For the first time ever, a film streaming on Netflix (free for subscribers) and available on VOD ($5.99 for 48 hours) is #1 on both charts.
Toho’s late-2023 sleeper success and eventual Oscar Visual Effects winner, “Godzilla Minus One” achieved that feat with a totally unexpected and previously unannounced release on Saturday.
The film, released in early December to an unexpected U.S./Canada gross of $56 million, normally would have hit PVOD for rental for $19.99 by late January, been reduced to $5.99 after a few weeks, then found a streaming home. But because of vaguely defined agreements with Legendary Entertainment, Toho’s partner in making Warner Bros.’ costlier Godzilla films, the March opening of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” led to the early-February termination of theatrical dates for “Minus One.” That came despite the Toho film still doing business (and ahead of the Oscars). Then, Warner’s “Godzilla x Kong” could play without “Minus One” as competition.
Toho’s late-2023 sleeper success and eventual Oscar Visual Effects winner, “Godzilla Minus One” achieved that feat with a totally unexpected and previously unannounced release on Saturday.
The film, released in early December to an unexpected U.S./Canada gross of $56 million, normally would have hit PVOD for rental for $19.99 by late January, been reduced to $5.99 after a few weeks, then found a streaming home. But because of vaguely defined agreements with Legendary Entertainment, Toho’s partner in making Warner Bros.’ costlier Godzilla films, the March opening of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” led to the early-February termination of theatrical dates for “Minus One.” That came despite the Toho film still doing business (and ahead of the Oscars). Then, Warner’s “Godzilla x Kong” could play without “Minus One” as competition.
- 6/3/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Fang Flanagan. That’s who Liam Neeson is going to be playing in his next action role, in the film Mongoose. More here.
Another deal from Cannes Film Festival has been announced and it looks like Liam Neeson is signing up for some cross country vehicular mayhem.
The Taken (pictured) star once expressed some concern that his upcoming comedic turn in The Naked Gun remake (currently in production) could signal the end of his career and as unlikely as that might seem, should it prove to be the case, there’s no need to worry because Liam Neeson will at the very least get to make Mongoose.
But what is Mongoose? Glad you asked. Mongoose is a cross country car chase movie, starring the undisputed king of the action thriller. This time, Liam Neeson stars as the wonderfully-named ‘Ryan “Fang” Flanagan, a war hero who, accused of a crime he...
Another deal from Cannes Film Festival has been announced and it looks like Liam Neeson is signing up for some cross country vehicular mayhem.
The Taken (pictured) star once expressed some concern that his upcoming comedic turn in The Naked Gun remake (currently in production) could signal the end of his career and as unlikely as that might seem, should it prove to be the case, there’s no need to worry because Liam Neeson will at the very least get to make Mongoose.
But what is Mongoose? Glad you asked. Mongoose is a cross country car chase movie, starring the undisputed king of the action thriller. This time, Liam Neeson stars as the wonderfully-named ‘Ryan “Fang” Flanagan, a war hero who, accused of a crime he...
- 5/23/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Clara Rugaard and Til Schweiger lead the international cast of “Desperate Journey,” a newly-announced thriller set in the burlesque world of 1940s Paris.
The film — which has now wrapped production — comes from Emblem Pictures, and was written by two-time Oscar nominee Michael Radford (best known for directing 1994 global sensation “Il Postino”) and directed by Emmy winner Annabel Jankel (“Tell It to the Bees”).
Produced by Warren Derosa and Zsófia Kende, “Desperate Journey” is based on the true story of Freddie Knoller (played by Tønnesen), a young man forced to flee Vienna as Nazi hysteria takes hold. Knoller’s captivating story has been widely recognized around the world and he was honored by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Rounding out the supporting cast of the film are Sienna Guillory (“Meg 2: The Trench,” “Clifford the Big Red Dog”), Steven Berkoff, Fernando Guallar (“Love Divided”), Hugo Speer (“The Full Monty...
The film — which has now wrapped production — comes from Emblem Pictures, and was written by two-time Oscar nominee Michael Radford (best known for directing 1994 global sensation “Il Postino”) and directed by Emmy winner Annabel Jankel (“Tell It to the Bees”).
Produced by Warren Derosa and Zsófia Kende, “Desperate Journey” is based on the true story of Freddie Knoller (played by Tønnesen), a young man forced to flee Vienna as Nazi hysteria takes hold. Knoller’s captivating story has been widely recognized around the world and he was honored by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Rounding out the supporting cast of the film are Sienna Guillory (“Meg 2: The Trench,” “Clifford the Big Red Dog”), Steven Berkoff, Fernando Guallar (“Love Divided”), Hugo Speer (“The Full Monty...
- 5/1/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Star Wars The Phantom Menace: Where Are They Now in 2024 on Film's 25th Anniversary? - Main Image
What happened to the cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace since 1999? Where are they now? In celebration of Star Wars: Phantom Menace's 25th anniversary, fans will get to rewatch the entire Skywalker Saga in theaters this May.
Where Are the Original Cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in 2024?
As fans reminisce about the first chapter of the Skywalker saga, here's where the cast is, as of 2024!
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn
Initially starring as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in 1999's Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Liam Neeson later became involved in several projects in the franchise.
Moving past being best known for his action flicks like Taken, Neeson lent his voice in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker and Tales of the Jedi to reprise his role.
What happened to the cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace since 1999? Where are they now? In celebration of Star Wars: Phantom Menace's 25th anniversary, fans will get to rewatch the entire Skywalker Saga in theaters this May.
Where Are the Original Cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in 2024?
As fans reminisce about the first chapter of the Skywalker saga, here's where the cast is, as of 2024!
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn
Initially starring as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in 1999's Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Liam Neeson later became involved in several projects in the franchise.
Moving past being best known for his action flicks like Taken, Neeson lent his voice in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker and Tales of the Jedi to reprise his role.
- 5/1/2024
- EpicStream
Home viewing charts inspire deja vu: “Anyone but You,” a hit as a PVOD release, just debuted at Netflix. It knocked out Netflix’s expensive “Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver” from first place after two weeks, falling to #6.
Similarly, “Dune: Part Two” returned for its second week as #1 at both iTunes (ranking by transactions) and Fandango (which calculates by revenue).
The “Dune” sequel fended off challenges by two recent theatrical releases. Dev Patel’s “Monkey Man” (Universal), once intended as a Netflix original, is #2 at iTunes, third at Fandango. The family-oriented “Arthur the King” (Lionsgate) took second at Fandango, but only #6 at iTunes. Both initially are available to rent for 48 hours for $19.99.
Two new home-play debuts also made top 10 lists. “Cash Out” (Saban) is #9 at iTunes, renting at $6.99; starring John Travolta, the critically reviled title may be getting as much attention for its little-known director Ives. That’s...
Similarly, “Dune: Part Two” returned for its second week as #1 at both iTunes (ranking by transactions) and Fandango (which calculates by revenue).
The “Dune” sequel fended off challenges by two recent theatrical releases. Dev Patel’s “Monkey Man” (Universal), once intended as a Netflix original, is #2 at iTunes, third at Fandango. The family-oriented “Arthur the King” (Lionsgate) took second at Fandango, but only #6 at iTunes. Both initially are available to rent for 48 hours for $19.99.
Two new home-play debuts also made top 10 lists. “Cash Out” (Saban) is #9 at iTunes, renting at $6.99; starring John Travolta, the critically reviled title may be getting as much attention for its little-known director Ives. That’s...
