Superhero satire worked up via Neal Street and Dundee Productions.
Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci will exec produce a 30-minute comedy pilot about the crew of a superhero movie franchise for HBO.
The pilot - dubbed The Franchise - is being produced via Mendes’ All3Media label Neal Street Productions and Iannucci’s Dundee Productions. Mendes is also directing the pilot.
Iannucci has previously created HBO Originals’ political comedy Veep and sci-fi comedy Avenue 5, while Mendes’ Neal Street has produced Showtime’s Penny Dreadful and Britannia. Academy Award winner Mendes has also directed films including 1917 and Skyfall.
Iannucci created...
Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci will exec produce a 30-minute comedy pilot about the crew of a superhero movie franchise for HBO.
The pilot - dubbed The Franchise - is being produced via Mendes’ All3Media label Neal Street Productions and Iannucci’s Dundee Productions. Mendes is also directing the pilot.
Iannucci has previously created HBO Originals’ political comedy Veep and sci-fi comedy Avenue 5, while Mendes’ Neal Street has produced Showtime’s Penny Dreadful and Britannia. Academy Award winner Mendes has also directed films including 1917 and Skyfall.
Iannucci created...
- 8/10/2022
- by Ellie Kahn Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Filmmakers Armando Iannucci and Sam Mendes are set to team up on the HBO comedy pilot ‘The Franchise.’
The half-hour project takes a wry look at superhero movie-making. It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?
The pilot story was created by Jon Brown, Keith Akushie and Iannucci and the pilot was written by Brown and Akushie. Brown will also serve as showrunner.
Also in news – Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer, Austin Butler to head Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders’
The Franchise will be exec produced by Iannucci, via his Dundee Productions banner, and Mendes, via his All3Media-backed production company Neal Street Productions. The Oscar-winner Mendes, who hatched the idea,...
The half-hour project takes a wry look at superhero movie-making. It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?
The pilot story was created by Jon Brown, Keith Akushie and Iannucci and the pilot was written by Brown and Akushie. Brown will also serve as showrunner.
Also in news – Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer, Austin Butler to head Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders’
The Franchise will be exec produced by Iannucci, via his Dundee Productions banner, and Mendes, via his All3Media-backed production company Neal Street Productions. The Oscar-winner Mendes, who hatched the idea,...
- 8/9/2022
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Armando Iannucci is staying in business with HBO and is teaming up with Sam Mendes for the ride.
The Veep and Avenue 5 creator and the Oscar-winning director have scored a pilot order for comedy The Franchise at the premium cable network.
The half-hour project takes a wry look at superhero movie-making. It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?
It comes after Deadline revealed that Iannucci’s space voyage comedy Avenue 5 may be coming to an end with its upcoming second season.
The Franchise will be exec produced by Iannucci, via his Dundee Productions banner, and Mendes, via his All3Media-backed production company Neal Street Productions. The Oscar-winner Mendes,...
The Veep and Avenue 5 creator and the Oscar-winning director have scored a pilot order for comedy The Franchise at the premium cable network.
The half-hour project takes a wry look at superhero movie-making. It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?
It comes after Deadline revealed that Iannucci’s space voyage comedy Avenue 5 may be coming to an end with its upcoming second season.
The Franchise will be exec produced by Iannucci, via his Dundee Productions banner, and Mendes, via his All3Media-backed production company Neal Street Productions. The Oscar-winner Mendes,...
- 8/8/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO has ordered a comedy pilot about the making of a superhero movie, Variety has learned.
The half-hour pilot is titled “The Franchise.” It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?
According to an individual with knowledge of the project, Sam Mendes came up with the original idea for the show. The pilot story was written by Jon Brown, Keith Akushie and Armando Iannucci, with Brown and Akushie writing the pilot. Brown will also serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner, with Akushie executive producing and writing. Marina Hyde is attached as writer and executive producer. Iannucci will executive produce via Dundee Productions. Mendes is attached to direct the...
