Author: Michelle McCue

Huge passion for film scores, lives for the Academy Awards, loves movie trailers. That is all.

Celebrate President Obama’s 59th Birthday With First Trailer For THE WAY I SEE IT

Focus Features has released the poster and first trailer for Dawn Porter’s documentary and official 2020 selection of the Telluride Film Festival, The Way I See It, which follows former Chief White House Photographer Pete Souza’s time behind-the-scenes covering Presidents Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan.

The trailer for The Way I See It has been released today, Tuesday, August 4th on President Obama’s 59th birthday. 

This comes on the heels of Porter’s recent moving documentary, John Lewis: Good Trouble, chronicling the now-late Congressman and civil rights hero John Lewis. The Way I See It is produced by Porter alongside Academy Award®, BAFTA® and Emmy Award® winning producer Evan Hayes (Free Solo), Academy Award® and Emmy Award®-winner Laura Dern and her Jaywalker Pictures partner Jayme Lemons, in association with Platform One Media. The documentary is a co-presentation from Focus Features and MSNBC Films, a division of NBC News Studios. The Way I See It will open in theaters this September. 

Pete Souza commented, “I hope this film serves as a reminder about importance of the Presidency, but also how the power of the still image in behind-the-scenes moments can reveal the true character of the person holding that office.”

Based on the New York Times #1 bestseller comes The Way I See It, an unprecedented look behind the scenes of two of the most iconic Presidents in American History, Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, as seen through the eyes of renowned photographer Pete Souza. As Official White House Photographer, Souza was an eyewitness to the unique and tremendous responsibilities of being the most powerful person on Earth. The movie reveals how Souza transforms from a respected photojournalist to a searing commentator on the issues we face as a country and a people.

The documentary is based on Souza’s New York Times #1 bestsellers, “Obama: An Intimate Portrait” and “Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents.”  He is a professor emeritus at Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication and was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism in 2001 as part of the Chicago Tribune staff. 

Souza, the filmmakers and Focus Features will also launch at the film’s release #VoteTheWayYouSeeIt, a social impact campaign aimed at engaging and encouraging all Americans to register to vote in the November elections. They will work together with HeadCount, a non-partisan organization that promotes participation in democracy through music, culture, and digital media. With HeadCount, they will provide resources to register all Americans to vote and understand their voting options — whether it is in-person at the polls, absentee or mail-in based on their state.

President Barack Obama walks along the West Colonnade of the White House with Chief White House Photographer Pete Souza Feb. 18, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Pete Souza was the Chief Official White House Photographer for President Obama and the Director of the White House Photo Office from 2009-2017.  Previously, Souza was a national reporter for the Chicago Tribune from 1998-2008, a freelancer for National Geographic and Life, and the Official White House Photographer for President Reagan from 1983-1989.  His books include Images of Greatness: An Intimate Look at the Presidency of Ronald Reagan,” the New York Times bestseller The Rise of Barack Obama, which documents President Obama’s meteoric ascent from his first day in the United States Senate through the 2008 presidential primary, and the #1 New York Times bestsellers Obama: An Intimate Portrait and Shade: A Talk of Two Presidents.  Pete also published the children’s book “Dream Big Dreams” which also debuted on the New York Times bestseller list.  Souza is a native of South Dartmouth, MA.  He graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in public communication from Boston University and received his masters degree in journalism and mass communication from Kansas State University.  He is currently based in Madison, WI and is a Professor Emeritus at Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw And Keira Knightley Fight For Equality In Preview Of MISBEHAVIOUR

Check out the official trailer for MISBEHAVIOUR, the charmingly provocative true story, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“The Morning Show”) and Keira Knightley (Pride and Prejudice).

In Select Theaters and on VOD on September 25th.

Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, MISBEHAVIOUR also stars Jessie Buckley, Keeley Hawes, Phyllis Logan, Lesley Manville, Rhys Ifans and Greg Kinnear.

In 1970, the Miss World competition took place in London, hosted by US comedy legend, Bob Hope. At the time, Miss World was the most-watched TV show on the planet with over 100 million viewers. Claiming that beauty competitions demeaned women, the newly formed Women’s Liberation Movement achieved overnight fame by invading the stage and disrupting the live broadcast of the competition. Not only that, when the show resumed, the result caused uproar: the winner was not the Swedish favourite but Miss Grenada, the first black woman to be crowned Miss World. In a matter of hours, a global audience had witnessed the patriarchy driven from the stage and the Western ideal of beauty turned on its head.

