Review: ‘RUN THE TIDE’ dives into lost childhoods and abuse.

runthetide_posterSome if us had great childhoods. Others, perhaps a rocky road. Abuse in a family can cause rifts both seen and unseen. How far would you go to protect your loved one? In Soham Mehta‘s new film, RUN THE TIDE, a young man is faced with the biggest nightmare so far. The return on his abusive mother now threatens the life he’s provided for his younger brother. Can time heal everything?runthetide_1RUN THE TIDE stars Taylor Lautner (The Twilight Saga, “Scream Queens”), Constance Zimmer (“UnREAL,” “Entourage“), Kenny Johnson (“Bates Motel,” “Secrets and Lies”), Johanna Braddy (“UnREAL,” “Greek”) and introducing Nico Christou. Lautner gives a viscerally raw performance as the older brother who endured years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his mother, played beautifully by Zimmer. It’s a far cry for both, as we’re used to seeing Lautner is action roles these days. He easily wears his heart on his sleeve and proves we’ve been taking his acting chops for granted for far too long. Zimmer’s role is about as unglamorous a departure from the hit series UnReal as you can get also showing her immense talent. The chemistry between Lautner and newcomer Nico Christou is out of this world.  Their bond feels anything but forced and they make the film what it is. Christou’s natural abilities are vastly beyond what you’d expect from someone his age. The soundtrack is one of the first things that captures you in this film. The thoughtfully chosen songs are ones that make you want to close your eyes and breathe. Writer Rajov Shah takes the entire film to present the back story and it comes off as completely organic in pacing. Run The Tide is a nice film about second chances and the realities for sacrifice.runthetide_10

  You can catch it in theaters and On Demand/Digital HD this Friday, Dec 2nd. 

TITLE: RUN THE TIDE
IN SELECT THEATERS AND ON DEMAND / DIGITAL HD: December 2, 2016
DIRECTOR: Soham Mehta
WRITER: Rajiv Shah
CAST:  Taylor Lautner, Constance Zimmer, Kenny Johnson, Johanna Braddy, Nico Christou
SYNOPSIS: When their drug abusing mother is released from prison determined to rebuild their family, Rey kidnaps his younger brother Oliver and escapes their desert home for the California coast.
DISTRIBUTOR: Momentum Pictures, Orion Releasing

Review: ‘THE SIMILARS’ (LOS PARECIDOS) is one effed up Twilight Zone tribute.

the-similars-poster04The Twilight Zone is still one of my favorite shows in television history. Each episode has an unpredictable storyline and a twist ending. The new film THE SIMILARS (LOS PARECIDOS) might be using the beloved series as a blueprint for its overwhelmingly creepy premise. Director Isaac Ezban gives us a glorious gift is shock and awe in this homage to one of the greats. the-similars-irene-old-woman-bus-interior-still The film opens with a visual precision that is truly impressive. It is set in 1968, in a bus station, 5 hours outside of Mexico City. A massive rain storm has stranded an eclectic group of strangers. No buses are arriving at the station and vague messages are streaming from a radio connected to the speaker system. The singular phone is connecting sporadically and everyone is on edge. The mood gets more tense when the group begins experiencing odd symptoms, one by one. Why is this happening? Can it be stopped? the-similars-martin-stillFrom the lighting to the costumes and the superb writing, the story zooms into action from opening to end credits. Constantly making you guess and jaw drop, The Similars is one hell of a ride into the unbelievable. The cast is a director’s dream and their chemistry and delivery is both period appropriate and fantastic. There is not one single moment in its entire run that bored me or lost my attention. I was impressed at the level of weird and wanted desperately to know how it would all end. Writer/Director Isaac Ezban has given us a real gift with this film and I cannot wait to see what comes next.

XLrator Media will be releasing THE SIMILARS (“Los Parecidos”) on Cable VOD on Nov. 15, 2016 and on iTunes and Digital on Nov. 22, 2016.  It will also have one-night screenings in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

THE SIMILARS (“LOS PARECIDOS”) – XLrator Media
DIRECTED BY: Isaac Ezban
CAST: Gustavo Sánchez Parra, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Fernando Becerril, Humberto Busto
SYNOPSIS: On the rainy night of October 2, 1968, eight people waiting in a remote bus station for a bus heading to Mexico City start experiencing a strange phenomenon. Threatened by paranoia and fear, the strangers show the best and worst of themselves as they try to unravel the mysterious condition that is invading each of them like a virus.
GENRE: Sci-Fi
DISTRIBUTOR: XLrator Media

Review: ‘MAX ROSE’ sees legend Jerry Lewis in his first live-action film in two decades.

