TORONTO -- Canadian broadcaster Alliance Atlantis Communications, co-producer of the "CSI" franchise, put itself on the auction block Wednesday.
Toronto-based Alliance Atlantis made official what has long been known in industry circles: The company's controlling shareholders, executive chairman Michael MacMillan and longtime partner Seaton McLean are shopping their controlling 67% voting interest in the specialty channel broadcaster via their Southhill Strategy Inc. shingle.
In a statement, Alliance Atlantis said that MacMillan and McLean have told the broadcaster that no decision to cash out has been made and that they may still decide not to unload their stake.
"If Southhill decides not to sell its interest, a sale of AACI is unlikely to occur," the company said.
Alliance Atlantis shares climbed CAN$6.50 ($5.70), or 15%, to CAN$48.70 ($42.37) in morning trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange following news of a possible sale.
To complete a potential deal, Alliance Atlantis said it has retained RBC Capital Markets as a financial adviser and Bennett Jones Llp. as its legal adviser. It also has established a special in-house committee -- comprising Robert Steacy, Anthony Griffiths and Barry Reiter -- to explore "strategic alternatives."
Alliance Atlantis' raising of the "for sale" sign follows MacMillan's move to executive chairman last year after being replaced as CEO by Phyllis Yaffe.
Toronto-based Alliance Atlantis made official what has long been known in industry circles: The company's controlling shareholders, executive chairman Michael MacMillan and longtime partner Seaton McLean are shopping their controlling 67% voting interest in the specialty channel broadcaster via their Southhill Strategy Inc. shingle.
In a statement, Alliance Atlantis said that MacMillan and McLean have told the broadcaster that no decision to cash out has been made and that they may still decide not to unload their stake.
"If Southhill decides not to sell its interest, a sale of AACI is unlikely to occur," the company said.
Alliance Atlantis shares climbed CAN$6.50 ($5.70), or 15%, to CAN$48.70 ($42.37) in morning trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange following news of a possible sale.
To complete a potential deal, Alliance Atlantis said it has retained RBC Capital Markets as a financial adviser and Bennett Jones Llp. as its legal adviser. It also has established a special in-house committee -- comprising Robert Steacy, Anthony Griffiths and Barry Reiter -- to explore "strategic alternatives."
Alliance Atlantis' raising of the "for sale" sign follows MacMillan's move to executive chairman last year after being replaced as CEO by Phyllis Yaffe.
- 12/20/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"The 51st State" presents a heady mixture of the coolest of action stars in Samuel L. Jackson, a stylish Hong Kong director in Ronny Yu and the gritty streets of Liverpool, England. The complex and extremely violent story might get a little lost amid the explosions, car chases, gunfire and swearing, but the film remains a Saturday night audience-pleaser, especially for those seeking a little sub-Tarantino mayhem.
Strangely, not enough is done to make use of Liverpool's distinctive landmarks. Apart from the Scouse (Liverpudlian) accents, "51st State" could have been made pretty much anywhere. But it is to Jackson's credit that he as a producer helped drive this project into production. He also wears a kilt the whole way through the movie, which in itself is pretty distinctive.
The film opens in 1971. A newly qualified pharmacologist, Elmo McElroy (Jackson), smoking a rather large joint, is pulled over by police. Bang goes his license to work professionally. Cut to 2001. He is now working as an illegal-drugs manufacturer for the Lizard (Meat Loaf). Elmo, though, has plans to escape his nasty boss. He rigs up an explosion to take out the Lizard, then heads to England to barter a $20 million deal with a Liverpudlian crime boss. Trouble is the bomb doesn't kill the Lizard, who sends a lithe female assassin, Dakota Phillips (played with style and sexuality by Emily Mortimer), after Elmo.
Elmo (carrying the drugs in his golf bag) is met at the airport by Felix DeSouza (Robert Carlyle), enforcer for crime boss Leopold Durant (Ricky Tomlinson). As the trio sit down to talk turkey, all hell breaks loose. Dakota (who happens to be from Liverpool and is a former lover of DeSouza's) starts shooting everyone in the room with a sniper rifle.
Elmo and DeSouza escape and are pursued by various factions, ranging from a group of brain-dead skinheads to corrupt police. Eventually, they set up a deal with club owner Iki (Rhys Ifans), unaware that the Lizard is winging his way across the Atlantic to deal with Elmo. In the end, the appropriate people are killed, DeSouza and Dakota rekindle their love, and Elmo gets to play golf in Scotland.
Jackson, looking cool with his hair in braids and sporting a natty kilt, has the ability to raise himself above the mayhem around him. Carlyle plays DeSouza with the manic edge he brought to "Trainspotting", while Mortimer, in lots of leather, is very good as the gentle but brutal killer. The overacting award is split between Ifans (who should try doing one film in a lower key) and Meat Loaf.