#Misbehaviour http://www.misbehaviourmovie.com/

Actor Wilford Brimley Dies At Age 85 And Ron Howard & John Carpenter Pay Tribute

Actor Wilford Brimley, who worked his way up from stunt performer to star of film such as “Cocoon” and “The Natural,” died Saturday morning, Aug. 1, 2020. He was 85.

Utah-born Brimley found his way into the film industry through stunt work around horse riding, before taking on successively larger roles in his 40s and 50s which brought him fame playing sometimes gruff but lovable moustachioed seniors.

In Ron Howard’s 1985 Sci-Fi feature “Cocoon”, Brimley played a man in his 70s who together with the other residents of a Florida retirement home, discovers an alien energy source that rejuvenates them.

Another memorable role came alongside Tom Cruise in the 1993 legal thriller, “The Firm”, where Brimley played a sinister security official for a law firm.

He also starred in THE THING from director John Carpenter.

The director paid tribute to Brimley on Twitter

The actor even gave a nod to the 1982 film over on Twitter in 2018.

https://twitter.com/RealWilfordB/status/1055252267467726849

Actor Barbara Hershey, who starred with Brimley in several films, described him on Twitter as a wonderful man and actor who “always made me laugh”.

Brimley got his big break in 1979, when he appeared opposite Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon and Michael Douglas in The China Syndrome and starred in The Natural.

The actor also appeared in Absence of Malice, from director Sydney Pollack. The film stars Paul Newman, Sally Field, Bob Balaban.

Ryan Reynolds Launches The Group Effort Initiative To Help BIPOC Community – Watch The Video

Ryan Reynolds has announced, after seeing people being marginalized, the start of a new initiative called GROUP EFFORT. Starting with a film this Fall, Reynolds said he will be bringing in ten to twenty trainees from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) community of ALL AGES. “They will be paid and housed and traveled – all out of his salary and learning from real professionals while getting real life experiences – something they can use to get another job or one in the film industry.”

Bravo to Reynolds and this initiative to give back to anyone who has been marginalized.

Netflix and Skydance are collaborating with Reynolds in this venture, as he says in the video below, “that’s long overdue.”

Making a film is a group effort, but for entirely too long that group has systemically excluded Black, Indigenous, people of color and several other marginalized communities. This is a global problem which will not be fixed overnight, but change can start locally and immediately.

Covid-willing, we’ll be starting a movie this fall. We’ll be bringing on between 10 and 20 trainees who are Black, Indigenous, people of color or people from marginalized and excluded communities. Of all ages. These new recruits will be paid and housed out of my salary and will spend their days on set learning from professionals and getting real-life experience that they can then parlay into another job and another job and hopefully a career in the film industry.

Specifics for the shoot are still being finalized, but please register for updates via email below. We will be sending out filming and application details in the coming weeks.
-Ryan Reynolds

https://www.groupeffortinitiative.com/

Regina King’s Feature Directorial Debut, ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI, Acquired By Amazon Studios

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Amazon Studios has acquired worldwide rights to Oscar-winning actress Regina King’s feature directorial debut, One Night in Miami, written by Olivier-nominated Kemp Powers, based off his 2013 stage play. Producers are Jess Wu Calder and Keith Calder of Snoot Entertainment (Blindspotting, Anomalisa) and Jody Klein of ABKCO (The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus), King and Powers are executive producers.

Set on the night of February 25, 1964, the story follows a young Cassius Clay (before he became Muhammad Ali) as he emerges from the Miami Beach Convention Center the new World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Against all odds, he defeated Sonny Liston and shocked the sports world. While crowds of people swarm Miami Beach to celebrate the match, Clay – unable to stay on the island because of Jim Crow-era segregation laws – instead spends the night at the Hampton House Motel in one of Miami’s historically black neighborhoods celebrating with three of his closest friends: activist Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and football star Jim Brown. The next morning, the four men emerge determined to define a new world for themselves and their people.

In One Night in Miami, Powers explores what happened during these pivotal hours through the dynamic relationship between the four men and the way their friendship, paired with their shared struggles, fueled their path to becoming the civil rights icons they are today.

“One Night in Miami beautifully captures a significant moment in history when these great minds gathered and ultimately helped shape the conversation of what we know today as the civil rights movement,” said Head of Amazon Studios’ Jennifer Salke. “Regina King is a force of nature – mastering her craft in front of the camera as we’ve seen in her extensive body of work, and now taking her talent behind the camera. We’re so proud to welcome Regina and Kemp to the Amazon family.”

Regina King, Oscar® winner, poses with her mother during the live ABC Telecast of The 91st Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2019.

King said, “Amazon’s enthusiasm for One Night in Miami is both humbling and exciting.  I am honored to have them as partners on my feature film directorial debut.”

