Mike Pinder, who co-founded the Moody Blues and played keyboards and mellotron and sang on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group’s first nine albums, died Wednesday at his home in Northern California. He was 82 and was the last surviving founding member of the legendary British band.
His longtime bandmate John Lodge announced the news on social media via Pinder’s family. “He passed peacefully [and] his final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family,” his Facebook post said. “Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart.”
Pinder’s death follows that of fellow Moodys co-founding guitarist Denny Laine in December and drummer Graeme Edge in 2021. Ray Thomas died in 2002 and Clint Warwick in 2004. Lodge and lead singer Justin Heyward joined in 1966.
Related: Paul McCartney Pays Tribute To Wings Longtime Bandmate Denny...
His longtime bandmate John Lodge announced the news on social media via Pinder’s family. “He passed peacefully [and] his final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family,” his Facebook post said. “Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart.”
Pinder’s death follows that of fellow Moodys co-founding guitarist Denny Laine in December and drummer Graeme Edge in 2021. Ray Thomas died in 2002 and Clint Warwick in 2004. Lodge and lead singer Justin Heyward joined in 1966.
Related: Paul McCartney Pays Tribute To Wings Longtime Bandmate Denny...
- 4/25/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Mike Pinder, co-founding member and keyboardist of the Moody Blues, died at the age of 82 on Wednesday, April 24th. He was the last surviving founder of the English rock band.
Pinder’s family and former Moody Blues bandmate John Lodge announced his death today via a statement on Facebook. The family noted that his final days were “filled with music” and that he passed peacefully at his Northern California residence.
“Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart,” the family stated. “He created his music and the message he shared with the world from this spiritually grounded place; as he always said, ‘Keep your head above the clouds, but keep your feet on the ground.’ His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him. His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in...
Pinder’s family and former Moody Blues bandmate John Lodge announced his death today via a statement on Facebook. The family noted that his final days were “filled with music” and that he passed peacefully at his Northern California residence.
“Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart,” the family stated. “He created his music and the message he shared with the world from this spiritually grounded place; as he always said, ‘Keep your head above the clouds, but keep your feet on the ground.’ His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him. His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in...
- 4/25/2024
- by Jonah Krueger
- Consequence - Music
Mike Pinder, the Moody Blues keyboardist and the last surviving founding member of the Rock Hall-inducted band, has died at the age of 82.
Pinder’s family announced his death in a statement shared with Pinder’s former Moody Blues bandmate John Lodge, noting that Pinder “passed peacefully” Wednesday “surrounded by his devoted family” at his Northern California home. No cause of death was provided.
In their tribute to the “musician, father, cosmic philosopher & friend,” Pinder’s family wrote, “His final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family.
Pinder’s family announced his death in a statement shared with Pinder’s former Moody Blues bandmate John Lodge, noting that Pinder “passed peacefully” Wednesday “surrounded by his devoted family” at his Northern California home. No cause of death was provided.
In their tribute to the “musician, father, cosmic philosopher & friend,” Pinder’s family wrote, “His final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family.
- 4/25/2024
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Paul McCartney & Wings are finally offering a physical release of one of their most bootlegged albums: One Hand Clapping, the live studio sessions conducted post-Band on the Run in 1974 for a seldom-seen documentary film, will arrive everywhere on June 14th.
While several songs from One Hand Clapping eventually landed on subsequent Paul McCartney releases, this will be the first time the album is available in full. It was also the first Wings album recorded with a new lineup — Denny Seiwell and Henry McCullough departed after Band on the Run, and were replaced by guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton for the One Hand Clapping sessions.
The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios over a span of four days while director David Litchfield filmed the documentary — which still hasn’t been released in an official capacity. Within the album’s 26 tracks are Paul McCartney & Wings favorites like “Live and Let Die...
While several songs from One Hand Clapping eventually landed on subsequent Paul McCartney releases, this will be the first time the album is available in full. It was also the first Wings album recorded with a new lineup — Denny Seiwell and Henry McCullough departed after Band on the Run, and were replaced by guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton for the One Hand Clapping sessions.
The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios over a span of four days while director David Litchfield filmed the documentary — which still hasn’t been released in an official capacity. Within the album’s 26 tracks are Paul McCartney & Wings favorites like “Live and Let Die...
- 4/23/2024
- by Paolo Ragusa
- Consequence - Music
Chicago – Denny Laine is a historic force in both the British Invasion of the 1960s with the Moody Blues, and as a member of “Wings” the band formed by him plus Paul and Linda McCartney in the 1970s. Laine died on December 5th, 2023, in Naples, Florida. He was 79.
Born Brian Frederick Hines in Britain, his first band was the Diplomats in in the early 1960s, which he left to form the M&b 5 in 1964. They changed their name to Moody Blues, and Laine was the lead vocalist on their first hit, “Go Now.” He left that group in 1966, and formed the Electric String Band. When that group disbanded, Laine became a journeyman, playing with the group “Balls” and Ginger Baker’s “Air Force.” In 1971, Laine joined Paul and Linda McCartney to form the band Wings. He was a songwriter contributor, and was instrumental in formulating the band’s signature album “Band on the Run.
Born Brian Frederick Hines in Britain, his first band was the Diplomats in in the early 1960s, which he left to form the M&b 5 in 1964. They changed their name to Moody Blues, and Laine was the lead vocalist on their first hit, “Go Now.” He left that group in 1966, and formed the Electric String Band. When that group disbanded, Laine became a journeyman, playing with the group “Balls” and Ginger Baker’s “Air Force.” In 1971, Laine joined Paul and Linda McCartney to form the band Wings. He was a songwriter contributor, and was instrumental in formulating the band’s signature album “Band on the Run.
- 12/10/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Paul McCartney paid tribute tonight to his fellow Wings co-founder Denny Laine, who died Tuesday at 79.
“I have many fond memories of my time with Denny: from the early days when The Beatles toured with the Moody Blues,” the Beatles legend wrote on social media. “Denny joined Wings at the outset. He was an outstanding vocalist and guitar player.”
McCartney added: “He and I wrote some songs together the most successful being ‘Mull of Kintyre’ which was a big hit in the Seventies. We had drifted apart but in recent years managed to reestablish our friendship and share memories of our times together.
“Denny was a great talent with a fine sense of humour and was always ready to help other people. He will be missed by all his fans and remembered with great fondness by his friends. I send my condolences and best wishes to his wife, Elizabeth and family.
“I have many fond memories of my time with Denny: from the early days when The Beatles toured with the Moody Blues,” the Beatles legend wrote on social media. “Denny joined Wings at the outset. He was an outstanding vocalist and guitar player.”
McCartney added: “He and I wrote some songs together the most successful being ‘Mull of Kintyre’ which was a big hit in the Seventies. We had drifted apart but in recent years managed to reestablish our friendship and share memories of our times together.
“Denny was a great talent with a fine sense of humour and was always ready to help other people. He will be missed by all his fans and remembered with great fondness by his friends. I send my condolences and best wishes to his wife, Elizabeth and family.
- 12/6/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Paul McCartney has penned a tribute to his Wings bandmate Denny Laine, who died on Dec. 5 at 79.
“I am very saddened to hear that my ex-bandmate, Denny Laine, has died,” he wrote of the guitarist, who was also the original lead singer of the Moody Blues. “I have many fond memories of my time with Denny: from the early days when the Beatles toured with the Moody Blues. Our two bands had a lot of respect for each other and a lot of fun together. Denny joined Wings at the outset.
“I am very saddened to hear that my ex-bandmate, Denny Laine, has died,” he wrote of the guitarist, who was also the original lead singer of the Moody Blues. “I have many fond memories of my time with Denny: from the early days when the Beatles toured with the Moody Blues. Our two bands had a lot of respect for each other and a lot of fun together. Denny joined Wings at the outset.
- 12/5/2023
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
Denny Laine, guitarist and songwriter for iconic rock bands The Moody Blues and Wings, has died, according to a post from his wife. He was 79.
Laine joined with Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder to form The Moody Blues in 1964. He sang lead on the group’s first big single, “Go Now,” which hit No. 1 in their native U.K. and broke the Top 10 in the U.S. He left the band in 1966, before the rest of its most popular songs were written. Still, Laine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of the Moodys.
In the years after he left, Laine recorded as a solo artist and formed the Electric String Band with Trevor Burton (of the Move), Viv Prince (formerly of Pretty Things) and Binky McKenzie. Laine and Burton later joined the band Balls and played in Ginger Baker’s Air Force,...
Laine joined with Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder to form The Moody Blues in 1964. He sang lead on the group’s first big single, “Go Now,” which hit No. 1 in their native U.K. and broke the Top 10 in the U.S. He left the band in 1966, before the rest of its most popular songs were written. Still, Laine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of the Moodys.
In the years after he left, Laine recorded as a solo artist and formed the Electric String Band with Trevor Burton (of the Move), Viv Prince (formerly of Pretty Things) and Binky McKenzie. Laine and Burton later joined the band Balls and played in Ginger Baker’s Air Force,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Denny Laine, co-founder of Wings and The Moody Blues, has died at the age of 79 after a lengthy battle with interstitial lung disease.
Laine’s wife, Elizabeth Hines, announced the news via Facebook on Tuesday, December 5th. “My darling husband passed away peacefully early this morning. I was at his bedside, holding his hand as I played his favorite Christmas songs for him,” she wrote. “He’s been singing Christmas songs the past few weeks and I continued to play Christmas songs while he’s been in ICU on a ventilator this past week.”
