Latino Review got its hands on this new poster for Walt Disney’s upcoming film SECRETARIAT. It’s cool – I like it!
Tell us in the comments section below which you prefer. The first one released at the beginning of June below or this latest one?
Synopsis:
Based on the remarkable true story, SECRETARIAT chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (DIANE LANE) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge.
Against all odds, Chenery, with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (JOHN MALKOVICH), manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.
Click here to read our exclusive first look at SECRETARIAT from March. From director Randall Wallace (BRAVEHEART, THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK, WE WERE SOLDIERS) and rated PG, SECRETARIAT will be in theatres on October 8, 2010. Be sure to check out the film’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Well it’s about time! I saw this movie at a test screening over a year ago. The general consensus of the audience at that screening was very positive. Personally, I loved it. I had no idea what it was about going in, but Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor were all I had to hear. This was so out of the norm for Jim Carrey. Although he has ventured out of his comedy comfort zone in the past (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND) this is completely different. You wouldn’t think that Ace Ventura himself would be believable as a newly out-of-the-closet gay man in an obsessive relationship, but it absolutely works. And by the obvious release date of the film, I’m not the only one who thinks so.I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS will hit theaters just in time to impress Oscar voters.
Roadside Attractions and Liddell Entertainment have acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to I Love You Phillip Morris. Written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the fact based film stars Jim Carrey as a married conman who falls in love with his cellmate—Ewan McGregor—and commits all kinds of crazy misdeeds like breaking out of Texas prisons four times, to be with his lover. Roadside Attractions has set a December 3 release date.
The deal closely follows an announcement by Roadside Attractions and Liddell that they completed an acquisition of the Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu-directed Biutiful, which confirmed a story Deadline broke on August 10. Biutiful will also be released in December.
The deal ends a prolonged odyssey for I Love You Phillip Morris to find its way to movie screens here. Financed by Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp, the film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and opened on schedule internationally, grossing around $17 million. Besson’s hopes to see the film get a simultaneous domestic release turned into a nightmare.
The film’s original distributor, Consolidated Pictures Group, missed the original February 12 release date, and two other slots–March 26 and April 30–were also scratched.
While the upstart company made a Canadian distribution deal with Alliance and floated in the press a plan to platform the film July 30 and release it wide on August 6, Besson and producers Andrew Lazar and Far Shariat had seen enough. There was concern that the repeated delays would reflect badly on a film that has been well received abroad, particularly for Jim Carrey’s performance as the love-struck conman. Since CPG had failed to pay a $3 million minimum guarantee and there were questions it would be able to raise the $8 million P&A commitment that was crucial to a EuropaCorp-brokered DVD deal with Fox, Besson pulled back the picture on the grounds of breach of contract, which Deadline revealed April 13. EuropaCorp had discussions about placing the film with Newmarket, but that deal was never made.
Usually, disputes between distributors and film rights holders are handled in arbitration, but because CPG was new and unproven, the film’s reps at CAA and WME made a deal that gave EuropaCorp the latitude to pull its picture if deadlines weren’t met. Besson subsequently filed suit against CPG.
All that drama is in the rear view mirror with a new deal that gives the film a release date and a P&A commitment. Roadside Attractions now has three Oscar season films generating buzz for strong performances. Aside from Carrey, there is a Javier Bardem turn in Biutiful that won Best Actor at Cannes, and a performance by Jennifer Lawrence in the Sundance prize-winning film Winter’s Bone. Liddell and Roadside Attractions confirmed the acquisition and will announce it today.
“Audiences who know this is from the creators of Bad Santa will be thrilled that it’s as outrageous as they’d expect,” Liddell said in a statement. “It’s a true-life, daring, crazy love story with fascinating lead performances by Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor.”
Said Roadside Attractions co-president Howard Cohen: “This is a film that everyone has been talking about and we’re thrilled it became available again, as we had been in hot pursuit of it at Sundance and were disappointed it was one that got away.”
Courtesy of Apple comes the new trailer for STONE starring Edward Norton and Robert DeNiro.
This is gonna be good. Norton and DeNiro together! Norton is at his very best when he has an equally talented co-star to play off of, like he did with Richard Gere in PRIMAL FEAR. I love that movie!
Synopsis:
Academy Award winner Robert De Niro and Oscar nominee Edward Norton deliver powerful performances as a seasoned corrections official and a scheming inmate whose lives become dangerously intertwined in Stone, a thought-provoking drama directed by John Curran (The Painted Veil, We Don’t Live Here Anymore) and written by Angus McLachlan (Junebug).
