Plot: A woman seeks revenge against the man who kidnapped her mother.
Review: I knew next to nothing of The Marsh King’s Daughter when going into it except for the cast. Ben Mendelsohn, Daisy Ridley, and Garrett Hedlund are some of my favorite actors, so really, that’s all the film needed to sell me on it. But what followed was a gripping character piece with a tremendous performance at its center. While there are some pacing issues and a familiar story, the performances and cinematography manage to carry the film. This takes what could have been a standard tale of kidnapping and puts it through an interesting filter. And I think a lot of that concerns its strong introduction.
Helena is established as a strong and capable lead right from the onset. The way she hunts and is constantly trying to learn from her father does so much to...
Review: I knew next to nothing of The Marsh King’s Daughter when going into it except for the cast. Ben Mendelsohn, Daisy Ridley, and Garrett Hedlund are some of my favorite actors, so really, that’s all the film needed to sell me on it. But what followed was a gripping character piece with a tremendous performance at its center. While there are some pacing issues and a familiar story, the performances and cinematography manage to carry the film. This takes what could have been a standard tale of kidnapping and puts it through an interesting filter. And I think a lot of that concerns its strong introduction.
Helena is established as a strong and capable lead right from the onset. The way she hunts and is constantly trying to learn from her father does so much to...
- 11/3/2023
- by Tyler Nichols
- JoBlo.com
Starting today you can play “Tetris.”
Not the game of colorful blocks falling from the sky, but the new feature film about how the rights to “Tetris” were maneuvered out of the former Soviet Union by an American programmer and game developer named Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton). It’s a wild and deeply compelling story, the kind of Cold War caper that is even more incredible because it really happened.
Produced by “Kingsman” mastermind Matthew Vaughn, the movie has a decidedly poppy tone and visual aesthetic (embroidered with 8-bit flourishes) that makes it even more fun to watch. And you can watch it right now, on Apple TV+.
TheWrap spoke to “Tetris” director Jon S. Baird (who previously brought the story of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to the big screen in “Stan & Ollie”) about how the project came about, whether or not he was a “Tetris” die-hard and...
Not the game of colorful blocks falling from the sky, but the new feature film about how the rights to “Tetris” were maneuvered out of the former Soviet Union by an American programmer and game developer named Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton). It’s a wild and deeply compelling story, the kind of Cold War caper that is even more incredible because it really happened.
Produced by “Kingsman” mastermind Matthew Vaughn, the movie has a decidedly poppy tone and visual aesthetic (embroidered with 8-bit flourishes) that makes it even more fun to watch. And you can watch it right now, on Apple TV+.
TheWrap spoke to “Tetris” director Jon S. Baird (who previously brought the story of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to the big screen in “Stan & Ollie”) about how the project came about, whether or not he was a “Tetris” die-hard and...
- 3/31/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Plenty of music biopics are content to shoot their subjects’ iconic concerts straightforwardly, as though extended, by-the-numbers recreations of tour dates are what audiences expect and want to see. “Elvis” rejects that approach. From the way it zests the rock-and-roll king’s catalogue to its live-wire cinematography, Baz Luhrmann’s maximalist, jewel-toned vision reintroduces Elvis Presley to modern audiences through a kaleidoscopic experience that emulates the novelty which electrified ‘50s-era crowds.
See Mandy Walker (‘Elvis’ cinematographer) on working with Baz Luhrmann: ‘There couldn’t be a more perfect person to make this film’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
Cinematographer Mandy Walker currently occupies eighth place in Gold Derby’s combined odds for Best Cinematography. Undoubtedly boosted by her recent bids from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and BAFTA, she’s on track to infiltrate the top five before Oscar nominations are announced on January 24th. “Elvis” has proven naysayers wrong and become a top tier contender for Best Picture,...
See Mandy Walker (‘Elvis’ cinematographer) on working with Baz Luhrmann: ‘There couldn’t be a more perfect person to make this film’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
Cinematographer Mandy Walker currently occupies eighth place in Gold Derby’s combined odds for Best Cinematography. Undoubtedly boosted by her recent bids from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and BAFTA, she’s on track to infiltrate the top five before Oscar nominations are announced on January 24th. “Elvis” has proven naysayers wrong and become a top tier contender for Best Picture,...
- 1/19/2023
- by Ronald Meyer
- Gold Derby
Award nominees include previous Bifa and Bafta nominees.
Annika Summerson, Benjamin Kracun and Alwin H. Kuchler are among the nominees for the 2021 Sue Gibson Cinematography award presented by the UK’s National Film and Television School (Nfts).
The annual award marks its fifth edition, after being first established in 2016 in honour of the late Nfts alumna Sue Gibson who passed away in the same year.
The nominees are:
Annika Summerson for Mogul Mowgli Benjamin Kracun for Promising Young Woman David Katznelson for It’s A Sin James Blann for Feel Good Alwin H. Kuchler for The Mauritanian
Summerson was nominated...
Annika Summerson, Benjamin Kracun and Alwin H. Kuchler are among the nominees for the 2021 Sue Gibson Cinematography award presented by the UK’s National Film and Television School (Nfts).
The annual award marks its fifth edition, after being first established in 2016 in honour of the late Nfts alumna Sue Gibson who passed away in the same year.
The nominees are:
Annika Summerson for Mogul Mowgli Benjamin Kracun for Promising Young Woman David Katznelson for It’s A Sin James Blann for Feel Good Alwin H. Kuchler for The Mauritanian
Summerson was nominated...