Hines continued, “He and I both believed he would overcome his health setbacks and return to the rehabilitation center and eventually home. Unfortunately, his lung disease, Interstitial Lung Disease (Ild), is unpredictable and aggressive; each infection weakened and damaged his lungs.” See the full statement below.
Laine was born in Birmingham, England on October 29th, 1944, and...
Laine’s wife, Elizabeth Hines, announced the news via Facebook on Tuesday, December 5th. “My darling husband passed away peacefully early this morning. I was at his bedside, holding his hand as I played his favorite Christmas songs for him,” she wrote. “He’s been singing Christmas songs the past few weeks and I continued to play Christmas songs while he’s been in ICU on a ventilator this past week.”
Hines continued, “He and I both believed he would overcome his health setbacks and return to the rehabilitation center and eventually home. Unfortunately, his lung disease, Interstitial Lung Disease (Ild), is unpredictable and aggressive; each infection weakened and damaged his lungs.” See the full statement below.
Laine was born in Birmingham, England on October 29th, 1944, and...
- 12/5/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Denny Laine, the original lead singer of the Moody Blues and Paul McCartney’s co-founder/guitarist in Wings, died December 5 after a short battle with Interstitial lung disease. He was 79.
“I was at his bedside holdings his hand as I played his favorite Christmas songs for him,” his wife Elizabeth Hines wrote in a statement. “My world will never be the same. Denny was an amazingly wonderful person, so loving and sweet to me. He made my days colorful, fun, and full of life – just like him.”
Laine grew up in Birmingham,...
“I was at his bedside holdings his hand as I played his favorite Christmas songs for him,” his wife Elizabeth Hines wrote in a statement. “My world will never be the same. Denny was an amazingly wonderful person, so loving and sweet to me. He made my days colorful, fun, and full of life – just like him.”
Laine grew up in Birmingham,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
One of the sad truths of the movie business as it exists is that great movies will sometimes slip through the cracks. A movie as good as "Booksmart" deserved a lot better than $25 million at the box office. Both "Blade Runner" and "The Thing" deserved better than getting trounced by "E.T." in 1982. Fortunately, cream tends to rise to the top over time, and good movies often find their audience eventually. Perhaps no movie released theatrically over the last decade deserved to find its audience more than director John Carney's "Sing Street."
Released in 2016, the movie about a kid who starts a band to impress a girl charmed just about every single person who saw it. The only problem is that not...
One of the sad truths of the movie business as it exists is that great movies will sometimes slip through the cracks. A movie as good as "Booksmart" deserved a lot better than $25 million at the box office. Both "Blade Runner" and "The Thing" deserved better than getting trounced by "E.T." in 1982. Fortunately, cream tends to rise to the top over time, and good movies often find their audience eventually. Perhaps no movie released theatrically over the last decade deserved to find its audience more than director John Carney's "Sing Street."
Released in 2016, the movie about a kid who starts a band to impress a girl charmed just about every single person who saw it. The only problem is that not...
- 9/24/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Director’s Revolution Films has partnered with Fremantle, Passenger and Anonymous Content on six-parter
Director Michael Winterbottom is making a six-part drama, Fall Of The God Of Cars, about former Nissan and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn.
Winterbottom’s Revolution Films is collaborating with Fremantle, Passenger and Anonymous Content on the series, which tells the story of the Brazilian-Lebanese businessman who was arrested in Japan and one year later orchestrated his own escape to Beirut, hidden in a music case on a private jet.
The series is written and directed by Winterbottom. Tony Shalhoub stars as Ghosn.
The series was originally developed by Winterbottom,...
Director Michael Winterbottom is making a six-part drama, Fall Of The God Of Cars, about former Nissan and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn.
Winterbottom’s Revolution Films is collaborating with Fremantle, Passenger and Anonymous Content on the series, which tells the story of the Brazilian-Lebanese businessman who was arrested in Japan and one year later orchestrated his own escape to Beirut, hidden in a music case on a private jet.
The series is written and directed by Winterbottom. Tony Shalhoub stars as Ghosn.
The series was originally developed by Winterbottom,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Paul McCartney proved his songwriting prowess with The Beatles. He was embarrassed to ask John Lennon to collaborate on “Come Together,” but Macca had no trouble asking for help when he formed Wings. Denny Laine got the call and jumped at the chance to work with Paul. Decades after Wings split up, Laine is still making music and touring to support it.
(l-r) Denny Laine, Linda McCartney, and Paul McCartney | Gems/Redferns Paul McCartney asked Denny Laine to be a founding member of Wings
Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Hines) started playing music and formed his first band when he was still in school. The guitarist didn’t need long to make an impact on the pop music landscape.
Laine sang “Go Now,” the Moody Blues’ first notable hit. He co-wrote several of the band’s early songs, including “From the Bottom of My Heart,” but he left the band...
(l-r) Denny Laine, Linda McCartney, and Paul McCartney | Gems/Redferns Paul McCartney asked Denny Laine to be a founding member of Wings
Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Hines) started playing music and formed his first band when he was still in school. The guitarist didn’t need long to make an impact on the pop music landscape.
Laine sang “Go Now,” the Moody Blues’ first notable hit. He co-wrote several of the band’s early songs, including “From the Bottom of My Heart,” but he left the band...
- 2/24/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the chaos that ensued Sunday night when a gunman began firing from above into a crowd at a Las Vegas concert, people frantically searching for cover found themselves surrounded by carnage amidst the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in United States history.
“It was like we were in a war movie,” Rob Handley, 34, a medical device salesman from Las Vegas, tells People for this week’s cover story on the heroism and heartbreak that followed the shooting deaths of at least 58 people and wounding of another 527. Police say the gunman, Stephen Paddock, 64, then turned the gun on...
“It was like we were in a war movie,” Rob Handley, 34, a medical device salesman from Las Vegas, tells People for this week’s cover story on the heroism and heartbreak that followed the shooting deaths of at least 58 people and wounding of another 527. Police say the gunman, Stephen Paddock, 64, then turned the gun on...
- 10/4/2017
- by Chris Harris and Jeff Truesdell
- PEOPLE.com
A few short hours ago, People contributor Mark Gray was enjoying an annual tradition — the Route 91 festival at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas. He’s still struggling to process the horror that came next.
“I was there with friends. We’ve gone every year for the past four years,” says Gray, who was in an outdoor area outside a ground level suite on the left side of the stage when singer Jason Aldean took the stage at around 9:45 pm on Oct 1.
“It was just as normal as can be. He was on his fourth song, and really just kind of starting,...
“I was there with friends. We’ve gone every year for the past four years,” says Gray, who was in an outdoor area outside a ground level suite on the left side of the stage when singer Jason Aldean took the stage at around 9:45 pm on Oct 1.
“It was just as normal as can be. He was on his fourth song, and really just kind of starting,...
- 10/2/2017
- by J.D. Heyman
- PEOPLE.com
Yesterday afternoon, the Toronto International Film Festival announced their award winners. Notably, the Audience Award, which is the top prize at Tiff, went to Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The runner ups were, perhaps surprisingly, Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya, as well as Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name. The win for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was slightly surprising, though the word out of Toronto has been incredibly positive. After taking a prize recently at the Venice Film Festival for Screenplay, it’s currently the most awarded contender of the year so far. If nothing else, that’s a nice head start for a movie such as this one. Looking specifically at the Audience Award and thinking in terms of its history, this is a somewhat reliable indicator of prestige. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri now joins a group that has five prior Best Picture winners,...
- 9/18/2017
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Woo boy, Twin Peaks fans.
If you thought the first two hours of the Twin Peaks revival were weird, you haven't really seen anything yet.
Let's start with what is easily the David Lynch-iest sequence of the show so far.
The Purple Spaceship
After being expelled from the Black Lodge and taking a quick pit stop in the glass box in New York City, real Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) finds himself in a weird purple spaceship thing with a woman who is listed in the credits as Naido (Nae Yuuki). Her eyes are melted shut, which lends some weight to the idea that eyes are important in Twin Peaks -- Ruth Davenport (Mary Stofle) was missing an eye and it also appeared that Evil Cooper (MacLachlan) shot Phyllis Hastings (Cornelia Guest) through the eye.
The woman eventually disappears and Cooper encounters the shadowy head of Major Garland Briggs (Don S. Davis), who utters the phrase "blue rose...
If you thought the first two hours of the Twin Peaks revival were weird, you haven't really seen anything yet.
Let's start with what is easily the David Lynch-iest sequence of the show so far.
The Purple Spaceship
After being expelled from the Black Lodge and taking a quick pit stop in the glass box in New York City, real Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) finds himself in a weird purple spaceship thing with a woman who is listed in the credits as Naido (Nae Yuuki). Her eyes are melted shut, which lends some weight to the idea that eyes are important in Twin Peaks -- Ruth Davenport (Mary Stofle) was missing an eye and it also appeared that Evil Cooper (MacLachlan) shot Phyllis Hastings (Cornelia Guest) through the eye.
The woman eventually disappears and Cooper encounters the shadowy head of Major Garland Briggs (Don S. Davis), who utters the phrase "blue rose...
- 5/29/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Warning: Spoilers ahead if you haven't seen Sunday's two-hour Twin Peaks premiere.
