Jeremy Irons as Claus von Bülow in REVERSAL OF FORTUNE is currently available on Blu-ray From Warner Archive. Ordering info can be found HERE
Did European aristocrat Claus von Bulow (Jeremy Irons) try to murder his wife, Sunny (Glenn Close), at their luxurious Newport mansion in 1980? Tabloids of the day had their opinions. “You have one thing in your favor,” defense attorney Alan Dershowitz (Ron Silver) told von Bulow. “Everybody hates you.” Written for the screen by Nicholas Kazan (Fallen, At Close Range), directed by Barbet Schroeder (Single White Female) and based on Dershowitz’s book, Reversal of Fortune is the acclaimed filmization of events that had all of America talking. For his precise portrait of icy brittleness, Irons won the Best Actor Academy Award as well as the Los Angeles and National Society of Film Critics Awards. Think you know the truth? Until you watch.you have no idea.
Extras include Original Theatrical Trailer (HD) and feature commentary by Director Barbet Schroeder and Screenwriter Nicholas Kazan
In the rugged countryside of Finland, a young thirteen-year-old (Onni Tommila) embarks on a traditional quest to prove himself by spending 24 hours alone in the wild, armed with only a bow and arrow. After witnessing a spectacular crash, he discovers the escape pod from Air Force One, containing the President of the United States (Samuel L. Jackson). When they realize a group of kidnappers is hot on their trail with the intention of taking the president, this unlikely duo must escape their hunters as they search for the American Special Forces team sent out to find them.
Check out the new trailer below for Relativity Media’s BIG GAME. You thought SNAKES ON A PLANE was a fun time – this is even better!
This could be the good time, sleeper hit of the summer. Given its end of June release, BIG GAME is the type of over the top, action movie you’ll want to watch with a group of friends and a few drinks handy.
Samuel L. Jackson (The Avengers, Pulp Fiction), Onni Tommila, Ray Stevenson (Divergent, Thor), Victor Garber (Titanic, Argo), Felicity Huffman (“Desperate Housewives”) and Jim Broadbent (Harry Potter series, Gangs of New York) round out director Jalmari Helander’s all-star cast.
BIG GAME premieres in select theaters and on Digital HD & On Demand on June 26, 2015.
Samuel Goldwyn Films has released the brand new trailer for William H. Macy’s upcoming directorial debut RUDDERLESS. Definitely one to put on your October calendar, the movie had its world-premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, where it was the closing night film.
In RUDDERLESS, Billy Crudup plays Sam, a former high-profile advertising executive whose life is torn apart by the sudden death of his son. Living off the grid on a docked sailboat, he wastes away his days while drowning his pain in alcohol. When Sam discovers a box filled with his son’s demo tapes and lyrics, his own child’s musical talent is a revelation for him, a grieving father who felt he’d been absent from his son’s life.
Communing with his deceased son’s dashed dreams, Sam learns each song and eventually musters the will to perform one at a local bar. When Quentin, a young musician in the audience, is captivated by the song, the unlikely duo forms a rock band that becomes surprisingly popular and revitalizes both of their lives.
Crudup, who gives a searing performance, leads an exemplary cast that includes Anton Yelchin as Quentin, Selena Gomez, Laurence Fishburne and Felicity Huffman.
With RUDDERLESS, William H. Macy helms a poignant and inspirational musical drama about the power of love, forgiveness and redemption. He says, “One of the major characters in the film is the music. Prepare to lose your heart to Billy Crudup. His performance is one of those cinematic gems you wait your whole life for.”
RUDDERLESS opens in theaters and available on Digital HD & On Demand October 17.
Clark Gregg may not be a household name now, but that will soon change. Undoubtedly best recognized as the loveable Agent Phil Coulson, Gregg has captured the hearts of comic book fans by perfectly personifying the character on the big screen in movies including THE AVENGERS, THOR and IRON MAN, as well as on the small screen in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television series. In retrospect, it could be said that making your name in such big blockbuster movies would pigeonhole an actor, but TRUST ME is proof that such tried and true assumptions are always subject to exceptions.