- 4/29/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is a smash, folks. First off, Alex Godfrey talks to ace actor Mike Faist, star of Luca Guadagnino's new tennis movie, Challengers [23:12 - 37:33 approx.], and then Chris Hewitt has a Zoom session (apologies if the sound is slightly distorted — tech issues) with Kerry Condon, Oscar-nominated star of The Banshees Of Inisherin, voice of F.R.I.D.A.Y. in the MCU, and star of this week's Liam Neeson thriller, In The Lands Of Saints And Sinners. [57:25 - 1:15:29 approx.] Either side of those, Chris hosts in the podbooth and is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and, for a spell, Sophie Butcher, to discuss the week's movie news, including the latest Deadpool & Wolverine trailer, review Challengers, In The Land Of Saints And Sinners, Boy Kills World, and Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver, and tackle a listener question that has stuck around from last week, and mutated somehow into a...
- 4/26/2024
- by Chris Hewitt
- Empire - Movies
Having won a BAFTA (and landed an Oscar nomination) for her role as Colin Farrell’s kind-hearted but cynical — and distinctly less donkey-friendly — sister in Martin McDonagh’s darkly comic “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Kerry Condon is back in her native Ireland for her next film role.
Set in the height of the Troubles in the mid-1970s, Robert Lorenz’s Irish Western “In the Land of Saints and Sinners,” which launches on Netflix Friday, sees the actress ditch all niceties to play a hard-nosed, mean-as-hell, extremely potty-mouthed and very violent Ira gang leader trying to lie low in rural Donegal following a deadly pub bombing. But it’s not long before she’s up against Liam Neeson, whose demeanor as a quiet widow and secondhand book dealer masks a secret identity as a local hitman for Colm Meaney’s village mobster. Like any good Western, the two eventually face...
Set in the height of the Troubles in the mid-1970s, Robert Lorenz’s Irish Western “In the Land of Saints and Sinners,” which launches on Netflix Friday, sees the actress ditch all niceties to play a hard-nosed, mean-as-hell, extremely potty-mouthed and very violent Ira gang leader trying to lie low in rural Donegal following a deadly pub bombing. But it’s not long before she’s up against Liam Neeson, whose demeanor as a quiet widow and secondhand book dealer masks a secret identity as a local hitman for Colm Meaney’s village mobster. Like any good Western, the two eventually face...
- 4/26/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
With two major sci-fi sequels debuting this week to lead the VOD and Netflix charts, the new films also inspired victory laps for the Part Ones of “Dune” and “Rebel Moon.”
“Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) leads at both iTunes and Fandango, and Netflix’s original “Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver” is #1 at the streamer. iTunes packaged the 2021 “Dune: Part One” with its sequel as a $34.99 purchase, and it ranks second there. (“Dune: Part Two” alone rents for 48 hours for $24.99.) “Rebel Moon — Part One” returned at #7 on Netflix’s top 10.
Three other recent theatrical releases also transitioned to home viewing, with curiously different pricing and availability strategies. The top grosser is Neon’s “Immaculate” (approaching $16 million), but it rents for the lowest price: $9.99. “Late Night with the Devil” (IFC) is $14.99, but for that price consumers own it. “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” (Goldwyn) with Liam Neeson is a standard $19.99 rental.
“Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) leads at both iTunes and Fandango, and Netflix’s original “Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver” is #1 at the streamer. iTunes packaged the 2021 “Dune: Part One” with its sequel as a $34.99 purchase, and it ranks second there. (“Dune: Part Two” alone rents for 48 hours for $24.99.) “Rebel Moon — Part One” returned at #7 on Netflix’s top 10.
Three other recent theatrical releases also transitioned to home viewing, with curiously different pricing and availability strategies. The top grosser is Neon’s “Immaculate” (approaching $16 million), but it rents for the lowest price: $9.99. “Late Night with the Devil” (IFC) is $14.99, but for that price consumers own it. “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” (Goldwyn) with Liam Neeson is a standard $19.99 rental.
- 4/22/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
The action thriller In the Land of Saints and Sinners was recently given a limited theatrical release in the United States, and JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray had the chance to talk to one of the film’s stars: Jack Gleeson, who may be best known for playing the role of Joffrey Baratheon on 27 episodes of Game of Thrones. You can watch Bumbray’s interview with Gleeson in the video embedded above, and you can read his 8/10 review of In the Land of Saints and Sinners at This Link.
Reuniting Liam Neeson with his The Marksman director Robert Lorenz, In the Land of Saints and Sinners was written by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane (with revisions by Matthew Feitshans). It tells the following story: Ireland, 1970s. Eager to leave his dark past behind, Finbar Murphy leads a quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glencolmcille, far from the...
Reuniting Liam Neeson with his The Marksman director Robert Lorenz, In the Land of Saints and Sinners was written by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane (with revisions by Matthew Feitshans). It tells the following story: Ireland, 1970s. Eager to leave his dark past behind, Finbar Murphy leads a quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glencolmcille, far from the...
- 4/9/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Liam Neeson stars in In the Land of Saints and Sinners, a film directed by Robert Lorenz.
In the golden age of cinema, spanning the 1950s and 60s, a star actor’s presence was so dominant that their character, the one they consistently played, heavily influenced the movie. It used to be a movie tailored for James Stewart or Cary Grant, with minimal variations of their “hero” or “villain” roles.
The same case applies to Liam Neeson, who has embraced this traditional role, heavily influencing nearly every movie he stars in or as we suspect, the films seem to be specifically designed for him. Decades ago, someone decided that this man, Liam Neeson, embodied goodness, whether portraying the character of Oskar Schindler or, in this case, a killer with a heart.
In the Land of Saints and Sinners Plot:
Finbar Murphy is a killer living in an Irish village in...
In the golden age of cinema, spanning the 1950s and 60s, a star actor’s presence was so dominant that their character, the one they consistently played, heavily influenced the movie. It used to be a movie tailored for James Stewart or Cary Grant, with minimal variations of their “hero” or “villain” roles.
The same case applies to Liam Neeson, who has embraced this traditional role, heavily influencing nearly every movie he stars in or as we suspect, the films seem to be specifically designed for him. Decades ago, someone decided that this man, Liam Neeson, embodied goodness, whether portraying the character of Oskar Schindler or, in this case, a killer with a heart.
In the Land of Saints and Sinners Plot:
Finbar Murphy is a killer living in an Irish village in...
- 4/6/2024
- by Molly Se-kyung
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Jack Gleeson and Liam Neeson in In The Land Of Saints And Sinners
In US cinemas now and coming to Netflix on 26 April, In The Land Of Saints And Sinners, directed by Robert Lorenz, marks a real return to form for Liam Neeson, who gets a chance to remind viewers what he can do as an actor after playing a string of underwritten characters in Hollywood actioners. He plays a retired hitman who falls in with a young up-and-coming assassin played by Jack Gleeson, who will be most familiar to viewers as Joffrey Baratheon from Game Of Thrones. Having arranged to meet up with Jack for an interview, I begin by thanking him, as I really enjoyed the film and might have missed it otherwise.
“I guess this is a nice meeting ground between the style of film Liam Neeson's been known for recently, a big action film, but then it also has a heart,...
In US cinemas now and coming to Netflix on 26 April, In The Land Of Saints And Sinners, directed by Robert Lorenz, marks a real return to form for Liam Neeson, who gets a chance to remind viewers what he can do as an actor after playing a string of underwritten characters in Hollywood actioners. He plays a retired hitman who falls in with a young up-and-coming assassin played by Jack Gleeson, who will be most familiar to viewers as Joffrey Baratheon from Game Of Thrones. Having arranged to meet up with Jack for an interview, I begin by thanking him, as I really enjoyed the film and might have missed it otherwise.
“I guess this is a nice meeting ground between the style of film Liam Neeson's been known for recently, a big action film, but then it also has a heart,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
IFC Films’ Late Night With The Devil topped the specialty market in its second week, as a Tollywood and a Bollywood film both made the top ten in a rare occurrence. Strong horror and Indian fare have helped buoy the box office since Covid. They continue to fill in the top ten, including this week, which boasts a monstrous hit in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire — but is a neighborhood with fewer overall wide release due to Hollywood strikes.
