Federation Studios has acquired distribution rights to “The Morning After,” an eight-part comedy series headlined by up-and-coming British actor Amara Okereke (“In the Lost Lands”). It filmed on location in Cape Town in South Africa.
The show is produced by Paris-based company Paradoxal and Cape Town-based outfit Both Worlds, which previously partnered on “Recipes for Love and Murder.” The series is co-produced by Swr, Ard FabFiction and Prime Video Africa.
“The Morning After” will premiere in Sub-Saharan Africa on Prime Video and in Germany on Ard’s SVOD service Mediatek. Okereke stars in the series opposite a young local ensemble including Gaosi Raditholo, Carmen Pretorius, Richard Gau, Tarryn Wyngaard and Danica Jones.
Created by Thierry Cassuto and Karen Jeynes, “The Morning After” tells the story of 25-year-old Birmingham party girl Nina Morgan, who wakes up naked on a beach in Cape Town about 6,000 miles from home. She’s rescued by...
The show is produced by Paris-based company Paradoxal and Cape Town-based outfit Both Worlds, which previously partnered on “Recipes for Love and Murder.” The series is co-produced by Swr, Ard FabFiction and Prime Video Africa.
“The Morning After” will premiere in Sub-Saharan Africa on Prime Video and in Germany on Ard’s SVOD service Mediatek. Okereke stars in the series opposite a young local ensemble including Gaosi Raditholo, Carmen Pretorius, Richard Gau, Tarryn Wyngaard and Danica Jones.
Created by Thierry Cassuto and Karen Jeynes, “The Morning After” tells the story of 25-year-old Birmingham party girl Nina Morgan, who wakes up naked on a beach in Cape Town about 6,000 miles from home. She’s rescued by...
- 4/9/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The 2017 Sundance Film Festival is coming to a close with tonight’s awards ceremony. While we’ll have our personal favorites coming early this week, the jury and audience have responded with theirs, topped by Macon Blair‘s I don’t feel at home in this world anymore., which will arrive on Netflix in late February, and the documentary Dina. Check out the full list of winners below see our complete coverage here.
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Larry Wilmore to:
Dina / U.S.A. (Directors: Dan Sickles, Antonio Santini) — An eccentric suburban woman and a Walmart door-greeter navigate their evolving relationship in this unconventional love story.
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented by Peter Dinklage to:
I don’t feel at home in this world anymore. / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Macon Blair) — When a depressed woman is burglarized, she...
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Larry Wilmore to:
Dina / U.S.A. (Directors: Dan Sickles, Antonio Santini) — An eccentric suburban woman and a Walmart door-greeter navigate their evolving relationship in this unconventional love story.
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented by Peter Dinklage to:
I don’t feel at home in this world anymore. / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Macon Blair) — When a depressed woman is burglarized, she...
- 1/29/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Playwright, author, screenwriter, and director Helene Hegemann has said (through her publisher) that, “There’s no such thing as originality anyway, just authenticity.” The words were spoken after her debut novel Axolotl Roadkill earned critical praise, a spot as a finalist for a major book award, and multiple, potentially damning plagiarism claims. Hegemann was seventeen when it published and admitted to the cribbing as soon as it was brought to light. She blamed her generation’s penchant for mixing and sampling, for taking what’s bouncing around the æther and making it her own with newfound honesty and meaning. Say what you will, the book sold and kept selling. This German phenom hit upon the zeitgeist with her tale of drug-addled excess and mental instability — in subject matter and process.
Considering she had a play staged at fifteen and a short film released to acclaim, it was only a matter...
Considering she had a play staged at fifteen and a short film released to acclaim, it was only a matter...
- 1/23/2017
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Axelotl Overkill Review Axelotl Overkill (2017), Film Review from the 33rd Annual Sundance Film Festival, a movie directed by Helene Hegemann, starring Jasna Fritzi Bauer, Arly Jover, Laura Tonke, Mavie Hörbiger, Hans Löw, and Bernhard Schütz. How is it that a film can be simultaneously provocative yet entirely boring? First-time director Helene Hegemann has mastered the art in this deliberately vague […]...
- 1/21/2017
- by Drew Stelter
- Film-Book
X-Men spinoff and Trainspotting sequel to play Out of Competition.
A further 13 films have been invited to screen in the Competition and Berlinale Special section at the 67th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival.
The festival has added commercial clout to its Out Of Competition lineup in the shape of Danny Boyle’s T2 Trainspotting and X-Men spinoff Logan.
There are also competition berths for new films by Hong Sangsoo, Thomas Arslan, Volker Schlöndorff, Sabu, Álex de la Iglesia and Josef Hader.
Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha’s latest, Viceroy’s House, will have its world premiere out of competition at the festival. Starring Hugh Bonneville alongside Gillian Anderson, the period drama set in 1947 India depicts Lord Mountbatten, the man charged with handing India back to its people.
Also having its world premiered out of competition will be Álex de la Iglesia’s The Bar, a comedy-thriller about a group of strangers who get...
A further 13 films have been invited to screen in the Competition and Berlinale Special section at the 67th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival.
The festival has added commercial clout to its Out Of Competition lineup in the shape of Danny Boyle’s T2 Trainspotting and X-Men spinoff Logan.
There are also competition berths for new films by Hong Sangsoo, Thomas Arslan, Volker Schlöndorff, Sabu, Álex de la Iglesia and Josef Hader.
Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha’s latest, Viceroy’s House, will have its world premiere out of competition at the festival. Starring Hugh Bonneville alongside Gillian Anderson, the period drama set in 1947 India depicts Lord Mountbatten, the man charged with handing India back to its people.
Also having its world premiered out of competition will be Álex de la Iglesia’s The Bar, a comedy-thriller about a group of strangers who get...
- 1/10/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman) tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
After an initial line-up that included Aki Kaurismäki‘s The Other Side of Hope, Oren Moverman‘s Richard Gere-led The Dinner, Sally Potter‘s The Party, and Agnieszka Holland‘s Spoor, the Berlin International Film Festival have added more anticipated premieres. Highlights include one of two (maybe three) new Hong Sang-soo films this year, On the Beach at Night Alone, along with Volker Schlöndorff‘s Return to Montauk with Stellan Skarsgård and Nina Hoss, as well as the high-profile world premiere of James Mangold‘s Logan and the international premiere of Danny Boyle‘s T2: Trainspotting.
With Paul Verhoeven serving as jury president for the 67th edition of the festival, check out the new additions below.
Competition
Bamui haebyun-eoseo honja (On the Beach at Night Alone)
South Korea
By Hong Sangsoo (Nobody’s Daughter Haewon, Right Now, Wrong Then)
With Kim Minhee, Seo Younghwa, Jung Jaeyoung, Moon Sungkeun,...
With Paul Verhoeven serving as jury president for the 67th edition of the festival, check out the new additions below.
Competition
Bamui haebyun-eoseo honja (On the Beach at Night Alone)
South Korea
By Hong Sangsoo (Nobody’s Daughter Haewon, Right Now, Wrong Then)
With Kim Minhee, Seo Younghwa, Jung Jaeyoung, Moon Sungkeun,...
- 1/10/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
David Fincher’s remake of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (based on the first book by the late Stieg Larsson) is supposed to be delivering a proper trailer sometime this week, but as the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice and men, etc. Anyways, after the Red Band Trailer surfaced over the weekend, here’s a safe for work version. It’s essentially the same trailer, minus the glimpses of nudity and a bit of sex featured in the Red Band. The film stars Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgård, Robin Wright, Joely Richardson, Steven Berkoff, Geraldine James, and Arly Jover. The girl and her tattoo shows up in theaters December 21, 2011.
- 6/1/2011
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
High time to round up the films at this year's Cannes Film Festival that never saw entries of their own and send them on their way. Today: Un Certain Regard.
"Bakur Bakuradze's The Hunter seems like a ficticious version of Raymond Depardon's Modern Life, a trilogy on farming that was screened in Cannes in 2008," finds Moritz Pfeifer, who also interviews the director for the East European Film Bulletin. "With no soundtrack, no professional actors, little dialogue and a minimalist plot, the film depicts the daily life of Ivan (Mikhail Barskovich) as he peacefully runs his pig farm in one of the less populous areas of northwestern Russia…. Clearly, Bakuradze wants to depict an alternative world, and the spirit of his film is more utopian than its hyper-realistic images suggest."
Grumbles the Hollywood Reporter's Kirk Honeycutt: "There is maybe 10 to 15 minutes of actual story located within this 124 minute slog,...
"Bakur Bakuradze's The Hunter seems like a ficticious version of Raymond Depardon's Modern Life, a trilogy on farming that was screened in Cannes in 2008," finds Moritz Pfeifer, who also interviews the director for the East European Film Bulletin. "With no soundtrack, no professional actors, little dialogue and a minimalist plot, the film depicts the daily life of Ivan (Mikhail Barskovich) as he peacefully runs his pig farm in one of the less populous areas of northwestern Russia…. Clearly, Bakuradze wants to depict an alternative world, and the spirit of his film is more utopian than its hyper-realistic images suggest."
