Category: General News

HOPE SPRINGS (2012) – The Review

Well those scamps in Sony’s movie marketing department are up to some hijinks again! They’re trying to sell HOPE SPRINGS as a zany comedy in the TV spots and theatre trailers. Oh boy, a middle-aged married couple are having bedroom problems ( I almost expected them to cue up ” You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ ‘ on the soundtrack ). Aren’t they cute when they’re all flustered?  And who do they meet with for advise? Why, it’s that wacky 40-year-old virgin! Let the hysterics begin! Now mind you, there’s plenty of very funny moments in HOPE, but there’s also many scenes of regret and longing that are brutally honest. And pretty sad. I’m not saying it’s a modern take on Ingmar Bergman, but it’s not the wall to wall laughfest that the ads would have you believe. It is a showcase for two terrific veteran actors working together for the first time ( let’s hope it is just the first pairing ).

HOPE SPRINGS is the story of Kay ( Meryl Streep ) and Arnold ( Tommy Lee Jones ), a couple married for 31 years. The kids are grown and have moved away, but the two still share the same modest suburban two-story house. Oh, and they have separate bedrooms now, which concerns Kay. They’ve also settled into a routine. His alarm clock gets Arnold up at 7 AM. Kay has his bacon and eggs ready when he heads down to the kitchen to eat his breakfast and read the paper ( no real conversation ), before he grabs his briefcase and trudges out the door to the accounting firm where he is a partner. She tidies up before going to work at a dress shop. He comes home about 6 PM. They eat silently. Then Arnold plops down in his big easy chair and nods off while watching the Golf Channel. She taps him awake, they head upstairs to their respective bedrooms, and the cycle begins once again. Not even their anniversary celebration can shake things up ( they gave each other a joint present : an expanded cable TV package. ” So many channels! ” ). Finally Kay decides to do something. On her lunch break she heads over to the Barnes and Noble and purchases a book on saving your marriage written by Dr. Bernard Feld ( Steve Carell ). She follows up by visiting his website. Seems the doc offers a couples consoling package at his offices in… Hope Springs, Maine ( a picture perfect seaside village ). She mentions it to Arnold, who dismisses the idea. Then Kay dips into her savings and buys the tickets. After some advise from a co-worker, Arnold relents and joins her on the flight. Can this marriage guru work wonders and rekindle the fire between these two and turn them from roommates to lovers once more?

So, this is basically the Meryl and Tommy Lee Show, and quite a show it is. Their characters jump from comedy to drama, sometimes in mid-sentence, and these screen vets are more than up to the challenge. Jones has been giving several strong supporting performances, recently in CAPTAIN AMERICA : THE FIRST AVENGER and in this Summer’s MEN IN BLACK III. Here he’s front and center expanding his ” grumpy old bear with a marshmallow center ” persona and giving us a real bruised and battered old school guy who has a tough time being tender. His comic timing is superb ( the grumbles, the rolling eyes ) as  is his clumsy, but endearing, attempts to please his partner. Speaking of, Streep more than holds her own against the entertaining Mr. Jones. Her Kay may seem a fluttery ditz at times, but she’s got a steely backbone as she fights for her own happiness. This is another great role in Streep’s career resurgence of the last few years. While most actresses of her…ah-hem…experience are circling TV for a steady series gig, she’s a force at the box office. Streep literally lights up the screen when Kay starts to get through to Arnold ( those frowsy outfits and eyeglasses can’t hide her beauty ). A surprise here is the strong support from Carrell. He’s really a straight man, as he questions ( and embarrasses ) the couple ( for the bulk of the film re remains seated in his cozy office ). After seeing him play so many dim bulbs ( miss you Michael Scott! ), it’s refreshing to see him as this eloquent, intelligent professional as he exasperates  Arnold with his homework assignments ( exercises and ” sexercises” ). There’s also some nice support from other familiar faces. Jean Smart ( TV’s ” Designing Women” ) is a great work buddy for Kay, and the lovely Elizabeth Shue ( more film work for her, Hollywood! ) as a sympathetic Maine bartender. One of Jones’s work pals, played by Brett Rice is very funny as he prods his bud to listen to the missus ( “…and that’s why I’m in a condo!” ). David Frankel directs the script from TV scribe Vanessa Taylor with a sure steady hand, getting the best reaction shots and line deliveries from the cast. And Connecticut is a quite lovely double for Maine. There’s laughs a plenty ( perhaps even more than the ads promise ), but there’s a solid dramatic story about how adults have to work at living ” happily ever after “. After the secret agents and super-heroes at the multiplex the last few weeks, it’s great to spend some time with some adults that may live right next door. If you’re really lucky.