Scary first: Late Night With The Devil by Australian duo Colin and Cameron Cairnes stars David Dastmalchian, perfection as a late 1970s talk show host whose quest for ratings on a Halloween night broadcast goes nowhere good, unleashing evil into the nation’s living rooms. It grossed $2.2 million on 1,442 screens in week two, for a cume of $6.2 million. The film is in the top ten again, at no. 7.
A pleased...
Scary first: Late Night With The Devil by Australian duo Colin and Cameron Cairnes stars David Dastmalchian, perfection as a late 1970s talk show host whose quest for ratings on a Halloween night broadcast goes nowhere good, unleashing evil into the nation’s living rooms. It grossed $2.2 million on 1,442 screens in week two, for a cume of $6.2 million. The film is in the top ten again, at no. 7.
A pleased...
- 3/31/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Liam Neeson crime thriller In the Land of Saints and Sinners opens on 896 screens this weekend, joined by Sean Penn in Asphalt City — the Godzilla vs. Kong of the specialty market?
Neeson reunites with The Marksman director Robert Lorenz as a newly retired assassin in a remote Irish village who finds himself drawn into a lethal game of cat and mouse with a trio of vengeful terrorists. Ciarán Hinds, Kerry Condon, Colm Meaney and Jack Gleeson also star in Land of Saints and Sinners, which premiered at Venice, and was shot in County Donegal, Ireland. Screenplay by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane. Samuel Goldwyn Films’ widest release post-pandemic sits at 80% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Penn stars with Tye Sheridan in Asphalt City, Vertical’s co-release with Roadside Attractions that opens on 297 screens, also with a national footprint. Young paramedic Ollie Cross (Sheridan) is paired with seasoned partner Gene...
Neeson reunites with The Marksman director Robert Lorenz as a newly retired assassin in a remote Irish village who finds himself drawn into a lethal game of cat and mouse with a trio of vengeful terrorists. Ciarán Hinds, Kerry Condon, Colm Meaney and Jack Gleeson also star in Land of Saints and Sinners, which premiered at Venice, and was shot in County Donegal, Ireland. Screenplay by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane. Samuel Goldwyn Films’ widest release post-pandemic sits at 80% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Penn stars with Tye Sheridan in Asphalt City, Vertical’s co-release with Roadside Attractions that opens on 297 screens, also with a national footprint. Young paramedic Ollie Cross (Sheridan) is paired with seasoned partner Gene...
- 3/29/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
At some point during the first act of Robert Lorenz’s handsome but egregiously hackneyed “In the Land of Saints and Sinners,” which is maybe the 900th Liam Neeson movie about a weary hitman/rancher/fixer/truck driver/ex-cop/very tall person who decides to take matters into his own hands when some bad guys step over the line, the prolific Irish actor turns to one of his scene partners and sighs: “There’s more to me than this, and I’d like folks to see it.”
Needless to say, the first part of that sentence is much easier to believe than the second.
Cast here as a regretful assassin who tries to change his ways at the height of the Troubles (only to get mixed up with a trio of Ira terrorists who take cover in his quaint coastal village after a car bomb goes wrong), Neeson again reaffirms...
Needless to say, the first part of that sentence is much easier to believe than the second.
Cast here as a regretful assassin who tries to change his ways at the height of the Troubles (only to get mixed up with a trio of Ira terrorists who take cover in his quaint coastal village after a car bomb goes wrong), Neeson again reaffirms...
- 3/29/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Plot: In 1974, an aging hitman (Liam Neeson) tries to leave his violent past behind and reinvent himself in a small, isolated town in Ireland. However, his good nature leads to him making a fateful decision that puts him in the crosshairs of an insane Ira assassin (Kerry Condon) and her cronies.
Review: I know what you’re thinking – another Liam Neeson action flick. Ho-hum. Normally, I’d be right there with you. While no one can deny he’s become the 21st century’s version of Charles Bronson, with him churning out a steady diet of B-level action flicks, not all of them are disposable in the way something like Blacklight, Honest Thief, Retribution and too many others are. Once in a while, he works with a really interesting director, such as on the beautifully photographed Marlowe by Neil Jordan. One of his better recent action flicks was definitely The Marksman,...
Review: I know what you’re thinking – another Liam Neeson action flick. Ho-hum. Normally, I’d be right there with you. While no one can deny he’s become the 21st century’s version of Charles Bronson, with him churning out a steady diet of B-level action flicks, not all of them are disposable in the way something like Blacklight, Honest Thief, Retribution and too many others are. Once in a while, he works with a really interesting director, such as on the beautifully photographed Marlowe by Neil Jordan. One of his better recent action flicks was definitely The Marksman,...
- 3/29/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
“In the Land of Saints and Sinners” is a new action feature, directed by Robert Lorenz, starring Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon, Colm Meaney, Ciaran Hinds, Jack Gleeson, Desmond Eastwood and Sarah Greene, opening March 29, 2024 in theaters:
“…hoping to leave his dark past behind him, a degenerate but now ‘reformed’ hired killer ‘Finbar Murphy’, leads a quiet life in a coastal Irish town, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country.
“But when terrorists show up, Finbar soon discovers that one of them has been abusing a local girl.
‘Drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, he must choose between exposing his secret identity and defending his friends and neighbors…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…hoping to leave his dark past behind him, a degenerate but now ‘reformed’ hired killer ‘Finbar Murphy’, leads a quiet life in a coastal Irish town, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country.
“But when terrorists show up, Finbar soon discovers that one of them has been abusing a local girl.
‘Drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, he must choose between exposing his secret identity and defending his friends and neighbors…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 3/29/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
It’s only been six months since the release of Liam Neeson’s last film, which means theaters are overdue for another thriller led by the prolific star. His latest vehicle, “In the Land of Saints and Sinners,” arrives with an unusual distinction: Directed by Robert Lorenz, the film premiered in Venice a month before another Neeson movie, the maligned bomb-threat thriller “Retribution,” hit U.S. screens. Being selected by such a festival lends ”Saints and Sinners” a whiff of prestige, which it decidedly earns. In fact, the film practically resembles a “one for me” endeavor for the star, with its windswept Irish landscapes and thoughtful reserve, putting the actor among an ensemble of his fellow countrymen and providing the performances room to find poignancy.
The story opens with its most suspenseful action: a bombing by an Ira platoon in Belfast that accidentally kills a group of young children, setting...
The story opens with its most suspenseful action: a bombing by an Ira platoon in Belfast that accidentally kills a group of young children, setting...
- 3/28/2024
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Ciarán Hinds and Liam Neeson in In The Land Of Saints And SinnersImage: Samuel Goldwyn Films
It’s clear early on in In The Land Of Saints And Sinners that director Robert Lorenz was inspired by his frequent collaborator Clint Eastwood. Lorenz was Eastwood’s producer and second-unit director for many years,...
It’s clear early on in In The Land Of Saints And Sinners that director Robert Lorenz was inspired by his frequent collaborator Clint Eastwood. Lorenz was Eastwood’s producer and second-unit director for many years,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Murtada Elfadl
- avclub.com
Liam Neeson has a very particular set of skills, which apparently does not include embodying the Easter Bunny. In a skit on The Late Show, the actor auditioned to play the furry holiday rabbit, bringing an undeniable intensity to the popular verse, “Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail. Hippity hoppity, Easter’s on its way.”
When asked to keep it light, with the producer reminding Neeson the character is for children, Neeson explained, “Do you understand what’s happening here? He’s hopping down the bunny trail,...
When asked to keep it light, with the producer reminding Neeson the character is for children, Neeson explained, “Do you understand what’s happening here? He’s hopping down the bunny trail,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Easter weekend should help end March as one of the best months of the year so far, thanks to yet another major franchise sequel, this time “Godzilla.” Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.
