Oscar Watch: ‘Theory of Everything’ – Watch Eddie Redmayne & Felicity Jones at the New York Film Festival

Theory of Everything-00003The Theory of Everything

5 NOMINATIONS

  • Actor in a Leading Role – Eddie Redmayne
  • Actress in a Leading Role – Felicity Jones
  • Music (Original Score) – Jóhann Jóhannsson
  • Writing (Adapted Screenplay) – Screenplay by Anthony McCarten
  • Best Picture – Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten, Producers

Read More →

Deleted scene with Nicolas Cage & Anton Yelchin in ‘Dying of the Light’

Dying-of-the-Light

Nicolas Cage entertains once again, this time alongside Anton Yelchin in Dying of the Light. Check out this deleted scene. It’s available on Bluray/DVD Tuesday, February 17th!

BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES*

  • “Behind the Scenes of Dying of the Light” featurette
  • Cast and Crew Interviews
  • Deleted/Extended Scenes

*Subject to change

Deleted excerpt of Evan Lake and Milton Schultz discussing classified information and Lake’s danger-infused plan to take down an international criminal.

http://youtu.be/z1pnVMoLGaU

Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage (Best Actor in a Leading Role, Leaving Las Vegas, 1995) ignites a powder keg of action in the electrifying cloak-and-dagger thriller Dying of the Light, arriving on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD (plus Digital) and Digital HD February 17th from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The film is currently available On Demand. From the writer of Taxi Driver and co-writer of Raging Bull, Dying of the Light also features Anton Yelchin (Star Trek Into Darkness, Terminator Salvation), Alexander Karim (TV’s Tyrant,” Zero Dark Thirty) and Irène Jacob (Three Colors: Red, U.S. Marshals).

Evan Lake (Cage), a veteran CIA agent, has been ordered to retire. But when his protégé (Yelchin) uncovers evidence that Lake’s nemesis, the terrorist Banir (Karim), has resurfaced, Lake goes rogue, embarking on a perilous, intercontinental mission to eliminate his sworn enemy.

The Dying of the Light Blu-ray and DVD, with bonus materials that include deleted/extended scenes, cast and crew interviews and a “making of” featurette, will be available for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $19.98, respectively.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Year of Production: 2014
Title Copyright: © 2014 Dying of the Light, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Limited Theatrical Release
Rating: R for Violence and Language
Genre: Action, Thriller
Blu-ray Closed Captioned: English SDH
DVD Closed Captioned: English
Subtitles: English and Spanish
Feature Run Time: 96 minutes
Blu-ray Format: 1080P High Definition 16×9 Widescreen (2.35:1)
DVD Format: 16×9 Widescreen (2.35:1)
Blu-ray Audio Status: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
DVD Audio Status: English 5.1 Dolby Digital

 

 

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Ticket to See ‘Interstellar’ in IMAX February 21st!

imax

interstellar.thm_

Yes, that’s right BUY 1 GET 1 FREE! Only at AMC Theatres, and the trick is that you have to physically buy at the box office, not online. Check more details here. Trailer and Interstellar/IMAX featurettes below.

THE ONE-DAY-ONLY “AN ENCORE OF INTERSTELLAR: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE®” WILL PLAY IN AMC THEATRES® ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21st, 2015 Read More →

New Trailer: ‘My Own Man’ – Original Documentary From Netflix & Executive Producer Edward Norton

myownmanNetflix, the world’s leading Internet TV network, will premiere the original documentary My Own Man, from executive producer Edward Norton on March 6, 2015. The film was written, produced and directed by David Sampliner (Dirty Work), and will premiere exclusively on Netflix in all territories where Netflix is available. Read More →

Hobbits, Vampires & Why You Should See ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ In a Theater

WWDITS-00009Even though I had seen What We Do In The Shadows, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to attend the Center For Communication screening and Q&A with the co-directors/co-writers/co-awesome Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement.

