This article contains spoilers for "The Fall Guy."
At a pre-release screening, "The Fall Guy" director David Leitch and star Ryan Gosling greeted the audience by not only thanking them for attending (and playfully encouraging them to stay off their phones) but clarifying that the ensuing film — inspired by the 1980s TV series starring Lee Majors — is a love letter to the stunt community. That much would be true even if the film's end credits didn't include a lengthy montage of the making of some of the stunts that occur within the story. Leitch has a long history in the stunt community, having worked on everything from "John Wick" to "Deadpool 2" and "Ocean's Eleven." It's one thing, of course, to say that you've made a movie that's a love letter to stunts but it's another to actually pull off jaw-dropping stunt sequences. We've ranked the 10 wildest stunts in "The Fall Guy...
At a pre-release screening, "The Fall Guy" director David Leitch and star Ryan Gosling greeted the audience by not only thanking them for attending (and playfully encouraging them to stay off their phones) but clarifying that the ensuing film — inspired by the 1980s TV series starring Lee Majors — is a love letter to the stunt community. That much would be true even if the film's end credits didn't include a lengthy montage of the making of some of the stunts that occur within the story. Leitch has a long history in the stunt community, having worked on everything from "John Wick" to "Deadpool 2" and "Ocean's Eleven." It's one thing, of course, to say that you've made a movie that's a love letter to stunts but it's another to actually pull off jaw-dropping stunt sequences. We've ranked the 10 wildest stunts in "The Fall Guy...
- 5/4/2024
- by Josh Spiegel
- Slash Film
Shot with one of the newest cinema cameras paired with good & old glass, The Fall Guy which was released in cinemas today, demonstrates some epic stunts allowed by complex cinematography. The camera is an Arri Alexa 35. Lenses are Panavision C-Series, E-Series, and Primo Anamorphic Prime glass.
The Fall Guy: Behind the scenes. Picture by Unit Still Photographer Mark Rogers Smpsp The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy is a most talked-about 2024 American action comedy film directed by David Leitch and shot by cinematographer Jonathan Sela ASC (Transformers). The film was written by Drew Pearce, loosely based on the 1980s TV series about stunt performers. It follows a stuntman working on his ex-girlfriend’s directorial debut action film, only to find himself involved in a conspiracy surrounding the film’s lead actor. The film stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, and Winston Duke. The Fall Guy...
The Fall Guy: Behind the scenes. Picture by Unit Still Photographer Mark Rogers Smpsp The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy is a most talked-about 2024 American action comedy film directed by David Leitch and shot by cinematographer Jonathan Sela ASC (Transformers). The film was written by Drew Pearce, loosely based on the 1980s TV series about stunt performers. It follows a stuntman working on his ex-girlfriend’s directorial debut action film, only to find himself involved in a conspiracy surrounding the film’s lead actor. The film stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, and Winston Duke. The Fall Guy...
- 5/3/2024
- by Yossy Mendelovich
- YMCinema
During the last decade, much has been discussed about the stunt department and how the fearless, talented individuals who work in this area deserve more recognition in the film industry. From various movements to creating the respective category in awards ceremonies – unfortunately, the Oscars remain stubborn – to an unmistakable shift in the action genre – nowadays, it’s almost mandatory for an action flick to have an oner – stuntmen and stuntwomen have been increasingly valued with each passing year, so it would be expected that a movie paid them the proper tribute. With one of the most influential voices from the stunt world at the helm, David Leitch (Deadpool 2), The Fall Guy is a true love letter to a unit often overlooked by the general audience. In a mix of mystery, love, and action, Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), a stunt double, returns to work after an incident that almost ended his career.
- 4/22/2024
- by Manuel Sao Bento
- Talking Films
In 99% of Hollywood movies, the goal is to make the stunt work invisible. Audiences are supposed to believe that the star — or better yet, the character he plays — put his own life at risk jumping off buildings, blowing up cars or duking it out with squads of bad guys. In “The Fall Guy,” the stuntman gets to be the hero (of an insanely overcomplicated story), while the star is a prima donna who claims to do all his own stunts but needs his double to step in when things get tough.
“The Fall Guy” is funny, it’s sexy, and it features the boy’s-toy version of “Barbie” scene-stealer Ryan Gosling — which is to say, after playing a Ken doll, now he embodies the ultimate action figure. This is the charisma-radiating side of Gosling audiences love (as opposed to expressionless “Only God Forgives” Gosling), and though his character doesn’t have much depth,...
“The Fall Guy” is funny, it’s sexy, and it features the boy’s-toy version of “Barbie” scene-stealer Ryan Gosling — which is to say, after playing a Ken doll, now he embodies the ultimate action figure. This is the charisma-radiating side of Gosling audiences love (as opposed to expressionless “Only God Forgives” Gosling), and though his character doesn’t have much depth,...
- 3/13/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
This article appears in the SXSW 2024 issue of Den of Geek magazine. Check out all of our SXSW coverage here.
The Fall Guy wasn’t supposed to be a romance. Or at least it didn’t start out that way. But when Ryan Gosling came on board to collaborate on the script, the shape of the wildly ambitious action film changed. Director David Leitch was reminded of what his cinematographer Jonathan Sela would always say: “I want to do a sweeping romance. All we do is punch people in the face. Stop punching and start kissing!” That was ringing in Leitch’s head when Gosling came up with a revolutionary idea. “He said, ‘What if we lean into the love story?’” Leitch recalls. “‘Let’s just go down that road in the outline and experiment with it.’ We started to lean into it more and more, and we started to...
The Fall Guy wasn’t supposed to be a romance. Or at least it didn’t start out that way. But when Ryan Gosling came on board to collaborate on the script, the shape of the wildly ambitious action film changed. Director David Leitch was reminded of what his cinematographer Jonathan Sela would always say: “I want to do a sweeping romance. All we do is punch people in the face. Stop punching and start kissing!” That was ringing in Leitch’s head when Gosling came up with a revolutionary idea. “He said, ‘What if we lean into the love story?’” Leitch recalls. “‘Let’s just go down that road in the outline and experiment with it.’ We started to lean into it more and more, and we started to...
- 3/6/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The line between art and activism is blurred — often to a fault — in The Strangers’ Case, a visceral migrant drama that plays less as a movie with a message than as a message with a movie.
Written and directed by Brandt Andersen, an executive producer (American Made, Everest), former NBA G League franchise owner and international activist, the film follows several characters whose lives are upended by the Syrian Civil War, switching points of view as it moves from the grim battlegrounds of Aleppo to the gates of Europe.
It can be an intense experience to sit through, and Andersen doesn’t hold back on the gruesome violence and nonstop tragedy many migrants suffered during the conflict — and continue to suffer to this day. But that doesn’t always make for great drama, nor for characters who go deep enough, resulting in a well-meaning film that feels half like a globetrotting Hollywood thriller,...
Written and directed by Brandt Andersen, an executive producer (American Made, Everest), former NBA G League franchise owner and international activist, the film follows several characters whose lives are upended by the Syrian Civil War, switching points of view as it moves from the grim battlegrounds of Aleppo to the gates of Europe.