The half-hour pilot is titled “The Franchise.” It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?
According to an individual with knowledge of the project, Sam Mendes came up with the original idea for the show. The pilot story was written by Jon Brown, Keith Akushie and Armando Iannucci, with Brown and Akushie writing the pilot. Brown will also serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner, with Akushie executive producing and writing. Marina Hyde is attached as writer and executive producer. Iannucci will executive produce via Dundee Productions. Mendes is attached to direct the...
- 8/8/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
This 1990 monster romp still feels bright, smart & fresh, a mix of light comedy and old-fashioned scares. The entire show is one long battle against smelly burrowing beasts called ‘Graboids.’ Desert handymen Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward must work hard to avoid taking their place in the Graboid Food Chain. Ambitious it ain’t, but it delivers what monster fans want — gross-out thrills, excellent effects and solid laughs. Arrow’s 4K Ultra HD disc is as sharp as a tack, and a second Blu-ray disc contains an unprecedented volume of featurettes, interviews and production documentation.
Tremors 4K
4K Ultra HD
Arrow Academy
1990 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 96 min. / Street Date December 15, 2021 / 59.95
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire, Robert Jayne, Bobby Jacoby, Charlotte Stewart, Tony Genaro, Ariana Richards, Richard Marcus, Victor Wong, Bibi Besch
Sunshine Parker Sunshine Parke.
Cinematography: Alexander Gruszynski
Production Designer: Ivo Cristante
Special Effects: Robert Skotak,...
Tremors 4K
4K Ultra HD
Arrow Academy
1990 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 96 min. / Street Date December 15, 2021 / 59.95
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire, Robert Jayne, Bobby Jacoby, Charlotte Stewart, Tony Genaro, Ariana Richards, Richard Marcus, Victor Wong, Bibi Besch
Sunshine Parker Sunshine Parke.
Cinematography: Alexander Gruszynski
Production Designer: Ivo Cristante
Special Effects: Robert Skotak,...
- 1/19/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Director: Anurag Basu Actors: Hrithik Roshan, Barbara MoriRating: *** Two people (Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori), respectively romance another from the same family (Kangana Ranaut, Nicholas Brown), purely for the love of the money. The girl’s an illegal immigrant into the Us from Mexico. The boy is the American half of various green card marriages on sale: “$1,000; honeymoon charges extra.” Both gatecrash into a Mafia home, hoping to settle in with the riches. The premise from hereon could take the shape of a slight comedy of deceit (Woody Allen’s Matchpoint), or follow an aggressive drama (Anthony Minghella's The Talented Mr ...
- 5/21/2010
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
Nicholas Brown, the Australian actor who had earlier worked with bollywood babe Shilpa Shetty in musical .Miss Bollywood., is all set to make his bollywood debut with Hrithik Roshan-Barbara Mori starrer upcoming mega- budget flick .Kites.. Nicholas plays the part of Barbara Mori.s first lover in the film, which is slightly negative. Even in real life, Nicholas admits to having a crush on the Latino beauty. It was during the shooting of .Kites. in the desert of New Mexico that Nicholas had come into close contact with Hrithik Roshan and became one of his staunchest supporter and fan. However, he had approached Rakesh Roshan not for .Kites. but earlier .Krrish.. But Rakesh sent his portfolio to director Anurag Basu and told to meet him. Finally, as the destiny would have it Nicholas got his big break with .Kites., but it was only after Anurag Basu ensured that he...
- 5/18/2010
- Stardust Bollywood
Every now and then I trip over a film so incredibly quirky I have difficulty deciding if I enjoy the picture, or loathe it. Stephen King’S Sleepwalkers is the perfect example of the type of movie I’m referencing. It’s hideously taboo, cheesy and completely devoid of any form of logic. And yet, I have trouble refraining from watching the picture at least once a year or so. Does that make it a good flick? Not necessarily. However, I’m not so quick to brand this one the utter failure that so many critics have eagerly done.