The truth is, when you are as multi-talented as Clark Gregg, you become nearly impervious to the typical industry stereotypes. TRUST ME is a film as fascinating behind the scenes as it is a fascinating story, but you can do your own Google search to read about the making of the film. A truly indie film that maintains studio production value, TRUST ME is a dark comedy with a touching dramatic flair. Clark Gregg stars as Howard Holloway, a former child star turned Hollywood agent for child actors. Fulfilling one minor legendary stereotype, Howard struggles to regain that sense of importance and fame vicariously through his young clients. The trouble is, he hasn’t enjoyed any notoriety since he was 15 years old and at the top of his acting game.
Poor Howard is truly a good guy, sometimes slightly misguided, but ultimately holds true to having the proverbial heart of gold. TRUST ME is a film whose central character is repeatedly pummeled by misfortune and bad luck. As an audience, we feel every single scrape and blow as if it were our own. Howard is one of those underdog characters we cannot help but empathize with and root on, no matter what the odds. From the very beginning of the film, Howard gets stepped on, most frequently and cruelly by his arch nemesis Aldo Shocklee, played by Sam Rockwell with a marvelously subdued flamboyance. Aldo, fulfilling the film’s other primary stereotype, is a successful big shot agent with deep pockets and absolutely no ethical code of conduct. Howard finds himself constantly in battle with Aldo, having to defend each of his rarely acquired clients from Aldo poaching them with more money, extravagant gifts and outlandish promises.
Lydia, played by Saxon Sharbino, is a promising 14-year old actress being groomed by Howard for a new romantic fantasy franchise based on a popular series of books. A major studio has tapped Ang Lee to direct and has eyes for Lydia, but Howard stumbles upon some secret family issues that may not only threaten Lydia’s chances, but also change Howard’s own perspective on his purpose in life. Sharbino is a rising young star with a short but surprisingly diverse and impressive resume. She has that quintessential girl next door appeal, but has the flexibility to shift into complex dramatics on a dime, exerting what appears to be minimal effort in making it look and feel natural. This plays a pivotal significance in the film’s third and final act as the truth about her character is revealed.
The relationship that develops between Howard and Lydia is honest and rich with depth of character, even if it does ultimately prove destructive. Gregg is absolutely compelling, given an opportunity to explore a more textured role than superhero movies can allow. Gregg nurtures this relationship between Howard and Lydia, resulting in a sweet and dangerously innocent chemistry between the two actors. TRUST ME is a film driven by honest performances, enhanced by Clark Gregg’s personal touch both in front of and behind the camera. Gregg not only stars in the film, but also wrote and directed the film, making it a tremendously important notch on his journey of becoming a respected and influential storyteller.
Consider this… how many creatively successful films can you name that have the same name credited as writer, director and star? Charlie Chaplin’s CITY LIGHTS. Orsen Welles’ CITIZEN KANE. Woody Allen’s ANNIE HALL. Sylvester Stallone’s ROCKY. Clint Eastwood’s UNFORGIVEN. This is a small list, and by no means complete, but when you consider the members of this rather exclusive club, it’s a pretty amazing accomplishment to be included. If this isn’t enough to convince an audience to seek out this relatively small film, perhaps you may be convinced by TRUST ME’s supporting cast that includes Amanda Peet as Howard’s love interest, Felicity Huffman as the studio’s executive producer, Allison Janney, Molly Shannon and William H. Macy. TRUST ME, this film aims to please and hits the bull’s eye.
TRUST ME is available May 6th, 2014 through Video On Demand and iTunes, with a limited theatrical release scheduled for June 6th, 2014.
TRUST ME is directed by and stars Clark Gregg (Marvel’s THE AVENGERS, ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, and Joss Whedon’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING).
Felicity Huffman, Sam Rockwell, Amanda Peet, and Allison Janney co-star in the dark comedy about a struggling Hollywood agent for child actors.
Clark Gregg’s TRUST ME will be released On Demand iTunes May 6th and in select theaters June 6th. Pre-order it HERE.