It can be an intense experience to sit through, and Andersen doesn’t hold back on the gruesome violence and nonstop tragedy many migrants suffered during the conflict — and continue to suffer to this day. But that doesn’t always make for great drama, nor for characters who go deep enough, resulting in a well-meaning film that feels half like a globetrotting Hollywood thriller,...
- 2/23/2024
- by Jordan Mintzer
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The New Boy — the story of a young Aboriginal Australian orphan boy that was written, directed and lensed by Warwick Thornton — collected the Golden Frog in the main competition of the 31st EnergaCamerimage international cinematography film festival, which closed Saturday night in Torún, Poland.
Cinematographer Ed Lachman received the Silver Frog for Pablo Larraín’s El Conde, which positions Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet as a vampire. Robbie Ryan’s lensing of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, the story of a young woman (Emma Stone) brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, claimed the Bronze Frog as well as the Audience Award. (Ryan collected the Golden Frog two years ago, for Mike Mills’ C’mon C’mon, and Lachman won the Golden Frog in 2015, for Todd Haynes’ Carol.).
The Fipresci Prize was awarded to Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, a chilling look at the life of Auschwitz concentration camp commander Rudolf Höss and his family,...
Cinematographer Ed Lachman received the Silver Frog for Pablo Larraín’s El Conde, which positions Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet as a vampire. Robbie Ryan’s lensing of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, the story of a young woman (Emma Stone) brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, claimed the Bronze Frog as well as the Audience Award. (Ryan collected the Golden Frog two years ago, for Mike Mills’ C’mon C’mon, and Lachman won the Golden Frog in 2015, for Todd Haynes’ Carol.).
The Fipresci Prize was awarded to Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, a chilling look at the life of Auschwitz concentration camp commander Rudolf Höss and his family,...
- 11/18/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Taylor Lautner and his wife Tay Lautner have nothing but nice things to say about working with Taylor Swift on her recent “I Can See You” music video. In a new episode of the couple’s podcast, The Squeeze, the pair described keeping the collaboration a secret ahead of its premiere earlier this month.
“We’ve known how freaking awesome the video is for a while now, so I was just stoked for everybody to see it and just see the genius of blonde girl Taylor because she is truly unbelievable,...
“We’ve known how freaking awesome the video is for a while now, so I was just stoked for everybody to see it and just see the genius of blonde girl Taylor because she is truly unbelievable,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Taylor Swift reclaims Speak Now, literally, in her new video for “I Can See You.” The song is one of the “From the Vault” songs included on her newly rerecorded 2010 third studio LP.
In the new visual, which Swift wrote and directed, Taylor Lautner and Joey King are seen in a museum on a mission to rescue Swift from a vault, where she is trapped along with her prize possession — her framed cover art of Speak Now. The two navigate Mission: Impossible-like scenes, with Presley Cash serving as their behind-the-scenes comms director,...
In the new visual, which Swift wrote and directed, Taylor Lautner and Joey King are seen in a museum on a mission to rescue Swift from a vault, where she is trapped along with her prize possession — her framed cover art of Speak Now. The two navigate Mission: Impossible-like scenes, with Presley Cash serving as their behind-the-scenes comms director,...
- 7/8/2023
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Click here to read the full article.
David Leitch is getting the band back together.
The filmmaker is reteaming with cinematographer Jonathan Sela and editor Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir on The Fall Guy, Universal’s action film based on the ’80s series starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Sela previously worked with Leitch on titles including Deadpool 2, Bullet Train, Atomic Blonde, Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw and John Wick (which Leitch directed alongside Chad Stahelski). Ronaldsdóttir’s credits also include Bullet Train, Atomic Blonde and John Wick — and she was one of the editors of Deadpool 2. She has also worked in the MCU, as one of the editors of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
The series Fall Guy was created by Glen A. Larson and starred Lee Majors as a Hollywood stuntman who, to make ends meets, has a side hustle as a bounty hunter.
David Leitch is getting the band back together.
The filmmaker is reteaming with cinematographer Jonathan Sela and editor Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir on The Fall Guy, Universal’s action film based on the ’80s series starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Sela previously worked with Leitch on titles including Deadpool 2, Bullet Train, Atomic Blonde, Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw and John Wick (which Leitch directed alongside Chad Stahelski). Ronaldsdóttir’s credits also include Bullet Train, Atomic Blonde and John Wick — and she was one of the editors of Deadpool 2. She has also worked in the MCU, as one of the editors of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
The series Fall Guy was created by Glen A. Larson and starred Lee Majors as a Hollywood stuntman who, to make ends meets, has a side hustle as a bounty hunter.
- 11/2/2022
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The John Wick movies thrive on maximalism. It's their secret weapon. Released in 2014, the original "John Wick" appeared to be a revenge thriller built from spare and familiar elements. Instead, director and former "Matrix" stuntman Chad Stahelski, uncredited director David Leitch, and writer Derek Kolstad unleashed a sprawling underground of hitmen, John Alberto Leguizamo running a chop shop, and an underworld-only hotel that forbids assassinations on-site. "John Wick" took its world-building and stylistic excesses farther than unsuspecting audiences could guess. As a result, it was a smash at the box office. It's little wonder that "John Wick: Chapter 2" and "John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum" followed suit, financially and artistically.
Given that, let's look at the "John Wick" movie moments that deliberately took things too far and shifted the needle for the films they occurred in and for action cinema in general. The maximalism of "John Wick" is no longer the exception.
Given that, let's look at the "John Wick" movie moments that deliberately took things too far and shifted the needle for the films they occurred in and for action cinema in general. The maximalism of "John Wick" is no longer the exception.
- 9/6/2022
- by Scott Thomas
- Slash Film
Updated with video review: Right from the start, you know exactly what you are in for with Bullet Train, a non-stop mix of violence, comedy and more violence, Japanese-style, as filtered through the lens of director David Leitch, a stuntman-turned-filmmaker whose past credits of Atomic Blonde, Fast & Furious: Hobbs and Shaw, and Deadpool 2 pretty much prepare you for what to expect here. However, even though this was mostly shot on the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City, with some killer production design and a cool train courtesy of David Scheunemann, it undoubtedly feels we are in Tokyo where I am sure the Sony bosses were delighted with the dailies as they came in.
Unfortunately, from my vantage point this just seems like a lark for star Brad Pitt, coming off an Oscar for the far superior Quentin Tarantino masterpiece Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, also from Sony,...
Unfortunately, from my vantage point this just seems like a lark for star Brad Pitt, coming off an Oscar for the far superior Quentin Tarantino masterpiece Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, also from Sony,...
- 8/2/2022
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
So many things went through my mind while watching “Bullet Train”: Bullet trains seem great; why don’t we have them in the United States? Will I ever get to see Mount Fuji? I wonder what flavors of Kit Kats they sell on that train?
These thoughts occurred because my brain refused to engage with this glib, terminally self-satisfied blood-and-bullets extravaganza, one that feels like it was plucked from what we might call the “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead” period of American cinema, when Quentin Tarantino’s first two features emboldened far too many young filmmakers to think that they, too, could make a zippy comedy with excessive gunplay, explicit gore, pop-culture references, needle drops, and a briefcase full of cash.
Having programmed a film festival from 1995 to 1999, I was subjected to more bad “Reservoir Dogs” wannabes than the average filmgoer, which might explain why...
