Moviefone's Top DVD of the Week
"The Place Beyond the Pines"
What's It About? In "A Place Beyond the Pines" Derek Cianfrance ("Blue Valentine") weaves together three vignettes starring Ryan Gosling as a bleach blonde, motorcycle-riding bank robber, Eva Mendes as a tough single mother, and Bradley Cooper as a conflicted cop. The first part of the film follows Luke (Gosling) as he robs banks to support his unexpected child and to win back the mother Romina (Mendes). Halfway through "Pines" breaks off to tell the story of Avery (Cooper), a wounded cop who discovers corruption in his department.
Why We're In: While "Pines" breaks off suddenly in various directions, the film's audacious screenplay and structure are what make it so powerful and compelling. Cianfrance's drama is one of novelistic proportions and definitely worth its long running time.
Rt & Follow to win @FocusFeatures' Place Beyond The Pines Combo Pack! #BeyondThePines...
"The Place Beyond the Pines"
What's It About? In "A Place Beyond the Pines" Derek Cianfrance ("Blue Valentine") weaves together three vignettes starring Ryan Gosling as a bleach blonde, motorcycle-riding bank robber, Eva Mendes as a tough single mother, and Bradley Cooper as a conflicted cop. The first part of the film follows Luke (Gosling) as he robs banks to support his unexpected child and to win back the mother Romina (Mendes). Halfway through "Pines" breaks off to tell the story of Avery (Cooper), a wounded cop who discovers corruption in his department.
Why We're In: While "Pines" breaks off suddenly in various directions, the film's audacious screenplay and structure are what make it so powerful and compelling. Cianfrance's drama is one of novelistic proportions and definitely worth its long running time.
Rt & Follow to win @FocusFeatures' Place Beyond The Pines Combo Pack! #BeyondThePines...
- 8/6/2013
- by Erin Whitney
- Moviefone
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Aug. 6, 2013
Price: DVD $26.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $30.99
Studio: The Weinstein Company/Anchor Bay
The Sapphires is another movie about a group of unkown singers making it big. Set in 1968, the independent film is inspired by a true story.
Deborah Mailman (Rabbit Proof Fence), Miranda Tapsell (Mabo), Jessica Mauboy (Bran Nue Dae) and Shari Sebbens (TV’s Redfern Now) star as hopeful singers Gail, Cynthia, Julie and Kay, respectively, who seize a risky but irresistible chance to launch a professional career singing for U.S. troops in Vietnam.
With help from R&B-loving Irish musician Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd, Frankie Go Boom), the women transform themselves into a sizzling soul act hundreds of miles away from home.
The Sapphires screened in a limited number of theaters, grossing $2 million on stellar reviews from critics. Arizona Republic critic Bill Goodykoontz called the PG-13 movie “pure joy.” Globe and Mail...
Price: DVD $26.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $30.99
Studio: The Weinstein Company/Anchor Bay
The Sapphires is another movie about a group of unkown singers making it big. Set in 1968, the independent film is inspired by a true story.
Deborah Mailman (Rabbit Proof Fence), Miranda Tapsell (Mabo), Jessica Mauboy (Bran Nue Dae) and Shari Sebbens (TV’s Redfern Now) star as hopeful singers Gail, Cynthia, Julie and Kay, respectively, who seize a risky but irresistible chance to launch a professional career singing for U.S. troops in Vietnam.
With help from R&B-loving Irish musician Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd, Frankie Go Boom), the women transform themselves into a sizzling soul act hundreds of miles away from home.
The Sapphires screened in a limited number of theaters, grossing $2 million on stellar reviews from critics. Arizona Republic critic Bill Goodykoontz called the PG-13 movie “pure joy.” Globe and Mail...
- 6/26/2013
- by Sam
- Disc Dish
Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company announced today the Blu-ray™ and DVD release of The Sapphires, inspired by a true story and Wayne Blair’s directorial debut, starring Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids and HBO’s “Girls”).
Four smart, gutsy young women become unlikely stars in the most unlikely of places, with the most unlikely of allies, in The Sapphires. Set in 1968, the film follows Gail (Deborah Mailman), Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), Julie (Jessica Mauboy), and Kay (Shari Sebbens) as they seize a risky, but irresistible, chance to launch a professional career singing for U.S. troops in Vietnam.
Under the guidance of an R&B-loving Irish musician, Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd), the girls transform themselves into a sizzling soul act and set out to make a name for themselves hundreds of miles from home. Inspired by a true story, The Sapphires is a celebration of music, family and self-discovery.
