Open Road’s new film, SIDE EFFECTS opens tomorrow and we’re celebrating WAMG style… by hosting a giveaway! HOORAY!
SIDE EFFECTS is a provocative thriller about Emily and Martin (Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum), a successful New York couple whose world unravels when a new drug prescribed by Emily’s psychiatrist (Jude Law) – intended to treat anxiety – has unexpected side effects.
THE CONTEST:
We will be giving away a SIDE EFFECTS poster signed by members of the cast, Dr. Sasha Bardey, Vinessa Shaw, Jude Law, Channing Tatum, and Rooney Mara.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What is your favorite Steven Soderbergh film?
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.
2. SEND YOUR FULL NAME and ANSWER TO: melissa@wearemoviegeeks.com.
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.
CAST: JUDE LAW (Sherlock Holmes, Contagion, upcoming The Last Voyage of Demeter), ROONEY MARA (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network, upcoming Lawless), CATHERINE ZETA-JONES (Chicago, Ocean’s Twelve, upcoming Playing the Field) and CHANNING TATUM (Magic Mike, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, upcoming G.I. Joe: Retaliation).
DIRECTOR: Steven Soderbergh PRODUCERS: Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Gregory Jacobs, Scott Z. Burns
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: James D. Stern and Douglas E. Hansen WRITER: Scott Z. Burns
Open Road Films has just released the 3rd trailer for Steven Soderbergh’s final theatrical film, SIDE EFFECTS starring Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
SIDE EFFECTS is a provocative thriller about Emily and Martin (Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum), a successful New York couple whose world unravels when a new drug prescribed by Emily’s psychiatrist (Jude Law) – intended to treat anxiety – has unexpected side effects.
Emily (Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara) and Martin Taylor (Channing Tatum) are a young, beautiful, wealthy couple living the good life, with a mansion, a sailboat and every luxury money can buy—until Martin is sent to prison for insider trading. For four years, Emily waits for him in a tiny apartment in upper Manhattan, but his release is just as devastating as his incarceration and Emily sinks into a deep depression.
After a failed suicide attempt, psychiatrist Jonathan Banks (Academy Award nominee Jude Law) is called in to consult on Emily’s case. Desperate not to be hospitalized, Emily agrees to a regimen of therapy and antidepressants, a decision that will change the lives of everyone involved. When Emily’s symptoms don’t improve, Banks prescribes a new medication that quiets her demons. But the side effects of the drug have chilling consequences: marriages are ruined, Banks’ practice is decimated and someone is dead—but who is responsible? Devastated by this professional setback, Banks becomes obsessed with finding an answer. But the truth he uncovers threatens to destroy whatever is left of his career and his private life.
Over a decade ago screenwriter Scott Z. Burns spent several weeks doing research at New York’s famed Bellevue Hospital psychiatric facility. Burns, who was then writing for the acclaimed television medical drama Wonderland, spoke with the psychiatrists on staff and watched them at work with mentally ill patients, including many who had a criminal past.
“It was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life,” says Burns. “There were people there who were truly terrifying criminals. There were also people who were so ill they were unable to understand the rules of society and couldn’t possibly be expected to play by them.”
The experience planted a seed in Burns’ imagination. “I wanted to write a noir-style thriller that took the audience in and spun it around, like Double Indemnity or Body Heat, set in the world of psychopharmacology,” says Burns. “I was inspired by films that involve crafty, clever scams, set against the society the audience is really living in. People seem to have stopped making those, but I have always loved the genre.”
Burns began to develop the script that would eventually become Side Effects with the help of Dr. Sasha Bardey, who was at the time Deputy Director of Forensic Psychiatry for Bellevue Hospital. “Sasha and I met working on ‘Wonderland,’” says Burns. “His input was essential because this movie needed to be firmly rooted in reality.”
Bardey too had always been intrigued by the idea of a thriller involving psychiatry. “Once we came up with the backbone of this story, Scott did the writing, and I provided the context.”
The combination of Burns’ prodigious storytelling skills and Bardey’s expertise resulted in an eye-opening thriller. “It looks at the idea of where reality ends and mental illness begins,” says Bardey. “You don’t know if things are what they appear to be. In that sense, it’s got a Hitchcockian feel to it. And the ending is fantastic, a great lesson and a lot of fun.”
As he constructed his narrative, Burns also conducted extensive research on the growing use of anti-depressants in this country with the help of Dr. Bardey, who ultimately served as on-set adviser and co-producer.