Grumbles the Hollywood Reporter's Kirk Honeycutt: "There is maybe 10 to 15 minutes of actual story located within this 124 minute slog,...
- 5/31/2011
- MUBI
See an exclusive clip from "Little Ashes," starring "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson, Javier Beltran, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. See it now. What's "Little Ashes" about? Romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca. In 1922, Madrid is wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of Jazz, Freud and the avant-garde. Salvador Dali arrives at the university; 18 years old and determined to become a great artist. His bizarre blend of shyness and rampant exhibitionism attracts the attention of two of the university's social elite - Federico Garcia Lorca and Luis Buñuel. Salvador is absorbed into their decadent group and for a time Salvador, Luis and Federico become a formidable trio, the most ultra-modern group in Madrid.
- 4/23/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See an exclusive clip from "Little Ashes," starring "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson, Javier Beltran, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. Romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca. In 1922, Madrid is wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of Jazz, Freud and the avant-garde. Salvador Dali arrives at the university; 18 years old and determined to become a great artist. His bizarre blend of shyness and rampant exhibitionism attracts the attention of two of the university's social elite - Federico Garcia Lorca and Luis Buñuel. Salvador is absorbed into their decadent group and for a time Salvador, Luis and Federico become a formidable trio, the most ultra-modern group in Madrid.
- 4/23/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See an exclusive clip from "Little Ashes," starring "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson, Javier Beltran, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. Romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca. In 1922, Madrid is wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of Jazz, Freud and the avant-garde. Salvador Dali arrives at the university; 18 years old and determined to become a great artist. His bizarre blend of shyness and rampant exhibitionism attracts the attention of two of the university's social elite - Federico Garcia Lorca and Luis Buñuel. Salvador is absorbed into their decadent group and for a time Salvador, Luis and Federico become a formidable trio, the most ultra-modern group in Madrid.
- 4/23/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Its Monday and we have a short but sweet set of odds and ends for you today. Weve got some new clips from Robert Pattinsons upcoming movie Little Ashes an air date for Jackson Rathbones appearance on Criminal Minds Miley Cyrus admits that shes just not that into Robert Pattinson and morenbspMiley Cyrus Dishes On Robert PattinsonDisney star tells Teen Vogue that shes just not that into the Twilight heartthrob. To read the full article click here.First Little Ashes tickets on saleLittle Ashes biopic film about the life and times of ubercreative Spanish artist Salvador Dali starring The Twilight Saga New Moon star Robert Pattinson alongside Javier Beltran Matthew McNulty Arly Jover and Marina Gatell amongst others has its first venue already selling tickets more than a month in advance. The film which is set for release in the United States on May 8th is expected to draw in...
- 4/7/2009
- twilightersanonymous.com
Little Ashes, biopic film about the life and times of uber-creative Spanish artist Salvador Dali, starring The Twilight Saga: New Moon star Robert Pattinson alongside Javier Beltran, Matthew McNulty, Arly Jover, and Marina Gatell, amongst others, has its first venue already selling tickets more than a month in advance. The film, which is set for release in the United States on May 8th, is expected to draw in many, many eager Rob fans across the globe. Thus,the Clearview Chelsea Cinemas in New York City, New York is taking its cue. It is one of the first few to begin pre-selling tickets online for Little Ashes (to purchase, see here). The film, which is rated R, ...
- 4/6/2009
- by thetwilightexaminer
- Twilight Examiner
Check out a first looks at “Little Ashes” by director Paul Morrison (Wondrous Oblivion) and starring Robert Pattinson (Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon), Javier Beltran, Matthew McNulty (Messengers 2: The Scarecrow), Arly Jover (Regrets) and Marina Gatell. Synopsis: In 1922, Madrid is wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of Jazz, Freud and the avant-garde. Salvador Dali arrives at the university; 18 years old and determined to become a great artist. His bizarre blend of shyness and rampant exhibitionism attracts the attention of two of the university’s social elite - Federico Garcia Lorca and Luis Bunel. Salvador is absorbed into their [...]...
- 4/5/2009
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
The trailer is in for "Little Ashes" and we suggest you check out our gallery for the film starring Javier Beltran, Robert Pattinson, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. Paul Morrison helms from the writing by Philippa Goslett. The drama sees release March 27th next year and is rated R for sexual content, language and a brief disturbing image. Romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca. In 1922, Madrid is wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of Jazz, Freud and the avant-garde.
- 12/4/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The trailer is in for "Little Ashes" and we suggest you check out our gallery for the film starring Javier Beltran, Robert Pattinson, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. Paul Morrison helms from the writing by Philippa Goslett. The drama sees release March 27th next year and is rated R for sexual content, language and a brief disturbing image. Romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca. In 1922, Madrid is wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of Jazz, Freud and the avant-garde.