- 8/2/2021
- by Melissa Kasule
- ScreenDaily
The Ee BAFTA Film Awards officially took place on 11 April 2021, just a few months ahead of the television awards ceremony, which will be held later this year. On 9 March, the nominees for each film category were announced, including the highly anticipated Rising Star award, which previously saw Top Boy star Michael Ward take the win back in 2020.
Strong contenders for this year's awards ceremony included Nomadland and coming-of-age drama Rocks both with seven nominations, followed by Minari with six total nominations. Riz Ahmed's Sound of Metal was nominated for three awards, including a nomination for Ahmed himself as best actor.
On 10 April, a number of the award winners, including casting, costume design, and British short animation, were announced in a small ceremony hosted by Clara Amfo.
Check out the full list of winners ahead.
Best Film
Winner: Nomadland
The Father
The Mauritanian
Promising Young Woman
The Trial of the...
Strong contenders for this year's awards ceremony included Nomadland and coming-of-age drama Rocks both with seven nominations, followed by Minari with six total nominations. Riz Ahmed's Sound of Metal was nominated for three awards, including a nomination for Ahmed himself as best actor.
On 10 April, a number of the award winners, including casting, costume design, and British short animation, were announced in a small ceremony hosted by Clara Amfo.
Check out the full list of winners ahead.
Best Film
Winner: Nomadland
The Father
The Mauritanian
Promising Young Woman
The Trial of the...
- 4/11/2021
- by Navi Ahluwalia
- Popsugar.com
Today’s show is being broadcast with a time delay on BBC One at 19:00 UK time.
The Bafta Film Awards 2021 main show is taking place today (April 11) from London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Scroll down for latest winners
An audience will not be present and winners will receive their awards virtually due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
For the first time, the awards are being handed out across two nights. Saturday’s ceremony (April 10) focused on the craft awards.
Today’s show started at 16:15pm UK time, and is being broadcast with a time delay on BBC One starting...
The Bafta Film Awards 2021 main show is taking place today (April 11) from London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Scroll down for latest winners
An audience will not be present and winners will receive their awards virtually due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
For the first time, the awards are being handed out across two nights. Saturday’s ceremony (April 10) focused on the craft awards.
Today’s show started at 16:15pm UK time, and is being broadcast with a time delay on BBC One starting...
- 4/11/2021
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
STXfilms has decided to enter this unconventional awards season with a mighty and timely drama, “The Mauritanian,” formerly called “Prisoner 760,” from Scottish director Kevin Macdonald. The film will be released on Feb. 19, 2021, and could echo the same late-breaking awards success that past movies like “Million Dollar Baby” were able to execute. With an impressive cast that includes Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch and Shailene Woodley, the inspiring true story could resonate with AMPAS voters, especially its large international membership.
“The Mauritanian” tells the true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Rahim), who was held captive and tortured by the U.S. government in Guantanamo Bay detention camp for 10 years without a charge or trial. Losing faith, he finds hope in defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Woodley), who face countless legal obstacles in their pursuit of justice.
I was able to view an unfinished version of the film,...
“The Mauritanian” tells the true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Rahim), who was held captive and tortured by the U.S. government in Guantanamo Bay detention camp for 10 years without a charge or trial. Losing faith, he finds hope in defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Woodley), who face countless legal obstacles in their pursuit of justice.
I was able to view an unfinished version of the film,...
- 11/23/2020
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
When filmmaker Andrew Dominik heard that the 15-year-old son of Nick Cave had fallen off a cliff and died, he immediately phoned the Bad Seeds singer. They had known each other for decades, and Cave had co-written the score for the director's 2007 movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – so he wanted to support his friend. The musician didn't pick up; a few days later, he texted that he would be giving him a ring. "I was terrified at the thought of receiving that phone call,...
- 12/1/2016
- Rollingstone.com
Read More: 2016 Oscar Predictions: Best Cinematography Robert Richardson, Alwin Kuchler, Danny Cohen, Linus Sandgren, Masanobu Takayanagi and Mandy Walker. If those names don't mean anything to you, it's probably time to sit down and meet the wonderful minds behind some of this year's best-looking movies. After all, these six people are some of the best cinematographers in the game, having worked on "The Hateful Eight," "Steve Jobs," "Spotlight," "Truth," "Joy" and "The Danish Girl," respectively, in the past year. Over the course of The Hollywood Reporter's one-hour discussion, the dynamic group delves into the cinematographer's role on set and touches upon filmmaking frustrations and how they play into their personal relationships with the directors they work with. "A great script can only be made better by good cinematographer," Cohen remarks. “You can have bad cinematography and a fantastic...
- 2/4/2016
- by Bryn Gelbart
- Indiewire
By now if you haven’t had the opportunity to watch The Hollywood Reporters roundtables, including the ones involving the actors and the directors, you should take the time to watch them. THR’s latest roundtable is focused on the cinematographers. This year’s group features Robert Richardson (The Hateful Eight), Alwin Kuchler (Steve Jobs), Masanobu Takayanagi (Black Mass, […]
The post THR Cinematographers Roundtable: First-Time Directors, Knowing When to Quit, and More appeared first on /Film.
The post THR Cinematographers Roundtable: First-Time Directors, Knowing When to Quit, and More appeared first on /Film.
- 2/4/2016
- by Jack Giroux
- Slash Film
After giving our picks for the best cinematography of 2015, today brings conversation with some of the directors of photography from last year’s notable features. THR has gathered Robert Richardson (The Hateful Eight), Alwin Kuchler (Steve Jobs), Danny Cohen (The Danish Girl, Room), Linus Sandgren (Joy), Masanobu Takayanagi (Black Mass, Spotlight) and Mandy Walker (Truth) for a one-hour talk on their prcoess.