Burns found evidence in the news stories of the day that the same medications used to treat depression, anxiety and other psychological ailments were also creating inexplicable behavior in a small but significant number of patients. Commonly prescribed drugs were being blamed for crimes ranging from vehicular homicide to physical assault. A man in California was acquitted of charges in a non-injury vehicular accident while under the influence of a popular sleep remedy. One widely prescribed antidepressant was even implicated in a shocking kidnapping and rape.
Just as fascinating to Burns were stories he uncovered about the misbehavior of respected doctors. “There was a story in the news about a psychiatrist who tried to hire one of his patients, a convicted criminal, to kill his mistress,” says Burns. “When the patient went to the police, they didn’t believe him because he’s obviously a crazy person. Our story is completely different than that one, but it’s full of plot twists and turns that have you constantly questioning what actually happened and who is telling the truth.”
Producer Gregory Jacobs, who also worked with Soderbergh and Burns on The Informant! and Contagion, notes that Side Effects is perhaps the first thriller set in this milieu. “I hadn’t seen anybody do something about the drug industry or the prevalence of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication in our society,” he says. “At the same time, it’s just such an entertaining thriller.”
As his script continued to evolve, Burns turned to a pair of trusted collaborators: Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. “Lorenzo hired me to write The Informant! for Warner Bros. at a time when I wasn’t qualified to lead a tour at Warner Bros.,” says Burns. “But he trusted me and believed in me. He had just started his production company, so I called him first. He was there when the movie had no home. He was open to casting ideas. This is a man who has made some giant movies, but he just loves filmmaking and he wants to make a lot of different kinds of movies.”
Di Bonaventura threw his full support behind the project. “I loved the idea of making an authentic thriller,” he says. “Hollywood has sort of abandoned the genre, so this is somewhat different in the marketplace. We developed it together. Scott wrote I don’t know how many drafts, but he always stayed true to his original vision. It was a long road, but a fun one.”
SIDE EFFECTS stars Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, Anna Karenina), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network), Channing Tatum (Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street) and Academy Award-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago, Ocean’s Twelve).
The film is directed by Oscar®-winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Erin Brockovich, Sex, Lies and Videotape) from a screenplay by Scott Z. Burns (Contagion, The Bourne Ultimatum). Producers are Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers, Man on a Ledge), Gregory Jacobs (Magic Mike, Contagion) and Scott Z. Burns (An Inconvenient Truth). Executive producers are James D. Stern (Looper, The Raven), Michael Polaire (Haywire, Contagion) and Douglas Hansen (Looper, Seeking Justice) and co-producers are Elena de Leonardis and Dr. Sasha Bardey (Stay, “Wonderland,” “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”), who also served as technical advisor. Production designer is Howard Cummings (Magic Mike, The Usual Suspects). Original music is by Thomas Newman (Skyfall, Wreck-It Ralph). Costume designer is Susan Lyall (Remember Me, Red).
Get ready for a different kind of experience.SIDE EFFECTS in theaters everywhere next Friday, February 8th, 2013.
Open Road Films has released a new teaser poster for Steven Soderbergh‘s final theatrical film, the psychological thriller SIDE EFFECTS. The film, starring Jude Law ( upcoming The Last Voyage of Demeter), Rooney Mara (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago) and Channing Tatum, is about a successful New York couple whose world unravels when a new anxiety medication has unexpected side effects.
Catch SIDE EFFECTS in theaters everywhere February 8th, 2013.
In November People.com named Channing Tatum their Sexiest Man Alive for 2012. Steven Soderbergh has made 15 movies since 2000, with his last being MAGIC MIKE this past summer starring Tatum. We’ll see if SIDE EFFECTS will be sweet 16 for the Oscar-winning director.
Get a taste of director Steven Soderbergh’s new psychological thriller, SIDE EFFECTS, in this brand new trailer starring Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Channing Tatum.
SIDE EFFECTS is a provocative thriller about Emily and Martin (Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum), a successful New York couple whose world unravels when a new drug prescribed by Emily’s psychiatrist (Jude Law) – intended to treat anxiety – has unexpected side effects.
SIDE EFFECTS’ writer Scott Z. Burns has collaborated with Soderbergh before on CONTAGION and THE INFORMANT! At present he’s co-writing the screenplay for the Matt Reeves’ helmed DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES – set for a May 2014 release.