These thoughts occurred because my brain refused to engage with this glib, terminally self-satisfied blood-and-bullets extravaganza, one that feels like it was plucked from what we might call the “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead” period of American cinema, when Quentin Tarantino’s first two features emboldened far too many young filmmakers to think that they, too, could make a zippy comedy with excessive gunplay, explicit gore, pop-culture references, needle drops, and a briefcase full of cash.
Having programmed a film festival from 1995 to 1999, I was subjected to more bad “Reservoir Dogs” wannabes than the average filmgoer, which might explain why...
- 8/2/2022
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
The early work of a string of directors comes to mind while watching Bullet Train, among them Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Guy Ritchie, Joe Carnahan and Timur Bekmambetov. The difference is that those filmmakers have mostly moved on from this kind of assaultive bloodbath, which pummels you into numbness with its onslaught of glib dark comedy, escalating carnage and over-the-top gore. David Leitch’s directing credits — Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw — have remained firmly tethered to his stunt background, occasionally with entertaining results. But his latest is so busy delivering violent action with a self-satisfied wink that its contorted plotting and one-note characters get real tedious real fast.
Leitch has served on multiple occasions as Brad Pitt’s stunt double, so there’s a certain symmetry in him shepherding a movie that relies so extensively on the star’s insouciant charisma. But...
The early work of a string of directors comes to mind while watching Bullet Train, among them Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Guy Ritchie, Joe Carnahan and Timur Bekmambetov. The difference is that those filmmakers have mostly moved on from this kind of assaultive bloodbath, which pummels you into numbness with its onslaught of glib dark comedy, escalating carnage and over-the-top gore. David Leitch’s directing credits — Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw — have remained firmly tethered to his stunt background, occasionally with entertaining results. But his latest is so busy delivering violent action with a self-satisfied wink that its contorted plotting and one-note characters get real tedious real fast.
Leitch has served on multiple occasions as Brad Pitt’s stunt double, so there’s a certain symmetry in him shepherding a movie that relies so extensively on the star’s insouciant charisma. But...
- 8/2/2022
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hollywood, Calif. – Discover thrilling adventure, fabled treasure, and epic laughs when the hit comedy The Lost City finds its way home for purchase on Digital starting May 10, 2022. The film will arrive on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD July 26 from Paramount Home Entertainment.
Starring Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, this “fun & wild jungle adventure comedy” is “a hilarious adventure from start to finish”. Fans can enjoy The Lost City at home on Digital*, 4K Ultra HD, or Blu-ray and get over 50 minutes of fun-filled bonus content, including hilarious bloopers, deleted scenes not seen in theaters, and multiple behind-the-scenes featurettes. Take a trip to the movie’s exotic filming location, see how the incredible action set pieces were filmed
buy kamagra 100mg
, discover the story behind the infamous jumpsuit, and much more!
Bonus content is detailed below:
• Deleted Scenes—More fun you didn’t see in theatres!
Starring Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, this “fun & wild jungle adventure comedy” is “a hilarious adventure from start to finish”. Fans can enjoy The Lost City at home on Digital*, 4K Ultra HD, or Blu-ray and get over 50 minutes of fun-filled bonus content, including hilarious bloopers, deleted scenes not seen in theaters, and multiple behind-the-scenes featurettes. Take a trip to the movie’s exotic filming location, see how the incredible action set pieces were filmed
buy kamagra 100mg
, discover the story behind the infamous jumpsuit, and much more!
Bonus content is detailed below:
• Deleted Scenes—More fun you didn’t see in theatres!
- 5/14/2022
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar Nuñez, Patti Harrison, Bowen Yang | Written by Adam Nee, Aaron Nee, Dana Fox, Oren Uziel | Directed by Adam Nee, Aaron Nee
Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum headline this treasure-seeking adventure comedy that harks back to Romancing the Stone (1984). Co-directed by Adam and Aaron Nee, The Lost City is a delightful throwback to 1980s screwball escapism, delivering a sweet combination of nostalgic thrills and modern-day jokes.
Bullock plays popular author Loretta Sage, who’s grown tired of her series of saucy adventure-slash-romance novels, following the death of her archaeologist husband five years previously. She’s also grown tired of Alan (Channing Tatum), the sweet-but-dim model who poses as her novel series hero Dash on all her covers and is a constant presence on her book tours, to the evident pleasure of her audiences.
However, the latest book tour takes an...
Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum headline this treasure-seeking adventure comedy that harks back to Romancing the Stone (1984). Co-directed by Adam and Aaron Nee, The Lost City is a delightful throwback to 1980s screwball escapism, delivering a sweet combination of nostalgic thrills and modern-day jokes.
Bullock plays popular author Loretta Sage, who’s grown tired of her series of saucy adventure-slash-romance novels, following the death of her archaeologist husband five years previously. She’s also grown tired of Alan (Channing Tatum), the sweet-but-dim model who poses as her novel series hero Dash on all her covers and is a constant presence on her book tours, to the evident pleasure of her audiences.
However, the latest book tour takes an...
- 4/15/2022
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
‘The Lost City’ Review: Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum’s Chemistry Carries Charming Jungle Comedy
In Adam and Aaron Nee’s “The Lost City,” a wild, careening screwball comedy set in the jungle, the stars are on full display — and they need to be. See, the directing duo are following a similar roadmap used by “Romancing the Stone,” the Indiana Jones franchise, and Tomb Raider: colossal big-budget adventures dependent upon the stars who lead them as much as the exotic locations they call home. Here, a quartet of marquee names carry a knowingly pastiche romp whose lightweight charm somehow impedes its path to rom-com success.
You can’t totally blame the Nees for leaning heavily on their ensemble. In a slapdash comedy filled with big punchlines — and even bigger explosions — they’ve assembled a couple of the best comedic personalities available in Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum. The pair portray noted romance novelist Loretta Sage and her steamy cover model Alan as her franchise’s Fabio-inspired champion,...
You can’t totally blame the Nees for leaning heavily on their ensemble. In a slapdash comedy filled with big punchlines — and even bigger explosions — they’ve assembled a couple of the best comedic personalities available in Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum. The pair portray noted romance novelist Loretta Sage and her steamy cover model Alan as her franchise’s Fabio-inspired champion,...
- 3/13/2022
- by Robert Daniels
- Indiewire
“Onward,” Pixar’s first foray into fantasy and magic, was a departure for everyone involved, but especially for cinematographer Sharon Calahan, the only animation member of the Asc, known for her stunning naturalism on “Ratatouille,” “Finding Nemo,” “Toy Story 2,” and “The Good Dinosaur.” But Calahan was willing to break out of her comfort zone for such a personal, warmhearted adventure from director Dan Scanlon (“Monsters University”) about two teenage elf brothers (the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) trying to resurrect their dad from the dead using a 24-hour magic spell.
“I was intrigued because Dan wanted to set it in a fantasy world and at that point it was kind of ill-defined,” said Calahan. “It was a pretty broad canvas to narrow down what fantasy means and how far you want to go. How much of it is mundane versus fantasy? So all of that was interesting to figure out,...