Four smart, gutsy young women become unlikely stars in the most unlikely of places, with the most unlikely of allies, in The Sapphires. Set in 1968, the film follows Gail (Deborah Mailman), Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), Julie (Jessica Mauboy), and Kay (Shari Sebbens) as they seize a risky, but irresistible, chance to launch a professional career singing for U.S. troops in Vietnam.
Under the guidance of an R&B-loving Irish musician, Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd), the girls transform themselves into a sizzling soul act and set out to make a name for themselves hundreds of miles from home. Inspired by a true story, The Sapphires is a celebration of music, family and self-discovery.
- 6/26/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Once again film makers are taking movie goers to that far off time of 1968 when barriers were broken, laws and minds were changed, and the air was filled with really great music. Just a few months ago David Chase brought us a semi-autobiographical film about playing in a band, Not Fade Away, which used pop songs to accent the big changes in society during that decade. This new film also tells about a musical group of the 1960′s, except this time the tale is set in Australia. And said group is composed of the continent’s indigenous people, the Aborigines. As the announcers would say into the mike on those makeshift stages, ” Ladies and gentlemen,… The Sapphires”.
The film begins with four little girls singing for their appreciative families outside their meager homes in the dusty outback. Flash forward to 1968. Now young women, three of the quartet are still singing.
The film begins with four little girls singing for their appreciative families outside their meager homes in the dusty outback. Flash forward to 1968. Now young women, three of the quartet are still singing.
- 4/4/2013
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Imported from Australia, The Sapphires is a film of about a quartet of soulful Aboriginal girls (Jessica Mauboy, Miranda Tapsell, Shari Sebbens, and Deborah Mailman) who travel to Vietnam in 1968 to perform for American troops. They are managed by the raucous Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd) who gets them to drop their original country music act, and embrace the sounds of Motown.
Co-written by a descendent of the group, the film is based on a true story, which was first turned into a stage production. Sapphires director Wayne Blair played “Jimmy” in the production alongside Mailman.
This is the first feature film to be directed by Blair, and the second to feature singer Mauboy as an actress.
In an exclusive interview, I talked with Blair & Mauboy about their film, the unexpected singing voice of Chris O’Dowd, what it’s like to get a ten-minute standing ovation, and more.
The Sapphires...
Co-written by a descendent of the group, the film is based on a true story, which was first turned into a stage production. Sapphires director Wayne Blair played “Jimmy” in the production alongside Mailman.
This is the first feature film to be directed by Blair, and the second to feature singer Mauboy as an actress.
In an exclusive interview, I talked with Blair & Mauboy about their film, the unexpected singing voice of Chris O’Dowd, what it’s like to get a ten-minute standing ovation, and more.
The Sapphires...
- 3/29/2013
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
The night before I interviewed Chris O'Dowd, I observed him dancing -- surrounded by a group of onlookers, of course -- to the A-ha earworm "Take on Me." This isn't a particularly embarrassing or scandalous observation (look, who hasn't danced to "Take on Me"?), but what was noticeable was just how much fun O'Dowd was having.
Premiere parties aren't always what a normal human being would call a good time. They're often overcrowded, with the talent from the film safely secured in some sort of fortified backroom to protect them from the hoards of attendees who were not in the movie. By contrast, at the New York premiere party for "The Sapphires," O'Dowd looked like a guy who wanted to make sure everyone was having fun. He even yelled at Harvey Weinstein in an effort to get Weinstein to sing. (Weinstein did not sing.)
The next morning, I met O'Dowd...
Premiere parties aren't always what a normal human being would call a good time. They're often overcrowded, with the talent from the film safely secured in some sort of fortified backroom to protect them from the hoards of attendees who were not in the movie. By contrast, at the New York premiere party for "The Sapphires," O'Dowd looked like a guy who wanted to make sure everyone was having fun. He even yelled at Harvey Weinstein in an effort to get Weinstein to sing. (Weinstein did not sing.)
The next morning, I met O'Dowd...