As March comes to an end, considerably better than earlier months this year, Warner Bros. are releasing the third sequel of the month that follows up a pandemic release, as “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” brings back the giant monsters that Legendary Pictures has been shepherding along since the 2014 “Godzilla” opened with $93 million, grossed $200.7 million domestic and $529 million globally. In 2017, “Kong: Skull Island” opened with $61 million, leading into 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” which opened with considerably less, $47.8 million, and only made $383 million worldwide.
Those three movies led to 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong,” which was stymied by the pandemic when it was released in late March 2021, just as movie theaters were reopening...
As March comes to an end, considerably better than earlier months this year, Warner Bros. are releasing the third sequel of the month that follows up a pandemic release, as “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” brings back the giant monsters that Legendary Pictures has been shepherding along since the 2014 “Godzilla” opened with $93 million, grossed $200.7 million domestic and $529 million globally. In 2017, “Kong: Skull Island” opened with $61 million, leading into 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” which opened with considerably less, $47.8 million, and only made $383 million worldwide.
Those three movies led to 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong,” which was stymied by the pandemic when it was released in late March 2021, just as movie theaters were reopening...
- 3/27/2024
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Liam Neeson was 56 when his career took an unexpected detour into the action hero genre thanks to 2008’s Taken, a Pierre Morel-directed surprise blockbuster that raked in more than $226 million worldwide and kick-started a franchise. He’s kept up a respectable pace ever since, churning out high-octane thrillers one after the next — and he’s not ready to hang up his holster.
“Audiences are innately intelligent and they’ll know when you’re past your prime in regards to throwing punches and firing guns, but I’m not there yet,” explained Neeson over Zoom last week while discussing his newest film, In the Land of Saints and Sinners. The Samuel Goldwyn Films release casts Neeson, who will be 72 in June, as Finbar Murphy, a man leading a relatively quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glencolmcille, Ireland, in the 1970s. While he’s eager to leave a dark past behind,...
“Audiences are innately intelligent and they’ll know when you’re past your prime in regards to throwing punches and firing guns, but I’m not there yet,” explained Neeson over Zoom last week while discussing his newest film, In the Land of Saints and Sinners. The Samuel Goldwyn Films release casts Neeson, who will be 72 in June, as Finbar Murphy, a man leading a relatively quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glencolmcille, Ireland, in the 1970s. While he’s eager to leave a dark past behind,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Hopefully my other cast members will be funny and sexy,” says Liam Neeson, expressing how nervous he is about starring in The Naked Gun remake.
You’d think that after conquering the world of action cinema, everything else would seem like a doddle, but for Liam Neeson, that isn’t the case. Following 2008’s Taken, the world became thoroughly convinced of Liam Neeson’s ‘hard man’ bona fides.
With long-standing success in that genre now secured, could Neeson be plotting a similar career trajectory to the one Tom Cruise is said to be charting? That means making a few smart choices to gradually move away from action by working with auteur directors in a carefully-staged bid to remind the world of his dramatic chops as an actor.
The answer, of course, is no. Instead, Neeson is heading to the world of absurdist comedy in a remake of 1988’s The Naked Gun.
You’d think that after conquering the world of action cinema, everything else would seem like a doddle, but for Liam Neeson, that isn’t the case. Following 2008’s Taken, the world became thoroughly convinced of Liam Neeson’s ‘hard man’ bona fides.
With long-standing success in that genre now secured, could Neeson be plotting a similar career trajectory to the one Tom Cruise is said to be charting? That means making a few smart choices to gradually move away from action by working with auteur directors in a carefully-staged bid to remind the world of his dramatic chops as an actor.
The answer, of course, is no. Instead, Neeson is heading to the world of absurdist comedy in a remake of 1988’s The Naked Gun.
- 3/26/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
Leslie Nielsen famously flipped his career 180 degrees when he started working with the Zuckers — David and Jerry — on the 1980 comedy Airplane! Nielsen was a seasoned dramatic actor who took his serious demeanor and used it to deliver the silliest of lines in a dry manner, resulting in some of the greatest comedy performances. Nielsen was able to become a leading man late in his career in The Naked Gun series, which would then spin him off into more leading roles in similar comedies, which would not necessarily be made by the Zuckers.
Enter Liam Neeson. The thespian has already reinvented himself when the former dramatic actor starred in 2008’s Taken, which showed that he could use his tall stature in the action genre. Neeson’s acting route would eventually land him in some comedy roles, including a self-parody guest spot on Life’s Too Short and working with Seth MacFarlane on...
Enter Liam Neeson. The thespian has already reinvented himself when the former dramatic actor starred in 2008’s Taken, which showed that he could use his tall stature in the action genre. Neeson’s acting route would eventually land him in some comedy roles, including a self-parody guest spot on Life’s Too Short and working with Seth MacFarlane on...
- 3/25/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
“In the Land of Saints and Sinners” is a new action feature, directed by Robert Lorenz, starring Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon, Colm Meaney, Ciaran Hinds, Jack Gleeson, Desmond Eastwood and Sarah Greene, opening Mtach 29, 2024 in theaters:
“…hoping to leave his dark past behind him, a degenerate but now ‘reformed’ hired killer ‘Finbar Murphy’, leads a quiet life in a coastal Irish town, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country.
“But when terrorists show up, Finbar soon discovers that one of them has been abusing a local girl.
‘Drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, he must choose between exposing his secret identity and defending his friends and neighbors…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…hoping to leave his dark past behind him, a degenerate but now ‘reformed’ hired killer ‘Finbar Murphy’, leads a quiet life in a coastal Irish town, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country.
“But when terrorists show up, Finbar soon discovers that one of them has been abusing a local girl.
‘Drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, he must choose between exposing his secret identity and defending his friends and neighbors…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 2/1/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
In the Land of Saints and Sinners trailer pits Liam Neeson in a cat and mouse game with Kerry Condon
Liam Neeson returns to his native Ireland with an ensemble cast of notable Irish actors in the “Irish-Western,” In the Land of Saints and Sinners. The film comes from director Robert Lorenz. Along with Neeson, the crime thriller also stars Colm Meaney, Oscar® nominee Ciaran Hinds, Oscar® nominee Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin), Jack Gleeson (Game of Thrones), Desmond Eastwood (Normal People) and Sarah Greene (Bad Sisters).
The official synopsis from Samuel-Goldwyn films reads,
“Ireland, 1970s. Eager to leave his dark past behind, Finbar Murphy (Liam Neeson) leads a quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glencolmcille, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country. But when a menacing crew of terrorists arrive, led by a ruthless woman named Doirean (Kerry Condon), Finbar is drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, forcing him to choose between exposing his secret identity or defending his friends and neighbors.
The official synopsis from Samuel-Goldwyn films reads,
“Ireland, 1970s. Eager to leave his dark past behind, Finbar Murphy (Liam Neeson) leads a quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glencolmcille, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country. But when a menacing crew of terrorists arrive, led by a ruthless woman named Doirean (Kerry Condon), Finbar is drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, forcing him to choose between exposing his secret identity or defending his friends and neighbors.
- 2/1/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
"A saint's gotta be a sinner first, don't he?" Samuel Goldwyn Films has revealed a new official trailer for the hitman action thriller called In the Land of Saints and Sinners, made by producer / director Robert Lorenz. This originally premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival last year in the Orizzonti Extra section (watch the first trailer). In the land of saints and sinners, some sins can't be buried. Liam Neeson stars as Finbar, eager to leave his dark past behind. Set in Ireland in the 1970s, ready to leave his dark past behind, Finbar Murphy leads a quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glencolmcille, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country. But when a menacing crew of terrorists arrive, led by a ruthless woman named Doirean, Finbar is drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, forcing him to choose between...
