We Are Movie Geeks

Spiderman Franchise Expands With THE SINISTER SIX, VENOM And THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 3

In a move to forge a new legacy in the story of Peter Parker on screen, Sony Pictures Entertainment, in association with Marvel Entertainment, is developing several new projects in the Spider-Man franchise, with Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner, Ed Solomon, and Drew Goddard to collaborate on overseeing the developing story over several films that will be produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, it was announced this week by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Hannah Minghella, president of Production for the studio.

The five writers, along with the two producers and Marc Webb, have formed a franchise brain trust to expand the universe for the brand and to develop a continuous tone and thread throughout the films. Under the deals, the studio announced that Kurtzman & Orci & Pinkner are writing the screenplay for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 3, which the studio hopes Webb will return to direct; the film will go into production next fall for release on June 10, 2016.

In addition, the team will build on the cinematic foundation laid by Webb, Arad, and Tolmach in the first two movies.

They will expand the franchise as Kurtzman & Orci & Solomon will write the screenplay for VENOM, which Kurtzman will direct; also, Goddard will write, with an eye to direct, THE SINISTER SIX, focusing on the villains in the franchise.

Hannah Minghella and Rachel O’Connor will oversee the development and production of these films for the studio.

In tapping these five writers, the studio and the producers are guiding the future of the franchise with the writer/producers who have each played significant and key roles in developing such highly successful franchises, films, and series as Star Trek, Transformers, Alias, Fringe, Men in Black, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, World War Z, Lost, Cloverfield, The Cabin in the Woods, and Marvel’s upcoming Daredevil series.

Commenting on the announcement, Belgrad said, “The Spider-Man film franchise is one of our studio’s greatest assets. We are thrilled with the creative team we have assembled to delve more deeply into the world that Marc, Avi and Matt have begun to explore in The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. We believe that Marc, Alex, and Drew have uniquely exciting visions for how to expand the Spider-Man universe in each of these upcoming films.”

Arad and Tolmach added, “This collaboration was born out of the great experience we and Marc had working with Alex, Bob, and Jeff on The Amazing Spider-Man 2. With more than fifty years’ wealth of stories in the comic books to draw upon for inspiration, the Spider-Man universe is truly boundless; in addition, the Spider-Man comics have the greatest rogues gallery of any series, and to have the chance to explore that on film is truly thrilling. Until now, we have approached each film as a separate, self-contained entity, but with this move, we have the opportunity to grow the franchise by looking to the future as we develop a continuous arc for the story. That is what Alex, Bob, Jeff, Ed, and Drew will do in this unprecedented collaboration, and we’re excited about the directions they are taking the character and the world.”

The most successful franchise in the history of Columbia Pictures, Spider-Man is embraced all over the world. The four Spider-Man films to date have taken in over $3.2 billion worldwide. Spider-Man, Venom, The Sinister Six and other Spider-Man related characters are licensed to Sony by Marvel Entertainment.

JINN Gets A Creepy New Photo & Poster

Check out the new poster and photo from the upcoming supernatural thriller JINN – perfect for Friday the 13th, right?

In the beginning, three were created. Man made of clay. Angels made of light. And a third made of fire.

For centuries, stories of angels and men have captured the imagination and been etched into history crossing all boundaries of culture, religion and time. These two races have dominated the landscape of modern mythology, shrouding the evidence that a third was ever created. This third race, born of smokeless fire, was named the jinn. Modern man has all but forgotten this third race ever existed. It is time for him to remember.

The film, written and directed by Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad was produced by Ahmad, Benjamin Dresser, Alan Noel Vega and stars Dominic Rains (“Flight 93”), Serinda Swan (USA’s “Graceland”), Ray Park (“Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace”), Faran Tahir (“Elysium”) and William Atherton (“Die Hard”).

From Exxodus Pictures and Freestyle Releasing, JINN will have it’s North American wide theatrical release on April 4, 2014.

Twitter: @JinnTheMovie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jinnthemovie

http://jinnthemovie.com/

Friday the 13th International Poster for DEVIL’S DUE

What better day than Friday the 13th (eek!) to give you a look at the new international poster for DEVIL’S DUE. 20th Century Fox will release the horror film in theaters on January 17th.