While it’s embarrassing that the trade couldn’t find room for Emmanuel Lubezki, Roger Deakins, Edward Lachman, Ping Bin Lee, Adam Arkapaw, John Seale, Maryse Alberti, and more, it’s interesting to hear about the experience of shooting 70mm for Quentin Tarantino‘s western from Richardson, as well as why he took his name off World War Z. Check out the full roundtable below, and Richardson’s thoughts on getting awards for CG-heavy cinematography.
I wish there were two categories for Academy Awards. There are films that are shot relatively normal,...
While it’s embarrassing that the trade couldn’t find room for Emmanuel Lubezki, Roger Deakins, Edward Lachman, Ping Bin Lee, Adam Arkapaw, John Seale, Maryse Alberti, and more, it’s interesting to hear about the experience of shooting 70mm for Quentin Tarantino‘s western from Richardson, as well as why he took his name off World War Z. Check out the full roundtable below, and Richardson’s thoughts on getting awards for CG-heavy cinematography.
I wish there were two categories for Academy Awards. There are films that are shot relatively normal,...
- 2/3/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
This story first appeared in a special awards season issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. What's the greatest skill a cinematographer needs? "Having a strong bladder," quipped Alwin Kuchler (Steve Jobs) in a rare moment of irreverence among six top directors of photography. In fact, that could be the easiest part of the craft, as DPs now are required to navigate increasingly powerful directors, studios that can alter their work on a whim and the pressure to employ digital effects so heavily it becomes almost another job — which is why Robert Richardson (The Hateful Eight), 60, argues it's
read more...
read more...
- 1/4/2016
- by Carolyn Giardina, Stephen Galloway
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
An intimate and revealing portrait of one of the chief architects of the digital age, Steve Jobs is coming to Digital HD on February 2, 2016, and Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on February 16, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. From Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, Moneyball) and Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours), Steve Jobs is an up-close-and-personal look at the founder of Apple, a remarkable creative genius whose vow to put computers in the hands of ordinary people changed the world.
A “must-see, one-of-a-kind that cannot be ignored” according to Indiewire’s Anne Thompson, Steve Jobs on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD also comes with a revealing “making-of” documentary and feature commentary by the filmmakers.
Witness the founder of Apple like never before. Steve Jobs paints an intimate portrait of the brilliant man at the epicenter of the digital revolution, backstage in the final...
A “must-see, one-of-a-kind that cannot be ignored” according to Indiewire’s Anne Thompson, Steve Jobs on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD also comes with a revealing “making-of” documentary and feature commentary by the filmmakers.
Witness the founder of Apple like never before. Steve Jobs paints an intimate portrait of the brilliant man at the epicenter of the digital revolution, backstage in the final...
- 12/16/2015
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
In keeping with Aaron Sorkin and Danny Boyle's vision for "Steve Jobs" as a trio of product launches (the Macintosh in '84, the NeXT in '88 and the iMac in '98), composer Daniel Pemberton wrote three different pieces that underscore the story arc and complement the distinct visual styles of director of photography Alwin H. Küchler. In fact, it became a very personal journey for the surprise Golden Globe nominee for Best Original Score, who exclusively composes on the Mac. (Watch an exclusive featurette on the making of the score above, and listen to it on SoundCloud, via USA Today, and in the excerpts below.) Watch: "Aaron Sorkin on Taking Risks on 'Steve Jobs,' 'Molly's Game,' and 'Best of Enemies'" "Danny Boyle described the three acts as 'Vision,' 'Revenge,' and 'Wisdom'," Pemberton recalled. "For the first act, I wanted to embrace...
- 12/11/2015
- by Bill Desowitz
- Thompson on Hollywood
Our own Anne Thompson calls "Steve Jobs" "must-see, one-of-a-kind cinema that cannot be ignored," and the vast majority of critics agree. Danny Boyle and Aaron Sorkin's biopic, starring Michael Fassbender as Jobs and Kate Winslet as Macintosh marketing chief Joanna Hoffmann, has drawn praise for its sterling performances, crackling dialogue, and Boyle's inventive approach to the script's three set pieces, marking the film as a strong contender in this year's Oscar race. Read More: "'Steve Jobs' Soars: Danny Boyle and His Cast Ride Aaron Sorkin's Exhilarating Screenplay" Focusing on three of Jobs' famed product launches—the original Macintosh computer in 1984, his NeXt black cube in 1988, and the iMac in 1998—Boyle and cinematographer Alwin H. Küchler shoot each of the three sections in a different format: 16mm, 35mm, and hi-res digital, respectively, mirroring the march of time and technology as well as the protagonist's meteoric, often tumultuous.
- 10/9/2015
- by Matt Brennan
- Thompson on Hollywood
"Steve Jobs" is "Citizen Kane" meets "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" for the social media age. But by structuring his adaptation of the Walter Isaacson biography around three product launches, Aaron Sorkin has conjured a unique backstage biopic, exploring Jobs from the inside out with theatrical flair. The trick was to come up with a bold visual style, so director Danny Boyle and cinematographer Alwin H. Küchler ("Sunshine") decided to shoot three distinct looks for each launch (16mm for the Macintosh in 1984, 35mm for the NeXT in 1988 and digitally for the iMac in 1998). Thus, style becomes content as Jobs confronts his past (both publicly and privately) while plotting his grand tech vision for the future. "I like films which feel internal, which are subjective...and it was very much on Danny's mind to get inside the brain of Steve Jobs," explained Küchler. And one of the very early things that.