“I was intrigued because Dan wanted to set it in a fantasy world and at that point it was kind of ill-defined,” said Calahan. “It was a pretty broad canvas to narrow down what fantasy means and how far you want to go. How much of it is mundane versus fantasy? So all of that was interesting to figure out,...
- 2/27/2020
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Agent Lorraine Broughton is a skilled MI6 operative capable of clearing out an entire room full of goons without even breaking a sweat. Known better to you, I and most of the world as Atomic Blonde, she’s a fierce and brave spy that journeyed to Berlin circa 1989, just before the collapse of the wall, in writer-director David Leitch’s hit 2017 film. But if recent reports are to be believed, Miss Broughton’s mission is far from over.
The possibility of a sequel to the Charlize Theron-fronted actioner has been brought up before, and while everyone involved is down for another outing, it seems that Atomic Blonde‘s box office performance may mean that any form of follow-up will release on a streaming service, rather than in theaters.
With a worldwide gross of about $100 million, the pic didn’t exactly set the box office on fire, and while that...
The possibility of a sequel to the Charlize Theron-fronted actioner has been brought up before, and while everyone involved is down for another outing, it seems that Atomic Blonde‘s box office performance may mean that any form of follow-up will release on a streaming service, rather than in theaters.
With a worldwide gross of about $100 million, the pic didn’t exactly set the box office on fire, and while that...
- 8/6/2019
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
With such a busy week in terms of festival announcements and awards season reveals, reviews of new releases have had to take a backseat (including due to an embargo for one title). That changes today, as we can now run down four of the films that are hitting/hit theaters. The quartet of movies includes the action spinoff Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, the documentary Jay Myself, as well as indie dramas in Luce and Teacher. The flicks are all incredibly different, to say the least. Are any/all worth your time and money this weekend? Let me help you decide that right now, ladies and gentlemen… Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw Spinning off the Fast & Furious franchise makes perfect sense. They’re such gigantic films that breaking some characters off from the main group for their own adventures isn’t totally insane. However, it does require...
- 8/2/2019
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
You’ve got to appreciate a movie that doesn’t take itself seriously. And, man, “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” is definitely about as ridiculous as a movie can be, for better or worse.
There is no confusing exactly what this film thinks of itself within the first few moments, like when Idris Elba’s Brixon introduces himself as, “I’m the bad guy.” He doesn’t really need a name because, as with most villains in your average action movie, he’s just the guy you’re supposed to hate right away. So why waste time with formalities — or character development, for that matter?
When we meet the brawny tough guy, he’s in the midst of cracking heads and tearing apart limbs because he desperately needs a virus to annihilate the planet by a certain deadline — classic action movie bad guy ambition. You’re probably asking, but...
There is no confusing exactly what this film thinks of itself within the first few moments, like when Idris Elba’s Brixon introduces himself as, “I’m the bad guy.” He doesn’t really need a name because, as with most villains in your average action movie, he’s just the guy you’re supposed to hate right away. So why waste time with formalities — or character development, for that matter?
When we meet the brawny tough guy, he’s in the midst of cracking heads and tearing apart limbs because he desperately needs a virus to annihilate the planet by a certain deadline — classic action movie bad guy ambition. You’re probably asking, but...
- 7/31/2019
- by Candice Frederick
- The Wrap
The past ten years have been, among other things, a banner decade for action cinema. With 2020 around the corner, we wanted to celebrate the ongoing vibrancy of the genre through highlighting the best action scenes of the 2010s, since it is the action scene that has traditionally been the most concentrated, heightened expression of action filmmaking craft. And it is craft that this article focuses on: the specific and concrete ways in which various facets like narrative, mise-en-scène, sound, and editing work together to produce exceptional action. The following is Part 2 of the round-up; Part 1 can be found here.One-woman ARMYThe next film on our list is helmed by a director who had never directed a pure action film up until this point. Then again, if your name is Steven Soderbergh, breaking new ground is part of your modus operandi, and with Haywire (2011), more than ground is broken over the...
- 7/7/2019
- MUBI
Though the Academy isn’t usually one for franchise blockbusters, Disney is clearly hoping for a shift in attitude as they push Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War for a variety of Oscars, and probably with good reason. But even in this changing climate, the fact that 20th Century Fox is promoting Deadpool 2 for Best Picture seems like a troll move worthy of the Merc with a Mouth himself.
The main award is one of several that the studio is gunning for, and while Wade Wilson’s latest outing was a hit with audiences and critics alike, it’s safe to say that this gratuitously violent X-Men spinoff flick is outside of the Academy’s wheelhouse. All the same, though the movie stands little chance at getting Best Picture, it may well take a few nominations in some of the less prestigious categories, with the full list of “For...
The main award is one of several that the studio is gunning for, and while Wade Wilson’s latest outing was a hit with audiences and critics alike, it’s safe to say that this gratuitously violent X-Men spinoff flick is outside of the Academy’s wheelhouse. All the same, though the movie stands little chance at getting Best Picture, it may well take a few nominations in some of the less prestigious categories, with the full list of “For...
- 11/20/2018
- by David Pountain
- We Got This Covered
Hollywood Heroes™: The superhero genre always runs the risk of exhausting audiences with endless amounts of sequels. Characters that initially are new and compelling grow stale, just going through the motions again and again. Then, there’s Deadpool/Wade Wilson. This character, first truly seen a few years ago in his film of the same name, was a breath of fresh air. Now, how would his sequel be? Well, I’m delighted to report that his movie is just as good the second time around. It’s a giant blockbuster that’s also a weird little comedy. I loved it. Furthermore, it’s actually one of 2018’s best films. Yes, you read that right. The flick is, obviously, a sequel to Deadpool. The actual synopsis that Twentieth Century Fox put up on IMDb is a clear joke, but here it is anyway: “After surviving a near fatal bovine attack,...
- 5/16/2018
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
The best sequels, whether superhero or otherwise, are those ones that bring a measure of control with them. Sure, the audience wants to see things bigger and better than they did in the origin tale but it’s all about whether the filmmakers can do so in the structure of its story. The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 2 and The Winter Soldier are some of the most recent sequels featuring heroic crusaders that have maintained their levels of compelling narratives and characters from before whilst crafting an exciting new one that allows for thing to be bigger and better – there are none so fickle as the superhero fanbase and such things can become “been there, done it” quite quickly in this world. The decision to replace Tim Miller with David Leitch in the director’s chair for Part Deux was a sign that the notches were certainly being cranked up to...
- 5/15/2018
- by Scott Davis
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Director of photography Jonathan Sela was born in Paris and raised in Israel, but it was during a boyhood visit to his grandfather’s hometown in Poland that his future in filmmaking was foreshadowed. The family was surprised to find a Hollywood film crew working in the tiny village. The production was “Schindler’s List,” and among the filmmakers were Steven Spielberg and his Dp, Janusz Kaminski. The film went on to earn seven Academy Awards, with an Oscar for best cinematography among them.
Sela found his way to cinematography over the next two decades, but not because of that brief, chance encounter. His love for storytelling was — and is — the driving force. “I was always fascinated by the experience of seeing films in the theater,” says Sela. “I loved the escape from reality into some kind of alternate reality. I’ve never really had another job besides working on movies.