The film is exceptionally loud with accents that might confuse some audiences. Yu directs with a good deal of skill, greatly aided by the excellent work of editor David Wu. Scenes shot on the Liverpool streets look a little drab, and one wonders if cinematographer Poon Hong-sang could have gotten a little more out of the sequences.
The screenplay by newcomer Stel Pavlou is witty and smart, though sometimes lapses into cliche and confusion. "51st State" makes for fine mindless entertainment, and it does have the selling point of Samuel L. Jackson in a kilt.
THE 51ST STATE
Screen Gems
Alliance Atlantis presents a Focus Films, 51st Films, Alliance Atlantis production in association with the Film Consortium
Credits:
Producers: Andras Hamori, Samuel L. Jackson, Seaton McLean, Jonathan Debin
Director: Ronny Yu
Executive producers: Julie Yorn, Eli Selden, Stephanie Davis
Screenwriter: Stel Pavlou
Director of photography: Poon Hong-sang
Production designer: Alan MacDonald
Editor: David Wu
Costume designer: Kate Carin
Music: Headrillaz
Cast:
Elmo McElroy: Samuel L. Jackson
Felix DeSouza: Robert Carlyle
Dakota Phillips: Emily Mortimer
Iki: Rhys Ifans
Leopold Durant: Ricky Tomlinson
Virgil Kane: Sean Pertwee
The Lizard: Meat Loaf
No MPAA rating
Color/stereo
Running time -- 98 minutes...
Strangely, not enough is done to make use of Liverpool's distinctive landmarks. Apart from the Scouse (Liverpudlian) accents, "51st State" could have been made pretty much anywhere. But it is to Jackson's credit that he as a producer helped drive this project into production. He also wears a kilt the whole way through the movie, which in itself is pretty distinctive.
The film opens in 1971. A newly qualified pharmacologist, Elmo McElroy (Jackson), smoking a rather large joint, is pulled over by police. Bang goes his license to work professionally. Cut to 2001. He is now working as an illegal-drugs manufacturer for the Lizard (Meat Loaf). Elmo, though, has plans to escape his nasty boss. He rigs up an explosion to take out the Lizard, then heads to England to barter a $20 million deal with a Liverpudlian crime boss. Trouble is the bomb doesn't kill the Lizard, who sends a lithe female assassin, Dakota Phillips (played with style and sexuality by Emily Mortimer), after Elmo.
Elmo (carrying the drugs in his golf bag) is met at the airport by Felix DeSouza (Robert Carlyle), enforcer for crime boss Leopold Durant (Ricky Tomlinson). As the trio sit down to talk turkey, all hell breaks loose. Dakota (who happens to be from Liverpool and is a former lover of DeSouza's) starts shooting everyone in the room with a sniper rifle.
Elmo and DeSouza escape and are pursued by various factions, ranging from a group of brain-dead skinheads to corrupt police. Eventually, they set up a deal with club owner Iki (Rhys Ifans), unaware that the Lizard is winging his way across the Atlantic to deal with Elmo. In the end, the appropriate people are killed, DeSouza and Dakota rekindle their love, and Elmo gets to play golf in Scotland.
Jackson, looking cool with his hair in braids and sporting a natty kilt, has the ability to raise himself above the mayhem around him. Carlyle plays DeSouza with the manic edge he brought to "Trainspotting", while Mortimer, in lots of leather, is very good as the gentle but brutal killer. The overacting award is split between Ifans (who should try doing one film in a lower key) and Meat Loaf.
The film is exceptionally loud with accents that might confuse some audiences. Yu directs with a good deal of skill, greatly aided by the excellent work of editor David Wu. Scenes shot on the Liverpool streets look a little drab, and one wonders if cinematographer Poon Hong-sang could have gotten a little more out of the sequences.
The screenplay by newcomer Stel Pavlou is witty and smart, though sometimes lapses into cliche and confusion. "51st State" makes for fine mindless entertainment, and it does have the selling point of Samuel L. Jackson in a kilt.
THE 51ST STATE
Screen Gems
Alliance Atlantis presents a Focus Films, 51st Films, Alliance Atlantis production in association with the Film Consortium
Credits:
Producers: Andras Hamori, Samuel L. Jackson, Seaton McLean, Jonathan Debin
Director: Ronny Yu
Executive producers: Julie Yorn, Eli Selden, Stephanie Davis
Screenwriter: Stel Pavlou
Director of photography: Poon Hong-sang
Production designer: Alan MacDonald
Editor: David Wu
Costume designer: Kate Carin
Music: Headrillaz
Cast:
Elmo McElroy: Samuel L. Jackson
Felix DeSouza: Robert Carlyle
Dakota Phillips: Emily Mortimer
Iki: Rhys Ifans
Leopold Durant: Ricky Tomlinson
Virgil Kane: Sean Pertwee
The Lizard: Meat Loaf
No MPAA rating
Color/stereo
Running time -- 98 minutes...