- 10/9/2015
- by Bill Desowitz
- Thompson on Hollywood
By Mark Cerulli
Full disclosure: I’m a Mac evangelist and have been since the 1980s. (The boxy Macintosh Plus was the first model I used.) I idolized Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and this brilliant movie from director Danny Boyle doesn’t change that. What it does do is explain Jobs as much as a force of nature like Steve Jobs can be explained. The film, written by Aaron Sorkin, tells Jobs’ story through three pivotal product launches –1984’s Macintosh, the ill-fated Next in 1988 and his triumphant 1998 return with the revolutionary iMac. Most of the action takes place in the tension-filled backstage crucible before each event, where Jobs terrorizes staffers and programmers and deals with the inconvenient truth of a very dependent ex-girlfriend (played by Sam Waterston’s daughter, Katherine) who is also the mother of his child. A child he refuses to acknowledge, conclusive paternity test or no.
Full disclosure: I’m a Mac evangelist and have been since the 1980s. (The boxy Macintosh Plus was the first model I used.) I idolized Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and this brilliant movie from director Danny Boyle doesn’t change that. What it does do is explain Jobs as much as a force of nature like Steve Jobs can be explained. The film, written by Aaron Sorkin, tells Jobs’ story through three pivotal product launches –1984’s Macintosh, the ill-fated Next in 1988 and his triumphant 1998 return with the revolutionary iMac. Most of the action takes place in the tension-filled backstage crucible before each event, where Jobs terrorizes staffers and programmers and deals with the inconvenient truth of a very dependent ex-girlfriend (played by Sam Waterston’s daughter, Katherine) who is also the mother of his child. A child he refuses to acknowledge, conclusive paternity test or no.
- 10/8/2015
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Taken as a straight-faced, just-the-facts account of one great man’s amazing achievements, Steve Jobs is a bit daft. For as much as the structure of Danny Boyle and Aaron Sorkin‘s biopic — divided into three sections, each set backstage right before a product’s announcement (those being the Apple Lisa in 1984, the NeXTcube in 1988, and the iMac in 1998) — is receiving attention, that bit of pre-release hype, like all pre-release hype, should be questioned. To my mind, this is all a reductive bit of enthusiasm: what happens when anyone does anything different with the format, thus saving us from having to (gasp!) sit through “yet another biopic.” The reaction is premature, surely, but none too surprising. There’s a vocal and too-large section of viewers for whom the genre indicates that what they’re seeing — no matter the talent of its creators or the fascination that comes with its subject — is unquestionably an inferior product,...
- 10/4/2015
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Telluride – Steve Jobs became one of the most iconic men of the millennium. He was a phoenix like figure that brought the company he founded back from the brink and transformed it into the most valuable corporation in the world. Jobs was also a difficult man to work with who many people admired and just as many considered an a-hole. Almost four years after his passing, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin have collaborated on “Steve Jobs,” an ambitious new drama that culls material from Walter Isaacson’s best-selling biography of the legendary Apple CEO. The movie takes place during three different product launches that also happened to be signature moments in Jobs’ life. The first act occurs before the launch of the Macintosh computer in 1984. The second act takes place in 1988 before Jobs’ introduces his Next computer, years after his dismissal from Apple. The final act occurs in...
- 9/6/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
16-year-old Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley) has been raised to be selfless above all things. Her parents belong to one of the five factions which govern society – Abnegation, Candor, Dauntless, Erudite and Amity – each member selected by a personality test which proscribes deviation from social mores and sets them on their life’s path. Faction leaders – with Abnegation’s gentle guidance – have worked together, across the years, to forge peace through compliance. Unfortunates who fail to fit the mould are shunned. Those who select a faction other than their own never see their families again.
In the wake of the annual Choosing Ceremony, Beatrice’s leap of faith onto the El Train, and a second jump into the literal unknown, propels her into a new life as ‘Tris’ – Dauntless’s controversial new member. The bold move attracts the admiration of ambitious Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet) and the concern of...
In the wake of the annual Choosing Ceremony, Beatrice’s leap of faith onto the El Train, and a second jump into the literal unknown, propels her into a new life as ‘Tris’ – Dauntless’s controversial new member. The bold move attracts the admiration of ambitious Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet) and the concern of...
- 4/1/2014
- by Emily Breen
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
It’s no wonder a studio like Summit Entertainment would be interested in bringing Veronica Roth’s book series to the big-screen. Between the theme of government control set amid a sci-fi setting and the focus being on a young woman discovering who she really is amidst a growing rebellion, it’s not a stretch to see that Divergent might be the next The Hunger Games. To put it simply, Games doesn’t have to worry about any sort of competition from this new young adult rival, but those interested in that world shouldn’t completely dismiss this entertaining coming of age story either.
Where The Hunger Games has somehow been able to appeal to readers and film fans of both young and old, this new young adult series may not be as lucky. This is mostly in part to the focus on romance rather than substance. When so much...
Where The Hunger Games has somehow been able to appeal to readers and film fans of both young and old, this new young adult series may not be as lucky. This is mostly in part to the focus on romance rather than substance. When so much...