Twin Peaks returned to TV on Sunday after 27 years and it was every bit as scary, twisted and confusing as the original -- though we expected nothing less from David Lynch.
In the two-hour premiere, there were two distinct threads happening: one with the show's original characters and one featuring new faces and new mysteries. They eventually intersected, but for much of the first hour it was a lot of introducing seemingly unrelated things, most of which were happening outside the titular small Washington town.
Related: The Unexpected, Groundbreaking, Cult Phenomenon of 'Twin Peaks'
The Familiar Faces
The Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department is still going strong with Lucy (Kimmy Robertson), Deputy Andy Brennan (Harry Goaz) and Deputy Chief Hawk (Michael Horse), with Lucy and Andy married and parents to at least one child. But things are about to get weird, as Hawk...
Twin Peaks returned to TV on Sunday after 27 years and it was every bit as scary, twisted and confusing as the original -- though we expected nothing less from David Lynch.
In the two-hour premiere, there were two distinct threads happening: one with the show's original characters and one featuring new faces and new mysteries. They eventually intersected, but for much of the first hour it was a lot of introducing seemingly unrelated things, most of which were happening outside the titular small Washington town.
Related: The Unexpected, Groundbreaking, Cult Phenomenon of 'Twin Peaks'
The Familiar Faces
The Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department is still going strong with Lucy (Kimmy Robertson), Deputy Andy Brennan (Harry Goaz) and Deputy Chief Hawk (Michael Horse), with Lucy and Andy married and parents to at least one child. But things are about to get weird, as Hawk...
- 5/22/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
If Sunday’s episode of The Walking Dead had revealed that things had gone badly for Eugene at the Sanctuary, nobody would have been surprised, right? But was anyone not shocked when it appeared that, instead, he himself had gone bad? Is this the beginning of the “treachery from people we trust” that we were forewarned was coming? Would Abraham’s Bff really betray Alexandria for access to video games and a jar of gherkins? Or is he merely snowing Negan & Co.? Read on, then we’ll discuss in the comments section.
RelatedThe Walking Dead‘s Pollyanna McIntosh Talks...
RelatedThe Walking Dead‘s Pollyanna McIntosh Talks...
- 2/27/2017
- TVLine.com
The Toronto International Film Festival organizers have today announced their 2017 lineup of programs and programmers, a new take on their lineup that speaks to their “renewed commitment to bold, discerning curation” and a “more tightly curated edition” of the festival.
The 2017 edition of the festival will feature 14 diverse programmes and a programming team of 22, complete with two new additions. This year, the festival will be retiring their Vanguard and City to City sections, which will reduce the overall number of films in the 2017 lineup by 20 percent. For 2017, the Tiff programs will include: Contemporary World Cinema, Discovery, Gala Presentations, Masters, Midnight Madness, Platform, Short Cuts, Special Presentations, Tiff Cinematheque, Tiff Docs, Tiff Kids, Tiff Next Wave and Wavelengths.
Read More: Tiff Programmer Colin Geddes Departing After 20 Years
The festival will continue with its lauded and fun In Conversation With… series and its Primetime lineup (focused on TV offerings), along with its...
The 2017 edition of the festival will feature 14 diverse programmes and a programming team of 22, complete with two new additions. This year, the festival will be retiring their Vanguard and City to City sections, which will reduce the overall number of films in the 2017 lineup by 20 percent. For 2017, the Tiff programs will include: Contemporary World Cinema, Discovery, Gala Presentations, Masters, Midnight Madness, Platform, Short Cuts, Special Presentations, Tiff Cinematheque, Tiff Docs, Tiff Kids, Tiff Next Wave and Wavelengths.
Read More: Tiff Programmer Colin Geddes Departing After 20 Years
The festival will continue with its lauded and fun In Conversation With… series and its Primetime lineup (focused on TV offerings), along with its...
- 2/23/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
91 songs were recently named as being eligible for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, including three from Damien Chazelle’s musical “La La Land” and high-profile tunes by the likes of Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake and Sia. We’ll know which five are ultimately nominated on January 24. In the meantime, avail yourself of this Spotify playlist featuring 70 of the eligible songs — and the full list of all 91.
Read More: 2017 Oscar Predictions: Best Original Song
Read More: Oscar Best Score Contenders: The Inside Story of Creating 5 Diverse Frontrunners
“Just Like Fire” from “Alice through the Looking Glass”
“Rise” from “American Wrestler: The Wizard”
“Friends” from “The Angry Birds Movie”
“Flicker” from “Audrie & Daisy”
“Seconds” from “Autumn Lights”
“A Minute To Breathe” from “Before the Flood”
“Glory (Let There Be Peace)” from “Believe”
“Mother’s Theme” from “Believe”
“Somewhere” from “Believe”
“The Only Way Out” from “Ben-Hur”
“Still Falling For You...
Read More: 2017 Oscar Predictions: Best Original Song
Read More: Oscar Best Score Contenders: The Inside Story of Creating 5 Diverse Frontrunners
“Just Like Fire” from “Alice through the Looking Glass”
“Rise” from “American Wrestler: The Wizard”
“Friends” from “The Angry Birds Movie”
“Flicker” from “Audrie & Daisy”
“Seconds” from “Autumn Lights”
“A Minute To Breathe” from “Before the Flood”
“Glory (Let There Be Peace)” from “Believe”
“Mother’s Theme” from “Believe”
“Somewhere” from “Believe”
“The Only Way Out” from “Ben-Hur”
“Still Falling For You...
- 1/3/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Simon Brew Dec 28, 2016
In second place in our favourite film of the year 2016 poll? That'd be Sing Street...
Our writers have voted for their favourite films of 2016! And here's what lies in second place...
See related Batman Forever: the case for and against Val Kilmer looks back on Batman Forever Joel Schumacher on Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, nipples Jim Carrey on Batman Forever: Tommy Lee Jones hated me
2. Sing Street
On Friday May 20th, John Carney’s latest film, Sing Street, opened in English, Welsh and Scottish cinemas (following a nine week run in Ireland and Northern Ireland). It did so off the back of a triumphant premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier in the year, and with reviews practically screaming from the page and screen about just what a charming, uplifting, wonderful film it was.
Carney, who had previously given the world Once and Begin Again,...
In second place in our favourite film of the year 2016 poll? That'd be Sing Street...
Our writers have voted for their favourite films of 2016! And here's what lies in second place...
See related Batman Forever: the case for and against Val Kilmer looks back on Batman Forever Joel Schumacher on Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, nipples Jim Carrey on Batman Forever: Tommy Lee Jones hated me
2. Sing Street
On Friday May 20th, John Carney’s latest film, Sing Street, opened in English, Welsh and Scottish cinemas (following a nine week run in Ireland and Northern Ireland). It did so off the back of a triumphant premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier in the year, and with reviews practically screaming from the page and screen about just what a charming, uplifting, wonderful film it was.
Carney, who had previously given the world Once and Begin Again,...
- 12/28/2016
- Den of Geek
Academy brass on Tuesday announced the roster of songs that will advance to the nominations stage for the 89th Academy Awards.
The original songs and the film in which each is featured are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:
Just Like Fire from Alice through The Looking Glass
Rise from American Wrestler: The Wizard
Friends from The Angry Birds Movie
Flicker from Audrie & Daisy
Seconds from Autumn Lights
A Minute To Breathe from Before The Flood
Glory (Let There Be Peace) from Believe
Mother’s Theme from Believe
Somewhere from Believe
The Only Way Out from Ben-Hur
Still Falling For You from Bridget Jones’s Baby
That from The Bronze
Torch Pt. 2 from Citizen Soldier
Drift And Fall Again from Criminal
Take Me Down from Deepwater Horizon
Land Of All from Desierto
Sad But True (Dreamland Theme) from Dreamland
Angel By The Wings from The Eagle Huntress
Blind Pig from Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them...
The original songs and the film in which each is featured are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:
Just Like Fire from Alice through The Looking Glass
Rise from American Wrestler: The Wizard
Friends from The Angry Birds Movie
Flicker from Audrie & Daisy
Seconds from Autumn Lights
A Minute To Breathe from Before The Flood
Glory (Let There Be Peace) from Believe
Mother’s Theme from Believe
Somewhere from Believe
The Only Way Out from Ben-Hur
Still Falling For You from Bridget Jones’s Baby
That from The Bronze
Torch Pt. 2 from Citizen Soldier
Drift And Fall Again from Criminal
Take Me Down from Deepwater Horizon
Land Of All from Desierto
Sad But True (Dreamland Theme) from Dreamland
Angel By The Wings from The Eagle Huntress
Blind Pig from Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them...
- 12/13/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has announced the 91 tunes eligible to compete for this year’s Best Original Songs, including three from “La La Land” alone. The most recent award went to “Writing’s on the Wall” from “Spectre,” the second consecutive James Bond film to be so honored; Adele won for “Skyfall” in 2012.
Read: ‘La La Land’: Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling’s ‘City of Stars’ Duet Will Sweep You Off Your Feet – Listen
This tends to be one of the Academy Awards’ more inclusive categories, often going to movies that get little or no other attention on Oscar night: Other recent winners and nominees include selections from “Frozen,” “The Muppets” and “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The final nominees will be announced on January 24. Full list below:
Read More: ‘Jackie’ Soundtrack: Stream Mica Levi’s Powerful, Haunting Score
“Just Like Fire” from “Alice through the Looking Glass...