TORONTO -- Canadian media group Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. said Wednesday that it is looking at "significantly" reducing its film and TV production business amid a global broadcast industry downturn and possibly emerging only with its successful "CSI" TV franchise intact. Shrinking film and TV production for Toronto-based Alliance Atlantis will mean the loss of 60-70 jobs, the closure of undisclosed offices and the exit of longtime executives Peter Sussman, CEO of Alliance Atlantis Entertainment Group, and Alliance Atlantis president of production Seaton McLean. "I am pleased to say that both Peter and Seaton have offered their unqualified support for this overall refocusing and redirection of the entertainment group," Alliance Atlantis chairman and CEO Michael MacMillan said in a statement. Aside from continuing to co-produce CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami with CBS Prods., Alliance Atlantis is expected to focus on two remaining businesses, specialty channel broadcasting and film distribution. The move marks the possible end of film and TV production in Canada for a company that grew to be Canada's largest production powerhouse during the late 1990s on the strength of taxpayer subsidies and strong foreign programming sales.
- 12/11/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- Canadian media group Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. said Wednesday that it is looking at "significantly" reducing its film and TV production business amid a global broadcast industry downturn and possibly emerging only with its successful "CSI" TV franchise intact. Shrinking film and TV production for Toronto-based Alliance Atlantis will mean the loss of 60-70 jobs, the closure of undisclosed offices and the exit of longtime executives Peter Sussman, CEO of Alliance Atlantis Entertainment Group, and Alliance Atlantis president of production Seaton McLean. "I am pleased to say that both Peter and Seaton have offered their unqualified support for this overall refocusing and redirection of the entertainment group," Alliance Atlantis chairman and CEO Michael MacMillan said in a statement. Aside from continuing to co-produce "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "CSI: Miami" with CBS Prods., Alliance Atlantis is expected to focus on two remaining businesses, specialty channel broadcasting and film distribution. The move marks the possible end of film and TV production in Canada for a company that grew to be Canada's largest production powerhouse during the late 1990s on the strength of taxpayer subsidies and strong foreign programming sales.
- 12/11/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"The 51st State" presents a heady mixture of the coolest of action stars in Samuel L. Jackson, a stylish Hong Kong director in Ronny Yu and the gritty streets of Liverpool, England. The complex and extremely violent story might get a little lost amid the explosions, car chases, gunfire and swearing, but the film remains a Saturday night audience-pleaser, especially for those seeking a little sub-Tarantino mayhem.
Strangely, not enough is done to make use of Liverpool's distinctive landmarks. Apart from the Scouse (Liverpudlian) accents, "51st State" could have been made pretty much anywhere. But it is to Jackson's credit that he as a producer helped drive this project into production. He also wears a kilt the whole way through the movie, which in itself is pretty distinctive.
The film opens in 1971. A newly qualified pharmacologist, Elmo McElroy (Jackson), smoking a rather large joint, is pulled over by police. Bang goes his license to work professionally. Cut to 2001. He is now working as an illegal-drugs manufacturer for the Lizard (Meat Loaf). Elmo, though, has plans to escape his nasty boss. He rigs up an explosion to take out the Lizard, then heads to England to barter a $20 million deal with a Liverpudlian crime boss. Trouble is the bomb doesn't kill the Lizard, who sends a lithe female assassin, Dakota Phillips (played with style and sexuality by Emily Mortimer), after Elmo.
Elmo (carrying the drugs in his golf bag) is met at the airport by Felix DeSouza (Robert Carlyle), enforcer for crime boss Leopold Durant (Ricky Tomlinson). As the trio sit down to talk turkey, all hell breaks loose. Dakota (who happens to be from Liverpool and is a former lover of DeSouza's) starts shooting everyone in the room with a sniper rifle.
Elmo and DeSouza escape and are pursued by various factions, ranging from a group of brain-dead skinheads to corrupt police. Eventually, they set up a deal with club owner Iki (Rhys Ifans), unaware that the Lizard is winging his way across the Atlantic to deal with Elmo. In the end, the appropriate people are killed, DeSouza and Dakota rekindle their love, and Elmo gets to play golf in Scotland.
Jackson, looking cool with his hair in braids and sporting a natty kilt, has the ability to raise himself above the mayhem around him. Carlyle plays DeSouza with the manic edge he brought to "Trainspotting", while Mortimer, in lots of leather, is very good as the gentle but brutal killer. The overacting award is split between Ifans (who should try doing one film in a lower key) and Meat Loaf.
The film is exceptionally loud with accents that might confuse some audiences. Yu directs with a good deal of skill, greatly aided by the excellent work of editor David Wu. Scenes shot on the Liverpool streets look a little drab, and one wonders if cinematographer Poon Hong-sang could have gotten a little more out of the sequences.