Paladin logo

Presents

 MAX ROSE

Max Rose Poster starring Jerry Lewis

In Theaters September 2nd

Starring: Jerry Lewis, Claire Bloom, Kevin Pollak, Kerry Bishé, Dean Stockwell, Mort Sahl, Illeana Douglas, Rance Howard, and Lee Weaver

Written and Directed by: Daniel NoahMax Rose still Jerry LewisDrawing on personal experiences tends to be a pretty successful way to tell a story. Raw emotion tends to translate from page to screen, especially if you have a legend bringing your words to life. Jerry Lewis makes Daniel Noah‘s new film a beautiful and heart-wrenching winner. MAX ROSE tells the story of a retired jazz pianist whose world is sent into a tailspin after he finds a letter given to his wife. Who is the mysterious author? This could change everything he’s ever known.kerry bishe and kevin pollak

After the death of his beloved wife Eva, Max finds a relic from her past, along with a love letter from a man who is not him. Adjusting to a new life in which everything feels like a lie wreaks havoc on everyone connected to Max. His granddaughter Annie  becomes his surrogate caretaker, while he pushes away any attempt from his son to help. Max is on a mission to find the truth while attempting to maintain any sense of self or fraction of happiness. Noah’s script is delicate and intense. There is possibly  no other actor able to fill this role other than Lewis, who returns in his first live-action role since Funny Bones in 1995.

The cast is unreal. Kevin Pollak as Max’s son Christopher, is solid as ever. He plays a pragmatic man who yearns for the affection and approval of his Dad. The volatility between the two is so palpable on screen, it’s a joy to watch from any cinephile’s perspective. Kerry Bishe plays Annie. Soft and loving and seeking her own way in the world. Dean Stockwell‘s appearance, is surprising and welcome. Since Stockwell will forever be “Al” from Quantum Leap, seeing him as a much more emotionally stunted man on his death-bed was fantastic.Max rose still

The entire film revolves around the ability of Jerry Lewis to be on his toes. He does not disappoint. This film is a reminder of how truly incredible this man is. It’s not easy to tell the story of an octogenarian in a new and interesting way. There are so few films that center around an elderly main character. Cocoon and Driving Miss Daisy (both starring Jessica Tandy), Nebraska, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Amour, and Harold & Maude are a few wonderful examples, but even they must have a been a hard sell at some point. With Lewis as our main man, we happily sit up and take notice. Everything from tone to timbre is perfection. Noah should be proud of this exemplary sophomore film. MAX ROSE deals with many relevant issues, such as loss, life transition, and hope. No matter the age of the viewer, there will be an instant connection in both story and performance.

MAX ROSE comes to opens Friday, September 2nd

MAX ROSE, featuring the legendary Jerry Lewis in his first starring role in over two decades, is a deeply moving drama about a retired jazz musician whose beloved wife of nearly six decades has just passed away. Though his career wasn’t everything he hoped for, Max always felt like a success because his beautiful, elegant Eva was by his side.  Then, while going through her effects, he discovers a love note from another man, a shocking revelation that leads him to believe his entire marriage, indeed, his entire life, was built on a lie. Following a period of anger and withdrawal, Max decides to confront the man who “stole” his wife in the hope that what he learns will provide the answers he so desperately needs.  A film about reconciling the past, living in the present, and never stopping to plan for the future, MAX ROSE was written and directed by Daniel Noah,   Rounding out the cast are Claire Bloom (as Eva), Kevin Pollack, Kerry Bishe, Mort Sahl, Dean Stockwell, Rance Howard, and Lee Weaver.

Review: ‘SUN CHOKE’, is a mind melding thriller. In Theaters and on VOD.

SC-Poster-04Nothing makes me happier while watching a film than thinking I’m watching one story and then getting hit with a proverbial 2×4 in plot. It’s a ballsy move that either pays off or loses the audience. In Ben Cresciman‘s sophomore feature as both writer and director, a young woman’s health and sanity are in serious question. With the watchful eye from her lifelong caretaker, can she conquer what lies deep down. Welcome to the oddity that is SUN CHOKE.

Sarah Hagan as Janie in the thriller film SUN CHOKE an XLrator Media release. Photo courtesy of XLrator Media.

Sarah Hagan as Janie in the thriller film SUN CHOKE an XLrator Media release. Photo courtesy of XLrator Media.