Sela found his way to cinematography over the next two decades, but not because of that brief, chance encounter. His love for storytelling was — and is — the driving force. “I was always fascinated by the experience of seeing films in the theater,” says Sela. “I loved the escape from reality into some kind of alternate reality. I’ve never really had another job besides working on movies.
- 4/26/2018
- by David Heuring
- Variety Film + TV
Yesterday, the internet got a heaping new dose of everyone’s favorite merc with the mouth. Yes, a new Trailer for Deadpool 2 was dropped, giving us another comic book sequel to eagerly anticipate (after the Super Bowl spot earlier this year). The original, long in development, proved to be a surprise smash hit, revitalizing Ryan Reynolds as an A-list star, doing incredibly well on the precursor circuit, and nearly even scoring an Oscar nomination. Now, we’re about two months away from the sequel hitting theaters, so the promotional train is in motion. You’ll be able to see the Trailer at the end of the article, but first…let’s see what our friend Deadpool has been up to and what he might be doing next, shall we? The film is likely to be just as meta and tongue in cheek as the last. For example, this is...
- 3/23/2018
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Universal City, California, September 14, 2017 – Double-crossed while sent to collect stolen intelligence in East Germany, elusive secret agent Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road, The Fate of the Furious) unleashes a deadly arsenal of skills in Atomic Blonde, the adrenaline pumping, stylish spy-thriller, coming to Digital on October 24, 2017 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on November 14, 2017, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Adapted from Antony Johnson’s graphic novel, The Coldest City, the explosive film set in the late eighties takes viewers on a high-stakes chase as Theron attempts to escape Berlin. The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital versions include commentary from the cast, filmmakers, stunt performers and fight coordinators, plus behind-the-scenes features that take viewers inside the making of the film’s intense stunt choreography.
Oscar®-winner Charlize Theron stars as elite MI6’s most lethal assassin and the crown jewel of her Majesty’s secret intelligence service,...
Oscar®-winner Charlize Theron stars as elite MI6’s most lethal assassin and the crown jewel of her Majesty’s secret intelligence service,...
- 9/14/2017
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
David Leitch’s cinematic rendition of graphic novel The Coldest City holds true to its roots in genre, styling & characterisation, creating an astounding & brutally fresh view on the spy genre, however often fails to keep its audiences gripped, and falls short of its overarching style.
Set in 1989 Berlin, international tensions are high, as British Intelligence fights for The List, a list of every active agent in the Soviet Union. Having been sent by MI6 to retrieve The List and assassinate a mysterious loose-lipped double-agent, Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) fights her way through Berlin, uncovering secrets and corruption, she can trust no-one.
Sounds familiar right? Atomic Blonde has an underlying plot structure which screams nothing new to a viewer, the Berlin Wall, international espionage, secrets & fight scenes. However, as the film’s opening credits show, this is not that story. Leitch’s graphic and brutal spy flick brings audiences the female John Wick,...
Set in 1989 Berlin, international tensions are high, as British Intelligence fights for The List, a list of every active agent in the Soviet Union. Having been sent by MI6 to retrieve The List and assassinate a mysterious loose-lipped double-agent, Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) fights her way through Berlin, uncovering secrets and corruption, she can trust no-one.
Sounds familiar right? Atomic Blonde has an underlying plot structure which screams nothing new to a viewer, the Berlin Wall, international espionage, secrets & fight scenes. However, as the film’s opening credits show, this is not that story. Leitch’s graphic and brutal spy flick brings audiences the female John Wick,...
- 8/12/2017
- by Harrison Baillie
- The Cultural Post
It’s one of the most stunning seven minutes of filmed action in years. Undercover MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) enters an apartment building to find and stop the snipers making it impossible to sneak her asset, Spyglass (Eddie Marsan), out of East Berlin. In one long take — or at least what would appear to be one — she fights a series of well-trained assassins, using both hand-to-hand combat and her gun in a scene that is both viscerally exciting and edge-of-your-seat thrilling.
Read MoreWhat the Success of ‘Atomic Blonde’ Means for the Future of Female-Led Action Movies
IndieWire recently talked with Sam Hargrave, the “Atomic Blonde” second-unit director and stunt coordinator, who both choreographed and shot (camera operator) the scene to find out how they pulled off this remarkable piece of filmmaking.
Why a Oner
Director David Leitch was a legendary stunt coordinator/second-unit director in his own right – with “Bourne,...
Read MoreWhat the Success of ‘Atomic Blonde’ Means for the Future of Female-Led Action Movies
IndieWire recently talked with Sam Hargrave, the “Atomic Blonde” second-unit director and stunt coordinator, who both choreographed and shot (camera operator) the scene to find out how they pulled off this remarkable piece of filmmaking.
Why a Oner
Director David Leitch was a legendary stunt coordinator/second-unit director in his own right – with “Bourne,...
- 7/28/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
There’s a bargain underlying the whole of Atomic Blonde, wherein director David Leitch wavers between its more cheeky qualities and its adherence to the conventions of generic spy fare. The film is, by definition, “cool” in every sense. Despite some wonky plotting best described as Diet John le Carré and a heavy-handed soundtrack that occasionally gets in its own way, Charlize Theron plows full steam ahead with a taut precision and a physicality commanding every moment with an icy ferocity. Thankfully, this helps you ignore the moments where Leitch employs a somewhat masturbatory, Nicolas Winding Refn-esque tendency to remind you how fucking “cool” it all is.
Set in Berlin just prior to the collapse of the wall, Theron’s Lorraine Broughton is assigned to track down a much sought-after list of all the double agents deployed by MI6 throughout the Cold War. What worked for Mission: Impossible and...
Set in Berlin just prior to the collapse of the wall, Theron’s Lorraine Broughton is assigned to track down a much sought-after list of all the double agents deployed by MI6 throughout the Cold War. What worked for Mission: Impossible and...
- 7/26/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
There’s a fight sequence almost two thirds of the way through Atomic Blonde that I’m convinced is going to go down as an all time classic. It will rock your socks, plain and simple. The whole movie actually is pretty strong when it comes to action sequences. That being said, the real selling point is Charlize Theron, who turns in her most kick ass performance to date. She’s truly spectacular here, showing that what she did in Mad Max: Fury Road (we can pretend things like Aeon Flux never happened) wasn’t a one off. This week, the film hits theaters and should delight those of you who wish more women would get to kick some ass. Trust me, ass is kicked here, to say the least. Discussing the plot of this movie is kind of dumb, since it makes no sense, but here goes nothing. Told in flashbacks,...
- 7/26/2017
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Coldest City, Antony Johnston and Sam Hart’s graphic novel about the dangerous world of espionage, has been simmering on the back-burner ever since Charlize Theron swooped in to acquire the screen rights a few years back. That’s hardly surprising, either, given the actress’ busy, busy schedule, but we’re now only a few weeks away from welcoming Johnston and Hart’s Cold War thriller onto the big screen in the form of Atomic Blonde.
Universal has been busy promoting the release off the back of extremely positive reviews coming out of SXSW, and their campaign continues apace today with an explosive new clip for David Leitch’s spy thriller, in which Theron’s best-in-class MI6 agent can be seen laying the smackdown on James McAvoy, who doesn’t stand a chance against the lethal blonde headed badass. We’re not sure what exactly it is that he wants from her,...