As parole officer Jack Mabry (De Niro) counts the days toward a quiet retirement, he is asked to review the case of Gerald “Stone” Creeson (Norton), in prison for covering up the murder of his grandparents with a fire. Now eligible for early release, Stone needs to convince Jack he has reformed, but his attempts to influence the older man’s decision have profound and unexpected effects on them both. Stone skillfully weaves together the parallel journeys of two men grappling with dark impulses, as the line between lawman and lawbreaker becomes precariously thin.
The film’s superb ensemble features Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element) as Lucetta, Stone’s sexy, casually amoral wife, and Golden Globe® winner Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) as Madylyn, Jack’s devout, long-suffering spouse. Set against the quiet desperation of an economically ravaged community and the stifling brutality of a maximum security prison, this tale of passion, betrayal and corruption examines the fractured lives of two volatile men breaking from their troubled pasts to face uncertain futures.
STONE will be in select theaters on October 8, 2010. Visit the film’s official site here.
KONG: THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD has returned.
My favorite theme park has always been Universal Studios Hollywood. For movie lovers, it’s like being a kid in a candy store. Movie-themed attractions, games, food and rides, not to mention the world famous Tram Tour that takes visitors on a tour of a working Hollywood movie studio back lot.
You get to see where famous movies and TV shows, past and present were filmed and there are surprises around every corner. I go at least 3 times a year, when friends and family visit, or to just check out the latest attractions and rides.
So you can imagine my horror back in June 2008 when a fire broke out and burned down a huge portion of the back lot. Among the casualties was the King Kong attraction that was part of the tram tour. They would drive the tram into a huge soundstage and you were instantly transported to New York City where the famous ape was running amok. The fun special effects included fire, smoke, helicopters, and search lights, all leading to the final climax where Kong himself roars at the guests on the tram, banana breath and all. Needless to say it was cool.
When it was announced that the new King Kong attraction was finally ready to re-open, I knew it was something I had to see. And I must admit I was a bit skeptical. It bragged of CGI and 3-D special effects created by no other than Peter Jackson himself, famed movie director of the 2005 remake of King Kong. The CGI and 3-D technology that has become such a huge part of blockbuster, adventure, and animated movies of late is fun, but some critics and movie fans claim that after awhile, it all starts to look the same, and I have to agree. This was my concern going in.
But I have to admit, the minute that tram entered the soundstage, that was all out the window. This was some serious fun. On either side of the tram are 2 giant screens. As we enter Skull Island , we are instructed to put on our 3-D glasses and we are transported deep into the jungle right in the middle of a fierce battle. As our tram is attacked by some amazingly realistic 3-D dinousaurs, King Kong comes to the rescue and kicks some serious dinosaur butt. It’s so exciting, you have to see it for yourself.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
This is one of those attractions that if it were separate from the tram tour, you would want to do it over and over again. I highly suggest that if you live in SoCal or are planning to visit, take a day to go to Universal Studios Hollywood and experience King Kong 360 3D.
You can find Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook here.
“There are three ways to acquire a nuclear weapon:
you can steal a bomb,
you can buy a bomb,
and you can build a bomb.”
COUNTDOWN TO ZERO traces the history of the atomic bomb from its origins to the present state of global affairs: nine nations possessing nuclear weapons capabilities with others racing to join them, with the world held in a delicate balance that could be shattered by an act of terrorism, failed diplomacy, or a simple accident.
Written and directed by acclaimed documentarian Lucy Walker (The Devil’s Playground, Blindsight), the film features an array of important international statesmen, including President Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, Pervez Musharraf and Tony Blair. It makes a compelling case for worldwide nuclear disarmament, an issue more topical than ever with the Obama administration working to revive this goal today.
On the surface, this appears to be just another documentary about nuclear weapons. But it was actually much better than I expected. Produced by Lawrence Bender (Inglourious Basterds, An Inconvenient Truth), Countdown To Zero is extremely well put together. From the interviews to the man-on-the-street opinions to the all the facts and figures, the film lays out very clearly how catastrophic these weapons are if placed in the wrong hands. What is most fascinating is the fact that the components used to build these weapons are so easily moved around (bought, stolen, smuggled-you name it).
…The common wisdom is that they’re very complicated technologies that take countries decades to build…But the fact is that centrifuges are 1950’s technology. And this is 2010. Highly enriched uranium is now within the grasp of really any country. And once you have HEU, it’s so simple, even a terrorist can make a bomb.” – R. Scott Kemp, Physicist, Princeton
Fact after fact is presented and after about an hour, it starts to feel like this film is meant to just scare the crap out of you. And it does. But the good news is that as the film nears its conclusion, you really get a clear picture of just how many nations, leaders and citizens agree that the world would be a much better place without nuclear weapons.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
For more on COUNTDOWN TO ZERO, visit the film’s official website hereor on Facebook.