Overall Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

San Francisco Film Society Names Ted Hope Executive Director

Ted Hope, one of the film industry’s most respected and prolific figures, has been named executive director of the San Francisco Film Society (SFFS), effective September 1, 2012. In a surprise move, the veteran film producer and one of the most influential individuals in independent film will embark upon a new chapter in his professional life, leaving New York City, where he produced independent films through his companies Good Machine, This is that corporation and Double Hope Films, to lead the Film Society into the future.

“Ted Hope is the perfect choice to build on the San Francisco Film Society’s already strong reputation for supporting filmmakers and its established excellence in exhibition and education.” said Pat McBaine, SFFS board president. “His absolute grasp of the current state of film culture, his innovative approach to each of his projects, his dedication to bringing artists’ visions to the screen and his bold plans for the Film Society are exciting to us all. We are truly fortunate to have one of the industry’s most creative thinkers take the helm going forward.”

“The film world—be it in content, creation, business or audience—has changed significantly over the last twenty years and we all must change with it,” said Hope. “It’s time that the film industry looked not just to Hollywood but instead to the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, and San Francisco Film Society is a major artistic voice positioned right in the heart of this vibrant cultural location. This unique opportunity to work with the Film Society’s diverse communities is an extension of producing in the fullest of ways—allowing me to engage with the art form as a whole, at every level of activity. I am deeply honored and humbled to continue the extraordinary legacy of Bingham Ray and Graham Leggat, which is evident in SFFS’s dedication to empowering artists to get their work not just made but also truly appreciated, and by their support for the complete cinematic enterprise, process and community.”

“No one in the film industry is better positioned to lead us into the next phase of the San Francisco Film Society’s evolution than Ted Hope. His vision for the Film Society—which bridges the legacy of the organization as a champion of independent and international cinema and its potential to be a leading force in the future of moving-image media in our increasingly digital world—is exciting to us all.” said Interim Executive Director Melanie Blum.

A survey of Hope’s films, numbering close to 70, includes many highlights and breakthroughs of the last two decades, including recently Todd Solondz’s Dark Horse, Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene and Greg Mottola’s Adventureland. As generative as he is with movies, Hope is no less so in business; in 1990 he cofounded with James Schamus the production and sales powerhouse Good Machine, which was sold to Universal in 2002. Known within the industry for having an extraordinary ability to recognize emerging talent, Hope has more than 20 first features to his credit, including those of Alan Ball, Todd Field, Michel Gondry, Hal Hartley, Nicole Holofcener and Ang Lee, among others.

Hope joins the San Francisco Film Society at an exciting moment in its 55-year history, during a period in which the organization has recently experienced its greatest successes to date across each of its main program areas: exhibition, education and filmmaker services. Filmmaker360, the Film Society’s filmmaker support program, offers unparalleled assistance and opportunities designed to foster creativity and further the careers of independent filmmakers nationwide and oversees one of the largest film grant programs in the country, which disperses nearly $1 million annually to incubate and support innovative and exceptional films. Recent Filmmaker360 success stories include Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin’s debut phenomenon which received two SFFS/Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grants totaling $105,000 for postproduction, and went on to win both Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize and Cannes’ Camera d’Or. The crown jewel of the Film Society’s exhibition program is the San Francisco International Film Festival (April 25–May 9, 2013), the longest-running film festival in the Americas and a beloved showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation. Additional year-round programming has included daily screenings and events at San Francisco Film Society Cinema, a robust Fall Season of specialized film series, and countless individual public and members’ screenings and events with special guests in person. The SFFS education department offers year-round media literacy programs to over 10,000 K–12 students, college and university programs to help students transition into the professional filmmaking arena, and more than 100 classes and workshops per year in film craft and film studies for filmmakers, filmgoers and cinephiles of all ages and skill levels.

