomed within Gerda and Einar find a way to evolve as Einar embarks on this life changing quest?

The Danish Girl-7Eddie Redmayne, once again, turns in an Oscar winning performance as Lili. His transformation and heartbreaking portrayal is a marvelous example of the emotional and painstaking journey that transgenders endured in the early 20th century.  Alicia Vikander is outstanding with an emotionally charged performance. Her strong will and loyalty to her husband is what makes this film so beautiful.

The Danish Girl is a highly emotional film that will leave you breathless and emotional drawn, but the journey is well worth it.

Stars:

3 1/2 out of 5

After Credit Scene?

No

Trailer:

New York Film Festival 53 Review: ‘Ingrid Bergman- In Her Own Words’

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NYFF 53 bannerIngrid Bergman In Her Own Words-1While Ingrid Bergman is undoubtedly one of the most iconic faces in film history, her personal life may be an enigma to the average movie goer. In the NYFF53 documentary, INGRID BERGMAN IN HER OWN WORDS, filmmaker Stig Björkman brings her world to life with diary entries, intimate sit down interviews with her children, letters to close confidants, and home movies shot by Bergman herself.Ingrid Bergman In Her Own Words-2

Bergman kept a diary starting at a very early age, chronicling her thoughts and dreams. Oftentimes, revealing her innermost fears and personal downfalls, what is perhaps the most surprising is just how beautiful her words are on each page. The way she writes is almost poetic, incredibly articulate and profound. Bergman admits she was no saint when it came to the men in her life but was never ashamed of her love affairs outside of marriages. The love for her children was always evident. Interestingly enough, once her first affair became public knowledge, it was the US that was most personally offended. Early versions of the main stream media we have come to love and hate today, labeled her a woman to be boycotted. This was the catalyst for Bergman’s departure from the US, moving from country to country, transforming in her personal and professional life as the years rolled by. Even in the ever changing landscape, Ingrid’s talent and joy for life never waned.Ingrid Bergman In Her Own Words-5

What I found to be most interesting about this film is just how charming Bergman was. If you take a step back from her actions as a parent and wife, your initial reaction may be to judge her, yet somehow all is forgiven. There is definitely something to be explored in her relationship with both her father and the camera itself. It is the precursor to almost every life choice she made. Stig Björkman does an amazing job stitching together memories and exploring the effect she had on all who came in contact with her. INGRID BERGMAN IN HER OWN WORDS in a must see.

  • Directed By Stig Björkman
  • 2015
  • Sweden
  • Swedish and English with English subtitles
  • DCP
  • 114 minutes

This is a lovingly crafted film about one of the cinema’s most luminous and enchanting presences, composed from her letters and diaries (extracts of which are read by Alicia Vikander), the memories of her children (Pia Lindström and Isabella, Ingrid, and Roberto Rossellini), and a few close friends and colleagues (including Liv Ullmann and Sigourney Weaver), photographs, and moments from thousands of feet of Super-8 and 16mm footage shot by Bergman herself throughout the years. Stig Björkman’s focus is not on Bergman the star but on Bergman the woman and mother: orphaned at 13, drawn to acting on the stage and then on film, sailing for Hollywood at 24 and then leaving it all behind for a new and different life with Roberto Rossellini. Ingrid Bergman in Her Own Words is, finally, a self-portrait of a truly independent woman. A Rialto Pictures release.

Showtimes

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5

6:00 PM

Buy Tickets

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6

8:30 PM

Standby Only

VENUE

Walter Reade Theater

First Look at Matt Damon in Bourne 5

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bourneisback

Production began on the newest installment into the Bourne franchise and producer Frank Marshall provided us with a first look at Matt Damon, who is returning to the titular role after an 8 year absence. Director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum) is also returning.

Although nothing is know about the plot to the new film, we do know that Jeremy Renner’s Aaron Cross from The Bourne Legacy will not appear. Julia Stiles’s Nicky Parsons will return for the new film alongside franchise newcomers Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina), Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive) and Vincent Cassell (Black Swan), who is set to play an assassin hot on the trail of Bourne.

Damon spoke to Buzzfeed a few weeks back and this is what he had to say of the new film:

“Without giving too much of it away, it’s Bourne through an austerity-riddled Europe and in a post-Snowden world,” Damon said. “It seems like enough has changed, you know? There are all these kinds of arguments about spying and civil liberties and the nature of democracy.”

The new Bourne movie will hit theaters on July 29, 2016

Watch Eddie Redmayne Take on the Performance of His Life in the Offical Trailer for “The Danish Girl”

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Based off of the novel written by David Ebershoff, director Tom Hooper (Les Miserables) and actors Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) and Alicia Vikander (Ex-Machina) beautifully illustrate the powerful true story of Lili Elbe in their new film The Danish Girl. This is the overwhelming journey of Einar Wegener’s transition into the woman he knew he was meant to be. And based off of the official trailer, it looks like Eddie Redmayne may be on his way to taking home another Academy Award.