You may remember Clement from the sleeper HBO hit, The Flight of the Conchords with Bret McKenzie. Since then he’s been keeping busy with roles in Muppets Most Wanted and Men In Black 3. Waititi directed and starred with Clement in Eagle VS Shark, then gained notoriety with Boy, with 11 nominations and 6 wins at the New Zealand Film Festival.

Here’s the audio from Q&A:

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Photo Credit Unison Films

With their signature deadpan (excuse the pun) style, the comedy works beautifully with a live audience, as there are roars of laughter and chuckles filling every moment. It’s both obvious and unexpected hilarity. The story loosely follows four vampire flatmates in the year leading up to the Unholy Masquerade, an annual gathering. Each character has their own unique charm and the supporting characters lend their own charm.

Taika Waitit

Taika Waititi

During the Q&A, the two revealed they first had the idea over 10 years ago and made a short film. They admit that the movie was “5 weeks of fun and 14 months of editing” explaining that one cut was heavy on story, but not funny, the other was hilarious, but no story.

Jemaine Clement1WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Photo Credit  Unison Films (2)

Jemaine Clement

Clement also admitted that they owe their crew to Peter Jackson, as he let them use the second unit from The Hobbit, as well as camera equipment and some of the green screens.

WWDITS-00002The movie has already opened in New Zealand, and rather than sell to a U.S. distributor, they opted to create a Kickstarter campaign to raise the money to distribute to over 70 cities themselves. Their goal was met on February 13th and opened in New York and Los Angeles. The rollout continues to more cities every week.

Taika Waititi1 WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Photo Credit Unison FilmsThe event was an advanced screening hosted by the Center For Communication with tickets free to students and faculty. After the screening a 30 minute Q&A was led by Indiewire, followed by a spread of cheeses and custom drinks.

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 →

61 New Movies Added to HBO Today! ‘Walk of Shame’ ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ ‘Blade’

hbo-go

Today is the magic day on HBO GO when movies are added, but those expiring overlap for one day. There are 61 new added and 35 expiring. Among those added are: A Fish Called Wanda, Blade, Hot to Trot, Legend, Meet the Parents, Munich, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Pleasantville, Sexy Beast, Sleepy Hollow, Some Like It Hot, Up In the Air and Walk of Shame. Read More →

New Trailer for ‘The Water Diviner’ Starring Russell Crowe

The Water Diviner, Russell Crowe

Academy Award winner Russell Crowe (“Gladiator”) makes his directorial debut on “The Water Diviner,” an epic and inspiring tale of one man’s life-changing journey of discovery.

Crowe also stars in the film as Australian farmer Joshua Connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the Turks in the bloody Battle of Gallipoli. Arriving in Istanbul, he is thrust into a vastly different world, where he encounters others who have suffered their own losses in the conflict: Ayshe (Olga Kurylenko), a strikingly beautiful but guarded hotelier raising a child alone; her young, spirited son, Orhan (Dylan Georgiades), who finds a friend in Connor; and Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdoğan), a Turkish officer who fought against Connor’s boys and who may be this father’s only hope. With seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his path, Connor must travel across the battle-scarred Turkish landscape to find the truth…and his own peace.

Crowe directed “The Water Diviner” from a screenplay by Andrew Knight and Andrew Anastasios, who were also executive producers on the film. The film was produced by Andrew Mason, Keith Rodger and Troy Lum, with James Packer, Brett Ratner, Kerry Stokes, Tim Worner, Angus Ross and John Collee also serving as executive producers.

The film’s international ensemble cast also includes Olga Kurylenko, Yilmaz Erdogan, Cem Yilmaz, Jai Courtney, Ryan Corr, James Fraser, Ben O’Toole, Jacqueline McKenzie and Isabel Lucas.

The team collaborating with Crowe behind the scenes included Oscar-winning director of photography Andrew Lesnie (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”), production designer Christopher Kennedy, editor Matt Villa, and costume designer Tess Schofield. The score was composed by two-time Oscar nominee David Hirschfelder (“Elizabeth,” “Shine”).