It’s definitely one of the must-see movies of the summer and utterly charming.
TRUST ME tells the sharp, comic story of Howard Holloway (Gregg), a down-on-his luck agent for child actors and truly one the last good guys left in Hollywood.
After discovering a 13-year-old acting prodigy (Saxon Sharbino), he is poised to close the deal of a lifetime which would catapult his tween client and, at long last, himself, into the big time. With the support of his gorgeous new neighbor (Peet), he must wrangle the actress’ volatile, overprotective father, dodge a scheming producer (Huffman), and outwit his uber-slick nemesis (Rockwell). As he arrives on the brink of the Hollywood dream that’s eluded him for a lifetime, he begins to sense that his innocent young starlet may not be quite what she seems.
This is the second feature film written and directed by Gregg, who made his directing debut with CHOKE, an adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s novel that starred Sam Rockwell.
FOCUSED FAVORITES is an ongoing taste of my personal favorites, narrowed down with a fine-tooth comb, into very specific categories and topics. It’s a way I can share some of my personal choices in film and hopefully introduce others to films they may not have otherwise seen or even heard of. Enjoy!
I’m doing something a bit different this time for Focused Favorites and I’m focusing on a single film. Why, you may ask? Well, this particular film exists amongst a category that is thin with options to begin with, but “good” ones are even more scarce. In other words, I might subtitle this Getting it Right.
PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND is a film that truly shocked me, not in a bad way, but in a way that spoke to me and connect with the story. Part of this was certainly due to my own personal connection to the story, but it’s also very much the feeling that this movie effectively conveys a conversation too often ignored, too often misunderstood or disrespected.
Written and directed by first-timer Daniel Barnz, this is the story of a young girl named Phoebe, played by Elle Fanning, the younger sister of Dakota Fanning. This is apparent as the two look strikingly alike. Elle gives a wonderful performance that is very well-layered for an actress at the age of 9-10 years old at the time the film was made. Her mother is played by Felicity Huffman and her father is played by Bill Pullman.
We’re thrown into Phoebe’s dilemma from the very beginning, as she is already familiar with her own unique situation, but does not understand it as something being “wrong” with her. This idea of her being abnormal is only put into her mind by school faculty ignorant of Phoebe’s true situation. She is labels a problem child and finds herself in a tug-of-war between her mother who loves and supports her and the school principal who does not truly understand and simply wishes to write her off as a nuisance.
Phoebe’s mother is a writer who happens to be writing a book about Wonderland (as in Alice’s) which instills a certain fascination in Phoebe’s mind. When she discovers that her school is auditioning for roles in a production of Alice in Wonderland, she nervously throws herself at the opportunity. It is Miss Dodger, (played by Patricia Clarkson) the faculty member putting the play together, who realizes something special in Phoebe despite her struggle and encourages her to embrace herself for who she is and never to give up on what she wants in life. It is a combination of Phoebe’s mother and Miss Dodger that allow her to open up and begin to break free of the hold that Tourette Syndrome has on her life.
The film itself has a great deal of charm and the performances are wonderful, in that high-quality film for the whole family fashion. Pullman is believable as a father who is both stressed to his max and scarred of what his daughter’s condition will mean for her life. Huffman is fabulous as Phoebe’s mother who puts every ounce of her being into supporting her daughter, while also protecting her from the negative influences that surround her, including an initial backlash against the doctors before she realizes one of them truly has Phoebe’s best interests at heart. The special effects during Phoebe’s fantasy sequences are clearly the product of a limited budget, but work very well within these constraints.
For these reasons, in addition to the overall admirable quality of the film, I am regretful for having taken so long to finally experience this charming and family-friendly — but honest — story of the difficulty that often accompanies growing up with Tourette Syndrome. This is a movie that does great justice not only with sharing the turbulent experience children have with the disorder, but also with the turbulence, ignorance and confusing emotions that parents, school faculty and child peers experience in the company of a child with Tourette Syndrome.