Universal has been busy promoting the release off the back of extremely positive reviews coming out of SXSW, and their campaign continues apace today with an explosive new clip for David Leitch’s spy thriller, in which Theron’s best-in-class MI6 agent can be seen laying the smackdown on James McAvoy, who doesn’t stand a chance against the lethal blonde headed badass. We’re not sure what exactly it is that he wants from her,...
- 7/6/2017
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
The Coldest City, Antony Johnston and Sam Hart’s graphic novel about the dangerous world of espionage, has been simmering on the back-burner ever since Charlize Theron swooped in to acquire the screen rights a few years back. That’s hardly surprising, either, given the actress’ busy, busy schedule, but we’re now only a few weeks away from welcoming Johnston and Hart’s Cold War thriller onto the big screen in the form of Atomic Blonde.
Universal has been busy promoting the release off the back of extremely positive reviews coming out of SXSW, and their campaign continues apace today with an explosive, and final trailer for David Leitch’s spy thriller, in which Theron’s best-in-class MI6 agent can be seen kicking ass in all kinds of brutal ways. And we use the term ‘kicking ass’ quite lightly.
Lifted from the pages of graphic novel The Coldest City...
Universal has been busy promoting the release off the back of extremely positive reviews coming out of SXSW, and their campaign continues apace today with an explosive, and final trailer for David Leitch’s spy thriller, in which Theron’s best-in-class MI6 agent can be seen kicking ass in all kinds of brutal ways. And we use the term ‘kicking ass’ quite lightly.
Lifted from the pages of graphic novel The Coldest City...
- 7/1/2017
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
The Coldest City, Antony Johnston and Sam Hart’s graphic novel about the dangerous world of espionage, has been simmering on the back-burner ever since Charlize Theron swooped in to acquire the screen rights a few years back. That’s hardly surprising, either, given the actress’ busy, busy schedule, but we’re now only a few months away from welcoming Johnston and Hart’s Cold War thriller onto the big screen in the form of Atomic Blonde.
Universal has been busy promoting the release off the back of extremely positive reviews coming out of SXSW, and their campaign continues apace today with a brand new promo for David Leitch’s spy thriller, in which Theron’s best-in-class MI6 agent can be seen beating up goons in all kinds of brutal ways. And we use the term ‘beating up’ quite lightly.
Lifted from the pages of graphic novel The Coldest City...
Universal has been busy promoting the release off the back of extremely positive reviews coming out of SXSW, and their campaign continues apace today with a brand new promo for David Leitch’s spy thriller, in which Theron’s best-in-class MI6 agent can be seen beating up goons in all kinds of brutal ways. And we use the term ‘beating up’ quite lightly.
Lifted from the pages of graphic novel The Coldest City...
- 5/21/2017
- by Mark Cassidy
- We Got This Covered
After a hard-hitting first look, Charlize Theron is back to kick some serious ass in the new trailer for Atomic Blonde. The latest feature from John Wick co-director David Leitch, the action-thriller finds Theron’s Lorraine Broughton as an undercover MI6 agent during the Cold War who is tasked with hunting down a secret agent-killer. Teamed up with another agent (James McAvoy), Lorraine must fight her way through hordes of bad guys to save the day.
Penned by Kurt Johnstad (300) and lensed by Jonathan Sela (John Wick), Atomic Blonde looks to showcase Theron’s ferocious energy displayed in Mad Max: Fury Road with the now-signature stylings of John Wick. Following acclaim at its SXSW premiere, see the trailer below, along with a poster and synopsis, for the film that also stars John Goodman, Toby Jones, Sofa Boutella, Bill Skarsgård, and Eddie Marsan.
The crown jewel of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service,...
Penned by Kurt Johnstad (300) and lensed by Jonathan Sela (John Wick), Atomic Blonde looks to showcase Theron’s ferocious energy displayed in Mad Max: Fury Road with the now-signature stylings of John Wick. Following acclaim at its SXSW premiere, see the trailer below, along with a poster and synopsis, for the film that also stars John Goodman, Toby Jones, Sofa Boutella, Bill Skarsgård, and Eddie Marsan.
The crown jewel of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service,...
- 4/11/2017
- by Mike Mazzanti
- The Film Stage
While stuntman-turned-director David Leitch may be best known for his work on John Wick (and he’s also been tapped to helm the upcoming Deadpool 2), throughout his career he’s specialized in delivering all kinds of incredible action sequences for nearly 20 years. So while it may be easy to connect (on paper) the recent hit actioner starring Keanu Reeves and Leitch’s latest, Atomic Blonde, featuring the always badass Charlize Theron destroying bad guys all over Germany in the late 1980s, the latter confidently and brazenly goes all out, raising the bar for action movies and proving once again that blondes really do get to have all the fun.
The setting for Atomic Blonde is 1989. The Berlin Wall is on the verge of being taken down, and tensions are running high on both the west and eastern sides of Germany, as a list of spies has fallen into the wrong hands,...
The setting for Atomic Blonde is 1989. The Berlin Wall is on the verge of being taken down, and tensions are running high on both the west and eastern sides of Germany, as a list of spies has fallen into the wrong hands,...
- 3/21/2017
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Warner Bros. takes some more red pills and wants to bring the franchise back.
Warner Bros. really wants to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. According to THR, the idea to reboot The Matrix is now being tossed around. I know what you are thinking; how could they possibly do this! Apparently, there has been some talk with screenwriter Zak Penn about writing a treatment, so this could still very much fall apart. There are even rumors that Michael B. Jordan is being considered for the lead. What was once a groundbreaking Sci-Fi film that defied expectations, will now be mined for new entries and destroyed.
What was it about The Matrix that made it so fresh? Specifically you could point towards the stunning special-effects that were imitated for years afterwards. Inspired from Hong Kong martial arts features, The Matrix used a technique known as Wire Fu in order to capture its most thrilling action sequences...
Warner Bros. really wants to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. According to THR, the idea to reboot The Matrix is now being tossed around. I know what you are thinking; how could they possibly do this! Apparently, there has been some talk with screenwriter Zak Penn about writing a treatment, so this could still very much fall apart. There are even rumors that Michael B. Jordan is being considered for the lead. What was once a groundbreaking Sci-Fi film that defied expectations, will now be mined for new entries and destroyed.
What was it about The Matrix that made it so fresh? Specifically you could point towards the stunning special-effects that were imitated for years afterwards. Inspired from Hong Kong martial arts features, The Matrix used a technique known as Wire Fu in order to capture its most thrilling action sequences...
- 3/15/2017
- by Max Covill
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Among the many wild fight scenes in “Atomic Blonde,” one finds Charlize Theron as MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton rappelling from a balcony using an incapacitated goon as her counterweight, and that’s not even the craziest bit. Later, she battles her way through another apartment building loaded with Kgb goons, in a single, unbroken shot that careens down several flights of stairs, through the close quarters of a decrepit room, and into the confines of a speeding car. Bullets, knives and fists factor heavily into this spectacular showdown, but nothing hits harder than the camera pressing in close to Theron as she glares at one of the vanquished men and growls, “Now you’re my bitch.”