After a mysterious, lost night on their honeymoon, a newlywed couple finds themselves dealing with an earlier-than-planned pregnancy. While recording everything for posterity, the husband begins to notice odd behavior in his wife that they initially write off to nerves, but, as the months pass, it becomes evident that the dark changes to her body and mind have a much more sinister origin.

Check out the latest preview below.

Yeah, that birth’s got bad news written all over it. Definitely one creepy way to ring in 2014 with the spawn of Satan.

Director Eli Roth and ROSEMARY’S BABY star Mia Farrow chatted about it over on Twitter:

@allisonemiller LOVED LOVED LOVED your performance in @DevilsDueMovie! So real, vulnerable & terrifying. @MiaFarrow will love it. For real.

— Eli Roth (@eliroth) December 7, 2013

DEVIL’s DUE is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett of Radio Silence (V/H/S), written by Lindsay Devlin (@DevlinLindsay), and stars Allison Miller and Zach Gilford.

http://www.DevilsDueMovie.com

https://www.facebook.com/DevilsDueMovie

https://twitter.com/devilsduemovie
http://www.youtube.com/devilsduemovie
https://plus.google.com/+DevilsDueMovie

#DevilsDue

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG – The Review

Can it really be a decade? Starting in 2001 a new tradition began during the year-end holiday hustle and bustle. Fantasy film fans took a break from the shopping and wrapping to head to the multiplex and escape the malls by taking a journey to Middle Earth. For that and the next two Decembers Peter Jackson presented his bright gifts to movie lovers in his adaptations of JRR Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” classic literary trilogy. After a flurry of Oscar love for the final installment, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING in 2004, things we are bit quieter in New Zealand. But fans wanted more. What about the earlier book “The Hobbit”? After many years of legal wrangling (seems the rights to that work were very tangled) it was announced that Jackson, now acting as producer, would bring it to the screen with Guillermo del Toro (PAN’S LABRYNTH) directing. When del Toro stepped away from the director’s chair, Jackson decided to return to helm what would be another movie trilogy. Three films from a single book? How would he expand on this much slimmer tome? Audiences worldwide last year flocked to see the first installment THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY making it a box office smash, thanks in part to 3D and new advanced frame rate technology. And now it’s time for the second chapter. Will it live up to other movie trilogy middle flicks like SPIDER-MAN 2, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, or THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS? At least we’ll see a whole lot more of that monstrous dragon in THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG.

Part two actually begins with a brief sequence set before most of the events in part one. We’re treated to the initial meeting of Galdalf (Ian McKellen) and the dwarf leader Thorin (Richard Armitage) in a seedy pub as they discuss the big mission. After the title we’re back in the thick of things with those two along with the band of dwarves plus the hobbit himself, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who, as usual, are being chased by a nasty gang of orcs. Luckily they’re given temporary shelter by a “shifter” after he changes from fierce bear to lonely man (he’s the last of his race). When they exit the home Gandalf splits away on a solo mission (again!) leaving Bilbo and the dwarves to continue the trip to Lonely Mountain, the dwarf homeland taken over by the title beastie. En route while going through a dense forest they are attacked by giant, ravenous spiders. Not even the magic invisibility ring that he got from Gollum in the last film, can aid Bilbo. Luckily several elves lead by the fierce warriors Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) come to their rescue. But all’s not well as the travelers are taken prisoner by order of the elf king Thrandruil (Lee Pace). But soon Bilbo and his crew are delivered to Laketown , hidden in a barge owned by Bard (Luke Evans). Since they’re wanted by the city’s oppressive Master (Stephen Fry), Bard hides them in the home he shares with his three children. But thanks to another orc attack (thwarted by the elves), the crew continues their trek, hoping they can evade the towering dragon guarding the dwarf treasures.