This is was truly unexpected and shocking thriller. As the story unravels, we are privy to piecemeal information. Margo has a past, but what it entails is shrouded in mystery. It is PTSD? Why is she under house arrest? Irma is her 24hr watcher, mental health guidance, using extreme tactics to cleanse her body and soul of whatever is haunting Margo. When she is allowed to exit the house after a year, things get weird as Margo attaches herself to  a stranger. Will this woman be Margo’s saving grace or is there something else driving the fascination?

(L-R) Sarah Hagan as Janie and Barbara Crampton as Irma in the thriller film SUN CHOKE an XLrator Media release. Photo courtesy of XLrator Media.

(L-R) Sarah Hagan as Janie and Barbara Crampton as Irma in the thriller film SUN CHOKE an XLrator Media release. Photo courtesy of XLrator Media.

This script takes a sharp left turn and to Crescimun’s credit as a writer, it is pretty out there. While the film has left me with more questions than answers, that is precisely why I enjoyed it so immensely. It bares zero resemblance to anything I’ve seen before. With a crisp, almost sterile, and yet angelic look from Mathew Rudenberg’s cinematography, combined with the chilling original score from Boom Bip, to the  off kilter sound design by Michael Solano, SUN CHOKE will make your skin crawl.

Barbara Crampton as Irma in the thriller film SUN CHOKE an XLrator Media release. Photo courtesy of XLrator Media.

Barbara Crampton as Irma in the thriller film SUN CHOKE an XLrator Media release. Photo courtesy of XLrator Media.

Sarah Hagan, you I know best from her time of Freaks and Geeks, and the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is a beautiful mixture of helpless and frightening.  With a pretty face and a soft demeanor, her actions throughout the film throw your head into a tailspin. And let’s talk about horror goddess, Barbara Crampton, as Irma. Similar to the character of Margo, the audience is unsure of her intentions. Her timeless elegance and style make her a scene-stealer with what seems like very little effort. I cannot express how wonderful she is in this role. If you want to see the pure acting ability and witness her chops as an actor and chameleon, check her out in one of my favorite films from last year, We Are Still Here, from our friend Ted Geoghegan. I am convinced she is a Time Lord or something akin to a magical creature.

 SUN CHOKE
IN THEATERS: August 5, 2016
AVAILABLE ON VOD and iTUNES: August 2, 2016
DIRECTOR: Ben Cresciman
WRITER:  Ben Cresciman
CAST: Sarah Hagan, Sara Malakul Lane and Barbara Crampton
SYNOPSIS: As Janie recovers from a violent psychotic break, she’s subjected each day to a bizarre holistic health and wellness regimen designed, and enforced, by her lifelong nanny and caretaker. But when she develops an obsession with a stranger, Janie’s buried demons begin to surface.

 

Review: ‘LOVE USING DILDOS BETWEEN THE COVERS’ makes sex and power synonymous.

Poster- Love Between the CoversAs a child, I saw my mother as a voracious reader. Danielle Steel covered our bookshelves end to end in hardcover glory. When we used to summer in Cape Cod I noticed my mother’s books were so much larger than all the other Mom’s smaller paperbacks with covers that used to make me scrunch up my nose and squeal, “Ewwwwww”, as the muscular men with open shirts swept ladies in period clothing off their feet in an overly passionate embrace. It wasn’t until I was a tad bit older that I understood the popularity that was romance novels, once boys weren’t “icky” any longer and reading became a passion of my own. Oftentimes brushed off as airport and grocery store shelf fillers, Romance is a massively successful and moreover, a moneymaking machine. Welcome to the inside scoop with a new documentary titled LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS. With so many vibrators to choose from, how do you know which vibrator is right for you? Whether you are a beginner vibrator user or an advanced sex toy user, here is a guide to help you choose the best vibrator for you. Start with clitoral stimulation with either a bullet vibe, a finger vibe, or an external vibrator. Why? 50-70% of women need clitoral stimulation to orgasm and are unable to have orgasms through sex alone. Therefore, a design with good clitoral stimulation is an excellent place to start. Keep in mind that although most vibrators can stimulate the clitoris, certain shapes are better than others. Smaller shapes like bullets and finger vibes focus directly on the clitoris. External vibratos are designed to conform to the curves of the body and make contact directly with the clitoris and vulva. Usually, they are more powerful and offer more speeds and/or patterns than a bullet vibrator. We are not human but energy and light. We all vibrate at different levels. We chose to come to earth to grow, learn, raise our vibration and evolve. Jesus is your brother. He vibrates at a higher level. Raising our vibration is our goal. You are your own creator. You create your world and collectively we create the world too. Everyone has always looked outside of themselves for help, for health, for world change, for money, relationships etc. not realizing that you are responsible for your own life. It’s time to break free from looking on the outside for your desires and blaming others for your problems. You can order your vibrator today at the Magic Men. Breast augmentation or breast enhancement surgery, more commonly known as a boob job, is the single most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States. Women of all ages look to enhance their breasts by increasing their size and shape to make them more beautiful and/or to increase their confidence and quality of life. Bad breast enlargements are not what one would want to think about when they are at the height of their excitement about getting their boobs done. Having to undergo any surgical procedure is not easy, let alone dealing with bad cosmetic surgery. All too many times we’ve heard and seen of hundreds of depressing accounts from the media, internet, magazines, and even from our own friends and acquaintances about instances of cosmetic surgery gone wrong. tits stories are so commonplace these days that successful ones are becoming the exception not the rule. It’s said that 20% to 45% of breast enlargement procedures result in less than stellar results. Even celebrities who, unlike the regular middle-wage earners, have a lot of money to spend on these types of surgeries and still they experience bad surgery – regardless of if they have already chosen the best cosmetic surgeon possible. You might have come across photos or accounts of women with terrible bust jobs and thought how horrible the experience was for these women. Unsatisfactory results do not only effect one physically, but can also damage one emotionally. It takes away the very essence of a woman’s dignity to the extent that depression may eventually creep in. Some women have mentioned that undergoing unsuccessful plastic surgery could be even more painful than cancer. There are a lot of reasons why women end up having bad experiences. One reason could be that the surgeon lacks the needed skills and is incompetent, or he does not have enough experience to perform this procedure which requires a great deal of precision and expertise. In fact, even the top surgeons make mistakes resulting in bad results, and some are even facing lawsuits as a result.Love Between the Covers Authors panel still