Read: ‘La La Land’: Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling’s ‘City of Stars’ Duet Will Sweep You Off Your Feet – Listen
This tends to be one of the Academy Awards’ more inclusive categories, often going to movies that get little or no other attention on Oscar night: Other recent winners and nominees include selections from “Frozen,” “The Muppets” and “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The final nominees will be announced on January 24. Full list below:
Read More: ‘Jackie’ Soundtrack: Stream Mica Levi’s Powerful, Haunting Score
“Just Like Fire” from “Alice through the Looking Glass...
- 12/13/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
(Spoiler Alert: Do not keep reading if you are not caught up on Season 7 of “The Walking Dead”) “The Walking Dead” fans rejoiced this week after Daryl finally escaped his captivity at the hands of the Saviors, but he didn’t do so without help. In last week’s episode, someone slipped a note under the door of Daryl’s cell that said “Go now,” and attached a match and a key for good measure. So the question remains, who helped Daryl escape? Well, it just so happens that the key he was given belonged to his own motorcycle, the one Dwight took for.
- 12/13/2016
- by Joe Otterson
- The Wrap
Warning: If you have not watched this week's episode of The Walking Dead, Do Not Read Any Further! For everyone else, get your irons ready and let's do this…
The last time we saw Carl on The Walking Dead, he was headed off on one of the Saviors' trucks with Jesus on a mission to exact his revenge on Negan, and in the latest episode, he meets the man face to face.
Sunday's episode, titled "Sing Me a Song," finally gave us a look at the Sanctuary through Carl's eyes -- ahem, eye -- and while Carl's vision isn't exactly 20/20, here are six important things we learned:
1. Carl's a bit of a badass… and even Negan thinks so
Carl made one heck of an entrance once finally inside the Sanctuary's gates, killing two of Negan's men from the back of his truck -- and though he was quickly outnumbered by the Saviors, he made quite...
The last time we saw Carl on The Walking Dead, he was headed off on one of the Saviors' trucks with Jesus on a mission to exact his revenge on Negan, and in the latest episode, he meets the man face to face.
Sunday's episode, titled "Sing Me a Song," finally gave us a look at the Sanctuary through Carl's eyes -- ahem, eye -- and while Carl's vision isn't exactly 20/20, here are six important things we learned:
1. Carl's a bit of a badass… and even Negan thinks so
Carl made one heck of an entrance once finally inside the Sanctuary's gates, killing two of Negan's men from the back of his truck -- and though he was quickly outnumbered by the Saviors, he made quite...
- 12/5/2016
- Entertainment Tonight
Did The Walking Dead somehow think that we didn’t already hate Negan enough? Perhaps. Because Sunday’s episode sure seemed designed to make us loathe him more. Over the course of the plus-sized “Sing Me a Song,” he made one character wet his pants and several others cry, treated Daryl like a scruffy butler and got way too close for comfort to… On second thought, keep reading. We’ll get to that.
RelatedThe Walking Dead Hits a Four-Year Ratings Low — 6 Possible Reasons Why
‘You Are Adorable’ | Early on, as the truck heading for The Sanctuary neared its destination,...
RelatedThe Walking Dead Hits a Four-Year Ratings Low — 6 Possible Reasons Why
‘You Are Adorable’ | Early on, as the truck heading for The Sanctuary neared its destination,...
- 12/5/2016
- TVLine.com
Question: Is Negan a bad guy, or is he just highly evolved? In tonight's episode – "Sing Me a Song" – we saw a softer(-ish) side of the bat-wielding sociopath, as he took Carl on a tour of his Sanctuary ... and his point-of-view. The kid hung out in a harem, and witnessed a stray Savior taking a hot iron to the face. He saw how one man can inspire fear and fealty, by meting out merciless justice. More importantly, he got a rare insight into what matters to The Walking Dead's most dangerous adversary yet.
- 12/5/2016
- Rollingstone.com
Yesterday, the Toronto International Film Festival gave out its awards for 2016, with Damien Chazelle’s La La Land taking the top prize. That distinction, the People’s Choice prize, also known as the Audience Award, puts it into some very strong company (for those wondering, the first runner up was Lion, while the second runner up was Queen Of Katwe). The original musical, which stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, has been winning over viewers for a few weeks now, starting out at the Venice Film Festival, continuing at the Telluride Film Festival, and now charming everyone at Toronto. At this point, it was already considered the frontrunner in Best Picture, but now, one can say it with more distinction. Frankly, it’s hard not to consider this the one to beat right now. In terms of this particular award and its history, this is a somewhat reliable indicator of prestige.
- 9/19/2016
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Damien Chazelle.s brilliant musical .La La Land. starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (she recently won Best Actress at Venice International Film Festival) took home the People.s Choice Award making it the one to beat this award season! Since 2008 (except for 2011.s .Where Do We Go Now?.), every single People.s Choice Award Winner has been nominated for Best Picture Oscar with films like .Room,. .The Imitation Game,. .Silver Linings Playbook,. and .Precious.. Some even won Best Picture like .Slumdog Millionaire,. .The King.s Speech,. and .12 Years a Slave.. But don.t go betting on the film yet. There were some movies that dominated Tiff but was ignored by the Academy such as the aforementioned .Where Do We Go Now?,. .Bella,. .Eastern Promises,. .Zatoichi,. and .The Hanging Garden..
We shall see if .La La Land. will score big with Academy voters. For now, here.s the complete list...
We shall see if .La La Land. will score big with Academy voters. For now, here.s the complete list...
- 9/19/2016
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Toronto International Film Festival has closed out its annual ten-day run with a star-studded awards brunch, which featured the announcement of the festival’s various awards and prizes. Chief among them is the People’s Choice Award, Tiff’s most prestigious award and one chosen by audience members themselves (fans of the various films could log their vote either by depositing their ticket stubs in voting boxes available post-screening, or by voting online on the official Tiff app).
This year’s winner is Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land,” starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. You can read our full review of the film here. Runner-ups included “Lion” and “Queen of Katwe.”
Read More: IndieWire’s Movie Podcast (115): How Tiff Changed the Fall Movie Season
Often viewed as a harbinger of awards season glory, the Tiff People’s Choice Award winner has typically continued on to major Oscar attention.
This year’s winner is Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land,” starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. You can read our full review of the film here. Runner-ups included “Lion” and “Queen of Katwe.”
Read More: IndieWire’s Movie Podcast (115): How Tiff Changed the Fall Movie Season
Often viewed as a harbinger of awards season glory, the Tiff People’s Choice Award winner has typically continued on to major Oscar attention.
- 9/18/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Talent agent who ‘took over the boys’ club of Hollywood’ in the 70s and guided careers of Streisand, Dunaway and more gets biopic from Super Size Me director
Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock is set to direct a biopic of pioneering Hollywood superagent Sue Mengers, it has been announced.
According to Deadline, Spurlock’s production company has acquired rights to Brian Kellow’s Mengers biography Can I Go Now?, and the director is working on a script that may become his first dramatic feature.
Continue reading...
Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock is set to direct a biopic of pioneering Hollywood superagent Sue Mengers, it has been announced.
According to Deadline, Spurlock’s production company has acquired rights to Brian Kellow’s Mengers biography Can I Go Now?, and the director is working on a script that may become his first dramatic feature.
Continue reading...
- 6/29/2016
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Morgan Spurlock is set to direct, write and produce a film about the life of talent agent Sue Mengers.
According to Deadline, Spurlock’s company Warrior Poets acquired the rights to Brian Kellow’s bestselling biography “Can I Go Now: The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood’s Superagent.” The story will follow Mengers as she crashed the boys club that was Hollywood agenting, her star-studded clientele and the ups and downs she faced in her career.
“I’m a fan of big personalities, great characters, and she is both. More than that, I love people who buck the trend and do things that haven’t been done before and go into spaces unheard of, whether it be of gender or race,” said Spurlock. “Sue Mengers took over the boys club of Hollywood and did something groundbreaking. She proved not only that she could be part of this world; she...
According to Deadline, Spurlock’s company Warrior Poets acquired the rights to Brian Kellow’s bestselling biography “Can I Go Now: The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood’s Superagent.” The story will follow Mengers as she crashed the boys club that was Hollywood agenting, her star-studded clientele and the ups and downs she faced in her career.
“I’m a fan of big personalities, great characters, and she is both. More than that, I love people who buck the trend and do things that haven’t been done before and go into spaces unheard of, whether it be of gender or race,” said Spurlock. “Sue Mengers took over the boys club of Hollywood and did something groundbreaking. She proved not only that she could be part of this world; she...
- 6/28/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
Superagent Sue Mengers helped to broker the deals for some of Hollywood's most memorable onscreen roles; now, she will be getting the feature film treatment herself. Documentarian Morgan Spurlock's production company Warrior Poets has acquired the rights to Brian Kellow’s biography Can I Go Now?: The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood’s First Superagent. Spurlock will direct the film, which he will write with Warrior Poet COO Jeremy Chilnick. Spurlock and Chilnick also will produce, along with Richard Arlook. Mengers, known in equal parts for her bombastic personality and caftans, worked at Cma, ICM and Wma, with an expansive, rotating client list that included
read more...
read more...
- 6/28/2016
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Morgan Spurlock’s Warrior Poets has acquired rights to Brian Kellow’s bestselling biography Can I Go Now: The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood’s Superagent. Spurlock will direct a feature on Mengers, writing a script and producing with Warrior Poets COO Jeremy Chilnick, with Richard Arlook also producing. In her heyday, Mengers crashed the boys club that was Hollywood agenting, brandishing an outsized personality to go with her client list. In stints at McA, ICM…...