The Danish Girl will be in theaters November 27th.

Check out the official trailer below!

Focus Features Releases First Poster for ‘The Danish Girl’ Starring Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander

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Focus Features has released the official US poster  for Academy Award-winning director Tom Hooper’s THE DANISH GIRL.

Inspired by the lives of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener, the new movie starring Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, November 27th, and in additional cities in December 2015.

Check back here for the official US trailer when it launches on Tuesday, September 1st.

In Select Theatres on November 27th; Additional Cities December 2015

Danish Girl

Review: ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E’

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The Man From UNCLE poster1

Hollywood’s fascination with remaking old television shows into film continues with our subject for today, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., a slick action spy caper from director Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes). The film serves as an origin story to the original premise of the television show as we witness the birth of the relationship between the characters and their graduation to becoming the  United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. Step inside the world of espionage and intrigue as we venture back to a time where the world was on the brink of crisis and the men responsible with protecting their countries didn’t wear capes.

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Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. centers on CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer), two foes forced to put aside their differences, to team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, bent on creating nuclear weapons with the goal of world domination. How will they find this mystery organization? Through the daughter of a vanished German scientist, Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander) whom the two believe might be the key to unlocking the mystery, but they must contend with Victoria Vinciguerra (Elizabeth Debicki), a widowed industrialist who is working with the mystery organization to develop the nuclear technology and stop them from foiling their plan. Can the trio put their differences aside long enough to stop the destruction of the world?

The Man From UNCLE 1

Director Guy Ritchie has incorporated his wonderfully clever, stylish film making with this intriguing cast of characters to create an intelligent spy caper that doesn’t take itself too serious and allows it’s campy nature to weave its way into the tone of the film to create one heck of a fun time. Henry Cavill is outstanding as the debonair thief turned super spy. Cavill’s charm and delivery are perfect for the setting and his presence on screen is reminiscent of an early Bond. Armie Hammer has his ups and down in the this film, but overall he does a fine job creating his character. Alicia Vikander is absolutely stunning in this film. Vikander, who stole the show in this year’s Ex Machina, again steals the show with her beauty and grace. Elizabeth Debicki is devilishly mesmerizing as the villainess of the film. Debicki brings a sense of calm beauty that you are intrigued to find out more about her. For a film driven by male performances, it’s the women who steal the show of this film.

Overall, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a truly enjoyable film and one that will keep you entertained all the way thru.

Stars:

3 1/2 out of 5

After Credit Scene?

None

Trailer:

‘Bourne 5’ Casting News

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Alicia-Vikander

Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) has been cast alongside Matt Damon in the fifth installment of the Bourne franchise. Along with Vikander, franchise veteran Julia Stiles will be reprising her role as Agent Nicky Parson.

If that wasn’t exciting enough, The Wrap’sJeff Sneider took to Twitter to announce that Viggo Mortensen has been offered the villain role in Bourne 5.

Bourne 5 will hit theaters on July 29, 2016

‘EX MACHINA’ plays God with our emotions.

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ExMachinaPosterHow far are we from a true functioning, fully self aware A.I.? We’ve all seen the Youtube videos of robots that can walk and “talk” and serve us things. These creations are programmed to respond to our needs, but what happens when we get so good at creating artificial intelligence, the machine doesn’t need us anymore? Writer Alex Garland, who brought us SUNSHINE and 28 DAYS LATER, now strolls us through a world where this very matter is at hand. EX MACHINA is the story of a young and brilliant programmer, Caleb, who wins a contest that allows him to visit the creator of what, in today’s society, would be the equal of Google. Nathan lives on a compound in the middle of nowhere. His home is state of the art in every way possible. But Caleb isn’t  just there to pick the brain of a prodigy, he is there as a pawn in a much bigger game. Nathan has created an A.I. so perfect, that it defies what Caleb imagined to be the realm of possibility. His challenge: test “Ava”. But the real test is something much more sinister. Read More →

‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E’ Poster and Trailer Debuts

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manfromuncleposterlargeWarner Bros. has debuted the trailer and poster for director Guy Ritchie’s big screen adaptation of the 60’s series The Man From U.N.C.L.E starring Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer and Alicia Vikander. You can check it out below!

Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. centers on U.N.C.L.E. agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. The two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. will be released in theaters on August 14, 2015

New Trailer: ‘Ex Machina’ – New A.I. feature from the writer of ’28 Days Later’ & ‘Sunshine’

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ExMachina Teaser Poster1Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, makes his directorial debut with the stylish and cerebral thriller, EX MACHINA. Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer at an internet-search giant, wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain estate of the company’s brilliant and reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). Upon his arrival, Caleb learns that Nathan has chosen him to be the human component in a Turing Test—charging him with evaluating the capabilities, and ultimately the consciousness, of Nathan’s latest experiment in artificial intelligence. That experiment is Ava (Alicia Vikander), a breathtaking A.I. whose emotional intelligence proves more sophisticated––and more deceptive––than the two men could have imagined. Read More →