- 3/21/2014
- by Michael Haffner
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Dissatisfaction: Burger Launches the Next Ya Dystopia to Unwieldy Lengths
Director Neil Burger joins genre courting/sci-fi alum Andrew Niccol’s dip into the abscessed pool of the Ya cash cow with Divergent, an adaptation of the first in a series of novels by Veronica Roth. A little of this, a little of that, and you’ve got a veritable mash up recent adolescent themed portraits of the future grim in the vein of (the already derivative) Hunger Games trilogy, and even Ender’s Game. Things don’t get better, only increasingly worse, an adage fitting for not only post apocalyptic Western dystopias but the rigidly formulaic and repetitive narratives that are now distended and stretched to epic proportion. Rising star Shailene Woodley gets outfitted with her own treatment of Chosen One Syndrome and delivers a serviceable performance that’s hampered by a ceaselessly workmanlike set-up that obviously thinks its...
Director Neil Burger joins genre courting/sci-fi alum Andrew Niccol’s dip into the abscessed pool of the Ya cash cow with Divergent, an adaptation of the first in a series of novels by Veronica Roth. A little of this, a little of that, and you’ve got a veritable mash up recent adolescent themed portraits of the future grim in the vein of (the already derivative) Hunger Games trilogy, and even Ender’s Game. Things don’t get better, only increasingly worse, an adage fitting for not only post apocalyptic Western dystopias but the rigidly formulaic and repetitive narratives that are now distended and stretched to epic proportion. Rising star Shailene Woodley gets outfitted with her own treatment of Chosen One Syndrome and delivers a serviceable performance that’s hampered by a ceaselessly workmanlike set-up that obviously thinks its...
- 3/20/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Chicago – Clocking in at a shade under two-and-a-half hours, Kevin Macdonald’s hugely informative yet leisurely paced documentary plays like the condensed version of a top-drawer TV miniseries. There’s even enough fade-outs for one to mentally insert commercial breaks. Yet for music buffs, the need to see this footage on the big screen undoubtedly justified its theatrical release.
As someone only vaguely familiar with Bob Marley, I found myself completely captivated by this picture, which tells the story of a life purely through in-depth interviews and archival footage. Though the film perhaps could’ve benefitted from more concert footage, the context in which the footage is presented is always enlightening, and at times, very moving. Marley’s messages of peace and unity resonate not only through the power of music, but through the methods in which the filmmakers explore the origins of Marley’s beliefs.
Blu-ray Rating: 4.5/5.0
In sequences...
As someone only vaguely familiar with Bob Marley, I found myself completely captivated by this picture, which tells the story of a life purely through in-depth interviews and archival footage. Though the film perhaps could’ve benefitted from more concert footage, the context in which the footage is presented is always enlightening, and at times, very moving. Marley’s messages of peace and unity resonate not only through the power of music, but through the methods in which the filmmakers explore the origins of Marley’s beliefs.
Blu-ray Rating: 4.5/5.0
In sequences...
- 8/23/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (aka AMPAS aka The Oscars aka "That Organization That The Media And Public Are Constantly Calling 'Irrelevant' Whilst They Disprove Their Point By Talking About Said Organization Incessantly") has changed their rulebooks yet again and opened their figurative doors to new players. Their reasoning and criteria remain, as ever, a mystery to those of us with strong opinions on the matter.
Here's what happened...
Visual Effects
The bakeoff system is a bit different now. Ten films will be selected as semi-finalists. The branch will then vote and five will become nominees.
Tfe Decrees: Smart, humane move after those years with only 6 or 7 semi-finalists... which was embarrassingly like being "the last one picked" when you didn't end as a nominee.
Makeup (and Hairstyling!)
New Rule: It's a name change from Best Makeup to Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Tfe Decrees: Good Move But Entirely Cosmetic.
Here's what happened...
Visual Effects
The bakeoff system is a bit different now. Ten films will be selected as semi-finalists. The branch will then vote and five will become nominees.
Tfe Decrees: Smart, humane move after those years with only 6 or 7 semi-finalists... which was embarrassingly like being "the last one picked" when you didn't end as a nominee.
Makeup (and Hairstyling!)
New Rule: It's a name change from Best Makeup to Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Tfe Decrees: Good Move But Entirely Cosmetic.
- 6/30/2012
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences brings you the Oscars (yep, that's why they're called Academy Awards), and on Friday, the organization announced that it was prepared to invite 176 new folks to its fold.
In a list posted on its website, the Academy deemed Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, Terrence Malick, Jonah Hill, Berenice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer and a host of other film luminaries worthy of inclusion in its nearly 6,000-member army.
The Academy has drawn the ire of critics who bemoan its overwhelmingly male, white population. A Los Angeles Times investigation found that of all Academy members, 94 percent are Caucasian and 77 percent are male. A mere 2 percent are black, with Latinos constituting an even smaller portion. Only 14 percent of members are under the age of 50.
Full members of the Academy select and vote on Oscars nominees. The organization was started in 1927 and is now governed by a 43-person board.
In a list posted on its website, the Academy deemed Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, Terrence Malick, Jonah Hill, Berenice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer and a host of other film luminaries worthy of inclusion in its nearly 6,000-member army.
The Academy has drawn the ire of critics who bemoan its overwhelmingly male, white population. A Los Angeles Times investigation found that of all Academy members, 94 percent are Caucasian and 77 percent are male. A mere 2 percent are black, with Latinos constituting an even smaller portion. Only 14 percent of members are under the age of 50.
Full members of the Academy select and vote on Oscars nominees. The organization was started in 1927 and is now governed by a 43-person board.
- 6/29/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 176 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2012 to the Academy.s roster of members.
.These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,. said Academy President Tom Sherak. .I.m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member..
Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.
The 2012 invitees are:
Actors
Simon Baker . .Margin Call,. .L.A. Confidential.
Sean Bean . .Flightplan,. .The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Bérénice Bejo . .The Artist,. .Oss 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies.