- 6/28/2016
- Deadline
From celebrated director and writer John Carney (Begin Again, Once), Sing Street arrives on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD and On Demand on July 26 from Anchor Bay Entertainment.
Audiences everywhere will be dancing in the streets when Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company release the universally praised film, Sing STREETon Blu-ray™ and DVD July 26, 2016 from Anchor Bay Entertainment and available on Digital HD and On Demand from Starz Digital July 26, 2016.
From celebrated director and writer John Carney (Begin Again, Once), the film features a stellar cast with Lucy Boynton (Miss Potter), Maria Doyle Kennedy (“Orphan Black”), Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones”), Jack Reynor (What Richard Did) and newcomers Kelly Thornton and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo. The Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh film is “funny, charming, poignant,” according to Katie Walsh at the Los Angeles Times.
Sing Street marches to the beat of an eighties drummer with the music and influence of The Clash, A-Ha, The Cure, Duran, Genesis, Spandau Ballet, The Jam, Motorhead and more. Also included in the film is an original emotional ballad “Go Now” penned by Maroon 5’s frontman Adam Levine.
Sing Street takes us back to 1980s Dublin seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy named Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who is looking for a break from a home strained by his parents’ relationship and money troubles, while trying to adjust to his new inner-city public school where the kids are rough and the teachers are rougher. He finds a glimmer of hope in the mysterious, über-cool and beautiful Raphina (Lucy Boynton), and with the aim of winning her heart he invites her to star in his band’s music videos. There’s only one problem: he’s not part of a band…yet. She agrees, and now Conor must deliver what he’s promised – calling himself “Cosmo” and immersing himself in the vibrant rock music trends of the decade, he forms a band with a few lads, and the group pours their heart into writing lyrics and shooting videos.
Inspired by writer/director John Carney’s life and love for music, Sing Street shows us a world where music has the power to take us away from the turmoil of everyday life and transform us into something greater. Sing Street is “an irresistible, feel-good movie”, Leonard Maltin.
Sing Street is rated PG-13. Runtime is 106 minutes. The Blu-ray and DVD bonus content includes Making Sing Street, Writer/Director John Carney and Adam Levine Talk Sing Street and nine cast auditions.
The post Sing Street Arrives on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD and On Demand on July 26 appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.
Audiences everywhere will be dancing in the streets when Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company release the universally praised film, Sing STREETon Blu-ray™ and DVD July 26, 2016 from Anchor Bay Entertainment and available on Digital HD and On Demand from Starz Digital July 26, 2016.
From celebrated director and writer John Carney (Begin Again, Once), the film features a stellar cast with Lucy Boynton (Miss Potter), Maria Doyle Kennedy (“Orphan Black”), Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones”), Jack Reynor (What Richard Did) and newcomers Kelly Thornton and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo. The Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh film is “funny, charming, poignant,” according to Katie Walsh at the Los Angeles Times.
Sing Street marches to the beat of an eighties drummer with the music and influence of The Clash, A-Ha, The Cure, Duran, Genesis, Spandau Ballet, The Jam, Motorhead and more. Also included in the film is an original emotional ballad “Go Now” penned by Maroon 5’s frontman Adam Levine.
Sing Street takes us back to 1980s Dublin seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy named Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who is looking for a break from a home strained by his parents’ relationship and money troubles, while trying to adjust to his new inner-city public school where the kids are rough and the teachers are rougher. He finds a glimmer of hope in the mysterious, über-cool and beautiful Raphina (Lucy Boynton), and with the aim of winning her heart he invites her to star in his band’s music videos. There’s only one problem: he’s not part of a band…yet. She agrees, and now Conor must deliver what he’s promised – calling himself “Cosmo” and immersing himself in the vibrant rock music trends of the decade, he forms a band with a few lads, and the group pours their heart into writing lyrics and shooting videos.
Inspired by writer/director John Carney’s life and love for music, Sing Street shows us a world where music has the power to take us away from the turmoil of everyday life and transform us into something greater. Sing Street is “an irresistible, feel-good movie”, Leonard Maltin.
Sing Street is rated PG-13. Runtime is 106 minutes. The Blu-ray and DVD bonus content includes Making Sing Street, Writer/Director John Carney and Adam Levine Talk Sing Street and nine cast auditions.
The post Sing Street Arrives on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD and On Demand on July 26 appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.
- 6/14/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
With field tests for Pokémon Go now underway in the U.S, Niantic and The Pokémon Company have revealed more about the mechanics of their upcoming mobile game. New information about the way battling will feature in the experience has been unveild, with both companies acknowledging just how important this element is to any Pokémon game.
We already know many of the basics about how Pokémon Go is going to run; players will create their avatar and take to the real world in search of over a hundred Pokémon. The smartphone will buzz when a wild beast is “near”, and you’ll be able to catch these by tossing Poké Balls once the encounter begins. These and other items can be found at PokéStops, which will appear at landmarks and places of interest in the world.
Along with these PokéStops, Gyms will also appear around the world. This will be where the battling comes in.
We already know many of the basics about how Pokémon Go is going to run; players will create their avatar and take to the real world in search of over a hundred Pokémon. The smartphone will buzz when a wild beast is “near”, and you’ll be able to catch these by tossing Poké Balls once the encounter begins. These and other items can be found at PokéStops, which will appear at landmarks and places of interest in the world.
Along with these PokéStops, Gyms will also appear around the world. This will be where the battling comes in.
- 5/25/2016
- by Gareth Cartwright
- We Got This Covered
The CW’s already renewed Crazy Ex-Girlfriend this Monday drew 710,000 total viewers and a 0.2 rating (per finals c/o TVByTheNumbers), dipping 12 percent and a tenth to its second-smallest audience ever and a new demo low.
RelatedThe CW Renews The Flash, Reign (!) and 9 Others
Leading out of that, Jane the Virgin (770K/0.3) slipped 16 percent and a tenth to hit and tie series lows.
Related2016 Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled? What’s on the Bubble?
Elsewhere in the ratings….
ABC | Dancing With the Stars (12.5 mil/1.8) was down from both its most recent (13.1 mil/2.1) and its year-ago (14.2 mil/2.1) premieres.
RelatedThe CW Renews The Flash, Reign (!) and 9 Others
Leading out of that, Jane the Virgin (770K/0.3) slipped 16 percent and a tenth to hit and tie series lows.
Related2016 Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled? What’s on the Bubble?
Elsewhere in the ratings….
ABC | Dancing With the Stars (12.5 mil/1.8) was down from both its most recent (13.1 mil/2.1) and its year-ago (14.2 mil/2.1) premieres.
- 3/22/2016
- TVLine.com
You probably know how these [City], I Love You films work: a collection of directors — and some very prestigious ones, at that — create short films that are set in and, perhaps in some way, defined by the area in question. This is a great idea that most would say has never exactly taken off, considering the tepid reception afforded Paris, je t’aime and New York, I Love You, as well as the absolute lack of attention paid to Tbilisi, I Love You. For better or for worse, there’s now Rio, I Love You, which collects the likes of Paolo Sorrentino, José Padilha, Fernando Meirelles, Guillermo Arriaga, and John Turturro to direct, among others, Harvey Keitel, Emily Mortimer, Vincent Cassel, Jason Isaacs, and Turturro himself.
The latest trailer — which arrives more than 18 months after an initial pair and the film’s premiere — is more promising, if only because it displays...
The latest trailer — which arrives more than 18 months after an initial pair and the film’s premiere — is more promising, if only because it displays...
- 3/1/2016
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Doha Film Institute flew me in via Istanbul to attend the Ajyal Youth Film Festival. My first time in Doha Qatar, I am stunned by the luxury of it all. The area is filled with large buildings, modern and yet very Arabic in style, from the huge gleaming glass and steel airport with its marble floors and empty, at least at 1:30 Am. Awaiting in the posh Al Mira Lounge for my drive to take me to the St. Regis Hotel -- again -- huge, with its arches and arabesque style towers, to the people, elegantly enshrouded women in black and men in gleaming white.
After a day to recuperate from my 24 hour flight, we, the press, had a welcome dinner and the next day was devoted to “The Idol” Opening Night Film’s press screening and press conference and to Opening Night itself with a lovely party and a band playing American movie tunes.
"Designed to inspire, and it works!" This Palestine/ UK/ Qatar/ Dubai/ Abu Dhabi/ Netherlands coproduction "The Idol" premiered at Toronto’s Tiff this September. After Doha, it won Antalya's Best Director Award before going on to Dubai Film Festival. This is a feel-good movie which gives a human voice to the Palestinian dilemma without being political or religious. It’s pure heart.
Read my interview with Hany Abu-Assad during Tiff.
“The Idol” was coproduced by Image Nation of Abu Dhabi, Enjaaz -- a Dubai Film Market initiative -- Doha Film institute with support from the Netherlands Film Fund. Mbc (Middle East Broadcasting Company) also coproduced and is handling the film’s release in the Middle East and North Africa. September’s Hans de Wolf was the Dutch coproducer and is distributing it in Benelux.
