[Trailer] Maladies
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James Franco has proven himself recently as a force to be reckoned with. His immense talent reflects with every role he plays as he takes on a variety of parts and genres. The man has so many projects in the works at the moment, and it causes me, personally, to wonder when he even has a minute to himself. Regardless, he never seems to show any exhaustion as he goes from one character to the next which is pretty remarkable.
One project that I'm looking forward to seeing myself would be Maladies. Directed by the artist named Carter (much like Madonna only needs her one name), Franco plays a young and talented actor named James who decides to retire from his soap opera career to pursue a career in writing, all the while battling a seemingly developing mental illness. Moving back to a small town where he lives with his oddball sister Patricia (Fallon Goodson) and best friend Catherine (Catherine Keener), the craziness of the three unfolds as their estranged lives intertwine with one another.
Maladies has limited opening on March 21 and will be available nationwide on VOD and iTunes March 25.
Film To Be Used For Jurassic World Production
Colin Trevorrow will be defying the laws of modern filmmaking by taking a leap to the Jurassic times himself. The director announced that his new film, Jurassic World, will be captured on film, with a portion of it being shot on large 65mm film stock. John Schwartzman will be the cinematographer of the long anticipated Jurassic Park production.
The film is expected to begin shooting in New Orleans on June 2nd for 11 weeks. However, the crew will be spending six weeks in Hawaii before this, which will be split by four weeks in Oahu and two weeks in Kauai.
The film is set to be released on June 12, 2015.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman's Death To Have Little Impact On Hunger Games
The late Phillip Seymour Hoffman's passing caused many who knew him sorrow from his loss. However, it has been reported by Lionsgate that his tragic departure fails to affect much of the Hunger Games trilogy's final stretch with Mockingjay.
Playing the former gamemaker turned rebel leader Plutarch Heavensbee, it appears that Hoffman was done with his performances for the film before his death. Lionsgate said that with the exception of one scene that has yet to be released to the public, there remains no need to work around his absence.
"We're all extraordinarily sad," said the executive of Lionsgate to The Hollywood Reporter. "But as it relates to production, it's going to have no impact. Obviously, we're going to have a couple of work-around issues but the movie will be creatively whole. His performances in both [remaining] movies will be up to the best of his craft. We feel it will be a good tribute to him."
The final two films are still set to premiere at their intended times, with Mockingjay -- Part One to premiere in November, with the second part to be released in November 2015.
Hoffman was found dead in his New York City apartment on the morning of February 2 of an apparent drug overdose. The award winning actor of Capote, The Big Lebowski, The Master, and other major cinematic works, was born in Fairport, New York and pursued an interest in acting since he was in high school. He leaves behind three young children with ex-partner and fashion designer Maggie O'Donnell. He was 46.
[via MTV]
[RH Review] Love is in the Air
The earliest part of the year always seem to be somewhat of a drag as far as cinema goes. Box offices are fueled by the lust of Valentine’s Day, and it seems that cheesy romance prevails over high quality filmmaking. However, if there is any time when the cheesiness of these types of films can be somewhat forgiven, it would be during these early months of the year when the holiday is celebrated.
Upon beginning Love Is In The Air (Amour et Turbulences), I had a lot of expectations of it being a just another corny romantic comedy. However, I had a slight hope that its French origin would give it a few interesting twists and turns here and there. Sadly, my original expectations were fulfilled. While it is definitely not the worst film in its genre, it lacks anything within the plot line in order to make it stand out from other films produced of this kind.
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Love is in the Air
Director: Alexandre Castagnetti
Country: France
Release Date: January 31st, 2014
Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) is a young woman headed to the airport in order to get back to her fiancé in France. She is quite the perfectionist but has a drive to succeed with her artwork. Simultaneously, Antoine (Nicholas Bedos), an attractive womanizer of sorts, scrambles from the aftermath of a party to catch the next available flight to France. Coincidentally, he and Julie sit beside each other. The moment they lock eyes, a montage of flashbacks reveals that the two have had some sort of relationship in their past. They, while sharing their multitude of stories to passengers on their 6 hour flight, argue and reminisce on times when the chemistry was strong between them. As the sparks slowly rekindle, the pair finds themselves conflicted as to what will happen when their plane touches the ground.
As far as classic Hollywood film structure goes, this film fits right in. While it is pretty clear that those who made this movie were not signing up for anything life-changing, it seems like an effort to make this story more interesting was absolutely non-existent. The formula-ed film structure is utilized with little to no creative variation, and I must say that I could have told you the ending within the first scene. Like most romantic films, it was bland and full of situations that have been in far too many similar workings. Perhaps if they had veered a little bit off this extremely beaten path it would have caught my attention more.