Tom Berenger . .Inception,. .Platoon.
Demián Bichir . .A Better Life,. .Che.
Jessica Chastain . .The Help,. .The Tree of Life.
Clifton Collins,...
.These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,. said Academy President Tom Sherak. .I.m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member..
Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.
The 2012 invitees are:
Actors
Simon Baker . .Margin Call,. .L.A. Confidential.
Sean Bean . .Flightplan,. .The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Bérénice Bejo . .The Artist,. .Oss 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies.
Tom Berenger . .Inception,. .Platoon.
Demián Bichir . .A Better Life,. .Che.
Jessica Chastain . .The Help,. .The Tree of Life.
Clifton Collins,...
- 6/29/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended their 2012 membership invitations today to 176 lucky actors, directors, cinematographers, and other members of the filmmaking industry.
Terrence Malick, who somehow wasn’t already a member, received an invitation, as did fellow directors Rodrigo Garcia and Asghar Farhadi.
For actors, Melissa McCarthy’s invitation continues her incredible post-Bridesmaids rise. In addition, actors Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Andy Serkis, Jessica Chastain, and Octavia Spencer were all invited to be members, among others.
Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003, according to the Academy’s website.
Terrence Malick, who somehow wasn’t already a member, received an invitation, as did fellow directors Rodrigo Garcia and Asghar Farhadi.
For actors, Melissa McCarthy’s invitation continues her incredible post-Bridesmaids rise. In addition, actors Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Andy Serkis, Jessica Chastain, and Octavia Spencer were all invited to be members, among others.
Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003, according to the Academy’s website.
- 6/29/2012
- by Erin Strecker
- EW - Inside Movies
HollywoodNews.com: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 176 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2012 to the Academy’s roster of members.
“These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “I’m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member.”
Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.
The 2012 invitees are:
Actors
Simon Baker – “Margin Call,” “L.A. Confidential”
Sean Bean – “Flightplan,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”
Bérénice Bejo – “The Artist,” “Oss 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies”
Tom Berenger – “Inception,” “Platoon”
Demián Bichir – “A Better Life,” “Che”
Jessica Chastain – “The Help,” “The Tree of Life”
Clifton Collins,...
“These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “I’m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member.”
Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.
The 2012 invitees are:
Actors
Simon Baker – “Margin Call,” “L.A. Confidential”
Sean Bean – “Flightplan,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”
Bérénice Bejo – “The Artist,” “Oss 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies”
Tom Berenger – “Inception,” “Platoon”
Demián Bichir – “A Better Life,” “Che”
Jessica Chastain – “The Help,” “The Tree of Life”
Clifton Collins,...
- 6/29/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
It's that time of year again when film critics connected to societies that dish out annual awards find their mailboxes stuffed with dozens of DVDs and the occasional gift or two: a bag of popcorn and Puss in Boots wrapping paper from DreamWorks, for example. Or the shooting script of The Descendants, which boasts an inane quote from Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman: "[Writer/director Alexander] Payne has become the Stanley Kubrick of serious American comedy." That sort of hyperbole transforms the usually sensible Gleiberman into the Rip Taylor of serious American critics.
Anyway, let's stalk through the DVD pile a little.
1) Steven Soderbergh's Contagion (pictured), a paean to death by bat droppings mixed with a bit of pork, is being pushed for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (Laurence Fishburne), and about 17 other nominations. The studio heads only overlooked a trophy for Best Catering.
Sadly, in the Death-of-Mankind cinema category,...
Anyway, let's stalk through the DVD pile a little.
1) Steven Soderbergh's Contagion (pictured), a paean to death by bat droppings mixed with a bit of pork, is being pushed for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (Laurence Fishburne), and about 17 other nominations. The studio heads only overlooked a trophy for Best Catering.
Sadly, in the Death-of-Mankind cinema category,...
- 11/27/2011
- by Brandon Judell
- www.culturecatch.com
We're just two months away from the end of the year and the start of top ten list season. If you're a hardcore movie nerd like me, you look forward to December with a mixture of anticipation and dread. Making a top ten list is super fun but it's also super daunting. There are so many movies to see, and only so many hours in a day.
Seeing every single movie released this calendar year is impossible, so you've got to pick your battles. That's where Countdown to Top Ten 2K11 comes in. The goal of this column is simple: as I catch up with the 2011 movies I missed in order to fill out my own top ten list, I'll tell you whether or not you need to catch up with them as well before making your top ten list. Each installment will feature my thoughts on the movie, a sampling of other critics' reactions,...
Seeing every single movie released this calendar year is impossible, so you've got to pick your battles. That's where Countdown to Top Ten 2K11 comes in. The goal of this column is simple: as I catch up with the 2011 movies I missed in order to fill out my own top ten list, I'll tell you whether or not you need to catch up with them as well before making your top ten list. Each installment will feature my thoughts on the movie, a sampling of other critics' reactions,...
- 10/13/2011
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
While most blogs/sites post their “best of the year so far” lists in June, I like to wait until August – with good reason. You see, we here at Sound On Sight cover various film festivals across the globe. Five of the biggest fests (Sundance, SXSW, Cannes, Tribeca and Fantasia) all take place before August, while five other major fests (The New York Film Fest, Fantastic Fest, Tiff, Festival Du Nouveau Cinema, BFI London) all begin sometime in September or later. And since their are so few good films theatrically released in the first three or four months of the year, I feel like August is the best time to post this list. It gives us one more opportunity to further promote these great movies, before they are drowned out by all the major players heading our way. Before you read my list, there are a few things you should know.