- 12/4/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The trailer is in for "Little Ashes" and we suggest you check out our gallery for the film starring Javier Beltran, Robert Pattinson, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. Paul Morrison helms from the writing by Philippa Goslett. The drama sees release March 27th next year and is rated R for sexual content, language and a brief disturbing image. Romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca. In 1922, Madrid is wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of Jazz, Freud and the avant-garde. Salvador Dali arrives at the university; 18 years old and determined to become a great artist. His bizarre blend of shyness and rampant exhibitionism attracts the attention of two of the university's social elite...
- 12/4/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The trailer is in for "Little Ashes" and we suggest you check out our gallery for the film starring Javier Beltran, Robert Pattinson, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. Paul Morrison helms from the writing by Philippa Goslett. The drama sees release March 27th next year and is rated R for sexual content, language and a brief disturbing image. Romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca. In 1922, Madrid is wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of Jazz, Freud and the avant-garde.
- 12/4/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Summit Entertainment has their first blockbuster in "Twilight." The Catherine Hardwicke helmed film adapted from the best-selling Stephenie Meyer title posted an estimated $70.5 million debut weekend. Opening in 3,419 theatres, the film averaged a strong $20,636 average per venue. Here are the daily figures for now: Friday: $35,872,000Saturday: $21,019,000Sunday: $13,662,000At the current estimate, the teen girl targeted "Twilight" is the fourth biggest November opener ahead of "The Incredibles" with $70.4 million and last weekend's top spot holding "Quantum of Solace" with $67.5 million. It is however, the highest grossing female directed film ever. The next in the list is Paramount's "Deep Impact" helmed by Mimi Ledger with $41.1 million. Dropping 59% in comparison to its debut weekend, Bond actioner "Quantum of Solace" posted $27.4 million and has accumulated over $418 million dollars in worldwide numbers so far. U.S. figures are responsible for $109.4 million of that total. Disney's family opener "Bolt" featuring the voice talents of John Travolta and Miley Cyrus,...
- 11/23/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
From Regent Releasing we have new images in from "Little Ashes" which stars "Twilight" lead actor Robert Pattinson, Javier Beltran, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. Paula Morrison, helmer of the critically acclaimed Delroy Lindo starrer "Wondrous Oblivion," directs from the screenplay by Philippa Goslett, a first-timer at the time. Goslett has now completed work on the Aaron Stanford led comedy "Holy Money." "Little Ashes" is a romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca.
- 11/6/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
From Regent Releasing we have new images in from "Little Ashes" which stars "Twilight" lead actor Robert Pattinson, Javier Beltran, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. Paula Morrison, helmer of the critically acclaimed Delroy Lindo starrer "Wondrous Oblivion," directs from the screenplay by Philippa Goslett, a first-timer at the time. Goslett has now completed work on the Aaron Stanford led comedy "Holy Money." "Little Ashes" is a romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca.
- 11/6/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
From Regent Releasing we have new images in from "Little Ashes" which stars "Twilight" lead actor Robert Pattinson, Javier Beltran, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. Paula Morrison, helmer of the critically acclaimed Delroy Lindo starrer "Wondrous Oblivion," directs from the screenplay by Philippa Goslett, a first-timer at the time. Goslett has now completed work on the Aaron Stanford led comedy "Holy Money." "Little Ashes" is a romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca.In 1922, Madrid is wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of Jazz, Freud and the avant-garde. Salvador Dali arrives at the university; 18 years old and determined to become a great artist. His bizarre blend of shyness and rampant exhibitionism attracts the...
- 11/6/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
From Regent Releasing we have new images in from "Little Ashes" which stars "Twilight" lead actor Robert Pattinson, Javier Beltran, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Arly Jover, Esther Nubiola, Simón Andreu, Vicky Peña, Sue Flack, Ferran Audí and Bruno Oro. Paula Morrison, helmer of the critically acclaimed Delroy Lindo starrer "Wondrous Oblivion," directs from the screenplay by Philippa Goslett, a first-timer at the time. Goslett has now completed work on the Aaron Stanford led comedy "Holy Money." "Little Ashes" is a romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca.