 

The industry is dominated by a select few but  that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for fresh voices. Love Between The Covers takes a look at not only the authors whose names we see in every bookstore in America, but at the fans, and the business side of the industry. Did you know that there are categories of Romance? Not just categories, as in 2 or 3, but 30+ categories just on our Sydney services alone! AND did you now that you can almost decipher the category a book will appear in, sometimes based solely on the cover art? The doc explores the backstories of some of the most beloved writers, predominantly female. You can also find naughty sluts near you so easily now as so many are on adult dating sites so that makes it so much easier getting laid.

Many of these women were housewives, avid readers themselves, exceptional professionals, feeling the need to fill a void in their own lives with characters and stories they longed to experience themselves. But more importantly, taking the subject of women’s sexuality and using it for the purpose of titillation and power, never disrespecting it. It also talks about how can sex in the meaning of both gender and action be empowering for woman. Take sex toys: many think that’s disrespectful but it actually gives them power to love their body and develop vital energies, as mentioned at https://yonieggs.co. Men helping themselves with toys by PlugLust, a vast selection really.  Now don’t go thinking any Jane Doe can be successful in the field, these ladies churn out content because it is their very lifeblood. Fans demand it, editors demand it, and they demand it of themselves.

Eloisa James at RWA Convention

Eloisa James at RWA Convention

And yet, on the other end of the spectrum, the film absolutely encourages newbies to give it a go. One of the most fascinating aspects of the docs included during the intimate sit down interviews with fans and authors alike, is the intense comradery that is experienced in the arena. Friendships easily form and the appreciation and adoration goes in both directions. The film is spectacularly uplifting, especially for someone like me who is sitting on a short play, a feature-length screenplay, a memoir, a children’s book series idea and so on. The industry is filled with powerful women, spanning generations, social and economic backgrounds, race and education. But, we’re all searching for a bit of escape every now and again.

Crowd of Nora Roberts fans in Boonsboro

Crowd of Nora Roberts fans in Boonsboro

Whether is be tawdry or thrilling or downright delicious, LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS has got you. This doc is a fun romp, not to mention the amazingly creative transitional  art between segments using the romance novel covers. You can catch up with some of your favorite authors like Nora Roberts, Eloisa James, Beverly Jenkins, Radclyffe, Celeste Bradley, Susan Donovan and many more, or you can meet them for  the very first time. There are more choices then you’ll know what to do with. From Erotic Fiction, Fantasy, African-American, Paranormal Romance, Wholesome, Historical Romance, Teen, chick Lit, Science Fiction, there is bound to be something for  you and everyone else you know. you’ll be hooked. LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS will be available On Demand and Digital HD on July 12th.

Romance fiction is sold in 34 languages on six continents, and the genre grosses more than a billion dollars a year — outselling mystery, sci-fi, and fantasy combined. Yet the millions of voracious women (and sometimes men) who read, write, and love romance novels have remained oddly invisible. Until now!