- 8/22/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Director Joe Wright shifts gear and tackles the action genre. And with Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett on hand, he gives us Hanna. Here's our review...
There's a time in any parent's life when they realize that the cute little baby they've helped nurture and care for has grown up into a young person with hopes, dreams, and the ability to best them in hand-to-hand combat. For Hanna (Saoirse Ronan), that moment comes when she's sixteen and her father, Erik (Eric Bana) gives her the transponder that will allow the authorities to locate and capture her.
You see, Hanna's not just another teenage girl. She's actually the obsession of CIA agent Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett) and the last remnant of a secret government project to create the perfect soldier.
Of course, the fact that Hanna allows herself to be caught is a clue to all involved. This girl's got a mission.
There's a time in any parent's life when they realize that the cute little baby they've helped nurture and care for has grown up into a young person with hopes, dreams, and the ability to best them in hand-to-hand combat. For Hanna (Saoirse Ronan), that moment comes when she's sixteen and her father, Erik (Eric Bana) gives her the transponder that will allow the authorities to locate and capture her.
You see, Hanna's not just another teenage girl. She's actually the obsession of CIA agent Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett) and the last remnant of a secret government project to create the perfect soldier.
Of course, the fact that Hanna allows herself to be caught is a clue to all involved. This girl's got a mission.
- 4/10/2011
- Den of Geek
Once upon a time there was a young girl named Hanna (Saoirse Ronan), whose father Erik (Eric Bana) trained her to kill. Her target was CIA section head Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), who had a falling out with Erik many years ago. Erik taught Hanna several languages, fatal hand-to-hand maneuvers and all the other perks that come from being a former CIA agent. Now, Hanna says she’s “ready”, flips a control node on and watches an assault team take her in while her father dons a suit and begins a trap-laden trip to Germany, where he will meet his daughter after “the witch is dead”. Wiegler doesn’t know that she is a target, but when Hanna breaks out of the holding facility with a pile of bodies in her wake, Marissa gives chase, aided by a team of off-the-books skinhead hooligans.
Joe Wright’s new film, Hanna, is...
Joe Wright’s new film, Hanna, is...
- 4/8/2011
- by Mark Zhuravsky
- JustPressPlay.net
Currently, we’re in the throes of a Hollywood obsession to bring fairy tales to the big screen. It’s a fad that’s years away from peaking, leaving the sneaky triumph of “Hanna” all the more bewitching.
It’s not exactly “Snow White” or “Alice in Wonderland,” but a weird, swirling amalgamation of the Grimm Brothers’ catalog, sharpened to Ginsu standards by the Euro sensibilities of director Joe Wright. Think of a fantastical storybook odyssey crossed with “The Bourne Identity,” and you’ll have a slightly accurate read of the moviegoing pleasures of this surreal, neck-snapping revenge escapade…read more [DrarkHorizons]
Saoirse Ronan, Hanna
Hanna” is a first-rate thriller about the drawbacks of home schooling. As it opens, a teenage girl is in the act of killing a deer with her bow and arrow, and then as she’s gutting the carcass, a man sneaks up behind and says, “You’re dead!
It’s not exactly “Snow White” or “Alice in Wonderland,” but a weird, swirling amalgamation of the Grimm Brothers’ catalog, sharpened to Ginsu standards by the Euro sensibilities of director Joe Wright. Think of a fantastical storybook odyssey crossed with “The Bourne Identity,” and you’ll have a slightly accurate read of the moviegoing pleasures of this surreal, neck-snapping revenge escapade…read more [DrarkHorizons]
Saoirse Ronan, Hanna
Hanna” is a first-rate thriller about the drawbacks of home schooling. As it opens, a teenage girl is in the act of killing a deer with her bow and arrow, and then as she’s gutting the carcass, a man sneaks up behind and says, “You’re dead!
- 4/8/2011
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
Hanna
Directed by Joe Wright
Written by David Farr and Seth Lockhead
USA, 2011
In promoting Hanna, his new thriller/fairy-tale starring a barely pubescent female killer, director Joe Wright has taken a stance against Zach Snyder’s Sucker Punch, deriding it (as most critics have) as appropriating the language of female empowerment in order to sell a movie that plainly acts as young male wish fulfillment. Wright deserves acclaim for sidestepping that particular pitfall, but Hanna makes for a frustrating watch for altogether different reasons.
The allegorically loaded opening evokes Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke in its gilded brutality. The seemingly superhuman Hanna (Saiorse Ronan) stalks animal prey in the Finnish wilderness, looked over by her vigilant father Erik (Eric Bana). Entrails are spread while Hanna makes snow angels, and the ice floes circle gently. Erik trains Hanna day in and day out for a future conflict she doesn’t fully...
Directed by Joe Wright
Written by David Farr and Seth Lockhead
USA, 2011
In promoting Hanna, his new thriller/fairy-tale starring a barely pubescent female killer, director Joe Wright has taken a stance against Zach Snyder’s Sucker Punch, deriding it (as most critics have) as appropriating the language of female empowerment in order to sell a movie that plainly acts as young male wish fulfillment. Wright deserves acclaim for sidestepping that particular pitfall, but Hanna makes for a frustrating watch for altogether different reasons.
The allegorically loaded opening evokes Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke in its gilded brutality. The seemingly superhuman Hanna (Saiorse Ronan) stalks animal prey in the Finnish wilderness, looked over by her vigilant father Erik (Eric Bana). Entrails are spread while Hanna makes snow angels, and the ice floes circle gently. Erik trains Hanna day in and day out for a future conflict she doesn’t fully...