- 2/1/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Three-time Best Picture nominated producer Robert Lorenz (American Sniper) is set to direct airplane thriller Papa Alpha 333 for Meridian’s Eric Paquette, producer Aaron Barnett and Brian O’Shea’s The Exchange.
The movie will follow the story of a female airline pilot who wrests control of a 747 from a male captain caught in a severe thunderstorm, leaving the plane incommunicado. Her efforts to save 300 passengers are further complicated by suspicions of terrorism and a potential collision course with Chicago’s tallest skyscraper.
Currently casting, the partners are targeting a Q3, 2024, start date. The original screenplay is by Michael Walker, whose books include Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story Of Rock And Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood.
Lorenz most recently directed Venice Film Festival title In The Land Of Saints And Sinners and The Marksman, both of which starred Liam Neeson. He has previously been a producer on movies including Mystic River,...
The movie will follow the story of a female airline pilot who wrests control of a 747 from a male captain caught in a severe thunderstorm, leaving the plane incommunicado. Her efforts to save 300 passengers are further complicated by suspicions of terrorism and a potential collision course with Chicago’s tallest skyscraper.
Currently casting, the partners are targeting a Q3, 2024, start date. The original screenplay is by Michael Walker, whose books include Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story Of Rock And Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood.
Lorenz most recently directed Venice Film Festival title In The Land Of Saints And Sinners and The Marksman, both of which starred Liam Neeson. He has previously been a producer on movies including Mystic River,...
- 1/25/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar winners Dustin Hoffman and Helen Hunt are attached to star in Peter Greenaway’s drama “Lucca Mortis,” which has started filming in the Tuscan city of Lucca.
The new film by the 81-year-old iconoclastic British filmmaker and artist — known for arthouse hits such as “The Draughtsman’s Contract,” “The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover” and “The Pillow Book” — is the tale of a New York writer (Hoffman), who in in 2001, following the attack on the Twin Towers in New York, takes a sabbatical to visit Lucca in search of his distant Italian origins. “Lucca Mortis” creates a sort of parallelism between the Twin Towers and the towers of Lucca, according to the Tuscany Film Commission website. Other details, including Hunt’s role, are being kept under wraps.
Tuscany Film Commission head Stefania Ippoliti said cameras started rolling earlier this month in Lucca, which is known for its medieval walls and towers,...
The new film by the 81-year-old iconoclastic British filmmaker and artist — known for arthouse hits such as “The Draughtsman’s Contract,” “The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover” and “The Pillow Book” — is the tale of a New York writer (Hoffman), who in in 2001, following the attack on the Twin Towers in New York, takes a sabbatical to visit Lucca in search of his distant Italian origins. “Lucca Mortis” creates a sort of parallelism between the Twin Towers and the towers of Lucca, according to the Tuscany Film Commission website. Other details, including Hunt’s role, are being kept under wraps.
Tuscany Film Commission head Stefania Ippoliti said cameras started rolling earlier this month in Lucca, which is known for its medieval walls and towers,...
- 12/11/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The filmmakers behind Israel’s 2024 International Feature Oscar submission are now working on a movie about an all-female Israeli Defence Force (Idf) tank unit which defended against the Hamas terror attacks on October 7.
Ayelet Menahemi, whose feature Seven Blessings won this year’s Ophir Prize in Israel, is slated to direct the film and will be teaming up again with writer-actress Eleanor Sela who is writing the script and also wrote and starred Seven Blessings.
The film is inspired by the true events regarding the first-of-its-kind all-female tank unit who engaged in fierce battles against Hamas attackers on the day of the October 7 massacres. The battle was the first instance in history of an all-female armored unit taking part in combat.
In addition to the battle, the filmmakers tell us the film will also explore the founding of the unit and the struggles the young women combatants faced in...
Ayelet Menahemi, whose feature Seven Blessings won this year’s Ophir Prize in Israel, is slated to direct the film and will be teaming up again with writer-actress Eleanor Sela who is writing the script and also wrote and starred Seven Blessings.
The film is inspired by the true events regarding the first-of-its-kind all-female tank unit who engaged in fierce battles against Hamas attackers on the day of the October 7 massacres. The battle was the first instance in history of an all-female armored unit taking part in combat.
In addition to the battle, the filmmakers tell us the film will also explore the founding of the unit and the struggles the young women combatants faced in...
- 12/10/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Bleiberg Entertainment acquires international sales on identity theft thriller ‘Persona’ (exclusive)
Laird Akeo, Dafne Rotolo, Christoph Pieczynski star.
Bleiberg Entertainment has acquired international sales on identity theft thriller Persona and begun talks here at AFM.
Written and directed by Wade Jackson, the feature follows a young man who is lured into adopting multiple false identities by a mysterious woman.
Drawn into her web of lies and crime, he must unravel the truth behind a murderous plot and avoid becoming a victim himself.
Laird Akeo (Paradise City), Dafne Rotolo (The Tomorrow Job), and Christoph Pieczynski (Krew Boga) star in Persona, which is produced by Jason de Vyea for Run Creative, Alexandra Caldwell,...
Bleiberg Entertainment has acquired international sales on identity theft thriller Persona and begun talks here at AFM.
Written and directed by Wade Jackson, the feature follows a young man who is lured into adopting multiple false identities by a mysterious woman.
Drawn into her web of lies and crime, he must unravel the truth behind a murderous plot and avoid becoming a victim himself.
Laird Akeo (Paradise City), Dafne Rotolo (The Tomorrow Job), and Christoph Pieczynski (Krew Boga) star in Persona, which is produced by Jason de Vyea for Run Creative, Alexandra Caldwell,...
- 10/31/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
United King Films has started shooting Yohanan Weller’s comedy My Private Telenovela as cinemas tentatively reopen.
Film production has tentatively resumed in Israel starting with Yohanan Weller’s feature comedy My Private Telenovela (working title) as select cinemas begin to open their doors following the deadly Hamas attack on October 7 and escalating war in the region.
The film is the first feature to begin production again in the country, delayed from an initial start date of October 8.
My Private Telenovela is produced by Moshe and Leon Edery’s United King Films and will be released by the company’s distribution arm in Israel.
Film production has tentatively resumed in Israel starting with Yohanan Weller’s feature comedy My Private Telenovela (working title) as select cinemas begin to open their doors following the deadly Hamas attack on October 7 and escalating war in the region.
The film is the first feature to begin production again in the country, delayed from an initial start date of October 8.
My Private Telenovela is produced by Moshe and Leon Edery’s United King Films and will be released by the company’s distribution arm in Israel.
- 10/19/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Todd Haynes will be honored with the Zurich Film Festival’s A Tribute To… Award at its upcoming 19th edition.
The Swiss festival announced the honor as it unveiled its full line-up on Thursday.
The U.S. director will be presented with the honorary prize ahead of a screening of new film May December on October 3.
“It’s a real honour to celebrate this master of American cinema. Todd Haynes is renowned for his elegant mise-en-scène and his ability to get the best from his actors and actresses,” said Zff Artistic Director Christian Jungen.
“We also have a long-standing working relationship with Todd. The outstanding drama May December featuring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman is the third film he has presented with us in the last ten years.”
Previous recipients of the award include Paolo Sorrentino, Wim Wenders, Olivier Assayas, Claire Denis, Michael Haneke, Oliver Stone, Maïwenn and Luca Guadagnino.
The Swiss festival announced the honor as it unveiled its full line-up on Thursday.
The U.S. director will be presented with the honorary prize ahead of a screening of new film May December on October 3.
“It’s a real honour to celebrate this master of American cinema. Todd Haynes is renowned for his elegant mise-en-scène and his ability to get the best from his actors and actresses,” said Zff Artistic Director Christian Jungen.
