When Lionsgate bought Summit Entertainment a couple weeks back — or when Lionsgate bought Twilight, I might say to be more direct — Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said he would like to continue Twilight, either on film or television.
Now, during a conference call to report Lionsgate’s third quarter earnings for 2011, Rob Friedman, the co-chair of the studio’s motion picture group, says they’re ready to make a sixth Twilight film if Stephenie Meyer will write another book. Read More »
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Chronicle is not a superhero movie. It is a film about three young guys who, after exposure to a mysterious energy source, develop strong telekinetic powers. More to the point, Chronicle is about how having that empowerment in common forges a strong friendship between them, and the ways they deal with the unexpected power surge.
In the sort of telling which has become so familiar thanks to comic books and the TV shows and movies that follow them, those kids should quickly learn that their powers come with an obligation to help society. Then they foil some small-time crime and forge identities through which they can become virtuous examples of humanity, evolved.
That’s not how Chronicle works. I’m not sure these characters would know how to help humanity if they wanted to. There is nothing truly ‘realistic’ in this film, but there is something intimately recognizable in the ways in which these guys deal with their new powers. They’re kids. They play around with pranks and fun. They realize they can fly, and talk about destination vacations for the telekinetically-enhanced. Then — and this is what makes Chronicle stand out, and what really makes it worth seeing — their powers become lenses that magnify their true natures, to destructive and tragic effect. Read More »
Posted on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 by Angie Han
The Bridesmaids ladies aren’t the only female ensemble cast enjoying a well-deserved career boost this awards season. Hours after we reported that Octavia Spencer had signed on for Bong Joon-ho’s post-apocalyptic thriller Snow Piercer, Spencer’s The Help co-star Viola Davis has booked supporting roles in Gavin Hood‘s sci-fi flick Ender’s Game and Richard LaGravenese‘s fantasy adaptation Beautiful Creatures. Read more after the jump.
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Posted on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 by Angie Han
With just 50 days left until Gary Ross‘ The Hunger Games hits theaters, Lionsgate has released a thrilling new trailer that delves a little deeper into Katniss’ (Jennifer Lawrence) relationship with her sister Prim (Willow Shields) and, therefore, her reason for competing in the Games. The more love triangle-y aspects involving Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) take a backseat this time around, which is just fine by me.
But that’s not all — if you like what you see, you may also be interested to hear the news we have about the film’s opening. Yahoo! Movies and other websites are giving away the opportunity to attend The Hunger Games‘ world premiere in Los Angeles on Monday, March 12. Meanwhile, the less lucky among us may have better luck snapping up tickets for just-announced IMAX screenings of the film, which begin March 23. Check out the details and watch the new trailer after the jump.
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The low-budget ‘teens with powers’ movie Chronicle opens this week, I’m finding that a lot of people still don’t know too much about it. That’s too bad, because Chronicle is a lot of fun. It is a film that explores its premise well, while also proving that it doesn’t take $150m to make a successful movie along these lines.
In short, I hope people see the picture. Chronicle deserves an audience.
Here is one last teaser for the movie, but I have to say that it might not be the best one to watch. Just by the nature of having to advertise the film, some of Chronicle‘s secrets and better scenes have been glimpsed in the full trailer and other teasers that follow. But this one, to me, seems to give up just a bit more of the last act than I’d like. Read More »
Viral marketing is starting to look like one of the best ways to have a lot of fun and get paid for it. Thinkmodo was hired to do a little stunt to promote the Fox ‘teens with superopowers’ film Chronicle, which opens this week. What the company did was build three custom radio-controlled planes shaped like people, which were then flown through the relatively open airspace around a couple of New York City bridges. The whole effort was filmed, of course, and the result is below. Read More »
Posted on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 by Angie Han
Whether the world really needs another Romeo and Juliet adaptation is up for debate, but Carlos Carlei‘s upcoming film boasts some intriguing talent, at least. The script comes from Gosford Park and Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes, while young up-and-comers like Hailee Steinfeld, Douglas Booth, Ed Westwick, and Kodi Smit-McPhee are lined up to star.
The latest addition to the project is the always welcome Paul Giamatti, who’s set to play Friar Laurence. A confidant to both Romeo and Juliet, the character plays a key role in the star-crossed lovers’ fates. Shooting on the film, which is rather discouragingly being described as “Romeo and Juliet for the Twilight generation,” is slated to begin this month in Italy. [Variety]
After the jump, Dr. John Watson and the Earl of Grantham book big-screen gigs.
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Posted on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 by Angie Han
Now that her hit Disney series Wizards of Waverly Place has come to an end, Selena Gomez has been trying to make the transition into non-Disney movies with projects ranging from last year’s Monte Carlo to the upcoming Harmony Korine-directed Spring Breakers. The latest addition to her slate is The Sky is Everywhere, an adaptation of Jandy Nelson‘s YA romance of the same title. Gomez will produce the film through her shingle July Moon, developing it as a star vehicle for herself.
The plot follows Lennie, an introverted band geek who’s used to being overshadowed by her much more outgoing older sister Bailey. When Bailey suddenly dies, however, Lennie struggles to cope and soon finds herself torn between two guys: her dead sister’s boyfriend Toby and a charismatic, musically gifted new boy named Joe. The teen love triangle is nothing new, but the book’s received pretty good reviews; if the film version actually brings some nuance to the tearjerker premise, it could be a chance for Gomez to show what she can do. [Deadline]
After the jump, a trio of funnymen go to hell.
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