Sure this tale of life draining incestuous shape-shifters is wrong on plenty of levels, but there are some great moments that really sway my negative views quite a bit. For starters, Madchen Amick is adorable as Tanya Robertson, a spunky high schooler that the shape-shifting Charles Brady (Brian Krause) immediately sets his sights on.
Sure this tale of life draining incestuous shape-shifters is wrong on plenty of levels, but there are some great moments that really sway my negative views quite a bit. For starters, Madchen Amick is adorable as Tanya Robertson, a spunky high schooler that the shape-shifting Charles Brady (Brian Krause) immediately sets his sights on.
- 9/20/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Matt Molgaard)
- Fangoria
After the major misfire of a sequel that was 1994's "Major League II", you'd think that any subsequent attempt, no matter how misguided, would have to look better by comparison.
You'd think.
But even a decent ump would be hard-pressed to make that call with the arrival of "Major League: Back to the Minors," a bland, poorly paced effort that takes its regressive title to heart.
A very pale imitation of the lively -- if never exactly inspired -- original, this third and likely final outing takes a half-hearted swing and fails to make any contact.
Final attendance figures will be disappointing, though series fans might take their chances during video postseason play.
While Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger have long since hung up their cleats, Corbin Bernsen returns as Roger Dorn. Currently the owner of the Minnesota Twins, Dorn is looking for someone to manage his farm team, the South Carolina Buzz; that someone turns out to be burnt-out minor league pitcher Gus Cantrell (Scott Bakula).
Reluctantly, Gus takes the gig, only to find out that the triple-A team might as well be called the Bad News Bores. A decidedly motley crew with a lousy attitude, the Buzz might appear as a hopeless task to some, but not to Cantrell, who knows a thing or two about never saying never.
Not only does he put the team back in the winning column, but a personal feud with vain, smug Twins manager Leonard Huff (Ted McGinley) leads to a minor league-major league grudge match with entirely predictable results.
As written and directed by John Warren, the picture goes through its generic paces with a scarcity of spark and spirit. It would have done well to take heed of one of Cantrell's pep talks.
The cast does the best it can with what it was given. Bakula, saddled with a tired, screen-cliche of a character, nevertheless conveys an easygoing amiability, as does Bernsen, for the little time he's onscreen.
"Married ... With Children" vet McGinley plays his adversarial part with the requisite broad strokes, while Dennis Haysbert (as Cuban voodoo outfielder Pedro Cerrano), Takaaki Ishibashi (as highly spiritual teammate Taka Tanaka) and Bob Uecker (as enthusiastic play-by-play man Harry Doyle) all return for more of the same.
Handed the token female role of Bakula's girlfriend, Jensen Daggett ("The Single Guy") fulfills her character demands by always looking pretty and supportive.
***MAJOR LEAGUE: BACK TO THE MINORS
Warner Bros.
James Robinson presents
a Morgan Creek production
Director-screenwriter: John Warren
Producer: James G. Robinson
Executive producers: Michael Rachmil,
Gary Barber, Bill Todman Jr.
Director of photography: Tim Suhrstedt
Editors: O. Nicholas Brown, Bryan H. Carroll
Music: Robert Folk
Color/stereo
Cast:
Gus Cantrell: Scott Bakula
Roger Dorn: Corbin Bernsen
Pedro Cerrano: Dennis Haysbert
Taka Tanaka: Takaaki Ishibashi
Maggie Reynolds: Jensen Daggett
Rube Baker: Eric Bruskotter
Harry Doyle: Bob Uecker
Leonard Huff: Ted McGinley
Running time -- 100 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
You'd think.
But even a decent ump would be hard-pressed to make that call with the arrival of "Major League: Back to the Minors," a bland, poorly paced effort that takes its regressive title to heart.