“We also have a long-standing working relationship with Todd. The outstanding drama May December featuring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman is the third film he has presented with us in the last ten years.”
Previous recipients of the award include Paolo Sorrentino, Wim Wenders, Olivier Assayas, Claire Denis, Michael Haneke, Oliver Stone, Maïwenn and Luca Guadagnino.
- 9/14/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The paddywhackery’s as thick as the Oirish brogues and flavorful caricatures in Robert Lorenz’s In the Land of Saints & Sinners, a deadly serious thriller about violence and redemption in which a local lush pauses to grab his pint as gunfire tears up the village pub. Not since the merry blarney of Wild Mountain Thyme has a movie leaned so hard into Emerald Isle stereotypes, which makes it remarkable that Liam Neeson as a pipe-smoking, Dostoevsky-reading assassin manages to play it straight. Kerry Condon as an Ira spitfire with a fondness for the C-word adds some interest, but this is overwritten, overripe and likely destined to be streaming fodder.
While the film is set in 1974 when The Troubles were still raging, that bitter political conflict is merely background wallpaper for a formulaic faux-Western in the predictable script written by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane, which loads up...
While the film is set in 1974 when The Troubles were still raging, that bitter political conflict is merely background wallpaper for a formulaic faux-Western in the predictable script written by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane, which loads up...
- 9/6/2023
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Can Finbar Murphy escape his past? “In The Land of Saints and Sinners” presents a mysterious man with a dark past who faces a crisis between doing what’s right and facing his own mistakes. Liam Neeson stars as Murphy, a man searching for solace and redemption; it’s yet another film that sees the actor carefully balance his dramatic roots with his recent success in high-profile action hits.
Read More: Fall 2023 TV Preview: Over 35+ Most Anticipated Shows To Watch
The project is Neeson’s second collaboration with director Robert Lorenz — the actor and director who previously teamed up on 2019’s “The Marksman.” Neeson is joined by Kerry Condon, who portrays terrorist leader Doireann.
Continue reading ‘In The Land Of Saints & Sinners’ Trailer: Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon & More Star In A New Irish Crime Drama Debuting In Venice at The Playlist.
Read More: Fall 2023 TV Preview: Over 35+ Most Anticipated Shows To Watch
The project is Neeson’s second collaboration with director Robert Lorenz — the actor and director who previously teamed up on 2019’s “The Marksman.” Neeson is joined by Kerry Condon, who portrays terrorist leader Doireann.
Continue reading ‘In The Land Of Saints & Sinners’ Trailer: Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon & More Star In A New Irish Crime Drama Debuting In Venice at The Playlist.
- 9/6/2023
- by Valerie Thompson
- The Playlist
"There's more to me than this... I'd like folks to see it." Yet another new hitman film premiering this year. The first festival trailer has dropped in for an action thriller titled In the Land of Saints and Sinners, made by producer / director Robert Lorenz. It's premiering at the 2023 Venice Film Festival in the Orizzonti Extra section, not in the competition but still showing at the fest. Set in a remote Irish village, a damaged Finbar is forced to fight for redemption after a lifetime of sins, but what price is he willing to pay? In the land of saints and sinners, some sins can't be buried. Liam Neeson stars as Finbar, eager to leave his dark past behind. "The film tells the story of an Irishman who must choose between keeping his shameful past a secret or exposing it all to protect his friends and neighbours from the outlaws...
- 9/6/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
If you like your Liam Neeson thrillers a touch more Irish, then the first trailer for In the Land of Saints and Sinners will be exactly what you’re looking for.
Directed by Robert Lorenz, who also collaborated with Liam Neeson in The Marksman, In the Land of Saints and Sinners takes place in 1970s Ireland and follows Finbar Murphy (Neeson), a newly retired assassin eager to leave his dark past behind. “[Finbar] leads a quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glen Colm Cille, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country,” reads the official synopsis. “When a menacing crew of terrorists arrive, led by a ruthless woman named Doireann, Finbar soon discovers that one of them has been abusing a local young girl. Drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, Finbar must choose between exposing his secret identity or defending his friends and neighbors.
Directed by Robert Lorenz, who also collaborated with Liam Neeson in The Marksman, In the Land of Saints and Sinners takes place in 1970s Ireland and follows Finbar Murphy (Neeson), a newly retired assassin eager to leave his dark past behind. “[Finbar] leads a quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glen Colm Cille, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country,” reads the official synopsis. “When a menacing crew of terrorists arrive, led by a ruthless woman named Doireann, Finbar soon discovers that one of them has been abusing a local young girl. Drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, Finbar must choose between exposing his secret identity or defending his friends and neighbors.
- 9/5/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Here’s your first trailer for Liam Neeson crime-thriller In The Land Of Saints And Sinners, which debuts tomorrow at the Venice Film Festival.
Shot in County Donegal, Ireland, Taken and Schindler’s List star Neeson features with fellow Oscar nominees Ciarán Hinds (Belfast) and Kerry Condon. Also among cast are Colm Meaney (The Banker) and Jack Gleeson (Game Of Thrones).
The film, which reunites Neeson with The Marksman director Robert Lorenz, is set in a remote Irish village, where a newly retired assassin finds himself drawn into a lethal game of cat and mouse with a trio of vengeful terrorists. Screenplay was written by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane.
Samuel Goldwyn took domestic rights and plans to release the movie theatrically this fall.
Producers are Bonnie Timmerman, Philip Lee, Markus Barmettler, Kieran Corrigan, Geraldine Hughes and Terry Loane. Exec producers comprise Robert Lorenz,...
Shot in County Donegal, Ireland, Taken and Schindler’s List star Neeson features with fellow Oscar nominees Ciarán Hinds (Belfast) and Kerry Condon. Also among cast are Colm Meaney (The Banker) and Jack Gleeson (Game Of Thrones).
The film, which reunites Neeson with The Marksman director Robert Lorenz, is set in a remote Irish village, where a newly retired assassin finds himself drawn into a lethal game of cat and mouse with a trio of vengeful terrorists. Screenplay was written by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane.
Samuel Goldwyn took domestic rights and plans to release the movie theatrically this fall.
Producers are Bonnie Timmerman, Philip Lee, Markus Barmettler, Kieran Corrigan, Geraldine Hughes and Terry Loane. Exec producers comprise Robert Lorenz,...
- 9/5/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
If a film festival falls in the middle of a strike, will anyone come? What could have been a purely philosophical question has become a stark reality for the 80th Biennale, which, despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, is still hoping to pack its red carpet with A-list celebrities.
Several hot-ticket titles in Venice this year, including Michael Mann’s Ferrari starring Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz, and Luc Besson’s Dogman with Caleb Landry Jones, have secured interim agreement waivers from SAG-AFTRA to allow affiliated talent to do promotion and publicity at the festival. And the actors union last week explicitly encouraged its members to promote approved projects, as a way to support the indie industry. Films from the streamers or the studios, so-called “struck productions,” cannot get interim agreement waivers from the unions.
Waiver or not, however, it remains to be seen if the talent will actually show up.
Several hot-ticket titles in Venice this year, including Michael Mann’s Ferrari starring Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz, and Luc Besson’s Dogman with Caleb Landry Jones, have secured interim agreement waivers from SAG-AFTRA to allow affiliated talent to do promotion and publicity at the festival. And the actors union last week explicitly encouraged its members to promote approved projects, as a way to support the indie industry. Films from the streamers or the studios, so-called “struck productions,” cannot get interim agreement waivers from the unions.
Waiver or not, however, it remains to be seen if the talent will actually show up.
- 8/31/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 80th Venice Film Festival gets underway in earnest Wednesday and the landmark edition will be unlike any other, taking place as it does against the backdrop of two Hollywood strikes.