- 3/19/2013
- by Mike Ryan
- Huffington Post
★★★☆☆ Inspired by writer Tony Briggs' mother and her days touring in a girl group, Wayne Blair's The Sapphires (2012) begins in rural Australia, 1968. A deeply ingrained racism is made apparent when two members of Aboriginal girl group, The Cummeraganja Songbirds, can't hail a taxi to a talent contest, before losing to a far inferior white performer. Their potential is only recognised by Irish Mc Dave Lovelace (Chris O'Dowd), whose appreciation of soul music and obvious admiration for the oldest member, 'Mama Bear' Gail (Deborah Mailman) leaves him mentoring the four-piece ahead of an audition to serenade the Us troops in Vietnam.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 3/4/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Vaguely based on fact, this likable Australian movie, directed by an actor of Aboriginal descent, is set in 1968 when boozy Irish musician Dave Lovelace (Chris O'Dowd) discovers four feisty black singers at an outback talent contest and decides to become their manager. The Vietnam war is raging, and after converting them from country and western to soul (with which he's obsessed) he takes them to Saigon.
They become an immediate success, especially with black GIs, and they tour the dangerous boondocks. No mention is made of the Australian presence in Vietnam (the subject of a single movie, Tom Jeffrey's downbeat The Odd Angry Shot), the whole emphasis falls on the link between the black experience of oppression in the States and Australia.
The combination of Irish soul music and entertaining American troops in Vietnam inevitably suggests a meeting between Alan Parker's The Commitments and the Robin Williams vehicle Good Morning,...
They become an immediate success, especially with black GIs, and they tour the dangerous boondocks. No mention is made of the Australian presence in Vietnam (the subject of a single movie, Tom Jeffrey's downbeat The Odd Angry Shot), the whole emphasis falls on the link between the black experience of oppression in the States and Australia.
The combination of Irish soul music and entertaining American troops in Vietnam inevitably suggests a meeting between Alan Parker's The Commitments and the Robin Williams vehicle Good Morning,...
- 11/11/2012
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
To mark the release of The Sapphires, we’ve been given some rather nice merchandise to give away in the form of an official soundtrack and a signed poster for 2 lucky HeyUGuys readers.
For your chance to win this fabulous prize simply answer the following question using the form below.
Larger-than-life sisters Gail, Cynthia and Julie, along with their wayward cousin Kay, have killer voices and attitudes to match. Performing Country and Western in an Australian outback singing contest, they catch the attention of Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd), a struggling Irish musician with a penchant for whisky and a passion for soul music.
It may not sound like a match made in heaven but Dave notices a sparkling talent in the girls and it becomes clear that they could be something special….they just need the right man to take them on. As they embark on a hilarious journey of highs and lows,...
For your chance to win this fabulous prize simply answer the following question using the form below.
Larger-than-life sisters Gail, Cynthia and Julie, along with their wayward cousin Kay, have killer voices and attitudes to match. Performing Country and Western in an Australian outback singing contest, they catch the attention of Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd), a struggling Irish musician with a penchant for whisky and a passion for soul music.
It may not sound like a match made in heaven but Dave notices a sparkling talent in the girls and it becomes clear that they could be something special….they just need the right man to take them on. As they embark on a hilarious journey of highs and lows,...
- 11/7/2012
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Sapphires has debuted a new video clip exclusively through Digital Spy. Chris O'Dowd leads the cast of the Australian comedy-drama, which centres on four young Aboriginal girls who leave home to tour Vietnam during the '60s. In the clip above, O'Dowd's band manager Dave Lovelace invites Gail (Deborah Mailman) to dance the "Lovelace lanky-leg shuffle". Australian Idol's Jessica Mauboy (more)...
- 11/2/2012
- by By Simon Reynolds
- Digital Spy
The Sapphires tells the true story of an all-Aborigine girl group -- known in some quarters as Australia's answer to The Supremes -- who toured Vietnam to entertain troops during the war under the management of a washed-out, Irish would-be musician, Dave Lovelace. So... we've got several members of a historically oppressed race of people going to visit one of the most controversial, brutal wars in American history. Seems about time for some explosive, hard-hitting examinations of morality, inhumanity and systemic injustice, right?? Well, not so much. Director Wayne Blair (working with a script co-written by Tony Briggs, who also wrote the play upon which the film is based), is far more interested in crafting a benevolent crowd-pleaser, and thus the film follows the inspiring,...
- 9/9/2012
- Screen Anarchy
The Sapphires tells the true story of an all-Aborigine girl group -- known in some quarters as Australia's answer to The Supremes -- who toured Vietnam to entertain troops during the war under the management of a washed-out, Irish would-be musician, Dave Lovelace. So... we've got several members of a historically oppressed race of people going to visit one of the most controversial, brutal wars in American history. Seems about time for some explosive, hard-hitting examinations of morality, inhumanity and systemic injustice, right?? Well, not so much. Director Wayne Blair (working with a script co-written by Tony Briggs, who also wrote the play upon which the film is based), is far more interested in crafting a benevolent crowd-pleaser, and thus the film follows the...