Hope has been recognized personally with numerous awards and accolades, and his films have received some of the industry’s most prestigious honors including two Academy Award nominations for The Savages (2007), two Academy Award nominations and five BAFTA nominations for 21 Grams (2003) and five Academy Award nominations for In the Bedroom (2001). He also holds a record at the Sundance Film Festival: three of his 23 Sundance entries (American Splendor [2003], The Brothers McMullen [1995] and What Happened Was… [1994]) have won the Grand Jury Prize; no producer has won more.

In addition to his efforts in independent film production, Hope is one of the most influential and followed voices in independent film on social media, with multiple blogs and more than 20,000 Twitter followers. He has curated an indie film screening series for the last three years, most recently at The Film Society Of Lincoln Center. A prolific writer on issues facing the film industry and film culture, Hope’s work has appeared in numerous media outlets. He blogs regularly on the popular Hope For Film and cofounded Hammer To Nail, a film review site focused on truly independent film. Hope consults regularly on the future of cinema and participates in lectures around the world including the Forbes Global CEO Conference and as the keynote speaker at Sundance’s Art House Convergence and the Power To The Pixel transmedia conference.

Hope succeeds Bingham Ray, who served as the San Francisco Film Society’s executive director for only ten weeks before his untimely death in January. An independent film legend, Ray brought his well-developed creative and business acumen to the running, reimagining and reinvigorating of the Film Society, bolstering its theatrical programming at SF Film Society Cinema, streamlining its communications and exploring dynamic digital initiatives intended to expand the reach of its film festival programs and educational efforts.

Ray in turn succeeded Graham Leggat, who served as the San Francisco Film Society’s executive director from October 2005 to June 2011 before his death from cancer in August 2011. Leggat’s tenure saw the transformation of the organization from an annual fifteen-day film festival producer into a year-round cultural institution with a national impact, significantly increasing activity in all programmatic areas.

“Ted is obviously as engaged as we are in thinking about how movies can continue to thrive and be a vital, dynamic force moving forward and has the knowledge and expertise to ably lead us into the future.” said SFFS Director of Programming Rachel Rosen. “It’s been an incredibly sad and challenging year for the Film Society, so we’re especially excited to enter the next stage of the organization working with someone who clearly shares our sense of mission about this art form that we all love.”

WAMG At THE SOUND OF MUSIC “Last 70MM Film Festival” Screening

On Monday, July 30th, diehard fans of the beloved and iconic musical film “The Sound of Music” were treated to a screening of a newly restored 70mm print at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The highly anticipated screening was part of AMPAS’ Last 70MM Film Festival.

Lucky fans and invited guests were treated to a Q&A segment prior to the film with special guests Charmian Carr (Liesl) and Kym Karath (Gretl). Joining them was Fred Bronson, author of The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook, the inside story of the beloved movie musical, revealed by the actors who starred as the Von Trapp children.

I spoke to Kym Karath (Gretl) before the screening and she was as lovely as can be. When I asked her about her feelings towards the film after more than 45 years, she said that more than anything else, she has lovingly embraced it. Fans have always been wonderful to her and the other cast members and she enjoys attendings reunions and special screenings such as this.

The film was shown in its original format, including the overture and the intermission. The sold out crowd was glued to their seats for the entire thing. VHS and now DVD has made this film accessible to millions of fans and new generations of fans around the world, but seeing it on the big screen is something I highly recommend if you ever have the chance!