Starring JUDE LAW (Sherlock Holmes, Contagion, upcoming The Last Voyage of Demeter), ROONEY MARA (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network, upcoming Lawless), CATHERINE ZETA-JONES (Chicago, Ocean’s Twelve, upcoming Playing the Field) and CHANNING TATUM (Magic Mike, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, upcoming G.I. Joe: Retaliation), catch SIDE EFFECTS in theaters everywhere February 8.
Ladies, hold on to your panties… because sexy just took over the big screen!
Mike has a lot on his plate. He is a roofer, he owns his own detailing company, and one day he hopes to open his own his own custom furniture business. Oh, did I forget to mention that he’s a stripper in an all male review. On one of his roofing gigs, Mike meets Adam “The Kid” and ends up bringing him into the fast paced, crazy world of dancing, women and money.
First thing’s first… a round of applause for the casting in this film. Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello and Matthew McConaughey are all fantastic actors. I’ll just go ahead and throw it out there that they all happen to be incredibly well-built and attractive. This film is one big handsome sandwich, and the audience is in the middle. Trust me, I am not complaining.
Of course, this isn’t just about pretty faces. There is a bit of a story here. Mike wants to be more than what he is. He dreams of owning his own business, but because of his poor credit he is at a loss to gain the backing that he needs. At first glance, he seems to have everything figured out, but he still has a lot to learn. As for Adam “The Kid”, he gets lost in the world of money, women and partying. They do a great job of showcasing the dark side of the lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, Steven Soderbergh doesn’t completely trash it, but he shows that while there is money to be made, it is also to get caught up and lose your way. The story isn’t fully developed, but something tells me that is not what is going to bring audiences to the theater for this one. There is nothing wrong with going to a film for fun! Not every film has to shoot for the Oscar. Sometimes it’s nice to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery.
The only person that I had a problem with, character-wise, was Brooke (Cody Horn), Adam’s sister. I get where they were going with her character. They wanted her to be normal, average, and the complete opposite of anyone in their partying lifestyle. I think they went a little overboard. The chemistry between Brooke and Mike didn’t feel organic or real. It felt forced and awkward. The character of Mike didn’t really need a romance to fill out the story. I am just glad that the romance took a backseat so we could concentrate on Mike’s development. (That last sentence was not meant to sound dirty, but it works either way you interpret it… Just sayin’!)
What I admire most about this film is that these guys really committed to their roles. They didn’t play spoofs of male strippers, they took on their roles. They learned the dancing, sported the scantily clad costumes, and made sure that their bodies were in amazing shape (not that they weren’t in shape before). Sure, parts of this film are goofy, silly, and humorous, but it’s not a spoof movie. The dance numbers alone prove that. Especially Tatum’s crazy, amazing moves. My jaw dropped several times during the film at just how talented he really is. The male review doesn’t get all the fun though. McConaughey not only wrote and performs a song in the film, but he also struts his stuff as Dallas, the club owner. I guess he couldn’t let the youngins’ have all the fun! Either way, he fits in perfectly!
They really hit the nail on the head with the soundtrack for this one too! “It’s Raining Men” by Countre Black and “Feels Like the First Time” by Foreigner add to the hyped up fun of the film. Also, it was fitting for Dallas (McConaughey) to dance to “Calling Doctor Love” by Kiss. Add some “My Pony” by Ginuwine, and this film has some solid, sexy snacks for the ears!
Look, I am going to be honest with you. This is not necessarily a date movie, and I don’t really see a lot guys enjoying all of the “talents” showcased in this film. Heck, this isn’t really a movie that you go to just for story, but if you are comfortable with your sexuality and looking for a fun film, then you will enjoy MAGIC MIKE.
A dramatic comedy set in the world of male strippers, “Magic Mike” is directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Soderbergh (“Traffic”) and stars Channing Tatum in the title role. The film follows Mike as he takes a young dancer called The Kid (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the fine arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money.
“Magic Mike,” starring Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn, Olivia Munn, Matt Bomer, Riley Keough, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez and Gabriel Iglesias, will be in theaters Friday, June 29.
What could be better than a girls night out with martinis and manis? Martinis, manis, and the men of “Magic Mike” of course! Warner Bros. Pictures and WAMG invite you to enter for your chance to win passes to the advance screening of MAGIC MIKE in St. Louis on June 26th.
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: Which of the actors, at age 18, was a real-life stripper?
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.