“The Water Diviner” recently won three Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, including Best Picture. The film also won in the categories of Best Supporting Actor (Erdogan) and Best Costume Design. It had received five additional nominations, for Best Lead Actor (Crowe), Best Supporting Actress (McKenzie), Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design and Best Editing.

Ratpac Entertainment and Seven Network Australia present, in association with Megiste Films, DC Tour, EJM Productions and Axphon, a Hopscotch Features and Fear of God Films Production, “The Water Diviner.” Opening in limited release on April 24, 2015, the film is being distributed in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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

TheLastFiveYearsPoster

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.

TheLastFiveYearsJeremyJordanStill

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.

TheLastFiveYearsAnnaKendrickStill

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: ‘Run All Night’ Features Guns, Car Chases, Explosions & Liam Neeson Kicking Ass

RUN ALL NIGHTDo I really need to say anything about this? The heart wants, what the heart wants.

RUN ALL NIGHT with Liam Neeson and Ed Harris – in theaters March 13th.
http://runallnightmovie.com
http://facebook.com/RunAllNightMovie Read More →

Trailer for Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Crimson Peak’ is Here!

crimsonpeakposterThe first trailer for Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated Crimson Peak has just arrived and we have it for you! Click on the link below to view

The gothic horror story stars Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam and Jessica Chastain. is produced by Guillermo del Toro, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and Callum Greene with Jillian Share serving as executive producer.

Synopsis:

Set in Cumbria, in a crumbling mansion in a largely rural and mountainous region of northern England in the 19th century, young author Edith Cushing (Wasikowska) discovers that her charming new husband Sir Thomas Sharpe (Hiddleston) is not who he appears to be.

The movie arrives in 2D and IMAX on October 16!

With or Without Reading the Book, The Shocking Part About ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Is That We Liked It

Fifth Shades of Grey poster

Liz has read the book, but Melissa hasn’t. Here’s their individual takes on the movie they were totally surprised by.


 

Melissa Hanson aka Dial M For Melissa
Managing Editor / Podcast Producer
Growing up, Melissa’s favorite destination was always the video store and would agonize over whether to watch something new or to rewatch a favorite. Things have not changed.
Follow on Twitter @DialMForMelissa 

I did not read the books. Once the hype started, I pretty much dismissed them and the movie announced. I had a few friends read it, and did try to read it myself, but couldn’t get past a few pages. All I knew was that there’s a “plain,” innocent girl and there’s a rich guy who’s into BDSM. Oh, and people (mostly women) are going nuts over it and it’s already selling out screenings. I didn’t really pay much attention to it and had zero interest in watching, but then, I saw Jamie Dornan is Christian Grey. This piqued my interest because he’s in the Netflix series, The Fall, which I absolutely love. Ok, so I’ll watch Fifty Shades of Grey.

Here’s the big shock: it’s actually a very interesting story of a man and woman who surprisingly talk about their relationship intimacy. It’s just disguised as sex. This could have been shown at a film festival and I wouldn’t have even known the difference.

Although it’s a little drawn out and definitely crawls in the third act, it keeps your interest. The dialogue starts out a little flat, but quickly picks up once the focus is just on Anastasia and Christian. The music and score is works beautifully. The remix of “Crazy In Love” by Beyoncé is magnificent.

When it comes to the sex, it’s really nothing shocking. The most shocking parts are the conversations they have TALKING about the sex. If you want to see a shocking sex scene, just watch The Counselor and wait for Cameron Diaz to get on top of a car.