The build-up to the festival has been dominated by talk of which stars will make it to the event and which will stay at home. It hasn’t been as challenging for organizers as the Covid editions, but it’s surely up there in recent memory.
As we revealed Friday, the outlook for U.S. celebrity attendance is patchy, with a handful of big names set to appear and do the usual press obligations. Others have decided to stay away to avoid the accusation of strike breaking or simply “bad optics.” Expect media to be dominated by strike talk, especially on any American films.
Despite initial anxiety about...
The build-up to the festival has been dominated by talk of which stars will make it to the event and which will stay at home. It hasn’t been as challenging for organizers as the Covid editions, but it’s surely up there in recent memory.
As we revealed Friday, the outlook for U.S. celebrity attendance is patchy, with a handful of big names set to appear and do the usual press obligations. Others have decided to stay away to avoid the accusation of strike breaking or simply “bad optics.” Expect media to be dominated by strike talk, especially on any American films.
Despite initial anxiety about...
- 8/30/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman and Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: There has been mystery for weeks over which Hollywood talent will attend the Venice Film Festival amid the two strikes but the clouds are finally starting to lift.
We’ve confirmed with sources that Ferrari star Adam Driver will be on the Lido next week to promote Michael Mann’s anticipated new movie, thus becoming the biggest U.S. actor to date to commit to the festival. The Daily Mail first reported that news.
Ferrari secured an interim agreement from SAG a while back so this isn’t hugely surprising but there was still a question over whether SAG actors would feel uncomfortable over the ‘optics’. They may still. But SAG-AFTRA leadership were adamant yesterday that actors in movies with interim agreements should be at festivals to promote them. Their message: this is helpful to independent cinema and the cause. That affirmation from SAG helped a number of actors make up their minds.
We’ve confirmed with sources that Ferrari star Adam Driver will be on the Lido next week to promote Michael Mann’s anticipated new movie, thus becoming the biggest U.S. actor to date to commit to the festival. The Daily Mail first reported that news.
Ferrari secured an interim agreement from SAG a while back so this isn’t hugely surprising but there was still a question over whether SAG actors would feel uncomfortable over the ‘optics’. They may still. But SAG-AFTRA leadership were adamant yesterday that actors in movies with interim agreements should be at festivals to promote them. Their message: this is helpful to independent cinema and the cause. That affirmation from SAG helped a number of actors make up their minds.
- 8/25/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
La BêteCOMPETITIONComandante (Edoardo De Angelis)The Promised Land (Nikolaj Arcel)Dogman (Luc Besson) La Bête (Bertrand Bonello) Hors-Saison (Stéphane Brizé) Enea (Pietro Castellitto) Maestro (Bradley Cooper)Priscilla (Sofia Coppola)Finalmente L’Alba (Saverio Costanzo)Lubo (Giorgio Diritti) Origin (Ava DuVernay) The Killer (David Fincher)Memory (Michel Franco)Io capitano (Matteo Garrone)Evil Does Not Exist (Ryûsuke Hamaguchi)The Green Border (Agnieszka Holland)The Theory of Everything (Timm Kröger)Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos)El conde (Pablo Larrain)Ferrari (Michael Mann)Adagio (Stefano Sollima)Woman OfHolly (Fien Troch)Out Of COMPETITIONFictionSociety of the Snow (J.A. Bayona)Coup de Chance (Woody Allen)The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Wes Anderson)The Penitent (Luca Barbareschi)L’Ordine Del Tempo (Liliana Cavani)Vivants (Alix Delaporte)Welcome to Paradise (Leonardo di Constanzo)Daaaaaali! (Quentin Dupieux)The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (William Friedkin)Making of (Cedric Kahn)Aggro Dr1ft (Harmony Korine)Hitman (Richard Linklater)The Palace (Roman Polanski...
- 7/29/2023
- MUBI
Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera is in a good mood after Tuesday’s lineup announcement managed to stave off the impact of the SAG-AFTRA strike, something which could have been “devastating” to the event, he says. In the end, the only U.S. film that skipped the Lido is Luca Guadagnino’s Zendaya-starrer “Challengers,” which Barbera says was against Guadagnino’s wishes.
And though it remains to be seen how many U.S. stars will make the trek, Barbera, in a conversation with Variety, vows that the Venice red carpet won’t be bare. Below, he also addresses showing films by controversial directors Roman Polanski and Woody Allen at this year’s edition of the festival.
Did you see the possible impact of the actors’ strike coming?
Not before it was officially called. The day after it was called, conversations started about the negative repercussions it could have on festivals.
And though it remains to be seen how many U.S. stars will make the trek, Barbera, in a conversation with Variety, vows that the Venice red carpet won’t be bare. Below, he also addresses showing films by controversial directors Roman Polanski and Woody Allen at this year’s edition of the festival.
Did you see the possible impact of the actors’ strike coming?
Not before it was officially called. The day after it was called, conversations started about the negative repercussions it could have on festivals.
- 7/25/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The Venice Film Festival confirmed to us today it is hopeful that movies with SAG-AFTRA interim agreements will bring their casts to the Lido.
While individual actors have yet to confirm their attendance and no Venice entries have confirmed receipt of an Ia, this means it’s possible that independent movies including Michael Mann’s Ferrari, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, Michel Franco’s Memory, Robert Lorenz’s In the Land of Saints and Sinners, Bertrand Bonello’s The Beast, Jack Huston’s Day of the Fight, Saverio Costanzo’s Finally Dawn, Nikolaj Arcel’s The Promised Land, Luc Besson’s DogMan and Ava DuVernay’s Caste could in theory bring talent such as Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Jessica Chastain, Liam Neeson, Ciaran Hinds, Kerry Condon, Léa Seydoux, George MacKay, Joe Pesci, Ron Perlman, Lily James,...
While individual actors have yet to confirm their attendance and no Venice entries have confirmed receipt of an Ia, this means it’s possible that independent movies including Michael Mann’s Ferrari, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, Michel Franco’s Memory, Robert Lorenz’s In the Land of Saints and Sinners, Bertrand Bonello’s The Beast, Jack Huston’s Day of the Fight, Saverio Costanzo’s Finally Dawn, Nikolaj Arcel’s The Promised Land, Luc Besson’s DogMan and Ava DuVernay’s Caste could in theory bring talent such as Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Jessica Chastain, Liam Neeson, Ciaran Hinds, Kerry Condon, Léa Seydoux, George MacKay, Joe Pesci, Ron Perlman, Lily James,...
- 7/25/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
When the actors strike was called earlier this month, many industry eyes turned to the fall festival season and how SAG-AFTRA’s strict rules when it comes to film publicity might limit their star-power.
With the Venice Film Festival being the first major event on the calendar, would the Lido — typically awash with A-list names each year and where the screams for Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles from the 2022 festival have only just died down — see a noticeably reduced red carpet?
For all the worry that the actual lineup of the festival — which has become arguably one of Hollywood’s most important awards season launchpads — would be impacted, Tuesday’s program announcement instantly put that to bed.
While Challengers, the R-rated Luca Guadagnino drama starring Zendaya, was last week revealed to have been pushed from its Venice opening night slot as Warner Bros. shifted its release date to 2024 to avoid the strike,...
With the Venice Film Festival being the first major event on the calendar, would the Lido — typically awash with A-list names each year and where the screams for Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles from the 2022 festival have only just died down — see a noticeably reduced red carpet?
For all the worry that the actual lineup of the festival — which has become arguably one of Hollywood’s most important awards season launchpads — would be impacted, Tuesday’s program announcement instantly put that to bed.
While Challengers, the R-rated Luca Guadagnino drama starring Zendaya, was last week revealed to have been pushed from its Venice opening night slot as Warner Bros. shifted its release date to 2024 to avoid the strike,...