Mike (Channing Tatum) is an entrepreneur. A man of many talents and loads of charm, he spends his days pursuing the American Dream from as many angles as he can handle: from roofing houses and detailing cars to designing furniture from his Tampa beach condo.
But at night… he’s just magic.
The hot headliner in an all-male revue, Magic Mike has been rocking the stage at Club Xquisite for years with his original style and over-the-top dance moves. The more the ladies love him, the more they spend, and the happier that makes club owner Dallas (Matthew McConaughey).
Seeing potential in a guy he calls the Kid (Alex Pettyfer), Mike takes the 19-year-old under his wing and schools him in the fine arts of dancing, partying, picking up women and making easy money. It’s not long before the club’s newest act has fans of his own, as the summer opens up to a world of fun, friendship and good times.
Meanwhile, Mike meets the Kid’s captivating sister, Brooke (Cody Horn). She’s definitely someone he’d like to know a lot better, and it looks like he has a chance…until his lifestyle gets in the way.
Directed by Oscar® winner Steven Soderbergh (“Traffic”) and written by Reid Carolin, “Magic Mike” is produced by Nick Wechsler, Gregory Jacobs, Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin. The creative filmmaking team includes production designer Howard Cummings, costume designer Christopher Peterson, music supervisor Frankie Pine and choreographer Alison Faulk.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Nick Wechsler/Gregory Jacobs production of an Iron Horse/Extension 765 Enterprise, “Magic Mike,” distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
This film is rated R by the MPAA for pervasive sexual content,
brief graphic nudity, language and some drug use.
Everybody loves a good action film, right? But, what happens when a filmmaker more known for art house films takes a stab at a more mainstream Hollywood genre? Steven Soderbergh is, if nothing else, a highly curious, even enigmatic filmmaker. The same creative vision that came up with films such as SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE (1989) and SCHIZOPOLIS (1996) also created the OCEANS ELEVEN through THIRTEEN films. In between were some great films that fall somewhere between art house and mainstream, like THE LIMEY (1999), CHE: Parts 1 & 2 (2008) and the recently disturbing CONTAGION (2011).
Soderbergh’s newest undertaking is called HAYWIRE, an action-thriller written by Lem Dobbs, who also wrote THE LIMEY and DARK CITY. The film follows a young female former marine named Mallory, played by Gina Carano. While working in Barcelona for a private firm, a rescue mission goes terribly wrong and Mallory finds herself on the run from both her employers and the law as she attempts to uncover the truth of what happened and clears her name. Her immediate boss and ultimate threat is Kenneth, played by Ewan McGregor, who has an oddly youthful and off-putting charm about him in this film. The opening scene of HAYWIRE somewhat sets the mood for the film, as Mallory is sitting quietly in a café when her former teammate Aaron, played by Channing Tatum, shows up and they confront each other, revealing that HAYWIRE isn’t going to pull any punches, but it’s going to address the audience on it’s own terms.
HAYWIRE is not unlike so many other films of the genre, most notably the BOURNE trilogy, whereas a highly trained agent goes rogue after being framed and must fight his way back to freedom. The difference between that franchise and this film, however, is in its state of mind. The Bourne films were rugged, frantic and jarring, whereas HAYWIRE has a sort of poetic rhythm, a sort of jazzy cool cat ease to the way the film flows. The score, composed by David Holmes, is highly influenced by and contributes greatly to the spontaneously freeform feel of the film, which slows and mellows during the dramatic dialogue-driven scenes and then ramps itself up for the action sequences.
One of the best parts of HAYWIRE are the fights, not merely for the fights themselves, but for the intensely kinetic, superbly choreographed ballet of combat dynamics that these scenes present to an audience not normally accustomed to realistic technique. Whereas similar films have Jason Bourne fighting in a blurred, nearly incomprehensible frenzy, HAYWIRE puts the fight on display, front and center. The success of this is due in great part to Gina Carano, a professional fighter turned actress with a Muay Thai record of 12-1-1 and a mixed martial arts record of 7-1-0. Yeah, this is one attractive and highly dangerous person in real life, so imagine how she stands out on-screen.
HAYWIRE also benefits, perhaps controversially, from the cinematography, which is provided by Peter Andrews. For those of you less familiar with the filmmaker’s history and tendencies, Peter Andrews is actually Steven Soderbergh, who often serves as his own director of photography, a relatively uncommon thing amongst Hollywood films. Soderbergh has a subtle experimental eye for shooting his scenes, often going with alternative choices in angle and composition that sometimes challenge the viewer’s sense of what should be expected.