FSG_Tsr1Sht_RGB_1103_2_rgbLiz Whittemore aka IndieBizLiz
Managing Editor / Girls on Film Podcast Host
Actor / Singer / Dancer / Writer / Producer / Adventurer / New Englander / AMDA Alum / Wifey / MBAMrs / Whovian / Literary Sponge / Odd Duck / Pot Stirrer / Awesome Gal
Follow on Twitter @Liz_Whittemore

Yes. I read the damn book. In fact, I read the book in a book club at Yale School of Management’s Partners Club. I know, I know, I know, I sound like a cliche. We most definitely read it because of the hype. It could not be avoided, the hype I mean. BDSM and hot sexy “Mummy Porn”? I mean, is there really a question as to why we chose it? I don’t think so. To be honest, as I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the writing is atrocious. E.L. James began this “novel” as Twilight Fan fiction. I’m not sure if Christian Grey was meant to resemble Edward Cullen or not, though I do know that Robert Pattinson was James’ first pick to fill the role. Let’s just say that the entire book is from the inner monologue of Anastasia, a fresh faced college grad and virgin. Although, from the inner monologue presented by the author, you’d think she was 11. The book was a tough read in respect to the repetitive nature of James’ phrasing. If I had to read “My Inner Goddess” one more damn time, I don’t know if I ever would have finished. The infamous “tampon” scene alone made me toss my kindle across the bed. I didn’t pick the book back up for another three weeks; I hate to leave something unread simply on principle. Thankfully, that was not included in the film. Now, shall we launch into said version? I think we shall…

Truth be told, I actually REALLY liked the film. I don’t even care what you think about me after that statement. I liked it. Had there been zero hype, had I not ever heard of the book, had I not read any articles anywhere, I would be one happy audience member. The structure of the film versus the book is a vast improvement. We skip through the garbage and head straight into a courtship with a twist. It has a very tongue and cheek, rom-com formula in the beginning. Dakota Johnson is charming and funny, just the way I imagined Ana to be, without the gushing jargon of a pre-teen. Jamie Dornan is a pretty good Christian Grey. He grew on me as the film rolled on. His presence is strong and quiet and I think his interpretation is a thoroughly thought out character study. It is certainly a performance that would easily progress with two additional scripts. The chemistry is a tad tough to read, but not altogether unbelievable.

When you get to the heart of the screenplay, this story is about an intimate relationship between two people. Real moments, real issues, something for everyone to relate to. The sex scenes, while relatively intense, are no more “porny” than anything else we’ve seen before in film. Johnson is full frontal nude for a good amount of time. And, don’t worry, you get plenty of Dornan abs, and just enough rock hard bum shots a girl can handle in a span of two hours (*not enough, sorry not sorry*.) The struggle of power between a man and a woman, both emotionally and physically, is beautifully set out on screen. I applaud Sam Taylor-Johnson for a fantastic job in both shot layout and a keen hand in knowing what will play well with the intended audience. Also, I would be remiss if I did not high five the screenwriter, Kelly Marcel. She takes an average narrative and spins it into what would be considered a great little indie flick in any other world. Try your best to separate the book and the film. I think as a reader, you will be very pleased with Fifty Shades of Grey. As a movie goer, it will put a smile on your face. Take it at face value, and go from there. I, for one, walked away a happy book-clubber and a very happy audience member.

Michael’s Review: ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’- A New Generation of Spy Film

Kingsman

One of the things that makes a Matthew Vaughn movie an event is the stylistic nature of his interpretation of the source material and his knack for creating a unique movie experience that everyone can enjoy. Taking from the comic book The Secret Service, created by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar (Vaughn previously adapted Millar’s Kick Ass for the screen), this up tempo, high powered action film is exactly the adrenaline jolt that the spy sction thriller genre needed. Enlisting an all star supporting cast and mixing them with a group of fresh faces creates an environment on film that enables the director to get the very best out of the story which will no doubt make Kingsman: The Secret Service the movie to see this weekend.

colin firth

Colin Firth stars as Harry, an impeccably suave spy, in KINGSMAN THE SECRET SERVICE.