This is not only the essence of “Atomic Blonde,” but a phenomenal show-stopping moment that makes the whole gambit worthwhile. The first solo effort by “John Wick” co-director David Leitch, “Atomic Blonde” exists in...
This is not only the essence of “Atomic Blonde,” but a phenomenal show-stopping moment that makes the whole gambit worthwhile. The first solo effort by “John Wick” co-director David Leitch, “Atomic Blonde” exists in...
- 3/13/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Bad Moms
Stx Entertainment has released the first photo from their summer comedy "Bad Moms" which opens July 29th. Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith and Annie Mumolo star in the film about a mother pushed too far by the alpha moms at her kid's school - prompting her to team with two other misfit moms to get a taste of freedom. [Source: FM]
Transformers 5
Jonathan Sela, the cinematographer on "John Wick," has joined the crew of Michael Bay's fifth "Transformers" film at Paramount Pictures. He takes over from Amir Mokri ("Man of Steel") who serve as cinematographer on the previous two films. [Source: Variety]
Queen of Katwe
Disney has given the Mira Nair-directed chess drama "Queen of Katwe" an awards-season release date of September 23rd. The film will initially score a limited release before expanding the following week.
Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo and Madina Nalwanga...
Stx Entertainment has released the first photo from their summer comedy "Bad Moms" which opens July 29th. Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith and Annie Mumolo star in the film about a mother pushed too far by the alpha moms at her kid's school - prompting her to team with two other misfit moms to get a taste of freedom. [Source: FM]
Transformers 5
Jonathan Sela, the cinematographer on "John Wick," has joined the crew of Michael Bay's fifth "Transformers" film at Paramount Pictures. He takes over from Amir Mokri ("Man of Steel") who serve as cinematographer on the previous two films. [Source: Variety]
Queen of Katwe
Disney has given the Mira Nair-directed chess drama "Queen of Katwe" an awards-season release date of September 23rd. The film will initially score a limited release before expanding the following week.
Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo and Madina Nalwanga...
- 4/9/2016
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
The most recent Transformers sequels, Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction, had Man of Steel director of photography Amir Mokri helping Michael Bay behind the camera. But for the filmmaker’s final outing on the franchise with Transformers 5, he’s bringing in some new blood. John Wick cinematographer Jonathan Sela has boarded Transformers 5, […]
The post ‘Transformers 5’ Lands ‘John Wick’ Cinematographer to Shoot the Sequel for Michael Bay appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Transformers 5’ Lands ‘John Wick’ Cinematographer to Shoot the Sequel for Michael Bay appeared first on /Film.
- 4/8/2016
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
It’s interesting that the titular figure (Keanu Reeves) in John Wick, a visceral and vivid actioner of uncommon simplicity, is presented as the fresh face of a brand-new action franchise when he’s actually a throwback to the unstoppable juggernaut in James Cameron’s The Terminator. That’s not a knock so much as a raised eyebrow aimed at the kinds of characters that directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch and writer Derek Kolstad think modern-day audiences want to watch. And after sitting through the slick and stylish feast of action trash they’ve whipped up, it’s easy to nod your head and acknowledge that they’re onto something.
After all, even though Wick – an ex-assassin who goes back to work when the pig-headed son (Alfie Allen) of New York’s uppermost Russian mob boss (Michael Nyqvist) steals his prized Mustang and brutishly kills the puppy that Wick...
After all, even though Wick – an ex-assassin who goes back to work when the pig-headed son (Alfie Allen) of New York’s uppermost Russian mob boss (Michael Nyqvist) steals his prized Mustang and brutishly kills the puppy that Wick...
- 1/28/2015
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
John Wick
Written by Derek Kolstad
Directed by David Leitch & Chad Stahelski
China/Canada/USA, 2014
John Wick is a beautiful ballet of death and destruction. It combines the brutal hand-to-hand combat of Jason Bourne with Ridley Scott’s visual sensibilities to create the perfect vehicle for Keanu Reeves. Here, Reeves struts his physicality and underrated comic timing to ratchet up the fun while he amasses a huge body count. It’s an ultra-slick, violence-worshipping extravaganza that will have you eating from the palm of its bloodstained hand.
John Wick tells a story as ancient as time itself…
Boy meets girl. Boy marries girl. Girl gets terminal illness. Girl leaves boy a dog to help him grieve. Russian mafia kills dog. Boy goes on murderous quest for vengeance.
Ah, the classics.
Of course, this merely serves as the framework that allows Keanu Reeves to kick all manner of butt in a...
Written by Derek Kolstad
Directed by David Leitch & Chad Stahelski
China/Canada/USA, 2014
John Wick is a beautiful ballet of death and destruction. It combines the brutal hand-to-hand combat of Jason Bourne with Ridley Scott’s visual sensibilities to create the perfect vehicle for Keanu Reeves. Here, Reeves struts his physicality and underrated comic timing to ratchet up the fun while he amasses a huge body count. It’s an ultra-slick, violence-worshipping extravaganza that will have you eating from the palm of its bloodstained hand.
John Wick tells a story as ancient as time itself…
Boy meets girl. Boy marries girl. Girl gets terminal illness. Girl leaves boy a dog to help him grieve. Russian mafia kills dog. Boy goes on murderous quest for vengeance.
Ah, the classics.
Of course, this merely serves as the framework that allows Keanu Reeves to kick all manner of butt in a...
- 10/24/2014
- by J.R. Kinnard
- SoundOnSight
Who the Hell is John Wick?: Leitch & Stahelski’s Revenge Flick Energetically Entertaining
Against the general mediocre trend of stuntmen turned directors, Chad Stahelski’s unassumingly titled John Wick is a surprisingly adept action thriller, resurrecting Keanu Reeves for his most enjoyable screen persona in years. Though its premise is pure pulpy amalgamation of basic revenge tropes forcing a criminal mastermind’s return to his lethal expertise (something we’ve seen a variety of grizzled visages return to this year alone, including Pierce Brosnan and Kevin Costner), the Stahelski strikes the kind of entertaining tone that many of these mind numbingly violent films are often unable to capture. Fast, fun, and with care taken on elements outside of the requisite action sequences, it’s a film that succeeds in generally conquering the fatigue of its own familiarity.
A retired and happily married hit man, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) loses...
Against the general mediocre trend of stuntmen turned directors, Chad Stahelski’s unassumingly titled John Wick is a surprisingly adept action thriller, resurrecting Keanu Reeves for his most enjoyable screen persona in years. Though its premise is pure pulpy amalgamation of basic revenge tropes forcing a criminal mastermind’s return to his lethal expertise (something we’ve seen a variety of grizzled visages return to this year alone, including Pierce Brosnan and Kevin Costner), the Stahelski strikes the kind of entertaining tone that many of these mind numbingly violent films are often unable to capture. Fast, fun, and with care taken on elements outside of the requisite action sequences, it’s a film that succeeds in generally conquering the fatigue of its own familiarity.
A retired and happily married hit man, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) loses...