I think romantic comedies set everyone's standards too high on how to live in a real relationship. As far as films in this category go, Love is in the Air was very well done. Little choices such as lighting or conditions on the airplane are well thought out for the tensions in each situation, but they don't make up for all of the convenient coincidences.
Although it only follows the classic, linear formulation for creating a screenplay, it is utilized in its best form to capture the lightheartedness that this film takes on. People love these kinds of movies because they are simple, fairly short, and make them feel really good about themselves after. It is easy to follow, and it would make for a good movie to watch on a rainy day. I can't see this being a movie to be remembered for a lifetime, but I guess it is a lot better than most creations out there.
Love Is In The Air is certainly not a film for everyone. Lacking a complex plot line or reason to think that the two main characters wouldn't end up together in any way is super ridiculous. It completely fulfilled all of the requirements in order to have it be extra corny. Nonetheless, if it weren't for its subtitles (because most Americans are usually too lazy to read them), I could see this film blowing up (unfortunately) like anything Nicholas Sparks smacks his name onto. Love Is In The Air is a cute, simple, romantic film that I personally did not enjoy just because of the cliché it perpetuates, but most normal, 20-something females probably will.
Tom Sherak, Former Academy President, Dies at 68
Tom Sherak, a man who withheld many important film industry roles but is best known for his presidency of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, died on Tuesday in his home in Calabasas, California at the age of 68. His passing was the result of a longtime battle with prostate cancer.
Sherak was known to be a dedicated and loyal worker to all of those who knew him. Last year Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti deemed Sherak as the "film czar" of LA. It was then Tom's mission to bring the filmmaking process back to Hollywood and keep Los Angeles as the film capital of the world.
What he is best known for, however, would be his tireless attempt to bring back ratings to the Oscar award ceremony. He served as the Academy president from 2009 to 2012, and he found a few ways in which to tweak the awards system. His first minor change was the expansion of the number films nominated for best picture from 5 to 10 which would leave room for box office hits that would ultimately draw in more viewers due to their popularity. The other major effort he took part in was the transition of electronic Oscar voting. This made it faster and more efficient for the voters of the Academy from all over the globe to submit their selections. Diversification became anther focus point during his years as president as he attempted to recruit more people of color and younger voters onto the Academy.
Sherak was born in Brooklyn, New York. His successful career started with Paramount in 1970, but he spent 17 years at 20th Century Fox as the executive and also was chairman of the Twentieth Century Fox Domestic Film Group. His longtime efforts in such a make-or-break industry will always be highly regarded as the career field evolves.
[via Variety]
[Trailer 2] Blood Ties
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Guillaume Canet, one of France's top actors, will have a new film coming out to the public in late March. Blood Ties focuses on the dynamic between two siblings in 1970s New York who couldn't be any more different. With Chris (Clive Owen) being freshly released from prison on good behavior and brother Frank (Billy Crudup) as a cop with a bright future, the pair seems to be set up for rivalry. However, their father Leon (James Caan) appears to favor Chris regardless of his poor life decisions. Frank reluctantly attempts to give his brother a chance at redemption, but certain betrayals may never be forgiven.
A tale about the inevitability of family, Canet's latest film also stars Mila Kunis (Ted), Zoe Saldana (Avatar), and Matthias Schoenaerts (Bullhead). It can be expected in theaters on March 21, 2014.
[Trailer] Only Lovers Left Alive
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The dark mythology of vampires is one that people have been fascinated with for centuries. While the popular Twilight saga may have caused many to believe that these blood-sucking fiends are merely a “fad” for fictional works today, they would be shocked to know that the sensationalized love story was just another tale to put into the vault of other creative works about the creatures.
Only Lovers Left Alive takes on the challenge of entertaining audiences with a dark, vampire romance. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston take on the roles of two vampires who have been in love with each other for centuries in the new film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. A selection for both Cannes and Sundance, the film seems to be something that will take an edgier approach to the topic that is seemingly becoming clichéd these days.
Only Lovers Left Alive will be in theaters April 11, 2014.
David O. Russell and Susannah Grant Receive TV Series Order From ABC
David O. Russell, writer/director of the recently Oscar nominated American Hustle, will be teaming up with Erin Brockovich’s writer Susannah Grant to fulfill a straight-to-series 13-episode order from ABC for a new drama. The story, co-written by Russell and Grant, will take place at a private country club. Grant will take over the rest of the writing, but the duo will both be executive producers for the show. Although ABC will be airing the show, it will be co-produced with CBS studios. It was developed through CBS and Timberman/Beverly studios.
This will be Russell’s first Television production. Coming in from a hot streak of almost annual Oscar nominations, one could only hope that the new show is a success. As for Grant, she created and executively produced CBS’s A Gifted Man. The release of the show has yet to be announced.
[via Deadline Hollywood]