HAYWIRE actually surprised me with its unconventional flair, complete with a quality performance from Gina Carano and an original twist on the genre, something we last had with Joe Wright’s HANNA (2011). In addition to all of this, Steven Soderbergh uses his status to fill out the supporting cast with Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton and Michael Fassbender, with whom Gina Carana shares an intimately brutal scene.
From Relativity Media, watch the second trailer for their upcoming action-thriller HAYWIRE, directed by Oscar® winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic). This dynamic action-thriller directed by Oscar® winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) boasts a talented cast that includes Channing Tatum (GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra), Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer), Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class), Antonio Banderas (The Legend of Zoro), Bill Paxton (“Big Love”), Michael Douglas (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), Michael Angarano (Almost Famous); and introduces mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, in a demanding lead role that has her performing her own high-adrenaline stunts.
Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive.
Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious—and dangerous—trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she’ll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.
The American Film Institute (AFI) today announced that this year’s “Secret Screening” at AFI FEST presented by Audi will be the debut of Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh’s highly anticipated new film HAYWIRE, starring Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Michael Angarano, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton and introducing mixed martial arts (MMA) star Gina Carano in a demanding lead role that has her performing her own high-adrenaline stunts. AFI FEST will roll out the People’s Red Carpet prior to the screening TONIGHT (November 6) at 9:30 p.m. where all guests can walk the carpet and pose for photos.
A dynamic action-thriller, HAYWIRE tells the story of Mallory Kane, a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive. Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious – and dangerous – trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she’ll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.
HAYWIRE marks Steven Soderbergh’s 25th film. Relativity Media will release HAYWIRE in theaters January 20, 2012. Soderbergh’s most recent film, the thriller CONTAGION, was released in September 2011. He earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for his directorial debut, SEX, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE and the Academy Award in 2000 for directing TRAFFIC, the same year he was nominated for ERIN BROCKOVICH. Among his other credits are the films AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE, BUBBLE, CHE, FULL FRONTAL, GRAY’S ANATOMY, THE GIRLFRIENDEXPERIENCE, THE GOOD GERMAN, THE INFORMANT!, KAFKA, KING OF THE HILL, THE LIMEY, THE OCEAN’S trilogy, OUT OF SIGHT, SCHIZOPOLIS, SOLARIS and THE UNDERNEATH.
Admission to HAYWIRE was available beginning this morning to AFI FEST 2011 pass holders and free tickets for the screening can be obtained at the AT&T Box Office located in suite 219 at the Hollywood and Highland Center between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. today. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Rush Line will begin forming at 8:30 p.m.
AFI FEST – celebrating its 25th year – takes place November 3 through 10 in Hollywood, California, at the historic Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
About the American Film Institute
AFI is America’s promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers.
AFI provides leadership in film, television and digital media and is dedicated to initiatives that engage the past, the present and the future of the moving image arts. AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and Archive, the AFI Life Achievement Award, now in it’s 40th year, AFI Awards, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year, AFI Fest presented by Audi, celebrating its 25th edition this fall, AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs, AFI Silver Theatre and the AFI Conservatory, which was named the # 1 film school in the world by The Hollywood Reporter.
Additional information about AFI is available at AFI.com.
About AFI FEST
Celebrating its 25th year as a program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST 2011 presented by Audi takes place November 3 through 10 in the heart of Hollywood. Kicking off the awards season each year, AFI FEST offers a crucial avenue of exposure to the entertainment community, while providing appreciative audiences with a festive atmosphere and the very best of global cinema, right in the center of the film capital of the world.
The American Film Market (AFM), November 2 through 9, 2011, is the market partner of AFI FEST. Together, AFI FEST and AFM provide the only concurrent festival-market event in North America. AFI FEST is the only FIAPF-accredited film festival in the United States. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category for the annual Academy Awards®.
Audi is the festival’s presenting sponsor. Additional sponsors include American Airlines, the official airline of AFI;AT&T; Pepsi; Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas; Levi’s; Stella Artois; Hollywood & Highland; Entertainment Weekly; Los Angeles Times; and American Film Market(AFM), among many others.
Additional information about AFI FEST 2011 presented by Audi is available at AFI.com/AFIFEST. Connect with AFI FEST at facebook.com/AFIFEST, twitter.com/AFIFEST and youtube.com/AFIFEST.