Bruno Gunn Cast As Brutus In Lionsgate’s THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Bruno Gunn has been cast in the role of Brutus in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire. Brutus is a former Career victor from District 2.

Gunn has co-starred in a variety of films, most recently the comedy hit Bad Teacher, and is recognizable to TV audiences from frequent guest starring roles including on “The Office”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Sons Of Anarchy,” “Oz,” and “Prison Break.”

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has sold more than 50 million books in print and digital in the U.S. alone.

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

Ongoing casting news and information for the film can be found at: www.CatchingFireCasting.com

Principal Photography Begins On Luc Besson’s MALAVITA; Stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer & Tommy Lee Jones

Principal photography begins today on EuropaCorp and Relativity’s comedic actioner Malavita directed by Luc Besson (Taken, Transporter) and starring Oscar®-Winner Robert De Niro (Limitless, Heat), Oscar®-Nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows, People Like Us), Oscar®-Winner Tommy Lee Jones (No Country For Old Men, Men in Black), Dianna Agron (Glee, I Am Number Four) and John D’Leo (The Wrestler, Wanderlust).

Collaborating with Besson behind the scenes is a creative below-the-line team including:  director of photography Thierry Arbogast (The Fifth Element), production designer Hugues Tissandier (Taken), sound editor Ken Yasumoto (The Transporter), costume designer Olivier Bériot (Taken) and editor Julien Rey (The Lady).

The darkly comedic action film Malavita is the story of the Manzonis, a notorious mafia family who gets relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program. While they do their best to fit in, old habits die hard and they soon find themselves handling things the “family” way.

Filming commenced in Normandy and will continue in France at La Cité du Cinéma, where the brand new Studios de Paris are located. Additional shooting will take place in New York.  The film will bow in 2013 with Relativity handling US distribution as well as working with its foreign output partners on the film’s release in the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Greece, Thailand and CIS.  EuropaCorp will take on distribution in France and handle international sales.

The script is adapted by Besson from the book Badfellas by author Tonino Benacquista. Virginie Besson-Silla (From Paris with Love) from EuropaCorp is producing. Relativity’s Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter) is producing, while the studio’s Tucker Tooley (Immortals) will executive produce.

Looking ahead, Relativity will release the edge-of-your seat thriller House at the End of the Street (in theatres September 21, 2012), the outrageous Movie 43 (in theatres January 25, 2013) and comedy 21 and Over (in theatres March 15, 2013). Relativity is currently in post-production on Scott Cooper’s gritty dramatic thriller currently-titled Out of the Furnace and is in production on the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling Safe Haven (in theatres February 8, 2013) and the corporate espionage thriller Paranoia (in theatres September 27, 2013).

EuropaCorp is currently in production on Taken 2 which it will distribute in France and with its partners in Germany, Scandinavia and Russia.  Fox will handle the distribution of the film in the US and throughout its international distribution organization. The company is also in production on Mobius directed by Éric Rochant and starring Oscar®-Winner Jean DuJardin, Cécile De France and Tim Roth.

Watch Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams And Justin Timberlake In TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE Trailer

Academy Award® winner Clint Eastwood, Oscar® nominee Amy Adams, and Justin Timberlake, star in TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE, which marks the feature film directorial debut of Eastwood’s longtime producing partner Robert Lorenz.

Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of the best scouts in baseball for decades, but, despite his efforts to hide it, age is starting to catch up with him. Nevertheless, Gus—who can tell a pitch just by the crack of the bat—refuses to be benched for what may be the final innings of his career. He may not have a choice. The front office of the Atlanta Braves is starting to question his judgment, especially with the country’s hottest batting phenom on deck for the draft. The one person who might be able to help is also the one person Gus would never ask: his daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), an associate at a high-powered Atlanta law firm whose drive and ambition has put her on the fast track to becoming partner. Against her better judgment, and over Gus’s objections, Mickey joins him on his latest scouting trip to North Carolina, jeopardizing her own career to save his. Forced to spend time together for the first time in years, each makes new discoveries—revealing long-held truths about their past and present that could change their future.