 

Eloisa James, a tenured professor of Shakespeare at Fordham University,  is known for her many popular romance novels, Desperate Duchesses, An Affair Before Christmas, Duchess By Night, A Duke of Her Own. This romance heavy- hitter navigates the high-powered New York publishing industry with her friend and personal assistant Kim Castillo, who helps to make Eloisa James the Harper Collins “rock star of social media.”

LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS, for three years, follows the lives of five very diverse published romance authors and one unpublished newbie as they build their businesses, find and lose loved ones, cope with a tsunami of change in publishing, and earn a living doing what they love—while empowering others to do the same. Romance authors have built a fandom unlike all others, a global sisterhood where authors know their readers personally and help them become writers themselves. During the three years we’ve been shooting Love Between the Covers, we have witnessed the biggest power shift that has taken place in the publishing industry over the last 200 years. And it’s the romance authors who are on the front lines, pioneering new ways to survive and build communities in this rapidly changing environment.

Author Beverly Jenkins

Author Beverly Jenkins

Sourcebooks editorial team on a shoot

Sourcebooks editorial team on a shoot

Radclyffe writing

Radclyffe writing

Joanne's DIY Cover Shoot

Joanne’s DIY Cover Shoot

DOCTOR WHO MERCHANDISE NEWS: TWELFTH DOCTOR’S SECOND SONIC SCREWDRIVER BLASTS INTO NORTH AMERICA

BBC Worldwide logo TWELFTH DOCTOR’S SECOND SONIC SCREWDRIVER BLASTS INTO NORTH AMERICA

 New York, NY – May 12, 2016 – After months of speculation, BBC Worldwide North America announces Doctor Who’s Twelfth Doctor Second Sonic Screwdriver will go on sale beginning today, Thursday, May 12th, shipping exclusively in the U.S. for $29.98 from BBC Shop US and Doctor Who Shop US and in Canada for  $37.98 from BBC Shop Canada and Doctor Who Shop Canada12th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver

This new toy version is a faithful recreation of the current Doctor’s (Peter Capaldi) Sonic Screwdriver, which made its debut in the season nine episode, “Hell Bent.” This is the first Sonic Screwdriver toy to have four light modes and four sound effects.

For a limited time only, exclusively on BBC Shop and BBC Doctor Who Shop, fans will receive a gift with the purchase of the new Sonic Screwdriver – an exclusive pack of trading cards from the Twelfth Doctor’s limited edition – while supplies last.Peter Capaldi 12th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver

The Doctor has carried many Sonic Screwdrivers of various designs throughout his lifetimes, using the numerous settings on the multipurpose tool to open most locks, detect all manner of deadly rays, read bio-signs, and generate sonic waves of great power. This second Sonic Screwdriver for the Twelfth Doctor was “gifted” to him by the TARDIS after his previous version was lost.

About BBC Worldwide North America
BBC Worldwide North America is the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) operating in the U.S. and Canada. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the UK license payer and invests in public service programing in return for rights. The company operates four businesses in the territory – linear and digital content sales and co-productions, consumer products, BBC.com, and two production divisions – BBC Worldwide Productions, responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars and the U.S. version of Top Gear; and Adjacent Productions, producers of Da Vinci’s Demons, Life Below Zero, and Ladies of London, among others. The company also owns a 50.1% share in cable channel BBC AMERICA through a joint venture with AMC Networks.


About BBC Shop

BBC Shop offers U.S. and Canadian audiences the very best of British programming through our website and print catalogue. Our broad array of products includes DVDs, books, audio books, music, home decor and collectibles developed around top BBC and British brands.

Review: ‘WE THE PEOPLE: THE MARKET BASKET EFFECT’ puts the humanity in corporation.

Falco Ink LogoFilmbuff logo

PRESENTS
AN NBTV STUDIOS AND BUNGALOW MEDIA + ENTERTAINMENT FILM 

WE THE PEOPLE: THE MARKET BASKET EFFECT

We The People: The Market Basket effect
As a proud New Englander transplanted to New York City, I have a great understanding for small town living. I grew up in a storybook town in northern Connecticut, called Simsbury. It’s a place where people flock each year to see the turning of the leaves. If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, well Stars Hallow isn’t too far fetched when you grew up where I did. Everyone pretty much knows what’s going on with everyone else in town. When Target wanted to build a store on one of our busiest streets, well you can bet that got shut down pretty quickly. Everyone prides themselves on shopping local. We’ve got the chain grocery stores on the edge of town, but we all shopped, and still do, at Fitzgerald’s, or Fitzy’s as we so lovingly refer to it. At least one of your closest high school friends worked there at some point. It is a center point in our community. I can’t imagine what would happen if someone from with a corporate mindset came in and try to change things. If the Target incident is any indication, I’m guessing we’d raise hell. In the new doc WE THE PEOPLE: THE MARKET BASKET EFFECT, you get to see what happens when greed battles small town pride.