The screenplay by newcomer Stel Pavlou is witty and smart, though sometimes lapses into cliche and confusion. "51st State" makes for fine mindless entertainment, and it does have the selling point of Samuel L. Jackson in a kilt.
THE 51ST STATE
Screen Gems
Alliance Atlantis presents a Focus Films, 51st Films, Alliance Atlantis production in association with the Film Consortium
Credits:
Producers: Andras Hamori, Samuel L. Jackson, Seaton McLean, Jonathan Debin
Director: Ronny Yu
Executive producers: Julie Yorn, Eli Selden, Stephanie Davis
Screenwriter: Stel Pavlou
Director of photography: Poon Hong-sang
Production designer: Alan MacDonald
Editor: David Wu
Costume designer: Kate Carin
Music: Headrillaz
Cast:
Elmo McElroy: Samuel L. Jackson
Felix DeSouza: Robert Carlyle
Dakota Phillips: Emily Mortimer
Iki: Rhys Ifans
Leopold Durant: Ricky Tomlinson
Virgil Kane: Sean Pertwee
The Lizard: Meat Loaf
No MPAA rating
Color/stereo
Running time -- 98 minutes...
Strangely, not enough is done to make use of Liverpool's distinctive landmarks. Apart from the Scouse (Liverpudlian) accents, "51st State" could have been made pretty much anywhere. But it is to Jackson's credit that he as a producer helped drive this project into production. He also wears a kilt the whole way through the movie, which in itself is pretty distinctive.
The film opens in 1971. A newly qualified pharmacologist, Elmo McElroy (Jackson), smoking a rather large joint, is pulled over by police. Bang goes his license to work professionally. Cut to 2001. He is now working as an illegal-drugs manufacturer for the Lizard (Meat Loaf). Elmo, though, has plans to escape his nasty boss. He rigs up an explosion to take out the Lizard, then heads to England to barter a $20 million deal with a Liverpudlian crime boss. Trouble is the bomb doesn't kill the Lizard, who sends a lithe female assassin, Dakota Phillips (played with style and sexuality by Emily Mortimer), after Elmo.
Elmo (carrying the drugs in his golf bag) is met at the airport by Felix DeSouza (Robert Carlyle), enforcer for crime boss Leopold Durant (Ricky Tomlinson). As the trio sit down to talk turkey, all hell breaks loose. Dakota (who happens to be from Liverpool and is a former lover of DeSouza's) starts shooting everyone in the room with a sniper rifle.
Elmo and DeSouza escape and are pursued by various factions, ranging from a group of brain-dead skinheads to corrupt police. Eventually, they set up a deal with club owner Iki (Rhys Ifans), unaware that the Lizard is winging his way across the Atlantic to deal with Elmo. In the end, the appropriate people are killed, DeSouza and Dakota rekindle their love, and Elmo gets to play golf in Scotland.
Jackson, looking cool with his hair in braids and sporting a natty kilt, has the ability to raise himself above the mayhem around him. Carlyle plays DeSouza with the manic edge he brought to "Trainspotting", while Mortimer, in lots of leather, is very good as the gentle but brutal killer. The overacting award is split between Ifans (who should try doing one film in a lower key) and Meat Loaf.
The film is exceptionally loud with accents that might confuse some audiences. Yu directs with a good deal of skill, greatly aided by the excellent work of editor David Wu. Scenes shot on the Liverpool streets look a little drab, and one wonders if cinematographer Poon Hong-sang could have gotten a little more out of the sequences.
The screenplay by newcomer Stel Pavlou is witty and smart, though sometimes lapses into cliche and confusion. "51st State" makes for fine mindless entertainment, and it does have the selling point of Samuel L. Jackson in a kilt.
THE 51ST STATE
Screen Gems
Alliance Atlantis presents a Focus Films, 51st Films, Alliance Atlantis production in association with the Film Consortium
Credits:
Producers: Andras Hamori, Samuel L. Jackson, Seaton McLean, Jonathan Debin
Director: Ronny Yu
Executive producers: Julie Yorn, Eli Selden, Stephanie Davis
Screenwriter: Stel Pavlou
Director of photography: Poon Hong-sang
Production designer: Alan MacDonald
Editor: David Wu
Costume designer: Kate Carin
Music: Headrillaz
Cast:
Elmo McElroy: Samuel L. Jackson
Felix DeSouza: Robert Carlyle
Dakota Phillips: Emily Mortimer
Iki: Rhys Ifans
Leopold Durant: Ricky Tomlinson
Virgil Kane: Sean Pertwee
The Lizard: Meat Loaf
No MPAA rating
Color/stereo
Running time -- 98 minutes...
- 12/18/2001
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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