In the past, only a handful of movies have given screen time to Tourette Syndrome. Until now, my favorites have been accomplished artistic works of cinema, but have not done a great deal for improving the stigma of living with Tourette Syndrome, nor has have they efficiently and compassionately given a decent portrait of the child’s point of view.
NIAGARA, NIAGARA (1997) which is a very adult story, not readily accessible to children and while I do greatly appreciate the film, does not win favor with many for it’s negativity. Starring Robin Tunney as Marcy, a troubled teenager who has Tourette Syndrome, NIAGARA, NIAGARA focuses on how bad things can be for such a person despite her efforts and how she travels the path of an outsider and outcast. It’s her love for her boyfriend that keeps her spirits up, but ultimately cannot change the tragic obstacle that her choices will lay before her. This film is only available in the US on VHS and not easily acquired at that, outside of eBay and Amazon.
On the other hand, THE TIC CODE (1999) tells a story much more from the point-of-view of an adult who continues to live with Tourette Syndrome, but has developed ways to conceal his condition and succeed as a jazz musician. Tyrone, played by Gregory Hines, meets a boy who also has Tourette Syndrome and finds inspiration in Tyrone, but Tyrone resents the boy’s and his mother’s acceptance of the disorder that has made his life so difficult through the years. This film is available in the US on DVD, but isn’t likely to show up on an store shelves, meaning you’ll have to either special order this one or rely once again on Amazon.
Something I’ve noticed in recent years is a tendency for movies, primarily comedies of the lower-brow variety, to make comedic fodder of people living with various types of handicaps, a word which a hesitate to use but for ease of explanation. I am not a person who feels a filmmaker or artist of any kind should censor themselves or be told what they can and cannot create, but in fact encourage this. So, I’m not going to jump on some soap box here about how these films (you know who you are) hold no interest to me and I generally try my best to avoid them. Of course, this isn’t always possible.
So, this brings me back to PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND. This isn’t a comedy. It is very clearly a drama. However, I make this transition because perhaps the most significant and valuable aspect of this film is it’s usefulness in helping others understand and learn about Tourette Syndrome and the effects it has on those who live with it and theirs families who often struggle not only to understand it but also to cope with it’s unfortunate social side effects.
I encourage anyone and everyone who has an interest, or even just questions or curiosity, to give PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND a chance. View the film with an pen mind. If you’re a critic, I might recommend viewing the film without the goggles of being a film critic… see if it has a different affect on your experience. Not all movies are strictly for entertainment and this is one great example. If you’re a student, a parent of a student (with or without Tourette Syndrome) or especially a teacher, please… I insist that you watch this film just as a way to better understand the diversity of people who live around us in the world. Below is the trailer for PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND to serve as an appetizer.
PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND may have only had a limited theatrical release, but fortunately the movie is readily available on DVD. Reasonably priced for purchase at Amazon.com, while also available for rental through Netflix, either on DVD or as an instantly available streaming movie to your computer or Netflix-equipped Blu-Ray player, Tivo device, X-BOX or PS3 gaming systems.
The national Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. would like to inform you of the theatrical release of Phoebe in Wonderland this Friday, March 6. This fictional, highly creative story features Elle Fanning as the title character, Phoebe, who has Tourette Syndrome. Although TS is not the main focus of the film, the disorder plays an important role in the character’s development and impacts the people around her. The movie opens this weekend in the following select cities: Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Miami and Dallas.
The film is described by its creators as, “…a fantastical tale of a little girl who won’t – or can’t – follow the rules. Confounded by her clashes with the rule-obsessed world around her, Phoebe seeks enlightenment from her unconventional drama teacher, even as her brilliant but anguished mother looks to Phoebe herself for inspiration.”
Felicity Huffman and Bill Pullman star as Phoebe’s parents, Patricia Clarkson as Phoebe’s drama teacher and Campbell Scott as the school principal.
The film’s writer and director, Daniel Barnz, used his filmmaking skills and artistic vision to create an imaginative and compassionate story about a young girl living with the disorder.