- 11/6/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
This is not to be confused with the post apocalyptic zombedy of the same name, this is a straight horror film which was announced long before. We had posted info that the crew was scouting locations, and now James has given us permission to announce shooting will begin in November. It will be shot on location in France, but will be done in English. It will star Brad Dourif (we all know him), Arly Jover, Beatrice Rosen (The Dark Knight). Music will be done by award winning composer Klaus Schulze, with special FX being done by Christophe Spadaccini (Immortal, Irreversible, Dante 01, Eden Log). And probably the biggest news of all is that the director of photgraphy will be Laurent Chalet who lensed March of the Penguins. "The movie's about a retired funeral director who turns his vast funeral home into a museum of death where you get to stroll...
- 8/27/2008
- QuietEarth.us
Indican Pictures
Hollywood spoiled brats (finally) get to strive for their 87 minutes of fame in "The Young Unknowns". This debut feature from writer/director/co-producer Catherine Jelski actually played the festival circuit in 2000 and is only now getting a limited release.
The title characters consist of four showbiz twentysomethings led by top-billed Devon Gummersall (TV's "My So-Called Life" and "Felicity"). He and his co-stars have roles that are meaty but perhaps more suitable for an acting monologue. It's doubtful that these pampered postpubescents can win over multiplex audiences in any meaningful fashion.
Gummersall plays Charlie, a narcissistic stoner/boozer and overgrown rich kid. Mom and Dad split up a decade earlier, each leaving town for other climes with younger, more beautiful mates. A chauvinist hothead, Charlie is a budding commercial director -- following in Dad's footsteps -- while he mans "the L.A. house" for London-based Pop.
That L.A. house is virtually the whole show here, as the first half of Jelski's film never strays from the home and pool. Because of this, "The Young Unknowns" reveals its stage origins early on. Interestingly, Jelski's inspiration was the 1969 Austrian play "Magic Afternoon" by Wolfgang Bauer of the theater of cruelty school.
The attempt to transfer Bauer's themes to turn-of-the-millennium Hollywood is commendable. The film, unfortunately, is not. Charlie's baby auteur declares that "story is dead; image rules." Watching this talkathon, it's hard to deny the point.
Shot in super 16 mm, the camera setups and directing choices are generally fine, though the sound could be better, as the dialogue is occasionally muffled. The cast (Arly Jover's disgusted foreign girlfriend, Eion Bailey's partying-psycho best buddy and Leslie Bibb's model/cokehead) meshes well. Gummersall and Bibb (lately of "ER") deserve bigger opportunities. Still, the constriction of both story and primary set becomes static, and Charlie's macho-versus-abandoned persona eventually gets tiresome.
"The Young Unknowns" is a curious exercise in the vein of David Rabe's "Hurlyburly" that needed greater dramatic heft than is exhibited by the industry lightweights it depicts.
Hollywood spoiled brats (finally) get to strive for their 87 minutes of fame in "The Young Unknowns". This debut feature from writer/director/co-producer Catherine Jelski actually played the festival circuit in 2000 and is only now getting a limited release.
The title characters consist of four showbiz twentysomethings led by top-billed Devon Gummersall (TV's "My So-Called Life" and "Felicity"). He and his co-stars have roles that are meaty but perhaps more suitable for an acting monologue. It's doubtful that these pampered postpubescents can win over multiplex audiences in any meaningful fashion.
Gummersall plays Charlie, a narcissistic stoner/boozer and overgrown rich kid. Mom and Dad split up a decade earlier, each leaving town for other climes with younger, more beautiful mates. A chauvinist hothead, Charlie is a budding commercial director -- following in Dad's footsteps -- while he mans "the L.A. house" for London-based Pop.
That L.A. house is virtually the whole show here, as the first half of Jelski's film never strays from the home and pool. Because of this, "The Young Unknowns" reveals its stage origins early on. Interestingly, Jelski's inspiration was the 1969 Austrian play "Magic Afternoon" by Wolfgang Bauer of the theater of cruelty school.
The attempt to transfer Bauer's themes to turn-of-the-millennium Hollywood is commendable. The film, unfortunately, is not. Charlie's baby auteur declares that "story is dead; image rules." Watching this talkathon, it's hard to deny the point.
Shot in super 16 mm, the camera setups and directing choices are generally fine, though the sound could be better, as the dialogue is occasionally muffled. The cast (Arly Jover's disgusted foreign girlfriend, Eion Bailey's partying-psycho best buddy and Leslie Bibb's model/cokehead) meshes well. Gummersall and Bibb (lately of "ER") deserve bigger opportunities. Still, the constriction of both story and primary set becomes static, and Charlie's macho-versus-abandoned persona eventually gets tiresome.
"The Young Unknowns" is a curious exercise in the vein of David Rabe's "Hurlyburly" that needed greater dramatic heft than is exhibited by the industry lightweights it depicts.
- 4/16/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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