A very pale imitation of the lively -- if never exactly inspired -- original, this third and likely final outing takes a half-hearted swing and fails to make any contact.
Final attendance figures will be disappointing, though series fans might take their chances during video postseason play.
While Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger have long since hung up their cleats, Corbin Bernsen returns as Roger Dorn. Currently the owner of the Minnesota Twins, Dorn is looking for someone to manage his farm team, the South Carolina Buzz; that someone turns out to be burnt-out minor league pitcher Gus Cantrell (Scott Bakula).
Reluctantly, Gus takes the gig, only to find out that the triple-A team might as well be called the Bad News Bores. A decidedly motley crew with a lousy attitude, the Buzz might appear as a hopeless task to some, but not to Cantrell, who knows a thing or two about never saying never.
Not only does he put the team back in the winning column, but a personal feud with vain, smug Twins manager Leonard Huff (Ted McGinley) leads to a minor league-major league grudge match with entirely predictable results.
As written and directed by John Warren, the picture goes through its generic paces with a scarcity of spark and spirit. It would have done well to take heed of one of Cantrell's pep talks.
The cast does the best it can with what it was given. Bakula, saddled with a tired, screen-cliche of a character, nevertheless conveys an easygoing amiability, as does Bernsen, for the little time he's onscreen.
"Married ... With Children" vet McGinley plays his adversarial part with the requisite broad strokes, while Dennis Haysbert (as Cuban voodoo outfielder Pedro Cerrano), Takaaki Ishibashi (as highly spiritual teammate Taka Tanaka) and Bob Uecker (as enthusiastic play-by-play man Harry Doyle) all return for more of the same.
Handed the token female role of Bakula's girlfriend, Jensen Daggett ("The Single Guy") fulfills her character demands by always looking pretty and supportive.
***MAJOR LEAGUE: BACK TO THE MINORS
Warner Bros.
James Robinson presents
a Morgan Creek production
Director-screenwriter: John Warren
Producer: James G. Robinson
Executive producers: Michael Rachmil,
Gary Barber, Bill Todman Jr.
Director of photography: Tim Suhrstedt
Editors: O. Nicholas Brown, Bryan H. Carroll
Music: Robert Folk
Color/stereo
Cast:
Gus Cantrell: Scott Bakula
Roger Dorn: Corbin Bernsen
Pedro Cerrano: Dennis Haysbert
Taka Tanaka: Takaaki Ishibashi
Maggie Reynolds: Jensen Daggett
Rube Baker: Eric Bruskotter
Harry Doyle: Bob Uecker
Leonard Huff: Ted McGinley
Running time -- 100 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 4/20/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A nicely executed throwback to traditional family adventure films, with enough action and teen sex appeal to win over a respectable modern audience, "Wild America" has likeable animals and young heartthrobs to spare in a kind of "My Three Sons"-meets-"Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom".
Directed by William Dear ("Angels in the Outfield"), the Warner Bros. wide release stars the dynamic trio of Jonathan Taylor Thomas ("The Adventures of Pinocchio", TV's "Home Improvement"), Devon Sawa ("Casper") and Scott Bairstow ("White Fang 2") as real-life brothers who spend a summer traveling around the country with a 16mm camera.
Budding naturalists in search of endangered species, a legendary cave filled with sleeping bears and an escape from unadventuresome lives in Fort Smith, Ark., the three Stouffer boys -- Marshall Thomas), Mark (Sawa) and Marty (Bairstow) -- are decent but full of mischief. The leader of the group, narratively speaking, is the youngest shutterbug Marshall, who is often the subject of filmed stunts and other pranks by his competitive older bros.
With an amiable voice-over, the episodic scenario penned by playwright David Michael Wieger in his feature debut stays true to the mid-1960s rural south milieu. Barely touching on the political and cultural turmoil of the times, there is little romance, no references to "Star Trek" and no sporting activities except leader Mark and rebel Marty's inventive ways of putting daredevil Marshall in harm's way.