Amazon Studios is planning to release One Night in Miami later in the year with an eye towards the awards corridor. ABKCO will release the official One Night in Miami original soundtrack album in conjunction with the film.

ICM Partners represents Regina King and negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers. King is also represented by attorney Nina Shaw and managed by John Carrabino.

Watch ANIMAL CRACKERS On Netflix With Your Family

ANIMAL CRACKERS (L-R) Emily Blunt as Zoe Huntington and John Krasinski as Owen Huntington . NETFLIX © 2020

One of the sweetest and funniest animated movies is playing on Netflix. ANIMAL CRACKERS stars the voices of John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Danny DeVito, Ian McKellen, Patrick Warburton, Sylvester Stallone and more. It’s a lovely story and one everyone needs right now.

A family must use a magical box of Animal Crackers to save a run-down circus from being taken over by their evil uncle Horatio P. Huntington.

Animal Crackers is an absolute delight, so grab your family, get a pizza and check out the movie at the link below.

https://www.netflix.com/title/81191856

Check out this interview with Blunt and Krasinksi, as well as the cast.

The film is filled with a wonderful score and songs. Huey Lewis and Howard Jones provide two of the liveliest songs from the film.

In this video, Animal Crackers composer Bear McCreary sits down with director Scott Sava to share his rewarding experience crafting the overture for the film.

The graphic novel by Scott Christian Sava and illustrated by Alison Acton is published by First Second Books and you can find it here: http://www.animalcrackersbook.com/

https://soundtracks.lnk.to/AnimalCrackersScoreAY

Listen To ARCHIVE (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) With Music by Academy Award-winning Composer Steven Price

“Set in 2038, “Archive” convincingly jumbles eras of futurism, as somewhat quaint old-school robotics give way to more uncannily sinuous forms. “Gravity” composer Steven Price’s score, meanwhile, blends sparse strings and glassy synths, reflecting the marriage of human touch and metallic industrial sheen in George’s mad-scientist meddlings.

https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/archive-film-review-1234702150/

Milan Records announces the release of ARCHIVE (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) with music by Academy Award®-winning composer STEVEN PRICE (Gravity, Baby Driver, Suicide Squad). Available everywhere now, the album features music written by Price for director Gavin Rothery’s sci-fi film starring Theo James.

From Vertical Entertainment, ARCHIVE is available now via virtual cinema, VOD and Digital.

Of the soundtrack, composer STEVEN PRICE says, “My favourite projects are the ones where the story leads me into new musical areas, and exploring the world of Archive, a movie where technology and humanity meet in a near future Kyoto, proved to be a brilliant challenge. I’d been looking for the opportunity to create a largely electronic score for the first time in a long while and the story of George Almore, his secretive AI project and the mysterious Archive let me do just that… The music follows the developments in George’s work as it progresses, and as he gets closer to achieving his hopes and dreams it was a lot of fun to blur the lines between the electronic and organic, trying to find the sound of his creations. From the moment I read writer / director Gavin Rothery’s ambitious script I wanted to be involved, and throughout the process he proved to be a great collaborator and true supporter of music. I’m looking forward to people experiencing the movie Gavin has created, and it was a real pleasure to be a part of it.”

Listen now: https://soundtracks.lnk.to/Archive

“Archive was always going to need a killer score, but when I was writing the script, I had no idea how that was all going to happen,” says the film’s director and writer GAVIN ROTHERY, adding, “I wanted the film to be big and cinematic. But I also needed it to feel tight and personal. I wanted some parts to be epic and bold, but others intimate and close. Some parts needed energy and power but others needed space and quiet. Technology needed to fuse with humanity. And it all needed to feel unified and whole. Basically, as is probably true with most directors, I wanted everything. Steven gave me everything. He delivered the perfect score to Archive. I’m not quite sure how he does what he does. Maybe he’s a secret telepath. Maybe he’s from the future. Maybe he’s a robot. There is one thing that I am absolutely certain of is that he most definitely is. The best.”

Listen to Price’s other scores on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3sw7CBftCnflJN8HQiUNmK

2038: George Almore is working on a true human-equivalent AI. His latest prototype is almost ready. This sensitive phase is also the riskiest. Especially as he has a goal that must be hidden at all costs: being reunited with his dead wife.

Lili Reinhart, Austin Abrams Star In Emotional Preview Of Richard Tanne’s CHEMICAL HEARTS On Amazon Prime August 21

“Being young is so painful…its almost too much to feel”

Written and directed by Richard Tanne, here’s the gut-wrenching preview for CHEMICAL HEARTS starring Lili Reinhart, Austin Abrams, Sarah Jones, Adhir Kalyan, Kara Young, Coral Peña, C.J. Hoff.

The movie debuts on Amazon Prime Video August 21st.

The film is based on the book “Our Chemical Hearts” by Krystal Sutherland.

Seventeen-year-old Henry Page (Austin Abrams) has never been in love. He fancies himself a romantic, but the kind of once-in-a-lifetime love he’s been hoping for just hasn’t happened yet. Then, on the first day of senior year, he meets transfer student Grace Town (Lili Reinhart) and it seems all that is about to change. When Grace and Henry are chosen to co-edit the school paper, he is immediately drawn to the mysterious newcomer. As he learns the heartbreaking secret that has changed her life, he finds himself falling in love with her — or at least the person he thinks she is.

Austin Abrams as Henry Page and Lili Reinhart as Grace Town in CHEMICAL HEARTS

The music is by Stephen James Taylor (Southside with You, Maya Angelou And Still I Rise).

Reinhart, who is also the executive producer, was an admirer of writer-director Richard Tanne’s feature film debut, Southside with You, which imagines the first date between Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson. When she reached out to him about directing Chemical Hearts, she discovered that the story of two teenagers learning to let their vulnerabilities shine through their fear struck a chord with him as well.

Tanne started work on the screenplay the same day he met Reinhart, despite not having secured the film rights yet. “It immediately appealed to me because it was a story about the first great love of your life, which was also the first great heartbreak of your life,” he explains. “Chemical Hearts is about the pain and beauty of being young and feeling adult emotions for the first time. It’s a story about learning that when you fall apart, it’s up to you, and no one else, to put yourself back together.”

Reinhart was last seen starring opposite Jennifer Lopez in Lorene Scafaria’s feature film “Hustlers” which premiered at the 2019 Toronto Film Festival and went on to make over $150 million at the at box office. Additionally, the film was nominated for “Best Feature” at the 2019 Gotham Awards and won the New York Film Critics (NYFCO) as one of the “Top Films of the Year.” Lili’s other film credits include: Melanie Laurent’s GALVESTON opposite Elle Fanning and Ben Foster (premiered at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival) and Julia Hart’s MISS STEVENS, opposite Lily Rabe and Timothee Chalamet (premiered at SXSW in 2016).

Austin Abrams as Henry Page and Lili Reinhart as Grace Town in CHEMICAL HEARTS

Evan Rachel Wood, Gina Rodriguez, Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger Star In Miranda July’s KAJILLIONAIRE, In Theaters September 18

Focus Features is planning to release the upcoming movie KAJILLIONAIRE in theaters on September 18, 2020.

From acclaimed writer/director Miranda July (her third feature film) comes a profoundly moving and wildly original comedy. Con-artists Theresa (Debra Winger) and Robert (Richard Jenkins) have spent 26 years training their only daughter, Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood), to swindle, scam, and steal at every opportunity.

(L to R) Richard Jenkins as “Robert Dyne”, Debra Winger as “Theresa Dyne” and Evan Rachel Wood as “Old Dolio Dyne” in director Miranda July’s KAJILLIONAIRE, a Focus Features release. Credit : Matt Kennedy / Focus Features

During a desperate, hastily conceived heist, they charm a stranger (Gina Rodriguez) into joining their next scam, only to have their entire world turned upside down.

Watch the trailer now, featuring the song “Mr. Lonely” performed by Angel Olsen & Emile Mosseri (the film’s composer).

Written and directed by Miranda July, the director of photography is Sebastian Winterø, edited by Jennifer Vecchiarello with music by Emile Mosseri; production design by Sam Lisenco; costumes by Jennifer Johnson; casting by Mark Bennett and produced by Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Youree Henley.

A Plan B / Annapurna Production. Distributed by Focus Features in the U.S. and Universal Pictures internationally.

Director Miranda July (left) and actor Evan Rachel Wood (right) on the set of KAJILLIONAIRE, a Focus Features release. Credit : Matt Kennedy / Focus Features

July is a filmmaker, artist, and writer. Her most recent book is The First Bad Man, a novel. July’s collection of stories, No One Belongs Here More Than You, won the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award and has been published in twenty-three countries. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Harper’s, and The New Yorker; It Chooses You was her first book of non-fiction. She wrote, directed and starred in The Future and Me and You and Everyone We Know — winner of the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and a Special Jury Prize at Sundance. July’s participatory art works include the website Learning to Love You More (with artist Harrell Fletcher), Eleven Heavy Things (a sculpture garden created for the 2009 Venice Biennale), New Society (a performance), and Somebody (a messaging app created with Miu Miu.) She made an interfaith charity shop in Selfridges department store in London, presented by Artangel.