Colin Firth plays Harry Hart, an old school super spy, reminiscent of the old Roger Moore James Bond days, where a suit was more powerful than the weapon in the eyes of the man. When the loss of a protege on a mission leaves Harry carrying a guilt that has haunted him for nearly two decades, his natural tendency is to reach out to the man’s family and make sure they are looked after. Leaving behind a wife and a young boy named Eggsy, Harry leaves a medal with the young family with a number to call if they ever need anything from the organization.

Harry (Colin Firth), an impeccably suave spy, helps Eggsy (Taron Egerton) turn his life around by trying out for a position with Kingsman, a top-secret independent intelligence organization.

Harry (Colin Firth), an impeccably suave spy, helps Eggsy (Taron Egerton) turn his life around by trying out for a position with Kingsman, a top-secret independent intelligence organization.

Now a young man, Eggsy (Taron Egerton) has lost his way and has turned to a life of crime and hooliganism. His mom has remarried to a town crime boss and life has never been worse for the young man. After an altercation in a local pub leaves Eggsy in jail, he decides to call the number his family was given all those years ago. Harry and Eggsy meet once again after all these years and Harry recruits the young man into the Kingsman, an mSpy secret agency free of government regulations. Eggsy is selected along with eight other young prospects, who must pass a vigorous training regiment which will test them both physically and mentally. One of the young recruits is a girl named Roxy (Sophie Cookson), whom Eggsy becomes fond of. The training is overseen by Merlin (Mark Strong) and Arthur (Michael Caine), each of whom have their own vested interest in the candidates.

Harry (Colin Firth), an impeccably suave spy, helps Eggsy (Taron Egerton) turn his life around by trying out for a position with Kingsman, a top-secret independent intelligence organization.

Harry (Colin Firth), an impeccably suave spy, helps Eggsy (Taron Egerton) turn his life around by trying out for a position with Kingsman, a top-secret independent intelligence organization.

When a technology tycoon named Richmond Valentine (Samuel L Jackson), becomes a threat, the Kingsman begin to investigate the aspiring philanthropists actions. Deeming him a threat to the world, Harry must go deep undercover to infiltrate Valentine’s organization and learn the true nature of his plan. As the training comes to a close, it’s up to Eggsy and Roxy to make hard decisions, in the final stages, to ensure their place in the Kingsman organization. As the plot of the tech villain unfolds, it will be up to the young group of recruits to spoil the plot, but will the unseasoned rookies be up to the task? The fate of the world is in the hands of the Kingsman.

Harry (Colin Firth) and Eggsy (Taron Egerton) meet Richard Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson), a tech billionaire with devastating plans for the world.

Harry (Colin Firth) and Eggsy (Taron Egerton) meet Richard Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson), a tech billionaire with devastating plans for the world.

The film is a non stop action thrill ride which never takes itself too seriously. The campy nature of the film allows the over the top story line to unfold with ease and never allows for the cliche’s to engulf the fun nature of the film. Director Matthew Vaughn loves to incorporate stylistic action sequences into his films which are both memorable and as important to the telling of the story as the script itself. This action driven film really relies on the actors to flush out the story and help the audience believe in their characters arcs. Colin Firth is wonderful as the old school super spy. Never have I seen the award winning actor in such an action packed role, but he pulled it off with ease and has shown he can be just as effective with his fists as he can with his mouth. The supporting cast that features Mark Strong, Mark Hamill, Michael Caine, and Sophie Cookson, is tremendous and each character adds his or her own unique style into the film, but its Taron Egerton that is the star of this film and rightfully so. Egerton is humorous and charming as the would be Kingsman, and the young actor shows veteran prowess in his first feature film and shows he is ready for the big time.

Harry (Colin Firth), an elite member of a top-secret independent intelligence organization known as the Kingsman, prepares to teach some ruffians a lesson.

Harry (Colin Firth), an elite member of a top-secret independent intelligence organization known as the Kingsman, prepares to teach some ruffians a lesson.