Freeman does not give us the timid, flustered Bilbo from the first chapter. The events of the last entry have toughened him up considerably. There’s not as much hesitation in jumping into the fray to rescue his pals. Some of this may stem from his secret acquisition. “The Precious” is slowly getting into his head, even causing him to decieve the great Gandalf. McKellan is superb as always even when having to emote underneath all the hair and the big pointy hat. And he’s pretty good with the sword besides the spellcasting (that staff is really useful). Armitage brings a greater sense of tragedy as the future dwarf king uncertain of his real destiny. Happily we’re reunited with Bloom as one of Middle Earth’s greatest fighters, be it blade or bow (Katniss and Hawkeye have nothing on him). Despite his pointed ears and flowing blonde locks, Legolas is one of the screen’s greatest action heroes. This time out, he’s ably aided by the lovely Ms. Lilly, who’s as quick with her wits as she is with her weapons. Lilly displays all the grit, and occasional warmth, she showed in her years as Kate on TV’s “Lost”. Evans is compelling as the haunted boatman, while Fry is sinister and wickedly funny as the devious Master. They aren’t given a lot of screen time, so hopefully these characters will be fleshed out a bit more in the next installment.

Jackson has concocted a faster paced follow-up to last year’s hit. This may be since all the introductory scenes were covered very throughly in that flick. It had seemed that first third was bogged down with the dwarves endlessly singing and cavorting while trashing Bilbo’s pad. Not so this time, as we’re plopped right in the middle of the action. And the action scenes are where the film soars, especially with the addition of the elves. Jackson truly excels at mounting exhilarating sequences of split-second derring do, particularly when the dwarves have to evade the orcs while stuck in wooden barrels careening through the rapids. As if the water chase weren’t enough, Legolas and company arrive to face off against the baddies. And the Orcs are really bad (think of the most violent biker gang in the worst mood ever). A different kind of highlight is the attack of the giant spiders. Sure, we’ve seen big bugs in movies, but these guys are vicious, fast-moving, and really, really scary (parents of wee ones be warned!) They are truly the stuff of nightmares. And finally there’s Smaug, one of the screen’s great monsters. He seems to just go on and on with a body like an anaconda merged with a freight train. After miles of coiling scales we finally see that sneering head spewing threats courtesy of actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Unfortunately he seems to spend most of his screen time slithering towards Bilbo while snapping concrete columns. Hopefully we’ll get a wee bit more of him in the next one. Perhaps they’ll pack in more action while trimming many of the conversation scenes that slow down this film. A debate between Thorin and the Elf king seems to drone away as do many of the Laketown scenes. Also the hint of one of the oddest love triangles ever (elf-dwarf-elf) feels like extra baggage. But the New Zealand scenery is gorgeous along with the opulent sets and costumes accented by Howard Shore’s lush score just as we’ve come to expect from this film franchise. There’s a few nice uses of 3D (big, big bees), but I’m sure the film’s just as engaging without the goggles (and extra charge). Fantasy fans will rejoice with this new excursion and newbies should be engaged with the action. Sure it ends on a cliffhanger, but film fans will enjoy getting there. The “unexpected journey” turns into quite a thrill ride. Now where’s that wayward wizard gone?

4 Out of 5

Golden Globe Awards Nominations

On Thursday morning, the nominations for the 2014 Golden Globe awards were announced by Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde and Aziz Ansari.

With seven nominations each, 12 YEARS A SLAVE and AMERICAN HUSTLE lead in Golden Globe Awards nominations.

NEBRASKA garnered five Golden Globes nominations (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay), while GRAVITY received four Golden Globes nominations for Best Picture (Drama), Best Director, Best Actress (Drama) and Best Original Score (Steven Price).

Director Alfonso Cuarón said, “What a great year for cinema! I’d like to congratulate my fellow nominees and, of course, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for recognizing Gravity with four Golden Globe nominations. I had wonderful collaborators both in front of and behind the camera who took something of a leap of faith with me years ago when we set out to make this film. I share this honor with all of them. I’m very happy too for Sandy who brought this story to life and for Steve whose score drives so much of the film’s emotion, for their well-deserved nominations.”

Director Paul Greengrass’ CAPTAIN PHILLIPS also received four nominations for Best Picture (Drama), Best Director, Best Actor (Drama) and Best Supporting Actor (Drama).

Director Woody Allen will receive the Cecil B. De Mille Award for his outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.

The veteran filmmaker is not expected to attend the awards ceremony, but the trophy will be accepted on his behalf by actress & friend Diane Keaton.