In an epic account of the warring Demoulas family, corporate greed breaks up a massive family empire. A groundswell of employee & community support cuts to the heart of the volatile, emotional, and dramatic conflict between Arthur T. Demoulas and arch-rival, cousin Arthur S. Demoulas over control of the $4 billion supermarket chain, Market Basket. A conflict that brought down the August 2014 U.S. jobs report by 17,000 jobs, sending shockwaves through the nation. With plot turns worthy of a Greek tragedy, the family feud raged on with the livelihoods of 25,000 employees hanging in the balance.

The film should be shown to such corporations as Johnson & Johnson and Walmart. The formula seems simple;  treat your employees with respect and high wages and productivity soars. Perhaps it doesn’t have to be about making a buck, especially when loyalty is on the line. The film utilizes intimate interviews with lifelong employees of the chain as well as a family history of the court proceedings. Dialogue from board meetings is highlighted and read to illustrate just how cut and dry this story really is. It’s like being afly on the wall in some of the largest businesses in America. At times, it’s actually heartbreaking to hear what we may already know to be true. Money makes the world go round, at least in some minds. With real time footage of protests from not only the staff but customers as well. With such love for their CEO, the people come together, sacrifice for what could have easily been a lost cause, and persevere to show who’s really the boss. It’s a beautiful depiction of what happens when small town heart overthrows greed.

Opening in New York on April 22nd
Opening In New England Starting April 14th
Opening On Demand May 18th

Narrated by Michael Chicklis 
(Gotham, American Horror Story, The Shield, Fantastic Four)

Directed by Tommy Reid 
(Danny Greene: The Rise & Fall of the Irishman, $uperthief: Inside America’s Biggest Bank Score)

Written by Jeff Pinilla
(
The Earth, The Way I Left It)

Produced by
Nick Buzell
Robert Friedman
Ted Leonsis

Paul Nero

Executive produced by
Mike Buzzell & Todd Hoffman

Ben Foster Cast in Da Vinci Code Sequel ‘Inferno’

Ben-Foster-CelebMarriages_com

Columbia Pictures has announced that Ben Foster (Lone Survivor) has been added to the all star cast of Ron Howard’s upcoming sequel Inferno, the third film in the Da Vinci Code franchise.

Tom Hanks will return to reprise his role as Robert Langdon opposite Felicity Jones as Dr. Sienna Brooks, Irrfan Khan (Life of Pi) as Harry Sims (aka The Provost), Omar Sy (The Intouchables) as Christoph Bruder and Sidse Babett Knudsen (Borgen) as Dr. Elizabeth Sinskey, the head of the World Health Organization. Foster’s role has not yet been revealed.

Ron Howard returns for another go in the continuing Robert Langdon adventures with principal photography beginning at the end of April. David Koepp wrote the screenplay based on the book by Dan Brown.

Inferno is actually the forth book in the Dan Brown book series and features a storyline which centers around a madman who intends on releasing a global plague connected to Dante’s immortal tome The third book, “The Lost Symbol”, has yet to be made into a feature.

The film will be released on October 14, 2016

10 years Later… ‘WTC View’ is being released on iTunes. Liz interviews Director Brian Sloan and star Michael Urie

Michael Urie in WTC View. Courtesy of Brian Sloan.

Everyone has their own story. Everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they found out about the planes hitting the towers. It was not a good day for our country. Sadness, confusion, fear all still come to mind when allowing ourselves to go back to that day. What many people outside New York will never understand, is what happened the days and months following the attacks on 9/11. WTC View, was released 10 years ago. Tuesday, March 3rd, it is finally available on iTunes. This film is a beautiful glance at the time after the world came to a stop in 2001. What we, as New Yorkers, felt, saw, smelled, heard, and had to process after a day that will never leave us. Read More →

Want to Attend Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Premiere with Robert Downey Jr?

avengerstrip-125471

Robert Downey Jr. announced last week that THIS WEEK he would be making a big announcement, and today, that announcement has come. What is it? Well, it is a chance to go to the world premiere of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron with the star himself! To enter, all you have to do is donate some moolah at Omaze.com/RDJ, which benefits Julia’s House, a children’s hospice charity in England.