- 7/25/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On the heels of yesterday’s TIFF announcement, the first major fall festival of the season––Venice International Film Festival––is unveiling its lineup. Taking place August 30-September 9, the competition jury this year is chaired by Damien Chazelle.
Highlights include new films from David Fincher, Michael Mann, Wes Anderson, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Sofia Coppola, Bradley Cooper, Bertrand Bonello, Frederick Wiseman, Roman Polanski, William Friedkin, Ava DuVernay, Harmony Korine, Richard Linklater, Woody Allen, and more.
Competition
Adagio; dir. Stefano Sollima
The Beast; dir. Bertrand Bonello
Io Capitano; dir. Matteo Garrone
Comandante; dir. Edoardo de Angelis
El Conde; dir. Pablo Larraín
Die Theorie von Allem; dir. Timm Kröger
Dogman; dir. Luc Besson
Enea; dir. Pietro Castellitto
Evil Does Not Exist; dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Ferrari; dir. Michael Mann
Finalmente L’Alba; dir. Saverio Costanzo
Green Border; dir. Agnieszka Holland
Holly; dir. Fien Troch
Hors-Saison; dir. Stéphane Brizé
The Killer; dir. David Fincher
Lubo; dir. Giorgio Diritti
The Promised Land; dir.
Highlights include new films from David Fincher, Michael Mann, Wes Anderson, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Sofia Coppola, Bradley Cooper, Bertrand Bonello, Frederick Wiseman, Roman Polanski, William Friedkin, Ava DuVernay, Harmony Korine, Richard Linklater, Woody Allen, and more.
Competition
Adagio; dir. Stefano Sollima
The Beast; dir. Bertrand Bonello
Io Capitano; dir. Matteo Garrone
Comandante; dir. Edoardo de Angelis
El Conde; dir. Pablo Larraín
Die Theorie von Allem; dir. Timm Kröger
Dogman; dir. Luc Besson
Enea; dir. Pietro Castellitto
Evil Does Not Exist; dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Ferrari; dir. Michael Mann
Finalmente L’Alba; dir. Saverio Costanzo
Green Border; dir. Agnieszka Holland
Holly; dir. Fien Troch
Hors-Saison; dir. Stéphane Brizé
The Killer; dir. David Fincher
Lubo; dir. Giorgio Diritti
The Promised Land; dir.
- 7/25/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Includes films from David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Bradley Cooper and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
Venice Film Festival announced the programme for its 80th edition, including a 23-strong Competition with new films from David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Bradley Cooper and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
Scroll down for full line-up
The selection was announced by festival president Roberto Cicutto and artistic director Alberto Barbera. The SAG-AFTRA strike in the US has had a “quite modest” impact on the selection according to Barbera, who was forced to pull Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers as the opening film over the weekend due to the strike.
Venice Film Festival announced the programme for its 80th edition, including a 23-strong Competition with new films from David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Bradley Cooper and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
Scroll down for full line-up
The selection was announced by festival president Roberto Cicutto and artistic director Alberto Barbera. The SAG-AFTRA strike in the US has had a “quite modest” impact on the selection according to Barbera, who was forced to pull Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers as the opening film over the weekend due to the strike.
- 7/25/2023
- by Ben Dalton¬Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
This year’s selection will be announced at 11:00 Cest (10:00 BST) by Roberto Cicutto and Alberto Barbera.
The line-up for the 80th Venice International Film Festival (August 30-September 9) will be revealed this morning at 11:00 Cest (10:00 BST) by festival president Roberto Cicutto and artistic director Alberto Barbera
The press conference will be live-streamed below, and this page will be updated with the films as they are announced.
Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers was originally set to open the festival but was pulled by MGM amid the actors’ strike. It was replaced by Edoardo De Angelis’ Comandante.
The closing film...
The line-up for the 80th Venice International Film Festival (August 30-September 9) will be revealed this morning at 11:00 Cest (10:00 BST) by festival president Roberto Cicutto and artistic director Alberto Barbera
The press conference will be live-streamed below, and this page will be updated with the films as they are announced.
Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers was originally set to open the festival but was pulled by MGM amid the actors’ strike. It was replaced by Edoardo De Angelis’ Comandante.
The closing film...
- 7/25/2023
- by Ben Dalton¬Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Not every TV and film production will stop amid dual strikes by SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America. A host of projects stopped work after writers went on strike against media companies for better pay, streaming data transparency and protections against artificial intelligence (among other issues), and many more have paused since actors walked out on July 14.
There are exceptions, however. SAG-AFTRA’s strike rules allow for work on productions covered under different agreements, and the union can grant waivers or sign interim agreements with independent productions. Below is a list of TV shows and films that fall under those designations; this story will be updated as more productions earn waivers.
Interim Agreements
SAG-AFTRA has reached interim agreements with numerous independent productions, including movies from A24 (Death of a Unicorn, starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, and Mother Mary with Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel) — which is not part...
There are exceptions, however. SAG-AFTRA’s strike rules allow for work on productions covered under different agreements, and the union can grant waivers or sign interim agreements with independent productions. Below is a list of TV shows and films that fall under those designations; this story will be updated as more productions earn waivers.
Interim Agreements
SAG-AFTRA has reached interim agreements with numerous independent productions, including movies from A24 (Death of a Unicorn, starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, and Mother Mary with Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel) — which is not part...
- 7/19/2023
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired U.S. rights to “In the Land of Saints and Sinners,” a new thriller starring Oscar nominees Liam Neeson and Kerry Condon. The studio is planning to release the film in theaters this fall.
“In the Land of Saints and Sinners” unfolds in a remote Irish village, where a damaged Finbar (Neeson) is forced to fight for redemption after a lifetime of sins. The question is what price is he willing to pay, as he finds himself drawn into a lethal game of cat and mouse with a trio of vengeful terrorists.
Neeson has starred in dozens of films, including “Schindler’s List,” “Taken” and “Batman Begins.” Condon was nominated for nearly every award possible for her supporting performance in “The Banshees of Inisherin.” The starry ensemble of “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” also includes Colm Meaney (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), Oscar-nominee Ciaran Hinds...
“In the Land of Saints and Sinners” unfolds in a remote Irish village, where a damaged Finbar (Neeson) is forced to fight for redemption after a lifetime of sins. The question is what price is he willing to pay, as he finds himself drawn into a lethal game of cat and mouse with a trio of vengeful terrorists.
Neeson has starred in dozens of films, including “Schindler’s List,” “Taken” and “Batman Begins.” Condon was nominated for nearly every award possible for her supporting performance in “The Banshees of Inisherin.” The starry ensemble of “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” also includes Colm Meaney (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), Oscar-nominee Ciaran Hinds...
- 5/11/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Liam Neeson thinks there’s a disturbance in the Force thanks in part to the rapid expansion of the Star Wars Universe. On Watch What Happens Live on Thursday, Neeson said he wants to avoid starring in his own spin-off series because the glut of Star Wars projects is diminishing the franchise.
“No, I’m not,” Neeson said about returning to the Star Wars Universe for a spin-off on Disney+. “There’s so many spin-offs of Star Wars. It’s diluting it to me, and it’s taken away the mystery and the magic in a weird way.”
Star Wars fans will be quick to point out that Neeson made a cameo appearance as his character Qui-Gon Jinn in Disney’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series, though Neeson says it was just a bit of fun. During the interview, he said it was “nice to do the little bit with Ewan [McGregor]” in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
“No, I’m not,” Neeson said about returning to the Star Wars Universe for a spin-off on Disney+. “There’s so many spin-offs of Star Wars. It’s diluting it to me, and it’s taken away the mystery and the magic in a weird way.”
Star Wars fans will be quick to point out that Neeson made a cameo appearance as his character Qui-Gon Jinn in Disney’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series, though Neeson says it was just a bit of fun. During the interview, he said it was “nice to do the little bit with Ewan [McGregor]” in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
- 2/17/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
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