Their parents are sturdy salt-of-the-earth types, with Marty Sr. (Jamie Sheridan) running a carburetor shop and promising would-be flyer Marshall that one day he'll restore a World War II training plane. Dad, of course, wants his oldest to take over the family business someday, but when the trio of amateur filmmakers is given a professional camera they embark on a mission worthy of the ensemble war movies of the era.
Along with the predictable generational friction caused by pursuing a risky dream come such conventional maneuvers as Marshall stowing away and then winning approval from all concerned for the central road journey the brothers take to national parks and relatively far-flung locales. Encounters with gators, moose, snakes, bears, wild horses and a pair of English hippie girls await them.
Including Frances Fisher as the boys' protective but supportive mom, the performances are sturdy throughout, with the headliners achieving a winning chemistry.
A fun running gambit has Thomas' character devising ways to secretly get back at his brothers with befouled toothbrushes and canteens.
Even with co-producer Mark Stouffer on board, the film has a few unbelievable moments, but it's an entertaining and amiably paced tall tale. Evocatively filmed in wide-screen by David Burr ("The Phantom"), the production overall is first-rate. A special merit badge to animal trainer Senia Phillips for the many splendid scenes with tame and threatening creatures.
WILD AMERICA
Warner Bros.
James G. Robinson presents
a Morgan Creek production
in association with the Steve Tisch Company
A William Dear film
Director William Dear
Prodcuers James G. Robinson, Irby Smith,
Mark Stouffer
Writer David Michael Wieger
Executive producers Gary Barber, Steve Tisch,
Bill Todman Jr.
Director of photography David Burr
Production designer Steven Jordan
Editor O. Nicholas Brown
Music Joel McNeely
Costume designer Mary McLeod
Casting Pam Dixon Mickelson
Color/stereo
Cast:
Marshall Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Mark Devon Sawa
Marty Scott Bairstow
Agnes Frances Fisher
Marty Sr. Jamie Sheridan
Running time -- 107 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Directed by William Dear ("Angels in the Outfield"), the Warner Bros. wide release stars the dynamic trio of Jonathan Taylor Thomas ("The Adventures of Pinocchio", TV's "Home Improvement"), Devon Sawa ("Casper") and Scott Bairstow ("White Fang 2") as real-life brothers who spend a summer traveling around the country with a 16mm camera.
Budding naturalists in search of endangered species, a legendary cave filled with sleeping bears and an escape from unadventuresome lives in Fort Smith, Ark., the three Stouffer boys -- Marshall Thomas), Mark (Sawa) and Marty (Bairstow) -- are decent but full of mischief. The leader of the group, narratively speaking, is the youngest shutterbug Marshall, who is often the subject of filmed stunts and other pranks by his competitive older bros.
With an amiable voice-over, the episodic scenario penned by playwright David Michael Wieger in his feature debut stays true to the mid-1960s rural south milieu. Barely touching on the political and cultural turmoil of the times, there is little romance, no references to "Star Trek" and no sporting activities except leader Mark and rebel Marty's inventive ways of putting daredevil Marshall in harm's way.
Their parents are sturdy salt-of-the-earth types, with Marty Sr. (Jamie Sheridan) running a carburetor shop and promising would-be flyer Marshall that one day he'll restore a World War II training plane. Dad, of course, wants his oldest to take over the family business someday, but when the trio of amateur filmmakers is given a professional camera they embark on a mission worthy of the ensemble war movies of the era.
Along with the predictable generational friction caused by pursuing a risky dream come such conventional maneuvers as Marshall stowing away and then winning approval from all concerned for the central road journey the brothers take to national parks and relatively far-flung locales. Encounters with gators, moose, snakes, bears, wild horses and a pair of English hippie girls await them.
Including Frances Fisher as the boys' protective but supportive mom, the performances are sturdy throughout, with the headliners achieving a winning chemistry.