Written by Randy Brown, the film is produced by Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, and Michele Weisler.

Starring Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Robert Patrick, Matthew Lillard, Scott Eastwood, Joe Massingill, TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE will be in theaters September 21.

This film has been rated PG-13 for language, sexual references, some thematic material and smoking.

http://www.troublewiththecurve.com
http://www.facebook.com/TroubleWithTheCurve

Robert Redford In First Look Photo From ALL IS LOST; Directed By JC Chandor

Here’s a first look at ALL IS LOST. Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions, Academy Award-winner Robert Redford, and Academy Award-nominated writer/director J.C. Chandor (Best Writing, Original Screenplay for MARGIN CALL) jointly announced that principal photography has wrapped on the open water thriller ALL IS LOST at Baja Studios in Rosarito, Mexico. Chandor wrote and directed the film, and Redford stars in a solo performance of one man lost at sea and his battle against the elements to stay alive. Before The Door Pictures’ Neal Dodson and Washington Square Films’ Anna Gerb are producing.

“After an intense two months of shooting on the water, we’re headed home and have finished production on schedule,” said Dodson and Gerb. “JC is making an audacious film with a brave performance at its center.”

The director of photography is Frankie DeMarco and the editor is Pete Beaudreau, both of whom collaborated with Chandor on MARGIN CALL. The underwater cinematographer is Pete Zuccarini (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise, DOLPHIN TALE). The production designer is John P. Goldsmith (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN).

Justin Nappi and Teddy Schwarzman also serve as producers. Executive producers for ALL IS LOST are Joshua Blum of Washington Square Films, actor Zachary Quinto and Corey Moosa of Before The Door, Cassian Elwes, Laura Rister, Robert Ogden Barnum, Glen Basner, and Kevin Turen.

Chandor, Washington Square Films, and Before The Door previously collaborated on the critically-acclaimed and award-winning MARGIN CALL, which had its world premiere at Redford’s 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and was released by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions.

FilmNation Entertainment is handling international sales on the picture and has already sold out the world. Universal Pictures International will distribute the film in a large portion of the globe, alongside several other distributors, including SquareOne, Sun, eOne, LEV, HGC, Italia, SSG and Pony Canyon.

ALL IS LOST marks Chandor’s second feature film, following MARGIN CALL. In addition to his Academy Award nomination for that film’s screenplay, Chandor won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and the Robert Altman Award for ensemble cast, and he was awarded the Australian Academy’s International Award for Best Screenplay. He was named Best Debut Director by the National Board Of Review and Best First Film by the New York Film Critics Circle, in addition to being listed on dozens of Top Ten lists for 2011.Chandor is currently under contract to Warner Brothers Pictures on a two-picture writing deal, the first of which is an international thriller being developed by Appian Way with producers Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Kiloran as a potential starring vehicle for DiCaprio.

About Robert Redford
Academy Award® winner Robert Redford is an actor, director, producer, environmentalist, and philanthropist, whose exceptional career has spanned decades.  His credits represent some of American cinema’s most renowned bodies of work including starring roles in BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, THE STING, ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN; and directorial credits on award-winning films such as ORDINARY PEOPLE, A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT, and QUIZ SHOW. He has been honored with many awards for his legendary work both on and off screen.  Redford’s firstAcademy Award® nomination was for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1973’s THE STING opposite Paul Newman.  He won the Academy Award® for Best Director in 1981 for ORDINARY PEOPLE and received an Honorary Oscar® in 2002.  In 2005, he accepted the Kennedy Center Honors Award for his distinguished achievement in the performing arts and in recognition of his extraordinary contributions.

Redford’s passion is the Sundance Institute, which he founded in 1981. The Sundance Institute is dedicated to the support and development of emerging screenwriters and directors of vision, and to the national and international exhibition of new independent cinema.  Their highly acclaimed Screenwriting, Directing, Playwright and Producing Labs take place at the Sundance Village mountain retreat in Utah, founded by Redford in 1969.  The Sundance Film Festival is a program of the Institute and is internationally recognized as the single most important showcase of independent cinema. Redford has further expanded the Sundance brand with The Sundance Channel, Sundance Cinemas, Sundance London, and Sundance Entertainment.