- 4/7/2011
- by Simon Howell
- SoundOnSight
I had the pleasure of seeing Joe Wright’s fourth feature tonight, the action/drama/thriller Hanna starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana. While I’m embargoed from sharing any thoughts, Focus Features shared a new clip and a variety of images from the film. The clip features some of the fantastic The Chemical Brothers score, and a snippet from one of my favorite scenes in the film. Check them out below, followed by production notes from the film. Click for hi-resolution versions.
Synopsis
A teenage girl goes out into the world for the first time – and has to battle for her life. Director Joe Wright weaves elements of dark fairy tales into the adventure thriller Hanna, filmed on location in Europe and Morocco.
Hanna (played by Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan of Atonement, also directed by Joe Wright) is 16 years old. She is bright, inquisitive, and a devoted daughter.
Synopsis
A teenage girl goes out into the world for the first time – and has to battle for her life. Director Joe Wright weaves elements of dark fairy tales into the adventure thriller Hanna, filmed on location in Europe and Morocco.
Hanna (played by Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan of Atonement, also directed by Joe Wright) is 16 years old. She is bright, inquisitive, and a devoted daughter.
- 2/16/2011
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Academy Award winning director, Kevin Macdonald has signed on to direct a big screen biography of musical icon, Bob Marley. The news comes via Tuff Gong Pictures and Shangri-La Entertainment. The film, entitled Marley, will tell the story of Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician Nesta Robert “Bob” Marley and will be made in conjunction with the Bob Marley Estate. For more, take a look at the official press release below:
Los Angeles, February 03 2011: Academy Award® and BAFTA® winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald has boarded the Tuff Gong Pictures / Shangri-La Entertainment Bob Marley documentary Marley. Director of two of the most acclaimed documentaries of recent years, One Day In September and Touching The Void, Macdonald will join with the Marley family, Chris Blackwell and Steve Bing to direct what will be the ultimate, authorized documentary film on the life, legacy and global impact of a true legend, one of the most influential singers,...
Los Angeles, February 03 2011: Academy Award® and BAFTA® winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald has boarded the Tuff Gong Pictures / Shangri-La Entertainment Bob Marley documentary Marley. Director of two of the most acclaimed documentaries of recent years, One Day In September and Touching The Void, Macdonald will join with the Marley family, Chris Blackwell and Steve Bing to direct what will be the ultimate, authorized documentary film on the life, legacy and global impact of a true legend, one of the most influential singers,...
- 2/3/2011
- by Craig Sharp
- FilmShaft.com
Chicago – In various interviews over the years, British filmmaker Danny Boyle has expressed his belief that “your first film is your best film.” It may not be the most technically accomplished or dramatically satisfying work, but it marks a crucial period of freshness and experimentation, as the rookie director becomes acquainted with the creative challenges of feature film production. What makes Boyle such a consistently exciting and vital filmmaker is the fact that he approaches every new film as if it were his first. There are no two films he’s made that share the same genre, the same structure, and the same energy.
He works within genres in order to subvert them, while finding inventive and surprising ways of fusing his artistic sensibilities onto an entirely new cinematic landscape. Occasionally his gambles don’t pay off (“A Life Less Ordinary,” “The Beach”), but most of the time they do in a big way (“Trainspotting,...
He works within genres in order to subvert them, while finding inventive and surprising ways of fusing his artistic sensibilities onto an entirely new cinematic landscape. Occasionally his gambles don’t pay off (“A Life Less Ordinary,” “The Beach”), but most of the time they do in a big way (“Trainspotting,...
- 11/15/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The adventure thriller Hanna, directed by BAFTA Award winner Joe Wright, begins filming in Europe next week. Focus Features holds worldwide rights to the movie. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.
Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan (of Focus’ Atonement, also directed by Mr. Wright), Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett (soon to be seen in Robin Hood), and Eric Bana (Star Trek) star in Hanna. Joining the cast is Niels Arestrup, who last month won the César Award (France’s Academy Award equivalent) for Best Supporting Actor for A Prophet [Un Prophète].
Hanna (to be played by Ms. Ronan) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a solider; these come from being raised by her father (Mr. Bana), an ex-cia man, in the wilds of Sweden. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same,...
Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan (of Focus’ Atonement, also directed by Mr. Wright), Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett (soon to be seen in Robin Hood), and Eric Bana (Star Trek) star in Hanna. Joining the cast is Niels Arestrup, who last month won the César Award (France’s Academy Award equivalent) for Best Supporting Actor for A Prophet [Un Prophète].
Hanna (to be played by Ms. Ronan) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a solider; these come from being raised by her father (Mr. Bana), an ex-cia man, in the wilds of Sweden. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same,...
- 3/21/2010
- MoviesOnline.ca
LONDON -- This year's British Independent Film Awards took on a distinctly Celtic air, with the lion's share of the evening's top awards going to two films set in Scotland and one set against the troubles in Northern Ireland. The prize for this year's best British independent film went to Ken Loach's Scottish-set drama Sweet Sixteen, with young Scottish actor Martin Compston picking up the most promising newcomer award for his role. The best actor award went to popular British television star James Nesbitt (Cold Feet) for his role in Bloody Sunday. Paul Greengrass received the best director trophy for the film, a documentary-style depiction of the tragic 1972 clash between civil rights protesters and the British military in Derry, Northern Ireland. Samantha Morton picked up the best actress award for her lead role in the Scottish-set Morvern Callar, directed by Lynne Ramsay. The film also secured the award for best technical achievement, which went to director of photography Alwin Kuchler.
- 10/31/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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