A fun running gambit has Thomas' character devising ways to secretly get back at his brothers with befouled toothbrushes and canteens.
Even with co-producer Mark Stouffer on board, the film has a few unbelievable moments, but it's an entertaining and amiably paced tall tale. Evocatively filmed in wide-screen by David Burr ("The Phantom"), the production overall is first-rate. A special merit badge to animal trainer Senia Phillips for the many splendid scenes with tame and threatening creatures.
WILD AMERICA
Warner Bros.
James G. Robinson presents
a Morgan Creek production
in association with the Steve Tisch Company
A William Dear film
Director William Dear
Prodcuers James G. Robinson, Irby Smith,
Mark Stouffer
Writer David Michael Wieger
Executive producers Gary Barber, Steve Tisch,
Bill Todman Jr.
Director of photography David Burr
Production designer Steven Jordan
Editor O. Nicholas Brown
Music Joel McNeely
Costume designer Mary McLeod
Casting Pam Dixon Mickelson
Color/stereo
Cast:
Marshall Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Mark Devon Sawa
Marty Scott Bairstow
Agnes Frances Fisher
Marty Sr. Jamie Sheridan
Running time -- 107 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
IN THE ARMY NOW
Buena Vista Pictures
The stoner lingo has been toned down and the costumes are not as spectacular. Even the trademark curls are shorn. But before one gets the idea that Pauly Shore's screen persona has significantly matured, ''In the Army Now'' shows its silly stripes. A late-summer theatrical campaign should come marching home with fair booty for Buena Vista Pictures.
Shore and the usual phalanx of writers, including his strike team of Fax Bahr and Adam Small, have cleverly managed to expand the stand-up comedian's up-to-now limited appeal to MTV-soaked airheads, while delivering an uneven but enjoyable farce.
While Shore still has most of the best lines and situations -- such as when he faces off against drill sergeants and other stern military types -- he's also backed up by a solid ensemble cast, including Lori Petty, David Alan Grier and Andy Dick as the other misfits in a water-purifying detail of army reservists.
Director Daniel Petrie Jr. and cinematographer William Wages are appropriately conservative in their approach. Robert Folk's heroic movie music rehash hits the target, while O. Nicholas Brown's editing helps the laughs flow more or less constantly (HR 8/12-14).-- David Hunter
ANDRE
Paramount Pictures
A Pacific sea lion stands in for a harbor seal and Vancouver locales double for Rockport, Maine, but ''Andre'' gets away with the usual Hollywood trickery. Four-legged, live-action animal stars have not fared well this season. But Paramount's bewhiskered, herring-munching, wryly comic seal has a chance to swim at least a few leagues along the same family film current as last summer's aquatic sleeper hit ''Free Willy.''
Set in the '60s, ''Andre' '' plot is strictly formula and the payoffs predictable. Still, there's a disarming gentleness and positive messages aplenty in debut screenwriter Dana Baratta's adaptation of the book ''A Seal Called Andre'' written by Harry Goodridge and Lew Dietz.
Goodridge is the basis for Harry Whitney (Keith Carradine), the kindly harbor master who adopts an orphaned seal pup to the delight of his family.
Director George Miller (''The Man From Snowy River'') orchestrates the swiftly swimming plot and shifting emotions with reasonable success, while the main human performers are natural and relaxed.
Thomas Burstyn's wide-screen cinematography is serviceable, but such potentially riveting scenes as Andre's climactic return journey to the Whitneys after being let go in the open sea are disappointing (HR 8/12-14).-- David Hunter
A LA MODE
Miramax Films
''A la Mode'' (aka ''Fausto'') is a comfortable fit, not too fancy but stylish and spirited. Directed by first-timer Remy Duchemin, the French import distributed by Miramax tries on familiar themes, centered around a young man's coming of age after a family tragedy, but triumphs because of the captivating characters and upbeat, fun-loving mood.