- 9/9/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Chris O’Dowd is certainly making waves, particularly since Bridesmaids and here he is again. Here’s the trailer for a flick thats inspired by a true story. So certainly looking like a feel good movie rolling into the holiday season and the more I see of O’Dowd, the more likeable he gets! Synopsis: Larger-than-life sisters Gail, Cynthia and Julie, along with their wayward cousin Kay, have killer voices and attitudes to match. Performing Country and Western in an Australian outback singing contest, they catch the attention of Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd), a struggling Irish musician with a penchant for whisky and a passion for soul music.It may not sound like a match made in heaven but Dave notices a sparkling talent in the girls and it becomes clear that they could be something special….they just need the right man to take them on. As they...
- 9/4/2012
- by noreply@blogger.com (Vic Barry)
- www.themoviebit.com
Entertainment One have released the first trailer and stills for their new comedy The Sapphires. It stars Irish actor Chris O’Dowd who we recently saw in Bridesmaids (and UK audiences will know him from the It Crowd), Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell, Tory Kittles and is directed by Wayne Blair.
Larger-than-life sisters Gail, Cynthia and Julie, along with their wayward cousin Kay, have killer voices and attitudes to match. Performing Country and Western in an Australian outback singing contest, they catch the attention of Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd), a struggling Irish musician with a penchant for whisky and a passion for soul music.
It may not sound like a match made in heaven but Dave notices a sparkling talent in the girls and it becomes clear that they could be something special….they just need the right man to take them on. As they embark...
Larger-than-life sisters Gail, Cynthia and Julie, along with their wayward cousin Kay, have killer voices and attitudes to match. Performing Country and Western in an Australian outback singing contest, they catch the attention of Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd), a struggling Irish musician with a penchant for whisky and a passion for soul music.
It may not sound like a match made in heaven but Dave notices a sparkling talent in the girls and it becomes clear that they could be something special….they just need the right man to take them on. As they embark...
- 8/22/2012
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Sapphires tells the true story of an all-Aborigine girl group -- known in some quarters as Australia's answer to The Supremes -- who toured Vietnam to entertain troops during the war under the management of a washed-out, Irish would-be musician, Dave Lovelace. So... we've got several members of a historically oppressed race of people going to visit one of the most controversial, brutal wars in American history. Seems about time for some explosive, hard-hitting examinations of morality, inhumanity and systemic injustice, right??Well, not so much. Director Wayne Blair (working with a script co-written by Tony Briggs, who also wrote the play upon which the film is based), is far more interested in crafting a benevolent crowd-pleaser, and thus the film follows the inspiring, rags-to-riches...
- 8/10/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Wayne Blair's musical drama about a group of Australian Aboriginal singers who perform for GIs in Vietnam is a sweet 'n' dumb feelgood bopper
Australian director Wayne Blair's based-on-real-life musical drama sees the McCrae family – a group of Australian Aboriginal singers known as the Cummeragunja Song Birds – hoisted from the outback and refashioned as kick-ass soul band, the Sapphires, to perform for GIs in Vietnam circa 1968.
Heading for Saigon are frosty older sis Gail (Deborah Mailman), feisty sexpot Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), cousin Kay (Shari Sebbens) – a stolen aborigine returned to the family fold to supply backing vox – and front woman Julie (Australian Idol star Jessica Mauboy). They get their big break via talent scout Dave Lovelace (Chris O'Dowd) – a white, Irish, self-proclaimed "soul brother" with the gift of the gab and a taste for the booze. He's the girls' ticket to Holiday Camp Vietnam, where there's soul food on the grill,...
Australian director Wayne Blair's based-on-real-life musical drama sees the McCrae family – a group of Australian Aboriginal singers known as the Cummeragunja Song Birds – hoisted from the outback and refashioned as kick-ass soul band, the Sapphires, to perform for GIs in Vietnam circa 1968.
Heading for Saigon are frosty older sis Gail (Deborah Mailman), feisty sexpot Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), cousin Kay (Shari Sebbens) – a stolen aborigine returned to the family fold to supply backing vox – and front woman Julie (Australian Idol star Jessica Mauboy). They get their big break via talent scout Dave Lovelace (Chris O'Dowd) – a white, Irish, self-proclaimed "soul brother" with the gift of the gab and a taste for the booze. He's the girls' ticket to Holiday Camp Vietnam, where there's soul food on the grill,...
- 5/21/2012
- by Henry Barnes
- The Guardian - Film News
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