Robert Redford has been a noted environmentalist and activist since the early 1970s and has served for almost 30 years as a Trustee of the Board the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Most recently, Redford completed production on THE COMPANY YOU KEEP, in which he directed and starred.

About Before The Door Pictures
Founded by actor Zachary Quinto, Corey Moosa, and Neal Dodson, Before The Door Pictures won a 2012 Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature for producing J.C. Chandor’s MARGIN CALL. They are in post-production on Chandor’s ALL IS LOST, starring Robert Redford, as well as Victor Quinaz’s comedy THE TWV PROJECT and Blair Erickson’s 3-D horror feature THE BANSHEE CHAPTER. They have a slate of independent and studio projects, including Quinaz’s IMPERIAL PALACE with veteran producer, Christine Vachon. BTD has a publishing deal with Archaia, through which they’ve published two acclaimed graphic novels: Mr. Murder Is Dead by Quinaz and Lucid by Michael McMillian. Lucid was recently optioned to Warner Brothers to develop as a feature film with Akiva Goldsman also producing. The company has projects in television and in the digital/interactive space as well, including a comedy web project called PERIODS that is being honored this coming week at Graumann’s Chinese Theatre as the opening night feature of the HollyShorts Film Festival. All three partners attended Carnegie Mellon University’s School Of Drama.
www.beforethedoor.com

About Washington Square Films
Founded by Joshua Blum, Washington Square Arts & Films is a production and management company that represents actors, directors and writers in the worlds of film, television and theater. Based in New York and Los Angeles, the company is currently in post-production on J.C. Chandor’s ALL IS LOST, starring Robert Redford as a man lost at sea.WSF collaborated with Before The Door on Chandor’s first project MARGIN CALL which garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for Chandor and won the 2012 Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. WSF recently produced Brian Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky’s feature debut FRANCINE starring Academy Award winner Melissa Leo. The film opened at the Berlin Film Festival and SXSW, and will premiere theatrically at MoMA. The company’s other credits include WENDY AND LUCY and OLD JOY, both directed by Kelly Reichardt.. WSF has also produced documentaries such as AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE, a critically acclaimed biography by director Steven Soderbergh about the life of Spalding Gray. The film was screened at festivals worldwide and is now part of the prestigious Criterion Collection.
www.wsfilms.com

About Lionsgate
Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first installment of THE HUNGER GAMES franchise, which has already grossed nearly $700 million at the worldwide box office, THE EXPENDABLES, THE LINCOLN LAWYER, THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, Tyler Perry’s MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION and MARGIN CALL.  With the January 2012 acquisition of Summit Entertainment, the Company has now added the blockbuster TWILIGHT SAGA, which has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, to its current slate, giving the Company the two premier young adult franchises in the world.  Recent Summit hits include RED, LETTERS TO JULIET, KNOWING, the STEP UP franchise and the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, THE HURT LOCKER.
www.lionsgate.com

About Roadside Attractions
Roadside Attractions devises innovative distribution, marketing and publicity strategies to introduce audiences to specialty films in theatres.  The company’s films have received twelve Oscar® nominations including Best Screenplay for J.C. Chandor’s Oscar®‐nominated MARGIN CALL.  Also nominated was Rodrigo Garcia’s ALBERT NOBBS starring Glenn Close and Janet McTeer, which garnered three Oscar® nominations, three Golden Globe nominations and two SAG Award nominations.  The company’s 2009 release, THE COVE, captured the Academy Award® for Best Feature Documentary, and in 2010, its 6 Oscar® nominations ‐‐ four, including Best Picture, for Debra Granik’s WINTER’S BONE, and two, including Best Foreign Language Film, for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s BIUTIFUL‐‐ solidified its major position on the distributor landscape.