With a strong screenplay and four excellent lead performances, the worst thing one can say about ''A la Mode'' is that it's noticeably episodic. Word of mouth should be good and the art-house underdog ought to perform well.
Set in the mid-1960s in Paris, ''A la Mode'' is written by Duchemin and Richard Morgieve, based on the latter's novel ''Fausto.'' The well-directed film is quietly ambitious in both its evocation of the times and smooth combination of comedy and drama (HR 8/12-14).-- David Hunter
Also reviewed last week was the film ''A Good Man in Africa'' (HR 8/15).
(c) BPI Communications...
Buena Vista Pictures
The stoner lingo has been toned down and the costumes are not as spectacular. Even the trademark curls are shorn. But before one gets the idea that Pauly Shore's screen persona has significantly matured, ''In the Army Now'' shows its silly stripes. A late-summer theatrical campaign should come marching home with fair booty for Buena Vista Pictures.
Shore and the usual phalanx of writers, including his strike team of Fax Bahr and Adam Small, have cleverly managed to expand the stand-up comedian's up-to-now limited appeal to MTV-soaked airheads, while delivering an uneven but enjoyable farce.
While Shore still has most of the best lines and situations -- such as when he faces off against drill sergeants and other stern military types -- he's also backed up by a solid ensemble cast, including Lori Petty, David Alan Grier and Andy Dick as the other misfits in a water-purifying detail of army reservists.
Director Daniel Petrie Jr. and cinematographer William Wages are appropriately conservative in their approach. Robert Folk's heroic movie music rehash hits the target, while O. Nicholas Brown's editing helps the laughs flow more or less constantly (HR 8/12-14).-- David Hunter
ANDRE
Paramount Pictures
A Pacific sea lion stands in for a harbor seal and Vancouver locales double for Rockport, Maine, but ''Andre'' gets away with the usual Hollywood trickery. Four-legged, live-action animal stars have not fared well this season. But Paramount's bewhiskered, herring-munching, wryly comic seal has a chance to swim at least a few leagues along the same family film current as last summer's aquatic sleeper hit ''Free Willy.''
Set in the '60s, ''Andre' '' plot is strictly formula and the payoffs predictable. Still, there's a disarming gentleness and positive messages aplenty in debut screenwriter Dana Baratta's adaptation of the book ''A Seal Called Andre'' written by Harry Goodridge and Lew Dietz.
Goodridge is the basis for Harry Whitney (Keith Carradine), the kindly harbor master who adopts an orphaned seal pup to the delight of his family.
Director George Miller (''The Man From Snowy River'') orchestrates the swiftly swimming plot and shifting emotions with reasonable success, while the main human performers are natural and relaxed.
Thomas Burstyn's wide-screen cinematography is serviceable, but such potentially riveting scenes as Andre's climactic return journey to the Whitneys after being let go in the open sea are disappointing (HR 8/12-14).-- David Hunter
A LA MODE
Miramax Films
''A la Mode'' (aka ''Fausto'') is a comfortable fit, not too fancy but stylish and spirited. Directed by first-timer Remy Duchemin, the French import distributed by Miramax tries on familiar themes, centered around a young man's coming of age after a family tragedy, but triumphs because of the captivating characters and upbeat, fun-loving mood.
With a strong screenplay and four excellent lead performances, the worst thing one can say about ''A la Mode'' is that it's noticeably episodic. Word of mouth should be good and the art-house underdog ought to perform well.
Set in the mid-1960s in Paris, ''A la Mode'' is written by Duchemin and Richard Morgieve, based on the latter's novel ''Fausto.'' The well-directed film is quietly ambitious in both its evocation of the times and smooth combination of comedy and drama (HR 8/12-14).-- David Hunter
Also reviewed last week was the film ''A Good Man in Africa'' (HR 8/15).
(c) BPI Communications...
- 8/16/1994
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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