Speaking in Doha with producers Ali Jaafar, Amira Diab in the patio of Al Jazeera Press Center I was given an in-depth look at the origin of this production which will be seen across the Arab lands both theatrically and through Mbc. Mbc was the first to come on board when producer Ali pitched them the idea of making a movie of the phenomenal success story of Mohammed Assaf, a Palestinian who grew up in Gaza and whose voice became the voice of the nation when he won the Arab Idol contest in 2013.
Sydney Levine: Where did you come from? IMDb only lists one credit for you and that’s for “The Idol”.
Ali Jaafar: I was executive director of Tarak Ben Ammar’s Quinta Communications' film division for five years. The company co-produced Rachid Bouchareb’s Oscar Nominated “Outside The Law’”; Julian Schnabel’s “Miral”; Jean-Jacques Annaud’s “Black Gold” aka “Day of the Falcon” starring Antonio Banderas, Tahar Rahim and Freida Pinto, which was distributed by Warner Bros and Universal Pictures and was Doha Film Institute’s first film investment and the first major film to shoot in Qatar. It was an attempt to tell an epic Arabian story for the international audience. Filming took place in Tunisia during the Jasmine Revolution that led to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Filming finished on schedule and on budget with no interference, but it was a very difficult time for such a film to break out.
Quinta also co-produced “Where Do We Go Now” by Nadine Labaki known first for Caramel (2007) and more recently for Rio, I Love You(2014). “Where Do We Go Now” was the first Arabic film to win the prestigious Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Sl: How did you hook up with “The Idol”?
Ali: When the major pop TV show Arab Idol awarded its top prize to Mohammed Assaf, the next morning the media went wild. It was during the toughest time yet in the Arab world, with Tunisia’s Revolution igniting insurgencies in Libya, Egypt, Palestine. It was a great story. I spoke to Mbc suggesting they make a movie about it. They said yes and were onboard from the very beginning.
This was my first movie as a producer. I learned so much from Tarak. One of the things I learned was to have the best partners and Mbc was just that. They offered critical support, PR support all the way through filming, support in releasing and guidance in what works in the Middle East region.
Mbc helped with script development. Sameh Zoabi wrote the first two drafts of the film. With the Number One Media (Mbc) company on board, I was able to enlist others to help as well.
Sl: How did you get Hany on board as director?
Ali: Hany was my number one choice as director, but during my first year working on “The Idol”, he was busy promoting “Omar” and lining up a project with a big U.S. studio. He was a friend and I was hoping he might at least co-produce; he read the script and gradually, one year later we met in London. He said that the American movie had been pushed back one year so he was available, but he needed to start in January – which gave me three months to put it together.
Sl: Amira, so you’re Hany’s wife…where were you working before this film?
Amira: I had been living in London but we’re now living in L.A. My background is in financing.
Ali: Yes she brought in a major part of the financing on the film too.
Amira: I met Hany who said we need more women producers and the timing was right. When Ali called Hany, Hany brought me in to meet Ali. I spent a lot of time on the set with the line producer Baher Agbariya who became a coproducer. I also worked on the rewrite and worked with the kids.
Sl: And is it true that TV does not usually show movies? That is what I heard someone say during the Q&A.
Ali: This film is an important bridge in a very crowded marketplace. Cinema is more challenging for breaking out of borders. Usually what is Lebanese stays in Lebanon, what is Jordanian stays in Jordan, etc. Films do not easily cross borders – except for Egyptian films. And usually independent films are more arthouse rather than commercial. “The Idol” about a big pop star has breakout potential.
Sl: When Hany came on board, what did he do first?
Ali: He worked on the script, strengthening the relationship between the sister and brother, adding some elements.
Hany insisted on shooting on location in both Beirut and Cairo for the exterior scenes set in those cities so that the film would look and feel real. He was only given a three day permit to film in Gaza. Set in the devastated landscapes of a Gaza still reeling from the month-long bombardment in 2014, Abu-Assad and his crew were still able to find great moments of beauty and surprise. The Gaza Parkour Team, for example, supplies its amazing acrobatic display in the most surprising way in one moment, proving that art can thrive in even the most challenging of situations.
That desire for authenticity is also why Hany insisted on finding and employing real kids from Gaza to act in the film. The crew did a Gaza-wide search, holding casting sessions and rehearsals in schools across the area. Ultimately, the production was blessed to find four amazing Gazan children to star in the film, all first time actors, and all incredible natural performers.
The first half of the film takes place in a war-torn Gaza city which, for Mohammed Assaf, his sister Nour and their best friends Ahmad and Omar. is a playground where they freely ride their bikes, play music, football and dare to dream big. Their band might play on second hand, beat-up instruments but their ambitions are sky-high. Their ambition is to play at the world famous Cairo Opera Hall.
The world around Mohammed shatters. Through it all, however, he retains the hope that his voice will somehow deliver him from the pain that surrounds him and bring joy to others. He sings at weddings, he drives a taxi to pay for his university studies. Even as the siege around Gaza intensifies, the prison around them ever more forbidding, Mohammed knows he has a rare gift, the ability to make people smile and forget their anxieties about day to day living.
Sl: How did eOne become your international sales agent?
Ali: The international sales agent was critical for us as filmmakers. We had interest from a number of established European sales agents who would’ve done a good job but when EOne expressed their strong passion for the project it provided us with a great opportunity to position the film in a more commercial space in the marketplace.
EOne’s arthouse arm Seville took it to Afm and they presold almost all the territories, even China and Australia based on the powerful package of the script, Mbc, Hany and a great story.
Sl: I know international sales by Seville were made before Tiff to some 20 territories including Benelux (September Films -- the former Wild Bunch Benelux), France (TF1), Germany (Koch), Japan (New Select), Hong Kong (Edko), Hungary (Mtva), Australia (Umbrella), Latin America (California Filmes), Portugal (Outsider Films), South Africa (Times Media) Switzerland (Praesens), China (Beijing Xiangjiang YiHua Films), India (PVR), Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore (Red Pictures), Taiwan (Spring International), Former Yugoslavia (Discovery Films), Romania (Independenta), South Korea (Kaon Contents & Media) and Airlines (Captive). eOne will directly release the film in Spain. Mbc will distribute throughout the Middle East, including Palestine and North Africa.
Ali: We filmed “The Idol” with no advance publicity outside of the Middle East. When it premiered at Tiff, we announced the sales. After it premiered in Toronto we sealed the American deal with Adopt Films which had released Hany’s film “Omar” and a U.K. deal. That concluded world sales to every territory.
Sl: Where will it play next?
Ali: After Toronto it played London, Warsaw and Torino Film Festivals. It will go on to play in Turkey and Dubai Film Festivals. Eagle will release the film on December 24th in the Gulf states (Gcc) and on January 14th in the Levant (Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan). On the 21st it opens in Egypt. Mbc will release on its pan-Arab television network.
Also in January Rotterdam Film Festival will screen it Its U.S. release by Adopt will be sometime between spring and summer.
After a day to recuperate from my 24 hour flight, we, the press, had a welcome dinner and the next day was devoted to “The Idol” Opening Night Film’s press screening and press conference and to Opening Night itself with a lovely party and a band playing American movie tunes.
"Designed to inspire, and it works!" This Palestine/ UK/ Qatar/ Dubai/ Abu Dhabi/ Netherlands coproduction "The Idol" premiered at Toronto’s Tiff this September. After Doha, it won Antalya's Best Director Award before going on to Dubai Film Festival. This is a feel-good movie which gives a human voice to the Palestinian dilemma without being political or religious. It’s pure heart.
Read my interview with Hany Abu-Assad during Tiff.
“The Idol” was coproduced by Image Nation of Abu Dhabi, Enjaaz -- a Dubai Film Market initiative -- Doha Film institute with support from the Netherlands Film Fund. Mbc (Middle East Broadcasting Company) also coproduced and is handling the film’s release in the Middle East and North Africa. September’s Hans de Wolf was the Dutch coproducer and is distributing it in Benelux.
Speaking in Doha with producers Ali Jaafar, Amira Diab in the patio of Al Jazeera Press Center I was given an in-depth look at the origin of this production which will be seen across the Arab lands both theatrically and through Mbc. Mbc was the first to come on board when producer Ali pitched them the idea of making a movie of the phenomenal success story of Mohammed Assaf, a Palestinian who grew up in Gaza and whose voice became the voice of the nation when he won the Arab Idol contest in 2013.
Sydney Levine: Where did you come from? IMDb only lists one credit for you and that’s for “The Idol”.
Ali Jaafar: I was executive director of Tarak Ben Ammar’s Quinta Communications' film division for five years. The company co-produced Rachid Bouchareb’s Oscar Nominated “Outside The Law’”; Julian Schnabel’s “Miral”; Jean-Jacques Annaud’s “Black Gold” aka “Day of the Falcon” starring Antonio Banderas, Tahar Rahim and Freida Pinto, which was distributed by Warner Bros and Universal Pictures and was Doha Film Institute’s first film investment and the first major film to shoot in Qatar. It was an attempt to tell an epic Arabian story for the international audience. Filming took place in Tunisia during the Jasmine Revolution that led to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Filming finished on schedule and on budget with no interference, but it was a very difficult time for such a film to break out.
Quinta also co-produced “Where Do We Go Now” by Nadine Labaki known first for Caramel (2007) and more recently for Rio, I Love You(2014). “Where Do We Go Now” was the first Arabic film to win the prestigious Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Sl: How did you hook up with “The Idol”?