Over the last decade, the experience of going to the movies has changed quite a bit. With the creation of stadium seating, you no longer have to worry about the tall guy or the lady with the big head sitting in front of you. You don’t have to wait in lines at the box office anymore because with the internet, you can buy your tickets on-line, ahead of time. At some theaters, you can even get a reserved ticket, guaranteeing you a good seat without having to get there early. Let’s face it, theaters have to constantly come up with ways to attract patrons because with rising ticket prices, audiences demand to get their money’s worth.
At Gold Class Cinemas in Pasadena , they unbelievably exceed all expectations. The one word that kept going through my head all night was phenomenal. What Gold Class Cinemas has done is take the old “dinner and a movie” experience to a whole new and amazing level. After you purchase your tickets, you are escorted to a fabulous lounge area that is fancy and warm and welcoming all at the same time.
Our wonderful host Max explained to us, as they do every guest, exactly how it works. We were welcome to enjoy cocktails and appetizers in the lounge before our movie started. Then we placed our order for dinner with our server that would be delivered to our seat once we were in the theater. And we’re not talking hot dogs and pretzels. The menu holds its own against any fine dining menu in the city. Duck tacos, lobster macaroni and cheese, and a NY strip steak sandwich are just a few of the items on this fun and exciting menu.
And just when we thought it couldn’t possibly get any better, we were escorted to our seats in the theater. Two giant, plush, state-of-the-art recliners, complete with a pillow and blanket. Each theater accommodates about 40 guests and it really feels intimate and cozy.
Once we were seated, our dinner was brought to our attached table by a server, dressed completely in black so that even if the movie has already started, they are hardly noticeable. The table also has a call button that guests can use during the movie to order an array of things from popcorn to candy and even dessert. As we settled back in our seats to enjoy the movie, I couldn’t help thinking…now THIS is how you see a movie! It’s an incredible experience that I highly recommend. Sure, it costs a little more, but like most of the finer things in life, it’s worth it. I will definitely be going back to Gold Class Cinemas…again and again.
Gold Class Cinemas Background:
Gold Class Cinemas has reinvented the movie-going experience since its U.S. launch in October 2008 by offering the ultimate escape for movie lovers. Gold Class Cinemas is equivalent to flying first class, and actually, customers say it is better. Movie lovers select their seat online prior to arriving at the cinema. Instead of waiting in line for 30 minutes prior to the movie start, Gold Class Cinemas customers can relax in the lounge, enjoy the easy-to-eat regional menu prepared fresh by an in-house chef and enjoy a drink from a the fully stocked bar which includes wine, beers and cocktails. Movie lovers are escorted into their theater 5 to 10 minutes prior to the start of the movie, where they have call buttons to order dinner, drinks or a blanket or pillow throughout the duration of the movie.
Movie formats:
Gold Class Cinema shows the top new commercial movie releases and blockbusters in the latest digital projection, including RealD 3D, with super-wide screens and digital sound.
Cinema decor:
Most Gold Class Cinemas are the size of a standard 150 seat movie theater, however, with 40 or less seats. The difference is a fully reclining plush chair and slightly lighted table for your food and drink. Gold Class provides an intimate, gold-standard experience; it’s like watching a movie in a private screening room.
Cost:
A Gold Class Cinema ticket ranges from $17.50 to $22.00 for members depending upon the location, and membership is free. Not only do members enjoy a discounted ticket prices, but they also receive email alerts for movie ticket pre-sales, birthday 2- for-1 ticket specials and more. Membership sign up and tickets are available at www.goldclasscinemas.com.
Locations:
California – One Colorado Pasadena
Illinois – The Arboretum of South Barrington, The Promenade Bolingbrook
Texas- The Domain Austin (Opening April 2010) and The Village at Fairview (Opening May 2010)
“Ladies and gentlemen, look at Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World.”
-Carl Denham, King Kong (1933)
Just two years after a fire destroyed the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot, the southern California theme park’s most entertaining attraction makes its return in King Kong 360 3-D!
Unveiling today as part of the Universal Studios Hollywood Tram Tour, visitors will get their first look at the newly designed, high-tech world of the famous ape.
Climb aboard!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO… that’s gonna be AWESOME!!!
Guests on the park-favorite backlot tram tour can expect all the thrills of the original attraction, but with the added bonus of Peter Jackson’s concept and the ever popular 3-D technology.
Universal Studios show producer Valerie Johnson-Redrow said, “the initial thought was, of course, to go back to Peter Jackson’s 2005 film and re-imagine KING KONG in an entirely new way for the studio tour.”
Before boarding the tram, riders are given 3-D glasses and instructed by Jackson in a video when to don them for the brawl, which at one point cleverly depicts the last car of the tram being ripped off. (AP)
Sound like fun? Check back for my review after I have a one-on-one with old Banana Breath next week.