- 10/23/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Austin - When the lights went down in the theater for the Fantastic Fest debut of "John Wick," I had no expectations at all for the film. It never occurred to me that it would end up being one of the most enjoyable things I saw there and a genuinely exciting announcement for a pair of pulp action filmmakers. Chad Stahelski was the stuntman who doubled for Keanu Reeves on "The Matrix," and since then, he's done "The Replacements," both "Matrix" sequels, "Thumbsucker," "Constantine," and "Man Of Tai Chi" with Reeves, and they've developed a strong collaborative relationship. David Leitch, who co-directed the film with Stahelski, has worked on dozens of movies with him in the stunt department. They've both worked as second-unit actual unit directors on films like "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," "Escape Plan," "Safe," "The Wolverine," Parker," "Ninja Assassin," and the upcoming "Jurassic World." The two of...
- 10/13/2014
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
There are many things to like about Law Abiding Citizen including both Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler’s performances, direction by F. Gary Gray, cinematography by Jonathan Sela and a rather taught and suspenseful screenplay by Kurt Wimmer.
The movie follows Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler), a family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered in front of him while he lies helpless during a home invasion. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), an ambitions Philadelphia prosecutor, is assigned to the case.
Nick offers one of the suspects a light sentence in exchange for testifying against his accomplice. Sadly, it’s not the guy who did the actual killings but his accomplice that goes to jail. The real killer goes free.
Cut to 10 years later, the man who got away with murder is found dead and Shelton, without remorse, admits his guilt. Then he issues a warning...
The movie follows Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler), a family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered in front of him while he lies helpless during a home invasion. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), an ambitions Philadelphia prosecutor, is assigned to the case.
Nick offers one of the suspects a light sentence in exchange for testifying against his accomplice. Sadly, it’s not the guy who did the actual killings but his accomplice that goes to jail. The real killer goes free.
Cut to 10 years later, the man who got away with murder is found dead and Shelton, without remorse, admits his guilt. Then he issues a warning...
- 2/2/2010
- by Chris Ullrich
- The Flickcast
Losing Best Female Video to Taylor Swift, Beyonce Knowles managed to walk home with a trophy for Video of the Year at the September 13 live ceremony of MTV Video Music Awards, thanks to her "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" music video. She won over Lady GaGa, Eminem, Kanye West and Britney Spears.
"This is amazing," Beyonce told those attending the event. "I remember being 17-years-old, up for my first MTV award with Destiny's Child and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life." She then asked Taylor to come to the stage and finish her speech which was previously cut off by Kanye.
Taylor was seen smiling while making her way to the podium. "Maybe we can try this again," she said about sharing the moment of victory with Beyonce. She also thanked "all my fans on Twitter and MySpace and everyone who came out to my shows this summer.
"This is amazing," Beyonce told those attending the event. "I remember being 17-years-old, up for my first MTV award with Destiny's Child and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life." She then asked Taylor to come to the stage and finish her speech which was previously cut off by Kanye.
Taylor was seen smiling while making her way to the podium. "Maybe we can try this again," she said about sharing the moment of victory with Beyonce. She also thanked "all my fans on Twitter and MySpace and everyone who came out to my shows this summer.
- 9/14/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Lionsgate buried Midnight Meat Train releasing it in only 102 theaters for only two weeks. It managed a meager $83k as a result despite earning over $3 million in foreign markets. The decision doesn't come as a huge surprise considering this is a hard-r horror film with very little name recognition and one of the corniest names I have ever seen. Telling your friends you are heading out to see Midnight Meat Train is likely to stir up more confusion than it's worth and even though the title is a little bit fun I definitely think it was a contributing factor to the film's overall demise. However, it still has life. It has a DVD life, a format where horror movies of this kind thrive and considering this is a horror film with Clive Barker's name attached and Versus helmer Ryuhei Kitamura directing there is certainly reason to believe the horror...
- 2/24/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Release Date: Oct. 17
Director: John Moore
Writer: Beau Thorne
Cinematographer: Jonathan Sela
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Ludacris, Chris O'Donnell
Studio/Run Time: 20th Century Fox, 100 mins.
Languid video-game adaptation fails no matter its source material
The popular discourse on video-game movies is steeped in contempt, and it’s easy to overstate how much that’s justified. Not that any of the movies are especially good—the canon is led by titles like Resident Evil and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider—but the oft-repeated belief that they are uniquely tailored to rid teenage boys of their after-school paychecks suggests that’s somehow exclusive to the genre.
Director: John Moore
Writer: Beau Thorne
Cinematographer: Jonathan Sela
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Ludacris, Chris O'Donnell
Studio/Run Time: 20th Century Fox, 100 mins.
Languid video-game adaptation fails no matter its source material
The popular discourse on video-game movies is steeped in contempt, and it’s easy to overstate how much that’s justified. Not that any of the movies are especially good—the canon is led by titles like Resident Evil and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider—but the oft-repeated belief that they are uniquely tailored to rid teenage boys of their after-school paychecks suggests that’s somehow exclusive to the genre.
- 10/22/2008
- Pastemagazine.com
Ideally suited as the opener of the eighth Method Fest, the annual Calabasas, Calif.-based film festival where the focus is on the acting, Dreamland is an atmospheric ensemble piece boasting several richly portrayed characters.
The film, which played at Sundance and is director Jason Matzner's first feature, surveys the lives and aspirations of a group of young people living in a remote trailer park in the New Mexico desert as seen through the eyes of 18-year-old Audrey (Agnes Bruckner).
Although a college education is definitely in the cards for her, Audrey has been preoccupied playing the role of nurturer to both her agoraphobic Father John Corbett), who has whiled away his trailer-bound days in a beer-soaked haze ever since her mother died, and her best friend Calista (Kelli Garner), who, despite being in the early throes of a progressively crippling illness, thinks she has a shot at becoming a future Miss America.
But things are about to take an unexpected turn with the arrival of Mookie (Justin Long), a soft-spoken jock whom Audrey tries to hook up with Calista, even as she herself begins to feel undeniable pangs of attraction.
While Tom Willett's script is a bit wispy on plot development, those unexpectedly complex characters and thoughtful, gently understated performances (especially from Bruckner and Garner) contribute some earthy substance, while Matzner and cinematographer Jonathan Sela take full advantage that ethereal New Mexico light in all its mood-altering guises.
The film, which played at Sundance and is director Jason Matzner's first feature, surveys the lives and aspirations of a group of young people living in a remote trailer park in the New Mexico desert as seen through the eyes of 18-year-old Audrey (Agnes Bruckner).
Although a college education is definitely in the cards for her, Audrey has been preoccupied playing the role of nurturer to both her agoraphobic Father John Corbett), who has whiled away his trailer-bound days in a beer-soaked haze ever since her mother died, and her best friend Calista (Kelli Garner), who, despite being in the early throes of a progressively crippling illness, thinks she has a shot at becoming a future Miss America.
But things are about to take an unexpected turn with the arrival of Mookie (Justin Long), a soft-spoken jock whom Audrey tries to hook up with Calista, even as she herself begins to feel undeniable pangs of attraction.
While Tom Willett's script is a bit wispy on plot development, those unexpectedly complex characters and thoughtful, gently understated performances (especially from Bruckner and Garner) contribute some earthy substance, while Matzner and cinematographer Jonathan Sela take full advantage that ethereal New Mexico light in all its mood-altering guises.
- 4/13/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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