Ali: When the major pop TV show Arab Idol awarded its top prize to Mohammed Assaf, the next morning the media went wild. It was during the toughest time yet in the Arab world, with Tunisia’s Revolution igniting insurgencies in Libya, Egypt, Palestine. It was a great story. I spoke to Mbc suggesting they make a movie about it. They said yes and were onboard from the very beginning.
This was my first movie as a producer. I learned so much from Tarak. One of the things I learned was to have the best partners and Mbc was just that. They offered critical support, PR support all the way through filming, support in releasing and guidance in what works in the Middle East region.
Mbc helped with script development. Sameh Zoabi wrote the first two drafts of the film. With the Number One Media (Mbc) company on board, I was able to enlist others to help as well.
Sl: How did you get Hany on board as director?
Ali: Hany was my number one choice as director, but during my first year working on “The Idol”, he was busy promoting “Omar” and lining up a project with a big U.S. studio. He was a friend and I was hoping he might at least co-produce; he read the script and gradually, one year later we met in London. He said that the American movie had been pushed back one year so he was available, but he needed to start in January – which gave me three months to put it together.
Sl: Amira, so you’re Hany’s wife…where were you working before this film?
Amira: I had been living in London but we’re now living in L.A. My background is in financing.
Ali: Yes she brought in a major part of the financing on the film too.
Amira: I met Hany who said we need more women producers and the timing was right. When Ali called Hany, Hany brought me in to meet Ali. I spent a lot of time on the set with the line producer Baher Agbariya who became a coproducer. I also worked on the rewrite and worked with the kids.
Sl: And is it true that TV does not usually show movies? That is what I heard someone say during the Q&A.
Ali: This film is an important bridge in a very crowded marketplace. Cinema is more challenging for breaking out of borders. Usually what is Lebanese stays in Lebanon, what is Jordanian stays in Jordan, etc. Films do not easily cross borders – except for Egyptian films. And usually independent films are more arthouse rather than commercial. “The Idol” about a big pop star has breakout potential.
Sl: When Hany came on board, what did he do first?
Ali: He worked on the script, strengthening the relationship between the sister and brother, adding some elements.
Hany insisted on shooting on location in both Beirut and Cairo for the exterior scenes set in those cities so that the film would look and feel real. He was only given a three day permit to film in Gaza. Set in the devastated landscapes of a Gaza still reeling from the month-long bombardment in 2014, Abu-Assad and his crew were still able to find great moments of beauty and surprise. The Gaza Parkour Team, for example, supplies its amazing acrobatic display in the most surprising way in one moment, proving that art can thrive in even the most challenging of situations.
That desire for authenticity is also why Hany insisted on finding and employing real kids from Gaza to act in the film. The crew did a Gaza-wide search, holding casting sessions and rehearsals in schools across the area. Ultimately, the production was blessed to find four amazing Gazan children to star in the film, all first time actors, and all incredible natural performers.
The first half of the film takes place in a war-torn Gaza city which, for Mohammed Assaf, his sister Nour and their best friends Ahmad and Omar. is a playground where they freely ride their bikes, play music, football and dare to dream big. Their band might play on second hand, beat-up instruments but their ambitions are sky-high. Their ambition is to play at the world famous Cairo Opera Hall.
The world around Mohammed shatters. Through it all, however, he retains the hope that his voice will somehow deliver him from the pain that surrounds him and bring joy to others. He sings at weddings, he drives a taxi to pay for his university studies. Even as the siege around Gaza intensifies, the prison around them ever more forbidding, Mohammed knows he has a rare gift, the ability to make people smile and forget their anxieties about day to day living.
Sl: How did eOne become your international sales agent?
Ali: The international sales agent was critical for us as filmmakers. We had interest from a number of established European sales agents who would’ve done a good job but when EOne expressed their strong passion for the project it provided us with a great opportunity to position the film in a more commercial space in the marketplace.
EOne’s arthouse arm Seville took it to Afm and they presold almost all the territories, even China and Australia based on the powerful package of the script, Mbc, Hany and a great story.
Sl: I know international sales by Seville were made before Tiff to some 20 territories including Benelux (September Films -- the former Wild Bunch Benelux), France (TF1), Germany (Koch), Japan (New Select), Hong Kong (Edko), Hungary (Mtva), Australia (Umbrella), Latin America (California Filmes), Portugal (Outsider Films), South Africa (Times Media) Switzerland (Praesens), China (Beijing Xiangjiang YiHua Films), India (PVR), Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore (Red Pictures), Taiwan (Spring International), Former Yugoslavia (Discovery Films), Romania (Independenta), South Korea (Kaon Contents & Media) and Airlines (Captive). eOne will directly release the film in Spain. Mbc will distribute throughout the Middle East, including Palestine and North Africa.
Ali: We filmed “The Idol” with no advance publicity outside of the Middle East. When it premiered at Tiff, we announced the sales. After it premiered in Toronto we sealed the American deal with Adopt Films which had released Hany’s film “Omar” and a U.K. deal. That concluded world sales to every territory.
Sl: Where will it play next?
Ali: After Toronto it played London, Warsaw and Torino Film Festivals. It will go on to play in Turkey and Dubai Film Festivals. Eagle will release the film on December 24th in the Gulf states (Gcc) and on January 14th in the Levant (Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan). On the 21st it opens in Egypt. Mbc will release on its pan-Arab television network.
Also in January Rotterdam Film Festival will screen it Its U.S. release by Adopt will be sometime between spring and summer.
- 12/3/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Read More: 13 Events You Won't Want to Miss At This Year's New York Film Festival Thomas Bidegain (Director, "Les Cowboys") Why You May Know Him: Best known for writing screenplays for Jacques Audiard — from "A Prophet" to Palme d'Or winner "Dheepan" — Bidegain has also written on features like "Where Do We Go Now?" and "Saint Laurent," along with possessing an impressive background in screenplays for assorted shorts. "Les Cowboys" is his first crack at directing and, oddly enough, it comes from a script he didn't pen himself. What He's Bringing to Nyff: Already nominated for the Camera D'or at Cannes, Bidegain's directorial debut "Les Cowboys" follows a father who sets out to find his wayward daughter with the help of his own son. Billed as a modern spin on "The Searchers," the film is rooted in contemporary concerns told with classic storytelling. What's...
- 9/25/2015
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
If it's pictures of Peter Capaldi looking nervous next to a host of Daleks you're after, then you my friend, have come to the right place...
Doctor Who series nine is here, among us, whispering secrets in our ears and wearing checked trousers.
The first of the series-opening two-parter, The Magician's Apprentice, aired on Saturday the 19th of September, with the remaining half, The Witch's Familiar, due to follow at 7.45pm on BBC One on the 26th. You can read several of our thoughts on both, here, here, here and here.
As it traditional, the BBC has released a bunch of glossy, official images from the new episode, all of which are available to peruse below. (Obviously if you'd rather go in without even the merest spot of knowledge spoiling your lovely, clean, spoiler-free copy book, then leave this place. Go now, before you learn too much.)
The Witch's Familiar...
Doctor Who series nine is here, among us, whispering secrets in our ears and wearing checked trousers.
The first of the series-opening two-parter, The Magician's Apprentice, aired on Saturday the 19th of September, with the remaining half, The Witch's Familiar, due to follow at 7.45pm on BBC One on the 26th. You can read several of our thoughts on both, here, here, here and here.
As it traditional, the BBC has released a bunch of glossy, official images from the new episode, all of which are available to peruse below. (Obviously if you'd rather go in without even the merest spot of knowledge spoiling your lovely, clean, spoiler-free copy book, then leave this place. Go now, before you learn too much.)
The Witch's Familiar...
- 9/23/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
The Lebanese Culture Ministry has selected the film "Void" (وينن) as the nation's Oscar entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 88th Academy Awards.
Read More; The Czech Republic Taps 'Home Care' as Oscar Submission
Written by Georges Khabbaz, who also wrote and directed, "Ghadi," the country's last submission, "Void" was directed by seven young graduates from the Notre Dame University – Louaize: Naji Bechara, Jad Beyrouthy, Zeina Makki, Tarek Korkomaz, Christelle Ighniades, Maria Abdel Karim and Salim Habr.
"Void" revolves around six women searching for their loved ones who went missing during the Lebanese Civil War that took place from 1975 to 1990. While their stories offer diverse perspectives on the issue, all of them are pushing for the country's Parliament to reopen their cases and give them some answers.
The film is a Notre Dame University Production. U.S. rights are still available.
Read More: Mexico Picks '600 Miles' Starring Tim Roth as Oscar Entry
The Middle Eastern country has submitted films since 1978 but has yet to be nominated. Lebanon's highest profile submission was 2007's "Caramel" by Nadine Labaki, which eventually became the first Lebanese film to get a major U.S. theatrical release when it was picked up by Roadside Attractions. Labaki's followup "Where Do We Go Now?" was also submitted for AMPAS consideration and released stateside by Sony Pictures Classics but with less success that its predecessor.
Read More; The Czech Republic Taps 'Home Care' as Oscar Submission
Written by Georges Khabbaz, who also wrote and directed, "Ghadi," the country's last submission, "Void" was directed by seven young graduates from the Notre Dame University – Louaize: Naji Bechara, Jad Beyrouthy, Zeina Makki, Tarek Korkomaz, Christelle Ighniades, Maria Abdel Karim and Salim Habr.