The Golden Globe Awards will take place Sunday, January 12 with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler returning to the Beverly Hilton Hotel to host the show.

Here’s the full list of Nominations:

1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
	a		12 YEARS A SLAVE Plan B Entertainment, New Regency Productions and River Road Entertainment; Fox Searchlight Pictures
	b		CAPTAIN PHILLIPS Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing
	c		GRAVITY Warner Bros. Pictures / Esperanto Filmoj / Heyday Films; Warner Bros. Pictures
	d		PHILOMENA Pathe, BBC Films, BFI, Canal+, Cine+, Baby Cow/Magnolia Mae; The Weinstein Company
	e		RUSH Universal Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media, Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Revolution Films; Universal Pictures
2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
	a	Cate Blanchett			BLUE JASMINE
	b	Sandra Bullock			GRAVITY
	c	Judi Dench			PHILOMENA
	d	Emma Thompson			SAVING MR. BANKS
	e	Kate Winslet			LABOR DAY
3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
	a	Chiwetel Ejiofor			12 YEARS A SLAVE
	b	Idris Elba			MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM
	c	Tom Hanks			CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
	d	Matthew McConaughey			DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
	e	Robert Redford			ALL IS LOST
4. BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
	a	AMERICAN HUSTLE Columbia Pictures and Annapurna Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing
	b	HER Warner Bros. Pictures / Annapurna Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures
	c	INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS Mike Zoss Productions, Scott Rudin Productions, Studio Canal; CBS Films
	d	NEBRASKA Paramount Vantage; Paramount Pictures
	e	THE WOLF OF WALL STREET Paramount Pictures and Red Granite Pictures; Paramount Pictures
5. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
	a	AMY ADAMS		AMERICAN HUSTLE
	b	JULIE DELPY		BEFORE MIDNIGHT
	c	GRETA GERWIG		FRANCES HA
	d	JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS		ENOUGH SAID
	e	MERYL STREEP		AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
	a	CHRISTIAN BALE		AMERICAN HUSTLE
	b	BRUCE DERN		NEBRASKA
	c	LEONARDO DICAPRIO		THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
	d	OSCAR ISAAC		INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
	e	JOAQUIN PHOENIX		HER
7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
	a	THE CROODS DreamWorks Animation LLC; Twentieth Century Fox
	b	DESPICABLE ME 2 Universal Pictures, A Chris Meledandri Production; Universal Pictures
	c	FROZEN Walt Disney Animation Studios; Walt Disney Pictures
8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
	a	BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR FRANCE) (La vie d’Adele, chapitres 1 et 2) Quat’sous Films; IFC Films
	b	THE GREAT BEAUTY (ITALY) (La Grande Bellezza) Indigo Film, Medusa Film, BABE Films; Janus Films
	c	THE HUN (DENMARK) (Jagten) Zentropa Entertainment; Magnolia Pictures
	d	THE PAST (IRAN) (Le passé) Memento Films Production, France 3 Cinema, BIM Distribuzione; Sony Pictures Classics
	e	THE WIND RISES (JAPAN) (Kaze tachinu) Studio Ghibli; Touchstone Pictures
9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
	a	SALLY HAWKINS		BLUE JASMINE
	b	JENNIFER LAWRENCE		AMERICAN HUSTLE
	c	LUPITA NYONG’O		12 YEARS A SLAVE
	d	JULIA ROBERTS		AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
	e	JUNE SQUIBB		NEBRASKA
10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
	a	BARKHAD ABDI\		CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
	b	DANIEL BRÜHL		RUSH
	c	BRADLEY COOPER		AMERICAN HUSTLE
	d	MICHAEL FASSBENDER		12 YEARS A SLAVE
	e	JARED LETO		DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
11. BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
	a	ALFONSO CUARÓN		GRAVITY
	b	PAUL GREENGRASS		CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
	c	STEVE MCQUEEN		12 YEARS A SLAVE
	d	ALEXANDER PAYNE		NEBRASKA
	e	DAVID O. RUSSELL		AMERICAN HUSTLE
12. BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
	a	SPIKE JONZE		HER
	b	BOB NELSON		NEBRASKA
	c	JEFF POPE, STEVE COOGAN		PHILOMENA
	d	JOHN RIDLEY		12 YEARS A SLAVE
	e	ERIC WARREN SINGER, DAVID O. RUSSELL		AMERICAN HUSTLE
13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
	a	ALEX EBERT		ALL IS LOST
	b	ALEX HEFFES		MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM
	c	STEVEN PRICE		GRAVITY
	d	JOHN WILLIAMS		the BOOK THIEF
	e	HANS ZIMMER		12 YEARS A SLAVE
14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
	a	“ATLAS” — THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIREMusic by: Chris Martin, Guy Berryman,Jonny Buckland, Will Champion Lyrics by: Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion
	b	“LET IT GO” — FROZENMusic by: Kristen Anderson Lopez, Robert Lopez Lyrics by: Kristen Anderson Lopez, Robert Lopez
	c	“ORDINARY LOVE” — MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOMMusic by: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr., Brian Burton Lyrics by: Bono
	d	“PLEASE MR. KENNEDY” — INSIDE LLEWYN DAVISMusic by: Ed Rush, George Cromarty, T Bone Burnett, Justin Timberlake, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen Lyrics by: Ed Rush, George Cromarty, T Bone Burnett, Justin Timberlake, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
	e	“SWEETER THAN FICTION” — ONE CHANCEMusic by: Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff Lyrics by: Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff

http://www.goldenglobes.com/

Win A Pass To The Advance Screening Of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY In St. Louis

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY tells the dark, hilarious and deeply touching story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.

Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name made its Broadway debut in December 2007 after premiering at Chicago’s legendary Steppenwolf Theatre earlier that year.

It continued with a successful international run and was the winner of five Tony Awards in 2008, including Best Play.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is directed by John Wells (THE COMPANY MEN) and features an all-star cast, including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nicholson, Sam Shepard and Misty Upham.

Want to win tickets to the advanced screening of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY on Wednesday, December 18 at 7:00PM in St. Louis?

Enter your name and email address in our comments section below. It’s just that easy!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

The film is rated R

http://augustosagecountyfilm.com

https://www.facebook.com/AugustOsageCounty

PHILOMENA, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, GRAVITY, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS Among Scores In Contention For Oscar

One hundred fourteen scores from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2013 will be vying for nominations in the Original Score category for the 86th Oscars®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today.

A Reminder List of works submitted in the Original Score category will be made available with a nominations ballot to all members of the Music Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five achievements. The five achievements receiving the highest number of votes will become the nominations for final voting for the award.

Nomination voting in all Oscar categories begins Friday, December 27 and ends Wednesday, January 8.

The eligible scores along with their composers are listed below, in alphabetical order by film title:

      “Admission,” Stephen Trask, composer
      “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” Daniel Hart, composer
      “All Is Lost,” Alex Ebert, composer
      “Alone Yet Not Alone,” William Ross, composer
      “The Armstrong Lie,” David Kahne, composer
      “Arthur Newman,” Nick Urata, composer
      “At Any Price,” Dickon Hinchliffe, composer
      “Austenland,” Ilan Eshkeri, composer
      “Before Midnight,” Graham Reynolds, composer
      “The Best Man Holiday,” Stanley Clarke, composer
      “The Book Thief,” John Williams, composer
      “The Butterfly’s Dream,” Rahman Altin, composer
      “The Call,” John Debney, composer
      “Captain Phillips,” Henry Jackman, composer
      “Closed Circuit,” Joby Talbot, composer
      “The Company You Keep,” Cliff Martinez, composer
      “The Conjuring,” Joseph Bishara, composer
      “Copperhead,” Laurent Eyquem, composer
      “The Counselor,” Daniel Pemberton, composer
      “The Croods,” Alan Silvestri, composer
      “Despicable Me 2,” Heitor Pereira, composer
      “Elysium,” Ryan Amon, composer
      “Ender’s Game,” Steve Jablonsky, composer
      “Enough Said,” Marcelo Zarvos, composer
      “Epic,” Danny Elfman, composer
      “Ernest & Celestine,” Vincent Courtois, composer
      “Escape from Planet Earth,” Aaron Zigman, composer
      “Escape from Tomorrow,” Abel Korzeniowski, composer
      “Evil Dead,” Roque Baños, composer
      “47 Ronin,” Ilan Eshkeri, composer
      “42,” Mark Isham, composer
      “Free Birds,” Dominic Lewis, composer
      “Free China: The Courage to Believe,” Tony Chen, composer
      “Fruitvale Station,” Ludwig Goransson, composer
      “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” Henry Jackman, composer
      “Gangster Squad,” Steve Jablonsky, composer
      “Gravity,” Steven Price, composer
      “The Great Gatsby,” Craig Armstrong, composer
      “The Hangover Part III,” Christophe Beck, composer
      “Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunters,” Atli Örvarsson, composer
      “Haute Cuisine,” Gabriel Yared, composer
      “Her,” William Butler and Owen Pallett, composers
      “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Howard Shore, composer
      “Hollywood Seagull,” Evgeny Shchukin, composer
      “Hours,” Benjamin Wallfisch, composer
      “How Sweet It Is,” Matt Dahan, composer
      “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” James Newton Howard, composer
      “Identity Thief,” Christopher Lennertz, composer
      “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone,” Lyle Workman, composer
      “Insidious: Chapter 2,” Joseph Bishara, composer
      “Instructions Not Included,” Carlo Siliotto, composer
      “The Internship,” Christophe Beck, composer
      “The Invisible Woman,” Ilan Eshkeri, composer
      “Iron Man 3,” Brian Tyler, composer
      “Jack the Giant Slayer,” John Ottman, composer
      “Jobs,” John Debney, composer
      “Kamasutra 3D,” Sreejith Edavana and Saachin Raj Chelory, composers
      “Labor Day,” Rolfe Kent, composer
      “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” Rodrigo Leão, composer
      “Live at the Foxes Den,” Jack Holmes, composer
      “Love Is All You Need,” Johan Söderqvist, composer
      “Mama,” Fernando Velázquez, composer
      “Man of Steel,” Hans Zimmer, composer
      “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” Alex Heffes, composer
      “The Missing Picture,” Marc Marder, composer
      “Monsters University,” Randy Newman, composer
      “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” Atli Örvarsson, composer
      “Mud,” David Wingo, composer
      “Murph: The Protector,” Chris Irwin and Jeff Widenhofer, composers
      “Now You See Me,” Brian Tyler, composer
      “Oblivion,” Anthony Gonzalez and Joseph Trapanese, composers
      “Oldboy,” Roque Baños, composer
      “Olympus Has Fallen,” Trevor Morris, composer
      “Oz The Great and Powerful,” Danny Elfman, composer
      “Pacific Rim,” Ramin Djawadi, composer
      “Pain & Gain,” Steve Jablonsky, composer
      “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” Andrew Lockington, composer
      “Philomena,” Alexandre Desplat, composer
      “The Place beyond the Pines,” Mike Patton, composer
      “Planes,” Mark Mancina, composer
      “Prisoners,” Jóhann Jóhannsson, composer
      “R.I.P.D.,” Christophe Beck, composer
      “Reaching for the Moon,” Marcelo Zarvos, composer
      “Romeo & Juliet,” Abel Korzeniowski, composer
      “Runner Runner,” Christophe Beck, composer
      “Rush,” Hans Zimmer, composer
      “Safe Haven,” Deborah Lurie, composer
      “Salinger,” Lorne Balfe, composer
      “Saving Mr. Banks,” Thomas Newman, composer
      “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” Theodore Shapiro, composer
      “Short Term 12,” Joel P. West, composer
      “Side Effects,” Thomas Newman, composer
      “The Smurfs 2,” Heitor Pereira, composer
      “The Spectacular Now,” Rob Simonsen, composer
      “Star Trek Into Darkness,” Michael Giacchino, composer
      “Stoker,” Clint Mansell, composer
      “Thor: The Dark World,” Brian Tyler, composer
      “Tim’s Vermeer,” Conrad Pope, composer
      “Trance,” Rick Smith, composer
      “Turbo,” Henry Jackman, composer
      “12 Years a Slave,” Hans Zimmer, composer
      “2 Guns,” Clinton Shorter, composer
      “The Ultimate Life,” Mark McKenzie, composer
      “Unfinished Song,” Laura Rossi, composer
      “Wadjda,” Max Richter, composer
      “Walking with Dinosaurs,” Paul Leonard-Morgan, composer
      “Warm Bodies,” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders, composers
      “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks,” Will Bates, composer
      “We’re the Millers,” Theodore Shapiro and Ludwig Goransson, composers
      “What Maisie Knew,” Nick Urata, composer
      “Why We Ride,” Steven Gutheinz, composer
      “The Wind Rises,” Joe Hisaishi, composer
      “Winnie Mandela,” Laurent Eyquem, composer
      “The Wolverine,” Marco Beltrami, composer