Overall, Kingsman: The Secret Service is wonderful and will no doubt entertain all those who give it a shot. Nevermind that other film opening this weekend, this Valentine’s Day, spend your evening with the Kingsman!

Stars:

4 out of 5

After Credit Scene?

During credits there’s a new scene, end of credits there is nothing

Trailer:

The Good, The Bad & The Romantic – Valentine’s Movies On The Reel Big Show

The-Reel-Big-Show

Be our Valentine and join us for a fun conversation with Michael and Melissa on romantic movies in all genres. What makes a good romance?
Read More →

SNL Documentary to Open the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival

PressRelease-Image-LFNY_

Connect with Live From New York! at www.livefromnewyorkmovie.com. Like the Facebook page at facebook.com/Livefromnewyorkmovie. Follow the film on Twitter at @lfnymovie and on Instagram @lfnymovie

Tickets for the opening will go on sale on March 23 for American Express Card Members at www.tribecafilm.com. General Public can buy tickets starting March 28. In the meantime, keep checking back for more TFF 2015 announcements.

The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, announced today that the world premiere of the documentary Live From New York!, will open the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday, April 15. “Saturday Night Live” has been reflecting and influencing the American story for 40 years. Live From New York! explores the show’s early years, an experimentthat began with a young Lorne Michaels and his cast of unknowns, and follows its evolution into a comedy institution. Archival footage is interwoven with stolen moments and exclusive commentary from “SNL” legends, journalists, hosts, crew and others influenced by the comedy giant. Live From New York! captures what has enabled “SNL” to continually refresh itself over nearly 800 episodes and keep America laughing for 40 years.  Live From New York! is directed by Tribeca alum Bao Nguyen and produced by JL Pomeroy and Tom Broecker. Tickets for the TFF 2015 Opening Night Gala go on sale on March 23 at tribecafilm.com/festival. The Tribeca Film Festival runs April 15 to April 26.

“’SNL’s’ contribution to the arts and to pop culture has been—and continues to be—groundbreaking, and Live From New York! offers an inside look at the show’s inimitable ability to both reflect and impact American news, history and culture,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival. “This is the story of a creative journey from pilot to institution and a tribute to the moments that kept us laughing and talking long after the episodes aired. We are excited to welcome Bao Nguyen back to Tribeca to open our 14thFestival with the world premiere of Live From New York!.”

“After 40 years, the timing just felt right,” said Lorne Michaels.

“The selection of Live from New York! to open the 14th Tribeca Film Festival is personally gratifying to me on several levels. Having hosted SNL three times, and guested on several occasions, I speak from a first-hand experience about “SNL’s” rightful place in our culture as well as a welcome addition to our Festival,” said Robert De Niro, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival.

“’Saturday Night Live’ is such a revered institution and we really wanted to make a film that reflected its significance not just to the American comedic tradition but also to American culture and society,” said director Bao Nguyen. “I want to thank Lorne Michaels for allowing us to film in the storied halls of Studio 8H.   I’d also like to thank JL Pomeroy and Tom Broecker for trusting me with their creative vision. Finally, I can’t thank Tribeca enough for all their support. We couldn’t dream of a better place to world premiere Live From New York! than at New York City’s own Tribeca Film Festival.”

New Trailer: Buddy Comedy ‘Hot Pursuit’ With Reese Witherspoon & Sofia Vergara

UTC_5-22-14_02148.CR2

 

I chuckled quite a few times. I’m looking forward to laughing at Reese Witherspoon again.

From Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and New Line Cinema comes the comedy “Hot Pursuit,” starring Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon (“Walk the Line,” “Wild”) and Sofia Vergara (“Chef,” TV’s “Modern Family”), under the direction of Anne Fletcher (“The Proposal”).

In “Hot Pursuit,” an uptight and by-the-book cop (Witherspoon) tries to protect the sexy and outgoing widow (Vergara) of a drug boss as they race through Texas, pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen.