"Void" revolves around six women searching for their loved ones who went missing during the Lebanese Civil War that took place from 1975 to 1990. While their stories offer diverse perspectives on the issue, all of them are pushing for the country's Parliament to reopen their cases and give them some answers.
The film is a Notre Dame University Production. U.S. rights are still available.
Read More: Mexico Picks '600 Miles' Starring Tim Roth as Oscar Entry
The Middle Eastern country has submitted films since 1978 but has yet to be nominated. Lebanon's highest profile submission was 2007's "Caramel" by Nadine Labaki, which eventually became the first Lebanese film to get a major U.S. theatrical release when it was picked up by Roadside Attractions. Labaki's followup "Where Do We Go Now?" was also submitted for AMPAS consideration and released stateside by Sony Pictures Classics but with less success that its predecessor.
- 9/20/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
At the height of her power, the legendary talent agent Sue Mengers managed the careers of Barbra Streisand, Ryan O’Neal, Gene Hackman, Ali McGraw, Burt Reynolds and many others. But her influence waned and by 1986 she left the business altogether after a long and successful run at ICM. Two years later, she returned to agenting at William Morris — and to a much different industry, as Brian Kellow writes in this exclusive excerpt from his new book, “Can I Go Now? The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood’s First Superagent.” It didn’t take Sue long to realize the mess that.
- 9/8/2015
- by Brian Kellow
- The Wrap
You have to admire the latest reboot from Under The Dome, the show that goes through sci-fi ideas at a rate of knots…
This review contains spoilers.
3.3 Redux
For a few beautiful months, there was hope in the world. Free from the dome, free from Chester’s Mill, life began to take direction. Things started to make sense. All that bonkers business to do with magic eggs and rains of blood was in the past. A future outside the orbit of Big Jim’s ego and beyond the whims of an impenetrable, unending wall of nonsense suddenly seemed possible.
And then? Under The Dome got renewed.
And we, its puzzlingly loyal viewers, were dragged from the gloopy safety of our cocoons and trapped inside for another thirteen weeks.
You have to admire this show’s stamina if nothing else. When it runs one idea into the ground, there are always...
This review contains spoilers.
3.3 Redux
For a few beautiful months, there was hope in the world. Free from the dome, free from Chester’s Mill, life began to take direction. Things started to make sense. All that bonkers business to do with magic eggs and rains of blood was in the past. A future outside the orbit of Big Jim’s ego and beyond the whims of an impenetrable, unending wall of nonsense suddenly seemed possible.
And then? Under The Dome got renewed.
And we, its puzzlingly loyal viewers, were dragged from the gloopy safety of our cocoons and trapped inside for another thirteen weeks.
You have to admire this show’s stamina if nothing else. When it runs one idea into the ground, there are always...
- 7/3/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Under The Dome is back with a ponderous double-length season 3 opener, which is already squandering its sci-fi potential...
This review contains spoilers.
3.1 Move On & 3.2 But I’m Not
Credit where it’s due. There were decent sci-fi ideas in Under The Dome’s season three opener: the cocoons, the alternate world, the strangle-happy alien disguised as a mild-mannered dead teen. Granted, they weren’t original sci-fi ideas, but they had potential. More potential at least than the tedious romances and ‘I love you/I’ve shot you!’ familial conflicts that pass for emotional drama round these parts.
But like a toddler first learning how to tell a joke, this show just can’t stop fluffing its punchlines. Under The Dome squandered every bit of promise the fake world concept had in record-breaking time, by a line uttered in the episode’s opening minutes. “We hope it takes us home,” said...
This review contains spoilers.
3.1 Move On & 3.2 But I’m Not
Credit where it’s due. There were decent sci-fi ideas in Under The Dome’s season three opener: the cocoons, the alternate world, the strangle-happy alien disguised as a mild-mannered dead teen. Granted, they weren’t original sci-fi ideas, but they had potential. More potential at least than the tedious romances and ‘I love you/I’ve shot you!’ familial conflicts that pass for emotional drama round these parts.
But like a toddler first learning how to tell a joke, this show just can’t stop fluffing its punchlines. Under The Dome squandered every bit of promise the fake world concept had in record-breaking time, by a line uttered in the episode’s opening minutes. “We hope it takes us home,” said...
- 6/27/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Mark takes a look at new six-part Netflix original sci-fi drama, Between, and finds it lacking in nuance...
This review contains spoilers.
1.1 School's Out
I agreed to review Between for two reasons; Daredevil was rather good, and at only six episodes long, I could handle the tedium if it wasn’t.
After watching the first episode, I can say with some certainty that this isn’t anything crafted remotely like Daredevil, and it harks back to an era of network TV that I’d thought we’d left behind long ago.
It starts with a rather dire future where almost half of Pretty Lake’s population is dead, and then rewinds to ten days before to explain how this happened. It doesn’t present any plausible explanation of the deaths, instead filling its time parading a series of increasingly uninteresting and loathsome characters who we’re supposed to identify with before Between is done.
This review contains spoilers.
1.1 School's Out
I agreed to review Between for two reasons; Daredevil was rather good, and at only six episodes long, I could handle the tedium if it wasn’t.
After watching the first episode, I can say with some certainty that this isn’t anything crafted remotely like Daredevil, and it harks back to an era of network TV that I’d thought we’d left behind long ago.
It starts with a rather dire future where almost half of Pretty Lake’s population is dead, and then rewinds to ten days before to explain how this happened. It doesn’t present any plausible explanation of the deaths, instead filling its time parading a series of increasingly uninteresting and loathsome characters who we’re supposed to identify with before Between is done.
- 6/3/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Cinefondation and Short Films juries also announced.
Us-Italian actress and film-maker Isabella Rossellini is to preside over the Un Certain Regard jury at the 68th Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24).
The jury members include: the Saudi Arabian director of Wadjda, Haifaa Al-Mansour; Lebanese director-actress Nadine Labaki, who was at Cannes in 2011 with Where Do We Go Now?; Greek film-maker Panos H. Koutras, whose Xenia played in Un Certain Regard last year; and the French star of A Prophet, Tahar Rahim, who stars in Elie Wajeman’s Critics’ Week opener The Anarchists.
A total of 19 films will go head-to=head in Un Certain Regard, which opens on May 14 with a screening of Naomi Kawase’s An.
Running in parallel to the Competition, the Un Certain Regard selection winners will be announced by the jury on May 23.
The film awarded the Un Certain Regard Prize will be shown at the end of Cannes’ closing ceremony.
Last year’s...
Us-Italian actress and film-maker Isabella Rossellini is to preside over the Un Certain Regard jury at the 68th Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24).
The jury members include: the Saudi Arabian director of Wadjda, Haifaa Al-Mansour; Lebanese director-actress Nadine Labaki, who was at Cannes in 2011 with Where Do We Go Now?; Greek film-maker Panos H. Koutras, whose Xenia played in Un Certain Regard last year; and the French star of A Prophet, Tahar Rahim, who stars in Elie Wajeman’s Critics’ Week opener The Anarchists.
A total of 19 films will go head-to=head in Un Certain Regard, which opens on May 14 with a screening of Naomi Kawase’s An.
Running in parallel to the Competition, the Un Certain Regard selection winners will be announced by the jury on May 23.
The film awarded the Un Certain Regard Prize will be shown at the end of Cannes’ closing ceremony.
Last year’s...
- 5/7/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Women will be in the majority on the Cannes Film Festival jury to judge the Un Certain Regard competition, festival organizers announced on Thursday. The four filmmakers who will join previously-announced jury president Isabella Rosellini include Haifaa Al-Mansour, the first woman to direct a film inside Saudi Arabia (“Wadjda”), and Nadine Labaki, whose Lebanese female-empowerment film “Where Do We Go Now?” won the audience award at the Toronto Film Festival in 2011. The male jurors on the five-person panel will be Greek filmmaker Panos H. Koutras (“Xenia”) and French actor Tahar Rahim (“A Prophet”). Prizes for the 19-film Un Certain Regard section.
- 5/7/2015
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Mel Gibson to film special trailer for the festival; plans for Lebanese cinema focus and tributes to late Us actor John Cazale and Chris Penn.
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) has unveiled plans for its 50th ‘annivarysary’ edition, set to run July 3-11.
The jubilee edition will include a look at recent Lebanese cinema, a retrospective of late Soviet-Ukrainian director Larisa Shepitko’s work and tributes to Us actors John Cazale and Chris Penn.
Actor-director Mel Gibson will also film a special trailer for the festival, set to be shot in Los Angeles in early May. The Lethal Weapon star received the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema at last year’s Kviff.
Gibson continues a tradition that sees the recipients of this award feature in a short trailer for the following festival. It will be written and directed by Martin Krejčí, who has collaborated with Ivan Zachariáš since the beginning of the...
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) has unveiled plans for its 50th ‘annivarysary’ edition, set to run July 3-11.
The jubilee edition will include a look at recent Lebanese cinema, a retrospective of late Soviet-Ukrainian director Larisa Shepitko’s work and tributes to Us actors John Cazale and Chris Penn.
Actor-director Mel Gibson will also film a special trailer for the festival, set to be shot in Los Angeles in early May. The Lethal Weapon star received the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema at last year’s Kviff.
Gibson continues a tradition that sees the recipients of this award feature in a short trailer for the following festival. It will be written and directed by Martin Krejčí, who has collaborated with Ivan Zachariáš since the beginning of the...
- 4/28/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
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