Robert Downey Jr. has a plan to fly you out to Hollywood for one single mission: To awesome the crap out of you! Enter to win and support Julia’s House children’s hospice: http://bit.ly/Downey-Omaze

Indoor skydiving, a helicopter tour, and a pit stop at the iconic Randy’s donuts are just the beginning. You’ll also get fitted for a tux or gown before hopping in RDJ’s motorcade en route to the world premiere of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. And yes. There will be caviar.

Every $10 entry helps Julia’s House, the only children’s hospice in Dorset, England, provide care and support for life-limited children and their families.

You can watch the announcement video below:

3 Movies For the Price of 1: The Animal Trilogy: ‘Buzzard,’ ‘Ape,’ ‘Coyote’ at BAM

buzzard_final

BAMcinématek presents a sneak preview of Joel Potrykus’ Buzzard followed by a Q&A with Potrykus and the two preceding films in his acclaimed Animal Trilogy.

Sneak preview: Buzzard
With Joshua BurgeJoel PotrykusTeri Ann Nelson

2014, 97min

In the concluding chapter of Michigan underground filmmaker Joel Potrykus’ acclaimed Animal Trilogy, slacker office grunt Marty Jackitansky (Potrykus regular Joshua Burge) sticks it to his corporate overlords by committing petty embezzlement and living large on the meager profits. A paranoid freak out drives him on the run, simmering with rage and armed with a Nintendo Power Glove retrofitted with knife blades. Potrykus’ latest is “a sustained burst of punk-rock ferocity, and one of the most original American films to emerge in some time” (Calum Marsh, Village Voice). An Oscilloscope Pictures release.

 


Coyote
With Joshua BurgeMichael SaundersJohnny Weekend
2010, 24min

A junkie (Burge) shoots heroin by day and transforms into a werewolf by night in this grimy, French New Wave-inspired monster movie shot on Super 8.


Ape
With Joshua BurgeGary BosekDaniel Falicki
2012, 86min

A scuzzy transmission of black comic rage from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Potrykus’ surreal character study follows an unfunny stand-up comedian and pyromaniac (Burge) whose sad sack existence consists of bombing at the local comedy club and setting anything and everything on fire. But then he makes a deal with the devil, and this biting anti-comedy goes wildly off the rails. Potrykus “proves a maestro of despair and discomfort” (The New York Times) in his feature debut. A Factory 25 release.


 

Retro Review: John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club Changed the Teen Movie Game Thirty Years Ago Today

Breakfast Club poster 1

When John Hughes died nearly six years ago, we all lost something pretty big. People throw around terms like “voice of a generation” all the time without merit, but I think that many people would openly and happily vouch for Hughes as the voice of my generation, me included. I have argued that he might have had the strongest 5-year run in film history before and I think that its hard to argue against it especially since so few filmmakers are able to match Hughes‘ output. While my favorite film of his oeuvre is Weird Science, for many reasons, but I don’t think there is any doubt that his most enduring film is The Breakfast Club. One of the crown jewels of film from 1985, The Breakfast simultaneous took the teen movie genre to new heights and smashed them at the same time. I don’t think another teen film prior to or since has captured the teen experience as well as this film. Hughes had some preternatural feel for the teen condition, for their trials and tribulations, even coming at it from a sizable distance – he was 35 when he made The Breakfast Club. Read More →

Liz’s Review: ‘THE LAST FIVE YEARS’ hits every note.

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When I graduated college in 2002, everyone was buzzing about a new musical by one of my favorite lyricists/composers Jason Robert Brown. Not a single person I spoke to about The Last Five Years walked away without some sense of wonder. God only knows how I missed the run, perhaps graduation and surrounding shenanigans got in my way. Needless to say, when I heard that the show was making the jump to the big screen, I leapt at the chance to finally get in on the magic.

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In this adaptation of the hit musical, The Last Five Years is a musical deconstruction of a love affair and a marriage taking place over a five year period. Jamie (Jeremy Jordan), a young, talented up-and-coming Jewish novelist falls in love with Cathy (Anna Kendrick), a Shiksa Goddess and struggling actress. Their story is told almost entirely through song.  All of Cathy’s songs begin at the end of their marriage and move backwards in time to the beginning of their love affair, while Jamie’s songs start at the beginning of their affair and move forward to the end of their marriage. They meet in the center when Jamie proposes.