Fletcher directs from a screenplay written by David Feeney (TV’s “New Girl”) & John Quaintance (TV’s “Ben & Kate”) and Dana Fox (“What Happens in Vegas”) & Katherine Silberman (TV’s “Ben & Kate”). John Carroll Lynch (“Crazy, Stupid, Love.”) and Rob Kazinsky (“Pacific Rim”) also star.

The film is produced by Bruna Papandrea (“Wild,” “Gone Girl”), ReeseWitherspoon and Dana Fox, with Jeff Waxman, Sofia Vergara and Luis Balaguer serving as executive producers.
“Hot Pursuit” is set to hit theaters beginning May 8, 2015 and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Follow us on:
https://twitter.com/hotpursuitmovie
http://instagram.com/hotpursuitmovie

Michael’s Review: ‘Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead’- A Fun New Twist on The Zombie Genre

wyrmwood-posterZombies are at the height of their popularity, but there is no genre more saturated and tiresome. It’s a genre that has become a parody of itself, so when a movie comes along with a fresh, new take on the undead, you take notice. This Raimi-esque zombie tale from Australian filmmakers Kiah and Tristan Roache-Turner is highly entertaining and stakes it’s claim for most innovative take on zombies in a long while. If you’re looking for a film to remind yourself why we love these films, Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead might just be the film for you.

1_ARMOURED-UPFollowing a meteor shower over the Earth, a strange disease, which turns people into zombie has infected most mankind, leaving few survivors. Barry (Jay Gallagher) is one of those survivors who has lost his wife and child to the disease and now searches for a way to get to his sister Brooke (Bianca Bradley). Along the way, Barry meets Benny (Leon Burchill) and Frank (Keith Agius), two men looking to survive. The three men agree to set off together to look for Brooke, but after they discover that all existing fuel sources have been rendered unusable by the plague, they must find another way to escape the zombie hordes.

7_SOLDIERS_W_ZOMBIE_CAPTIVEMeanwhile, Brooke is kidnapped by military faction who bring her to a medical lab run by a psychotic doctor looking to experiment on the undead and the living alike. After a series of experiments, Brooke soon discovers that there is more to this disease than what’s on the surface. Brooke is determined to escape her captors and reunite with Barry, but can the siblings make it to one another before all is lost?

wyrmwood01Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead is a treat for lovers of off the wall zombie apocalypse movies. The slapstick nature of the surroundings and the overall storyline harken back to the Evil Dead franchise, all the way down to the comparisons between Ash and Barry, but Wyrmwood has a card up it’s sleeve with the payoff, which is as ridiculous as it is genius in its originality. Will Wyrmwood win any awards? Of course not, but it’s a good fun movie to watch on a cold night.

Stars:

3 out of 5

After Credit Scene?

No

Trailer:

New Trailer for ‘The Longest Ride’ Released

longest_ride_xlg

20th Century Fox has revealed a special Valentine’s Day trailer for director George Tillman Jr.’s upcoming adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ recent novel, The Longest Ride. The movies stars Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood, Oona Chaplin, Alan Alda, and Jack Huston. Check it out below!

The movie is set to hit theaters on April 10th

 

First Look at The New James Bond Movie ‘Spectre’ Has Been Released!

635593073069871655-DanielCraigBond

 

Spectre is 8 months away, but production is in full swing of the newest James Bond entry. Today we’ve been given a glimpse at what’s going on! A brand new video blog entry straight from the Austrian set has been released which features behind-the-scenes action featuring stars Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista and director Sam Mendes. You can check it out below.

The film also stars Ben Wishaw, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Christoph Waltz, Monica Bellucci, Andrew Scott and Rory Kinnear.

In the film, a cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion), as Bond fans know, is a fictional global terrorist organization featured in Ian Fleming’s novels, as well as the films and video games based on those novels.

Spectre hits theaters on November 6, 2015.