About Audi
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. During 2010 Audi was the top performing luxury brand in Europe, and broke all-timecompany sales records in the U.S. Over the next few years, AUDI AG will invest nearly $16 billion on new products and technologies. Visit audiusa.com or audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.
About AFM
The business of independent motion picture production and distribution reaches its peak every year at the AFM, when more than 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, premieres, networking, parties and conferences. Participants come from more than 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world’s press and all those who provide services to the motion picture industry. The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA). More information is online at AmericanFilmMarket.com.
HAYWIRE
January 20, 2012
DIRECTOR: Steven Soderbergh WRITER: Lem Dobbs
CAST: Gina Carano
Channing Tatum
Michael Fassbender
Ewan McGregor
Michael Angarano
Antonio Banderas
Michael Douglas
Bill Paxton
PRODUCERS: Gregory Jacobs
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Michael Polaire, Tucker Tooley
This dynamic action-thriller directed by Oscar® winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) boasts a talented cast that includes Channing Tatum (GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra), Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer), Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class), Antonio Banderas (The Legend of Zoro), Bill Paxton (“Big Love”), Michael Douglas (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), Michael Angarano (Almost Famous); and introduces mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, in a demanding lead role that has her performing her own high-adrenaline stunts.
Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive.
Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious—and dangerous—trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she’ll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.
ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER STEVEN SODERBERGH AND PRODUCER JERRY WEINTRAUB BRING ACADEMY AWARD® WINNERS MICHAEL DOUGLAS AND MATT DAMON TO HBO FOR HBO FILMS’ BEHIND THE CANDELABRA
STEVEN SODERBERGH DIRECTS FROM A SCRIPT BY RICHARD LAGRAVENESE; JERRY WEINTRAUB EXECUTIVE PRODUCES; GREGORY JACOBS, SUSAN EKINS PRODUCE
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11, 2011 – Academy Award® winner Steven Soderbergh (“Contagion,” “Traffic,” “Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen”) and Emmy® Award-winning producer Jerry Weintraub (“Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,” “The Karate Kid” series, HBO’s Emmy®-nominated “His Way”) will bring the film BEHIND THE CANDELABRA, starring Academy Award® winners Michael Douglas (“Wall Street,” “Traffic,” “Solitary Man”) and Matt Damon (“Contagion,” “Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,” “Invictus”) to HBO Films, it was announced today by Len Amato, president, HBO Films.
Executive produced by Weintraub and produced by Gregory Jacobs (“Contagion,” “The Informant!”) and Susan Ekins (“Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,” “The Karate Kid” series), BEHIND THE CANDELABRA takes a behind-the-scenes look at the tempestuous relationship between legendary entertainer Liberace and Scott Thorson, his younger live-in lover. Directed by Soderbergh from a script by Oscar® nominee Richard LaGravenese (“Water for Elephants,” “The Fisher King”), the film stars Douglas as Liberace and Damon as Thorson.
“This is a story that’s going to surprise a lot of people,” said Amato. “It’s funny, heartbreaking and always fascinating, and we are delighted that Jerry and Steven brought the film to HBO. With Steven at the helm, directing such accomplished actors as Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, this is a dream project for us.”
Says Weintraub, “I’ve wanted to make a film about Liberace for a very long time, and after the amazing experience I had with HBO on ‘His Way,’ I knew that they were absolutely the right place for this movie. I am thrilled that we have the incomparable Michael Douglas to inhabit the role of Liberace, as well as the exceptional Matt Damon to play the pivotal part of Scott Thorson.
I am thrilled that we have the incomparable Michael Douglas to inhabit the role of Liberace, as well as the exceptional Matt Damon to play the pivotal part of Scott Thorson. Putting these two fine actors in the creative hands of Steven Soderbergh – it doesn’t get better than that!”
“From the inception of this project, we’ve had two priorities: getting it right creatively, and getting as many people as possible to see it,” says Soderbergh. “HBO’s fearless approach to original programming and their unparalleled ability to pull in viewers make them the perfect fit for us. Apart from my hair growing back, I couldn’t be happier.”
“Richard Plepler and I developed an enormous respect and affection for Jerry when we worked with him on his HBO documentary, and we hoped that it would be the beginning of a long and productive relationship,” says Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. “We are extremely excited that he is returning to HBO with this riveting film and sensational array of talent.”
BEHIND THE CANDELABRA will start production in summer 2012, with locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Palm Springs. Tara Grace, vice president, development and production, HBO Films, will serve as production executive on the project.