To be eligible, the original score must be a substantial body of music that serves as original dramatic underscoring, and must be written specifically for the motion picture by the submitting composer. Scores diluted by the use of tracked themes or other preexisting music, diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs, or assembled from the music of more than one composer shall not be eligible.

See the rules HERE.

The Oscar for Best Original Score at the 85th Academy Awards went to Mychael Danna for LIFE OF PI.

The 86th Academy Awards® nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards® for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
www.oscars.org
www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
www.youtube.com/Oscars
www.twitter.com/TheAcademy

THE ARMSTRONG LIE – The Review

Alex Gibney is one of our most prolific documentary film makers with over a dozen feature films to his credit (along with several shorts and TV productions). Particularly with his works on the economy, military intelligence, and the war in the Middle East, he’s had a firm grip on current events. With his new film, Gibney enters into a different area, or subset, of documentaries. Much like last year’s highly entertaining THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES and the Oscar winner SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN, the original intent or narrative thrust changed while filming with the end result being a very different from the work that was planned. At first titled “The Road Back”, Gibney had planned to follow celebrated cyclist Lance Armstrong as he trained to come out of retirement to compete once again. When the scandals broke and the headlines began, Gibney tossed aside the first film title and went with the more provacative, and more truthful, THE ARMSTRONG LIE.

The film begins with the taping of Armstrong’s big media confession with, of course, Oprah Winfrey. Gibney, who had been filming Lance for the previous three years, was allowed to be there during this major TV event. After the crew from Harpo left, Gibney was allowed some one-on-one time with the disgraced former champion. The film flashes back to the original announcement that Lance would “un-retire” (after dropping out in 2005) and compete in the 2009 Tour de France. We then are taken further back to his childhood, his early victories, his battle with testicular cancer, and the triumphant return that would make him a sports superstar (hanging with celebs, multi-million dollar endorsements, and even hosting TV’s “Saturday Night Live”!). Sports commentators, fellow athletes, and team mates are all interviewed. Then the scandals are replayed with news footage and new talks with those who have had very public fallouts with Lance. And with that final comeuppance, the high-flying golden boy finally crashes back to Earth.

Gibney keeps the film rolling on at a good clip, perhaps because of the film’s structure that quickly flashes forward and back in order for a larger overview of Armstrong’s life and career. The director does break a big rule of documentaries by becoming a part of the story, but this can be excused considering the dramatic turn of events that forced Gibney to change the film’s focus. And, as he states in the film’s final moments, he was swept up in the big “lie”. We’re shown just how the athletes are able to skirt the drug-tests (most disturbingly via blood transfusions) and we’re told about racing officials and sponsors who weren’t that concerned about said tests. There’s new interviews with sports reporters and writers who earned the ire of Lance, and were subsequently punished by restricting access. And there’s plenty of infighting and hurt feelings amongst Lance’s teammates (often involving clandestine recordings). Surprisingly we even hear from the team trainer/coach/ medical consultant Michele Ferrari who deftly dodges any aspersions on his character. But at the film’s heart is the tarnished idol himself. We see him fighting back against the doping charges during his heyday, often painting himself as a martyr because not everyone could believe that this cancer survivor could come back stronger than ever. Then we see him in full attack mode against team mates and the press. Armstrong could have coasted along for years on his triumphs, but his ego may have been his Achilles’ heel. Just once more, with a “this is all for charity” reason covering his desire to win without any “help”. But that dream provided his undoing. In the end, Armstrong, seems unremorseful, almost obstinate,with that “I had to, since everybody else is doing it” reasoning. THE ARMSTRONG LIE is a tough, gritty lesson not to feed in to the hype and that our heroes have the same fears and weaknesses as any of us.