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The camera work in this film is stunning; voyeuristic without being intrusive. The opening shot is very much an homage to Hitchcock‘s bird’s eye opening shot in Psycho (no story line similarities, I assure you.) The tinted lenses used to represent the good and bad in the relationship are thoughtful and extraordinarily effective for each emotional shift. There is something truly special about this film. It appears absolutely seamless as it bounces from timeline to timeline. Jason Robert Brown‘s lyrics are some of the most accessible in the industry. Think thought provoking, stream of consciousness, meets clever and catchy musical theater for the any audience. Anna Kendrick does some of her strongest work to date as Cathy. The opening ballad, “Still Hurting’ is a killer punch in the gut. This is tough stuff and she nails it. I was thoroughly impressed. The stickler in me wishes her presence had been a tad bit stronger when it came to sharing the screen with Jordan as he sings. There seems to be a slight disconnect when he takes center stage. But, I will say her acting chops on the heavier songs are quite lovely. Jeremy Jordan as Jamie is a stunner. From the moment he appears on screen, from the first note, he owns this character. I could not have asked for more from his performance. He lights up the screen, his voice is delicious, and he is an unapologetic scene-stealer and I am so fine with that. In no way is he obnoxious, or over-the-top. In my pretty harsh musical theater book, he gets an A+. Jeremy Jordan is a star. Standing ovation to director Richard LaGravenese. Successfully adapting a musical is a huge task. This film is so down-to-earth. You do not have to be a musical theater fan to enjoy this movie. That alone, makes it a hit. I highly recommend The Last Five Years and I guarantee you will walk away humming some, if not all, of these gorgeous songs.

The Last Five Years opens today!

 

New Trailer Premiere: ‘Marvel’s Daredevil’ on Netflix

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Blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the Super Hero “Daredevil” in modern day Hell’s Kitchen, New York City.

In Case You Missed It: NBC to LiveStream the Super Bowl With Ads (Available on Tumblr Page)

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For those of us with a cable subscription, this is pretty awesome news. NBC Sports is calling it Super Stream Sunday to promote TV Everywhere. According to the press release: “Consumers Will Be Able to Stream 11 Continuous Hours of NBC Content on Super Bowl Sunday” Oh, and don’t worry, you’ll also be able to still see the ads via a tumblr page. Feeling nostalgic? There’s also a few from the 90s to take you back in time. Read More →

Game of Thrones IMAX Screenings Rescheduled a Week Later to Accommodate Demand

imaxgame-of-thronesDate Change Allows For Expanded Roll-out in IMAX® Theatres Domestically Beginning at 10 p.m. on Thursday, January 29

Due to high levels of consumer demand, IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and HBO today announced that the first-ever presentation of a television program in IMAX® theatres, featuring two episodes from season four of Game of Thrones followed by the worldwide debut of the series’ season five sneak-peek preview created exclusively for IMAX, will now launch one week later on Thursday, January 29 beginning at 10 p.m. and extend through February 5. The date change allows for an expanded roll-out of screens to upwards of 200 IMAX theatres. Read More →

Coming Up This Week: ‘Buffy’ alum releases new book- Liz’s interview with Amber Benson

Liz Whittemore and Amber Benson

Liz Whittemore and Amber Benson at Midtown Comics NYC

Let’s be honest, a lot, and I do mean A LOT of us are fans of the Whedonverse.  This past Sunday, Liz had the opportunity to sit down with Amber Benson, actor, director and successful author, best known to some from her iconic TV role as Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Amber’s new book, “The Witches of Echo Park” just became available last week. Stay tuned for a special edition of the Girls on Film podcast for the exclusive audio!!

‘The Sublime and Beautiful’- Liz’s interview with writer/director/star Blake Robbins

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Grief is a very personal experience. Some of us cry, some lash out at loved ones, some shut down. A few even look at a loss as an excuse to reassess their lives. Either way, it is a loss. Five years ago yesterday, I lost someone very special to me. I had experienced the loss of family members before, but this, this was something altogether different. Tyler was a beloved friend. I guess I never actually knew how close we were until after he was ripped from my life without real explanation. The hole gets smaller each day but just barely. There are moments, songs, pictures, that still take the wind out of me. It’s the most horrible feeling. Grief owns me at times. It’s still a process. In Blake Robbins new film, The SUBLIME and BEAUTIFUL, all those feelings rush back into my brain and heart. Read More →

Free Event at Lincoln Center: ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’ Monday December 1st

Join the Film Society at the 15th annual Winter’s Eve block party at Lincoln Square with this “scrumdidilyumptious” classic starring Gene Wilder back on the big screen—complete with free popcorn for all attendees! Screenings take place Monday, December 1st at 3:30pm, 5:30pm, and 7:30pm.

This event is free and open to the public. Complimentary tickets will be distributed at the box office starting one hour prior to the event, but the line may form earlier. There is a limit of one ticket per person.

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