Roadside has also found significant box office success with its releases, including Robert Redford’s THE CONSPIRATOR starring James McAvoy and Robin Wright and FRIENDS WITH KIDS starring Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Chris O’Dowd, Megan Fox and Edward Burns.  Coming up this fall is Nicholas Jarecki’s Sundance hit ARBITRAGE starring Richard Gere.
www.roadsideattractions.com

About FilmNation Entertainment
Founded in 2008 by veteran international film executive Glen Basner, FilmNation Entertainment is a new kind of film company – global, versatile and full-service; and is a go-to destination for many of the world’s most renowned filmmakers (including Steven Soderbergh, Terrence Malick, Pedro Almodóvar, Jeff Nichols and Sofia Coppola).  FilmNation can board a project in a myriad of ways (as a producer, financier, sales agent, international distributor or marketer) and at any stage in a film’s lifespan including development.

In the past 18 months, FilmNation titles have grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office and the future looks to be even more successful.   The company’s diversified global sales slate includes previous releases such as Academy Award® Best Picture winner THE KING’S SPEECH; Pedro Almodóvar’s THE SKIN I LIVE IN; and director Jeff Nichols’ TAKE SHELTER.

FilmNation’s upcoming sales line-up showcases the work of many of today’s most exciting, established and up-and-coming filmmakers and includes: Steven Soderbergh’s  MAGIC MIKE; Rian Johnson’s LOOPER starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon Levitt; John Hillcoat’s 2012 Cannes Competition film LAWLESS starring Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy and Michael Hoffman’s GAMBIT starring Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz as well as Soderbergh’s next film BITTER PILL starring Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum; Jonathan Glazer’s UNDER THE SKIN with Scarlett Johannson; Sofia Coppola’s THE BLING RING starring Emma Watson; Deepa Mehta’s MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN, based on the novel by Salman Rushdie; Eli Roth’s THE CLOWN; Terrence Malick’s TO THE WONDER starring Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem; Rachel McAdams (as well as Malick’s next two films); David Michôd’s THE ROVER;  Almodóvar’s next film LOS AMANTES PASAJEROS; Daniel Benmayor’s TRACERS starring Taylor Lautner; Anton Corbijn’s A MOST WANTED MAN starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Rachel McAdams; and Paul Greengrass’ soccer documentary BARÇA.

FilmNation’s production arm under the direction of production vet Aaron Ryder marked a recent success with the Cannes Competition selection of one of its first productions, Jeff Nichols’ MUD, starring Tye Sheridan, Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Michael Shannon (produced with Brace Cove Productions and Everest Entertainment.)  FilmNation has also produced Mark Tonderai’s HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET starring Jennifer Lawrence and is currently in production on Dan Beers’ PREMATURE.

FilmNation has also forged a number of strategic relationships with some of the most prolific, respected producers and financiers operating in the film business including Relativity Media LLC (the two companies have an exclusive multi-year deal whereby FilmNation oversees the international sales and global distribution of Relativity titles, produced under their single picture business); Media Rights Capital (an exclusive foreign sales representation deal); Endgame Entertainment (a non-exclusive multi-picture sales deal) and Echo Lake Entertainment (a non-exclusive multi-picture sales deal).
FilmNation has offices in New York and Los Angeles.
www.wearefilmnation.com

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of PARANORMAN In St. Louis

When a small town comes under siege by zombies, who can it call? “Norman!”

From Focus Features and LAIKA, the companies behind the Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coraline, comes the comedy thriller PARANORMAN. Following Coraline, PARANORMAN is the second stop-motion animated feature to be made at LAIKA in 3D, unifying the two stunning art forms to tell an all-new frightfully funny, magically emotional, and hilariously spooky story.

Focus Features and WAMG invite you to enter for your chance to win passes to the advance screening of PARANORMAN in St. Louis on August 16th at 7pm.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: You travel to Tinsel town – Hollywood – and you notice it’s full of the walking dead! What famous star do you hope to see as… A ZOMBIE!! and why.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

The film is rated PG.

PARANORMAN is set in the town of Blithe Hollow, whose locals profit from mining the town’s history as the site, 300 years ago, of a famous witch hunt. 11-year-old Norman Babcock (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee of Let Me In and The Road) spends much of his days appreciating the finer points of scary movies and studying ghost lore. In fact, Norman is gifted with the ability to see and speak with the dead, such as his beloved grandmother (Elaine Stritch). Most days, he prefers their company to that of his flustered father (Jeff Garlin), spacey mother (Leslie Mann), and deeply superficial older sister Courtney (Anna Kendrick). At middle school, Norman dodges bullying Alvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), confides in the impressionable Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), and tries to tune out his blowhard teacher Mrs. Henscher (Alex Borstein).

Norman is unexpectedly contacted by his odd uncle Prenderghast (John Goodman), who floors him with the revelation that a centuries-old witch’s curse is real and is about to come true, and that only Norman will be able to stop it from going into overdrive and harming the townspeople. Once a septet of zombies – led by The Judge (Bernard Hill) – suddenly rises from their graves, Norman finds himself caught in a wild race against time alongside Courtney, Alvin, Neil, and Neil’s musclebound older brother Mitch (Casey Affleck) as Sheriff Hooper (Tempestt Bledsoe) chases them all. Worse, the town is up in arms and taking up arms. Norman bravely summons up all that makes a hero – courage and compassion – as he finds his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.

A Focus Features presentation of a LAIKA production. ParaNorman. Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Elaine Stritch, Bernard Hill, Jodelle Ferland, Tempestt Bledsoe, Alex Borstein, and John Goodman. Costume Design, Deborah Cook. Music by Jon Brion. Edited by Christopher Murrie, ACE. Production Designer, Nelson Lowry. Director of Photography, Tristan Oliver. Produced by Arianne Sutner, Travis Knight. Written by Chris Butler. Directed by Sam Fell, Chris Butler. A Focus Features Release.

PARANORMAN opens in 2D and 3D theaters everywhere on Friday, August 17, 2012!

 Visit http://www.paranorman.com to play games, grab free downloads and more
“Like” on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/paranorman
Follow on Twitter –  http://www.twitter.com/paranorman #ParaNorman
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All Images: LAIKA, Inc

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN In St. Louis

Academy Award®–nominated writer/director Peter Hedges (“Dan in Real Life,” What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”) brings enchantment to the screen with “The Odd Life of Timothy Green.” It’s the inspiring, magical story of a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim—and their small town of Stanleyville—learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.

Disney presents “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” with Scott Sanders, Ahmet Zappa and Jim Whitaker producing, story by Ahmet Zappa and screenplay by Peter Hedges. “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” will open in theaters on August 15, 2012.

WAMG invites you to enter for your chance to win passes to the advance screening of “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” on August 14th, 7pm at the at the Great Escape Gravois Bluffs.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Tell us about some of the magical moments from your life.

Winners will be chosen at random from all entries. Supplies are limited. Limit one (1) pass per person, passes admit (2) two. Sponsor’s employees and their dependants are ineligible. Screening is overbooked to ensure capacity. Please refer to passes for any other possible restrictions. No purchase necessary.

Like on Facebook: http://facebook.com/OddLifeMovie
Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/OddLifeMovie  #TimothyGreen
Visit the Official Site: http://disney.com/OddLife

On Pinterest – Follow for a little extra magic: http://di.sn/l1G  

THE MASTER Gets A New Poster

A kaleidoscope of Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams from Paul Thomas Anderson’s THE MASTER has arrived in the form of a new poster (via Yahoo Movies). The surprise screening of film took place Friday evening (Aug. 3) after an American Cinematheque screening of Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica, CA. It was by and large well received according to HitFix.com.

THE MASTER will be shown at Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals.

From Annapurna Pictures and The Weinstein Company, the film will be in theaters September 14, 2012.

themaster-film.com

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Follow on Twitter:  @TheMaster_TWC 

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