3.5 Out of 5

THE ARMSTRONG LIE screens exclusively in the St. Louis area at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Cinemas

Simon Pegg To Star In Terry Jones Directed Comedy ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING

Bill & Ben Productions announced that Simon Pegg will lead the Terry Jones directed comedy feature ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING.

Pegg will play Neil Clarke, a disillusioned school teacher who suddenly finds he has magical powers, bestowed upon him by some aliens. The aliens will be voiced by the wonderfully familiar line up of John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Robin Williams will also star as the voice of Clarke’s hilarious & faithful dog. Additional casting is underway.

Pre-Production starts 2 February 2014, with Principal Photography commencing in London on 23rd March.

Commenting on his role, Simon Pegg said ‘As someone whose love of comedy was hugely informed by Monty Python, the chance to work with Terry was a gift. Meeting your heroes is one thing, working with them is something else.’

‘Simon Pegg is the Absolutely Perfect Neil!’ – said Director/Co-Writer – Terry Jones.

The film is being produced by Ben Timlett and Bill Jones at Bill & Ben Productions (Emmy Award® nominated MONTY PYTHON: ALMOST THE TRUTH. Triple Academy Award® winner Jim Acheson (MAN OF STEEL, SPIDERMAN, DANGEROUS LIAISONS) is on board to design the production’s costumes and sets, as well as the eclectic group of aliens. Mike Medavoy, who previously worked with Terry Jones on LIFE OF BRIAN and ERIC THE VIKING, has been involved with multiple Academy Award nominated films including BLACK SWAN and THE THIN RED LINE and has said he is “thrilled to be reunited,” and will serve as EXECUTIVE PRODUCER with Chris Chesser (THE RUNDOWN, MAJOR LEAGUE).

Producer Ben Timlett added: ‘We are extremely excited that Terry Jones’ and Gavin Scott’s script will soon be brought to life. Their collaboration has created a laugh-out-loud storyline, wonderfully quirky characters and dialogue that not everyone will be expecting.’

Sales, production and finance company GFM Films are handling worldwide sales and the AFM saw them close pre-sales in Australia, Scandinavia and Germany amongst others. Partner at GFM Films, Fred Hedman, said ‘Distributor reaction to the script and creative elements at the AFM was terrific – a very positive start’. Production finance has been secured by Absolutely Anything PLC.

Watch The Brand New Trailer For RIO 2!

Flying into theaters everywhere on April 11, 2014, check out the brand new trailer for director Carlos Saldanha’s RIO 2.

It’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids in RIO 2, after they’re hurtled from that magical city to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all – his father-in-law.

All our favorite RIO characters are back – I love it!

The cast includes Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, will.i.am, Jemaine Clement, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Jamie Foxx and they’re joined by Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Grammy winner Bruno Mars, Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth and Oscar/Emmy/Tony winner Rita Moreno. I can’t wait for this!

RIO 2 also features new Brazilian artists and original music by Janelle Monae and Wondaland.

Be on the look for RIO 2 in theaters this coming Spring.

Facebook: facebook.com/RioMovies

Twitter: twitter.com/RioMovie

YouTube: youtube.com/officialriomovie

Official site: riomovies.com

#Rio2

Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), Jewel (Anne Hathaway) and their three kids are joined by Rafael (George Lopez), Nico (Jamie Foxx) and Pedro (will.i.am) on their Amazon adventure.

In Rio, (left to right) Luiz (Tracy Morgan), Rafael (George Lopez), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), Pedro (will.i.am) and Nico (Jamie Foxx) discuss their plans for the future.

Jewel (Anne Hathaway) is wary of the attentions of her ex-beau Roberto (Bruno Mars).

Nigel (Jermaine Clement) is indifferent to the amorous feelings of his acolyte, a poisonous frog named Gabi (Kristin Chenoweth).

Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) and Linda (Leslie Mann) make a startling discovery in the Amazon jungle.

Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), Jewel (Anne Hathaway) and their music-loving daughter, Carla (Rachel Crow) enjoy the exotic sounds of the jungle.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: