“I remember the first time I heard of Poe was on a ‘Simpson’s’ episode,” recalls Harry Melling, with a smile, of how he learned about the famed American writer Edgar Allan Poe. In director Scott Cooper’s new Netflix film “The Pale Blue Eye,” the actor takes on the challenge of portraying the iconic poet and short-story writer. While he remembers having previously read “The Tell-Tale Heart,” he explored “most of” the works in Poe’s vast catalogue to prepare. He relied most heavily on the early poem “Tamerlane,” which he says “gave me a real insight into how he saw himself as a very intellectual poet.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
To tackle the daunting task of playing such a towering figure of American literature, Melling dug into research. He shares that he initially felt, “I need to read everything. I need to read as much as possible,...
To tackle the daunting task of playing such a towering figure of American literature, Melling dug into research. He shares that he initially felt, “I need to read everything. I need to read as much as possible,...
- 1/9/2023
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
Every year it seems like there’s a handful of weird cinematic coinky-dinks, like how 2022 managed to give us three “Pinocchio” movies, two unrelated Disney blockbusters about underwater blue people, and three ensemble comedy whodunits with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it theatrical releases. But perhaps most specific of all, and sneaking in right under the wire, is the new microgenre of films about a young Edgar Allan Poe solving murders while he was a cadet at West Point.
Following in the footsteps of Christopher Hatton’s stylish but troubled “Raven’s Hollow,” Scott Cooper’s “The Pale Blue Eye” tells the story of a mysterious murder and mutilation at the famous military academy. Christian Bale plays a retired detective, Augustus Landor, who gets called forth to investigate the crime, and along the way he allies himself with the unusually sensitive and erudite Mr. E. A. Poe, played by Harry Melling (“Please Baby Please...
Following in the footsteps of Christopher Hatton’s stylish but troubled “Raven’s Hollow,” Scott Cooper’s “The Pale Blue Eye” tells the story of a mysterious murder and mutilation at the famous military academy. Christian Bale plays a retired detective, Augustus Landor, who gets called forth to investigate the crime, and along the way he allies himself with the unusually sensitive and erudite Mr. E. A. Poe, played by Harry Melling (“Please Baby Please...
- 1/7/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
“We had lots of books around my house and lots of Poe,” remembers writer-director Scott Cooper of his earliest encounters with the work of fabled American poet Edgar Allan Poe, who is a central character in the filmmaker’s latest effort, “The Pale Blue Eye.” Over a decade ago, Cooper’s father recommended the novel of the same name by Louis Bayard to him as a “pleasure” read, describing the book as a “most ingenious” work that puts a young Poe at the heart of a grisly murder mystery. The screenwriter felt it would translate well to screen and would offer audiences a unique Poe “origin story.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
Cooper relished the opportunity and “dangerous” challenge of putting the popular figure of Poe on screen. He shares that he hoped to change audiences’ “preconceived notions about who Poe was,” transcending the “dark, brooding, and melancholy” characterizations...
Cooper relished the opportunity and “dangerous” challenge of putting the popular figure of Poe on screen. He shares that he hoped to change audiences’ “preconceived notions about who Poe was,” transcending the “dark, brooding, and melancholy” characterizations...
- 1/6/2023
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
With a filmography of muscular acting showcases, patient tempos, and emphasis on brooding atmosphere, it’s evident Scott Cooper has been influenced by the endearingly ramshackle character studies of 1970s American cinema. In an era where this particular kind of film seems to be the lowest priority for every studio, it’s also refreshing to find a director who can amass the resources to pull one off. As noble as those intentions may be, however, Cooper has continually struggled to develop a vision that, if not original, at least bears the formal prowess and screenwriting wit to elevate derivate veneers. After jumping from crime drama to western to the supernatural, The Pale Blue Eye finds him in gothic murder mystery territory for a conceptually inventive piece of Edgar Allan Poe historical fiction that succumbs to tendencies of a familiarly tedious variety.
In adapting Louis Bayard’s 2003 novel of the same name,...
In adapting Louis Bayard’s 2003 novel of the same name,...
- 12/22/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Wednesday Addams may see her title of “Netflix’s resident goth detective” challenged by the release of The Pale Blue Eye. Scott Cooper’s period thriller places a young Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling) at the centre of a fictionalised murder mystery in upstate New York. But, to Cooper’s credit, the film feels a lot less silly in practice than the one-sentence elevator pitch of Louis Bayard’s source novel. It’s a handsome adaptation, albeit with an unnecessary bit of literary celebrity dragged alongside it.
It’s 1830, and veteran detective Augustus Landor (Christian Bale) has been summoned to Westpoint Military Academy, where Poe happens to be stationed (the only detail true to biography). The dead body of a cadet, found hanged under suspicious circumstances, has been desecrated post-mortem – his heart carved from his chest and spirited away. We’re to be reminded, of course, of the “tell-tale heart...
It’s 1830, and veteran detective Augustus Landor (Christian Bale) has been summoned to Westpoint Military Academy, where Poe happens to be stationed (the only detail true to biography). The dead body of a cadet, found hanged under suspicious circumstances, has been desecrated post-mortem – his heart carved from his chest and spirited away. We’re to be reminded, of course, of the “tell-tale heart...
- 12/22/2022
- by Clarisse Loughrey
- The Independent - Film
(Welcome to ...And More, our no-frills, zero B.S. guide to when and where you can watch upcoming movies and shows, and everything else you could possibly stand to know.)
Hot off his rather surprising appearance as the main villain Gorr the God Butcher in "Thor: Love and Thunder" (making him the latest actor to have dipped his toes into both ends of the DC and Marvel swimming pool), Christian Bale is about to venture back into much more familiar territory. Bale has collaborated with director Scott Cooper on a few occasions in the past, stretching back to 2013's "Out of the Furnace" and the 2017 Western "Hostiles." The third time should be the charm for both artists, as they're once again reuniting for the upcoming "The Pale Blue Eye." Official information about this project has remained scarce up until recently, as Netflix begins to ramp up marketing for the film...
Hot off his rather surprising appearance as the main villain Gorr the God Butcher in "Thor: Love and Thunder" (making him the latest actor to have dipped his toes into both ends of the DC and Marvel swimming pool), Christian Bale is about to venture back into much more familiar territory. Bale has collaborated with director Scott Cooper on a few occasions in the past, stretching back to 2013's "Out of the Furnace" and the 2017 Western "Hostiles." The third time should be the charm for both artists, as they're once again reuniting for the upcoming "The Pale Blue Eye." Official information about this project has remained scarce up until recently, as Netflix begins to ramp up marketing for the film...
- 8/30/2022
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Producer: Mahershala Ali, Rebecca Bourke, Jonathan King, Jacob Perlin, Adam Shulman, Mimi Valdés.
Executive Producers: Shea Kammer.
Director: Benjamin Cleary.
Screenplay: Benjamin Cleary.
Camera: Masanobu Takayanagi.
Editor: Nathan Nugent.
Music: Jay Wadley.
Cast: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Glenn Close, Awkwafina, Adam Beach, Dax Rey, Nyasha Hatendi.
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…...
Executive Producers: Shea Kammer.
Director: Benjamin Cleary.
Screenplay: Benjamin Cleary.
Camera: Masanobu Takayanagi.
Editor: Nathan Nugent.
Music: Jay Wadley.
Cast: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Glenn Close, Awkwafina, Adam Beach, Dax Rey, Nyasha Hatendi.
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- 12/18/2021
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Exclusive: Deadline has the first exclusive tracks from Jay Wadley’s Swan Song score, which is set for digital release via Lakeshore Records on December 17—the same day that the Apple Original Film premieres in theaters and globally on Apple TV+. Nine instant grat tracks will be available with every preorder.
The first feature from Oscar-winning writer-director Benjamin Cleary is set in the near future and centers on Cameron (Mahershala Ali), a loving husband and father diagnosed with a terminal illness who is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor (Glenn Close) to shield his family from grief. As Cam grapples with whether or not to alter his family’s fate, he ends up learning more about life and love than he ever imagined he would.
For the film marking his first collaboration with Cleary, Wadley looked to evoke deeply felt emotions, maintaining at the same time a sense of space and minimalism.
The first feature from Oscar-winning writer-director Benjamin Cleary is set in the near future and centers on Cameron (Mahershala Ali), a loving husband and father diagnosed with a terminal illness who is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor (Glenn Close) to shield his family from grief. As Cam grapples with whether or not to alter his family’s fate, he ends up learning more about life and love than he ever imagined he would.
For the film marking his first collaboration with Cleary, Wadley looked to evoke deeply felt emotions, maintaining at the same time a sense of space and minimalism.
- 12/10/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Production designer Annie Beauchamp was tasked with creating a grounded yet advanced vision of the future in the new Apple TV+ film “Swan Song.” The film, set about 20 years in the future, tells the story of a man named Cameron Turner (Mahershala Ali), who is dying of terminal cancer and seeks out an experimental new treatment that would allow himself to be cloned, for the benefit of his family. While the plot and setting may be high concept, “Swan Song” is a love story at its core, and it was important for her to reflect that. “I felt the design on this film could really elevate and visually advance the emotion and the intimacy in those special moments,” says Beauchamp in an exclusive new interview for Gold Derby. Watch the full video chat above.
See Gold Derby interviews with 2022 Oscar contenders
Her vision for the film began with researching quantum...
See Gold Derby interviews with 2022 Oscar contenders
Her vision for the film began with researching quantum...
- 12/6/2021
- by Kevin Jacobsen
- Gold Derby
Academy voters need to bring an open mind and a box of tissues for the heart-wrenching and moving “Swan Song.” Spearheaded by two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and Oscar nominee Naomie Harris, it’s difficult to find more pure and deliberate performances from two of today’s most revered actors. If this late-bloomer in the awards season can make enough noise and get enough butts in screening seats, a worthy play for several categories could be on the horizon. In addition, this seems like the first film that feels authentically identifiable to Apple Original Films, which will bode well for its awards brand moving forward. However, its most significant hurdle may be awards groups confusing it with the other “Swan Song” that opened over the summer.
“Swan Song” takes place in the near future where family man Cameron Turner (Ali) is diagnosed with a terminal illness. To shield his family from grief,...
“Swan Song” takes place in the near future where family man Cameron Turner (Ali) is diagnosed with a terminal illness. To shield his family from grief,...
- 11/13/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Death is the natural order of things, but what if you could prevent your families and friends from feeling sadness and grief due to your death. Would you take that opportunity? If you’ve ever lost someone, you may identify with the moral struggle at the heart of writer/director Benjamin Cleary’s Apple TV+ sci-fi drama Swan Song starring two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and Oscar nominee Naomie Harris. This human and grounded script includes subtle sci-fi touches that aren’t distracting and enhance a strong story that does all the heavy lifting, thus taking the responsibility off of the talent so they can focus on delivering empathetic and compelling performances.
Cameron (Ali) is dying and doesn’t have much longer to live. Since his wife Poppy (Harris) and child don’t know about his diagnosis, he chooses to shield them from the grief that awaits them in his death.
Cameron (Ali) is dying and doesn’t have much longer to live. Since his wife Poppy (Harris) and child don’t know about his diagnosis, he chooses to shield them from the grief that awaits them in his death.
- 11/13/2021
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Writer-director Benjamin Cleary’s “Swan Song” wastes little time posing deep, morally complex and compelling questions: If we could spare our loved ones from oppressive despair and heartache, would we make any sacrifice to do so? If we could clone ourselves without anyone knowing, would we? How do we identify to others and ourselves?
Part unconventionally-deconstructed love story, part high-concept sci-fi-tinged melancholic drama, the ultra-sleek, elegantly-realized tale is centered on one man’s journey toward answers and self-resolve in the face of death. The feature (which debuts at AFI Fest before its release in theaters and AppleTV Plus global premiere Dec. 17) strikes the right chord, rarely singing its tune off-key.
Graphic designer/artist Cameron Turner (Mahershala Ali) is wrestling with a big life decision. Terminally ill and with his condition rapidly worsening, he struggles with telling his loving, unwitting wife Poppy (Naomie Harris) about the fast-spreading disease taking over his...
Part unconventionally-deconstructed love story, part high-concept sci-fi-tinged melancholic drama, the ultra-sleek, elegantly-realized tale is centered on one man’s journey toward answers and self-resolve in the face of death. The feature (which debuts at AFI Fest before its release in theaters and AppleTV Plus global premiere Dec. 17) strikes the right chord, rarely singing its tune off-key.
Graphic designer/artist Cameron Turner (Mahershala Ali) is wrestling with a big life decision. Terminally ill and with his condition rapidly worsening, he struggles with telling his loving, unwitting wife Poppy (Naomie Harris) about the fast-spreading disease taking over his...
- 11/13/2021
- by Courtney Howard
- Variety Film + TV
Emmanuel Lubezki is finalizing his return to movies as the cinematographer of David O. Russell’s next directorial project, Deadline confirms. Russell’s film is untitled but is set up at New Regency and has already tapped Christian Bale, Michael B. Jordan, and Margot Robbie to star. Plot details are remaining under wraps. The movie will reunite Russell with Bale after “The Fighter” and “American Hustle,” the former of which won Bale the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The project will mark the first collaborations between Russell and Robbie, Jordan, and Lubezki.
Lubezki has remained largely out of the spotlight since an unprecedented run between 2013 and 2015 in which he won three Oscars for Best Cinematography thanks to his work on “Gravity,” “Birdman,” and “The Revenant.” The Dp’s last feature film was Terrence Malick’s “Song to Song” in 2017, one of several collaborations with the auteur that also include “The New World,...
Lubezki has remained largely out of the spotlight since an unprecedented run between 2013 and 2015 in which he won three Oscars for Best Cinematography thanks to his work on “Gravity,” “Birdman,” and “The Revenant.” The Dp’s last feature film was Terrence Malick’s “Song to Song” in 2017, one of several collaborations with the auteur that also include “The New World,...
- 3/3/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Shooting Scott Cooper’s last two films—pitch-black backwoods thriller Out of the Furnace and gangster picture Black Mass—cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi shifted visual gears once again with the director’s latest, the Christian Bale-starring Western, Hostiles, shooting out in the wilderness, with much of the film’s aesthetic dictated by nature itself. Encountering lightning storms and other unexpected weather patterns which demanded flexibility and quick thinking on…...
- 1/8/2018
- Deadline
The continuously astounding Christian Bale is one of our best film actors, and he's at his peak in Hostiles, a powderkeg of a western, written and directed in a soulful fever by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace, Black Mass). Working from an unpublished manuscript by the late Donald Stewart, the filmmaker echoes The Searchers – John Ford's 1956 classic starring John Wayne as a vengeful cowboy – in tackling the way racism and violence seem to be hardwired into the American character.
Bale plays Captain Joseph Blocker, whose life...
Bale plays Captain Joseph Blocker, whose life...
- 12/23/2017
- Rollingstone.com
So far, filmmaker Scott Cooper has yet to really crack through with a true vision. He’s directed Jeff Bridges to an Oscar with Crazy Heart, as well as had would be awards players in Black Mass and Out of the Furnace. Still, his work felt very anonymous, like for hire jobs that anyone could have done. That’s not a knock on his skills, but simply that he’d never left his own mark on a movie yet. That has changed now with his latest outing, the bleak western Hostiles. It feels like everything Cooper has done so far has led him to this flick. This movie is a western set in 1892. After a horrific opening detailing the slaughter of everyone Rosalie Quaid (Rosamund Pike) loves, we meet legendary Army captain Joseph J. Blocker (Christian Bale). About to set out on his last mission before retirement, it’s one...
- 12/21/2017
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
The various year-end lists from different groups might make you think 2017 is over, but look at the calendar and, lo, there’s an entire month left in which films will be released. Arriving in December is our most-anticipated picture of the year, sci-fi tales from both Lucasfilm and Alexander Payne, a movie about making the worst movie, and much more.
Matinees to See: Voyeur (12/1), The New Radical (12/1), The Pirates of Somalia (12/8), The Ballad of Lefty Brown (12/15), and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (12/29)
15. Downsizing (Alexander Payne; Dec. 22)
Synopsis: A social satire in which a guy realizes he would have a better life if he were to shrink himself.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: It might be his least-well-received film thus far, but the prospect of Alexander Payne taking on a high-concept sci-fi film is enough to pique interest. Of course, Valerian this is not. Rather, the story finds...
Matinees to See: Voyeur (12/1), The New Radical (12/1), The Pirates of Somalia (12/8), The Ballad of Lefty Brown (12/15), and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (12/29)
15. Downsizing (Alexander Payne; Dec. 22)
Synopsis: A social satire in which a guy realizes he would have a better life if he were to shrink himself.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: It might be his least-well-received film thus far, but the prospect of Alexander Payne taking on a high-concept sci-fi film is enough to pique interest. Of course, Valerian this is not. Rather, the story finds...
- 11/30/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Coming to Telluride Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival without distribution, Hostiles finds Scott Cooper re-teaming with his Out of the Furnace star Christian Bale. Premiering to a solid response, it was then picked up by the fledgling Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures and it’ll arrive in time for an awards campaign with a December release.
A new trailer has now been unveiled, which previews the story of a Us Cavalry officer who escorts a Cheyenne war chief and his family back to their tribal lands in Montana. With gorgeous cinematography from Masanobu Takayanagi (who worked on Cooper’s last two films as well as Spotlight and The Grey), it also stars Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Adam Beach, Ben Foster, Jesse Plemons, Rory Cochrane, and Q’orianka Kilcher. See the trailer below.
Tiff synopsis:
Fresh from 2015’s gangster film Black Mass, Scott Cooper has turned to another venerable American genre,...
A new trailer has now been unveiled, which previews the story of a Us Cavalry officer who escorts a Cheyenne war chief and his family back to their tribal lands in Montana. With gorgeous cinematography from Masanobu Takayanagi (who worked on Cooper’s last two films as well as Spotlight and The Grey), it also stars Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Adam Beach, Ben Foster, Jesse Plemons, Rory Cochrane, and Q’orianka Kilcher. See the trailer below.
Tiff synopsis:
Fresh from 2015’s gangster film Black Mass, Scott Cooper has turned to another venerable American genre,...
- 11/11/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Film festivals are always a bit of a bubble, but Telluride is an alternate reality. The festival reveals its lineup the day before it starts, and the local “airport” is a very generous way of describing a landing strip attached to a bar. Werner Herzog has coffee at the local bookstore, 300 people excitedly wait in line to see a Chilean thriller about a transgender waitress dealing with her dead lover’s family, and Errol Morris is the subject of more conversations than Donald Trump.
However, even in the Telluride utopia, it became clear that the love of movies is not enough to sustain the art form. Oscar buzz is no longer a luxury; it’s a lifeline.
Here of all places, it should be easy to ignore that the movies are coming off the worst summer box office in 10 years — but reality has a funny way of sneaking through the cracks.
However, even in the Telluride utopia, it became clear that the love of movies is not enough to sustain the art form. Oscar buzz is no longer a luxury; it’s a lifeline.
Here of all places, it should be easy to ignore that the movies are coming off the worst summer box office in 10 years — but reality has a funny way of sneaking through the cracks.
- 9/6/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
After breaking out with the Jeff Bridges-led Crazy Heart, Scott Cooper has struggled to find the same level of acclaim with his follow-ups Out of the Furnace and Black Mass, but now it looks like his next feature is much more tied to his slow-burn sensibilities. Hostiles, which premiered at Telluride to positive reactions, finds Cooper reteaming with Christian Bale, who stars a Us Cavalry officer who escorts a Cheyenne war chief and his family back to their tribal lands in Montana.
Curiously still without a distributor, to help incur interest amongst buyers, Deadline has debuted the first trailer. With gorgeous cinematography from Masanobu Takayanagi (who worked on Cooper’s last two films as well as Spotlight and The Grey), hopefully a distributor comes on board in time to give a 2017 release. Also starring Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Adam Beach, Ben Foster, Jesse Plemons, Rory Cochrane, and Q’orianka Kilcher,...
Curiously still without a distributor, to help incur interest amongst buyers, Deadline has debuted the first trailer. With gorgeous cinematography from Masanobu Takayanagi (who worked on Cooper’s last two films as well as Spotlight and The Grey), hopefully a distributor comes on board in time to give a 2017 release. Also starring Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Adam Beach, Ben Foster, Jesse Plemons, Rory Cochrane, and Q’orianka Kilcher,...
- 9/5/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Hot of the heels of its World Premiere at Telluride, and gearing up for its North American bow at Tiff, Scott Cooper‘s “Hostiles” is the biggest acquisition title on the festival slate. And with buzz already swirling around Christian Bale‘s performance, a pretty damn terrific new trailer is here to stoke anticipation.
The crew assembled here is pretty incredible with Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Adam Beach, Ben Foster, Jesse Plemons, Rory Cochrane, and Q’orianka Kilcher rounding out the ensemble cast, with cinematography by Masanobu Takayanagi (“Spotlight,” “Out Of The Furnace”) and a score by Max Richter (“The Leftovers,” “Waltz With Bashir“).
Continue reading ‘Hostiles’ Trailer: Christian Bale Faces The Wild West at The Playlist.
The crew assembled here is pretty incredible with Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Adam Beach, Ben Foster, Jesse Plemons, Rory Cochrane, and Q’orianka Kilcher rounding out the ensemble cast, with cinematography by Masanobu Takayanagi (“Spotlight,” “Out Of The Furnace”) and a score by Max Richter (“The Leftovers,” “Waltz With Bashir“).
Continue reading ‘Hostiles’ Trailer: Christian Bale Faces The Wild West at The Playlist.
- 9/5/2017
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Mad Max: Fury Road director, George Miller and crew.
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Arri digital and film cameras played a crucial role in the creation of many of the films that dominated this year's Academy Awards.
Best Picture honours went to Spotlight, directed by Thomas McCarthy and lensed by cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi on Alexa Xt..
The drama, based on the true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation, also won for Original Screenplay.
Following victories at the Asc and BAFTA Awards, Emmanuel 'Chivo' Lubezki Asc, AMC won his third consecutive Oscar for The Revenant — an unprecedented achievement in the Best Cinematography category..
Lubezki won last year for Birdman and in 2014 for Gravity.
The Revenant used Alexa Xt, Alexa M and Master Primes, as well as Alexa 65 cameras and Prime 65 lenses for selected sequences..
This is the fifth year in a row that the Best Cinematography winner relied on an Alexa camera..
The Revenant...
.
Arri digital and film cameras played a crucial role in the creation of many of the films that dominated this year's Academy Awards.
Best Picture honours went to Spotlight, directed by Thomas McCarthy and lensed by cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi on Alexa Xt..
The drama, based on the true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation, also won for Original Screenplay.
Following victories at the Asc and BAFTA Awards, Emmanuel 'Chivo' Lubezki Asc, AMC won his third consecutive Oscar for The Revenant — an unprecedented achievement in the Best Cinematography category..
Lubezki won last year for Birdman and in 2014 for Gravity.
The Revenant used Alexa Xt, Alexa M and Master Primes, as well as Alexa 65 cameras and Prime 65 lenses for selected sequences..
This is the fifth year in a row that the Best Cinematography winner relied on an Alexa camera..
The Revenant...
- 3/3/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
The riveting true story of the dedicated investigative team that blew the lid off a monumental cover up, Spotlight is now available on Digital HD, and comes to Blu-ray combo pack, DVD and On Demand on February 23, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Directed by Academy Award nominee Tom McCarthy (Up, The Station Agent), this taut drama goes behind the scenes of one of the most notorious scandals in recent history as a small group of intrepid journalists take on a seemingly unbeatable opponent — and win. “A tour de force” (Variety), Spotlight on Blu-ray and DVD features an insightful “making-of” documentary and revealing conversations with the filmmakers.
“A masterpiece” according to Brian Truitt, USA Today, Spotlight is one of the most important and critically acclaimed films of the year, nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, the...
“A masterpiece” according to Brian Truitt, USA Today, Spotlight is one of the most important and critically acclaimed films of the year, nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, the...
- 2/23/2016
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Welcome back to This Week In Discs where we check out tomorrow’s new releases today! Spotlight News of a local priest involved in a child molestation scandal prompts the investigative team at the Boston Globe to dig a little deeper, and what they find shocks the world. Blocked at every turn by the Catholic Church and members of Boston’s movers and shakers the team explores unchecked avenues and finds previously missed connections that reveal a real-life conspiracy involving hundreds of people across several decades. Far from the year’s flashiest film, Thomas McCarthy’s latest is a rare piece of dramatic near-perfection. Every element — from the superb ensemble cast (including Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Brian d’Arcy James, and more) to the sharp cinematography (from Masanobu Takayanagi) to the constantly engaging script (by McCarthy and Josh Singer) — works in flawless unison to make a familiar tale and a known...
- 2/22/2016
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
One of the best pictures of 2015 is an accurate and relevant movie about a truly difficult subject. Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d'Arcy James, John Slattery and Stanley Tucci lead an impressive ensemble; I don't think I've ever seen such a complicated story told with such clarity, and so entertainingly. Spotlight Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD Universal Studios Home Entertainment 2015 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 129 min. / Street Date February 23, 2016 / 34.98 Starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Brian d'Arcy James, Stanley Tucci, Paul Guilfoyle, Len Cariou, Jamey Sheridan. Cinematography Masanobu Takayanagi Film Editor Tom McArdle Original Music Howard Shore Written by Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy Produced by Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Michael Sugar Directed by Tom McCarthy
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
They say that The Revenant and The Big Short have a leg up on this year's Oscars, but my vote still goes to Tom McCarthy's Spotlight,...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
They say that The Revenant and The Big Short have a leg up on this year's Oscars, but my vote still goes to Tom McCarthy's Spotlight,...
- 2/21/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Read More: 2016 Oscar Predictions: Best Cinematography Robert Richardson, Alwin Kuchler, Danny Cohen, Linus Sandgren, Masanobu Takayanagi and Mandy Walker. If those names don't mean anything to you, it's probably time to sit down and meet the wonderful minds behind some of this year's best-looking movies. After all, these six people are some of the best cinematographers in the game, having worked on "The Hateful Eight," "Steve Jobs," "Spotlight," "Truth," "Joy" and "The Danish Girl," respectively, in the past year. Over the course of The Hollywood Reporter's one-hour discussion, the dynamic group delves into the cinematographer's role on set and touches upon filmmaking frustrations and how they play into their personal relationships with the directors they work with. "A great script can only be made better by good cinematographer," Cohen remarks. “You can have bad cinematography and a fantastic...
- 2/4/2016
- by Bryn Gelbart
- Indiewire
By now if you haven’t had the opportunity to watch The Hollywood Reporters roundtables, including the ones involving the actors and the directors, you should take the time to watch them. THR’s latest roundtable is focused on the cinematographers. This year’s group features Robert Richardson (The Hateful Eight), Alwin Kuchler (Steve Jobs), Masanobu Takayanagi (Black Mass, […]
The post THR Cinematographers Roundtable: First-Time Directors, Knowing When to Quit, and More appeared first on /Film.
The post THR Cinematographers Roundtable: First-Time Directors, Knowing When to Quit, and More appeared first on /Film.
- 2/4/2016
- by Jack Giroux
- Slash Film
After giving our picks for the best cinematography of 2015, today brings conversation with some of the directors of photography from last year’s notable features. THR has gathered Robert Richardson (The Hateful Eight), Alwin Kuchler (Steve Jobs), Danny Cohen (The Danish Girl, Room), Linus Sandgren (Joy), Masanobu Takayanagi (Black Mass, Spotlight) and Mandy Walker (Truth) for a one-hour talk on their prcoess.
While it’s embarrassing that the trade couldn’t find room for Emmanuel Lubezki, Roger Deakins, Edward Lachman, Ping Bin Lee, Adam Arkapaw, John Seale, Maryse Alberti, and more, it’s interesting to hear about the experience of shooting 70mm for Quentin Tarantino‘s western from Richardson, as well as why he took his name off World War Z. Check out the full roundtable below, and Richardson’s thoughts on getting awards for CG-heavy cinematography.
I wish there were two categories for Academy Awards. There are films that are shot relatively normal,...
While it’s embarrassing that the trade couldn’t find room for Emmanuel Lubezki, Roger Deakins, Edward Lachman, Ping Bin Lee, Adam Arkapaw, John Seale, Maryse Alberti, and more, it’s interesting to hear about the experience of shooting 70mm for Quentin Tarantino‘s western from Richardson, as well as why he took his name off World War Z. Check out the full roundtable below, and Richardson’s thoughts on getting awards for CG-heavy cinematography.
I wish there were two categories for Academy Awards. There are films that are shot relatively normal,...
- 2/3/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Each year, a lot of filmmakers make a lot of movies. Some of them are noteworthy, some become celebrated award-winners, while a rare one or two enter into the annals of history – taking place alongside great works by artists such as Alan J. Pakula. Part of the fun is predicting which film – if any – will fall into the latter category, and this year, all eyes are on Spotlight.
It’s not an outlandish idea to compare the upcoming drama to Pakula’s legendary All The President’s Men, since the subject matter shares the theme of presenting a fictionalized account of some of the most important and remarkable journalism of the 20th century. Where Pakula’s Oscar winner focused on The Washington Post’s work on the Watergate scandal, Spotlight depicts the work of The Boston Globe in uncovering the Massachusetts Catholic sex abuse scandal of 2001.
In a further connection,...
It’s not an outlandish idea to compare the upcoming drama to Pakula’s legendary All The President’s Men, since the subject matter shares the theme of presenting a fictionalized account of some of the most important and remarkable journalism of the 20th century. Where Pakula’s Oscar winner focused on The Washington Post’s work on the Watergate scandal, Spotlight depicts the work of The Boston Globe in uncovering the Massachusetts Catholic sex abuse scandal of 2001.
In a further connection,...
- 7/29/2015
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
We already got one taste of Scott Cooper's upcoming Whitey Bulger gangster saga "Black Mass" on the heels of CinemaCon. That teaser trailer, framed by an unsettling moment over a dinner table, introduced us to just what Johnny Depp is doing in the lead role. A new taste, courtesy of the UK trailer for the film, adds some style to the equation. Anachronism be damned, they just went ahead and dropped Rick Ross and Jay Z's "The Devil is a Lie" over flashy images of Bulger's life of crime in and around Boston, talking to little old ladies in the neighborhood, smashing his foot into some dude's face, etc. Awesome. And the sell continues to do exactly what you'd expect it to: play up Depp's transformation. But obviously this cast is stacked: Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, Jesse Plemons, Peter Sarsgaard, Dakota Johnson, Corey Stoll, Juno Temple,...
- 5/23/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
So far actor-turned-filmmaker Scott Cooper has directed Jeff Bridges to his first Oscar (2009's "Crazy Heart") and arguably shepherded Christian Bale to his finest performance to date (2013's "Out of the Furnace"). With the upcoming "Black Mass," depicting the life and times of Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger, it looks like he's dragged Johnny Depp from the funk of franchise dreck to what could be one of the most towering performances of the actor's career. At least, that's the vibe I'm getting from a tightly assembled trailer for the film, which uses just one scene to showcase the vibe and presence Depp is putting out there as Bulger. As soon as the frame opens on those blue contacts…wow. I'm pretty excited for the look of this thing, too, as cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi killed it on "Furnace" and is one of the best in the game right now. This one...
- 4/23/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
The Killer Beside Me: Goold’s Debut Warps Grisly Headline into Funereal Pallor
The rapidly fluctuating career of James Franco got a dramatic jumpstart with a pair of twin performances at the Sundance Film Festival a far cry from the savage chomping of The Interview debacle that sailed through the final throes of last year. His turn as a cold blooded killer in Rupert Goold’s directorial debut True Story is less controversial (at least in comparison to his personification of gay rights journalist turned Christian Fundamentalist Michael Glatze in I Am Michael), and is a straight-faced take based on the memoirs of disgraced journalist Mike Finkel. The results are about as simply realized as its underdressed title, which may have Hemingwayesque succinctness, but this hardly lends itself to the necessity of visual reenactment. As if afraid to throw off its trajectory of pathos and gentle yet imperial castigation of journalistic profiteering,...
The rapidly fluctuating career of James Franco got a dramatic jumpstart with a pair of twin performances at the Sundance Film Festival a far cry from the savage chomping of The Interview debacle that sailed through the final throes of last year. His turn as a cold blooded killer in Rupert Goold’s directorial debut True Story is less controversial (at least in comparison to his personification of gay rights journalist turned Christian Fundamentalist Michael Glatze in I Am Michael), and is a straight-faced take based on the memoirs of disgraced journalist Mike Finkel. The results are about as simply realized as its underdressed title, which may have Hemingwayesque succinctness, but this hardly lends itself to the necessity of visual reenactment. As if afraid to throw off its trajectory of pathos and gentle yet imperial castigation of journalistic profiteering,...
- 4/13/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Stumbling across that list of best-edited films yesterday had me assuming that there might be other nuggets like that out there, and sure enough, there is American Cinematographer's poll of the American Society of Cinematographers membership for the best-shot films ever, which I do recall hearing about at the time. But they did things a little differently. Basically, in 1998, cinematographers were asked for their top picks in two eras: films from 1894-1949 (or the dawn of cinema through the classic era), and then 1950-1997, for a top 50 in each case. Then they followed up 10 years later with another poll focused on the films between 1998 and 2008. Unlike the editors' list, though, ties run absolutely rampant here and allow for way more than 50 films in each era to be cited. I'd love to see what these lists would look like combined, however. I imagine "Citizen Kane," which was on top of the 1894-1949 list,...
- 2/4/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
True Story
Written by Rupert Goold & David Kajganich
Directed by Rupert Goold
USA, 2015
True Story is a slick crime thriller that looks great but feels oddly distant. Much like the cold-blooded killer at its core, Rupert Goold’s film is quite the cold fish. Solid performances and striking visuals help to hide a clunky script that delivers its message with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. It doesn’t amount to much, but True Story is a creepy diversion that will keep you entertained.
Mike Finkel (Jonah Hill) is an investigative journalist whose passion for the truth can turn him into a liar. Whether it’s “consolidating” the facts for a New York Times article (an offense for which he was fired), or lying to himself about a subject’s motives, Finkel oscillates between recording the facts and manipulating them.
Such is the case with Christian Longo (James Franco); a man...
Written by Rupert Goold & David Kajganich
Directed by Rupert Goold
USA, 2015
True Story is a slick crime thriller that looks great but feels oddly distant. Much like the cold-blooded killer at its core, Rupert Goold’s film is quite the cold fish. Solid performances and striking visuals help to hide a clunky script that delivers its message with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. It doesn’t amount to much, but True Story is a creepy diversion that will keep you entertained.
Mike Finkel (Jonah Hill) is an investigative journalist whose passion for the truth can turn him into a liar. Whether it’s “consolidating” the facts for a New York Times article (an offense for which he was fired), or lying to himself about a subject’s motives, Finkel oscillates between recording the facts and manipulating them.
Such is the case with Christian Longo (James Franco); a man...
- 2/3/2015
- by J.R. Kinnard
- SoundOnSight
Park City — There is a moment in Rupert Goold's "True Story" that is truly captivating. After watching her husband be manipulated from afar, Jill Finkel (played marvelously by Felicity Jones), goes to meet accused murderer Christian Longo (James Franco) at the county jail where he's incarcerated. In less than five minutes Jill uses the tale of 16th century composer Carlo Gesualdo, who murdered his wife and baby in cold blood, to unmask Longo as the killer she knows he is and to make it clear his charade will only get so far as long as she's around. It's a moment that demonstrates how talented the current Oscar nominee for Best Actress is in what has been a thankless role up until his point in the film. It also underlines how frustrating a film "True Story" is that the best scene in the movie doesn't include star Jonah Hill and barely involves Franco.
- 1/24/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
The Academy has announced the new class of invited members for 2014 and, as is typical, many of which are among last year's nominees, which includes Barkhad Abdi, Michael Fassbender, Sally Hawkins, Mads Mikkelsen, Lupita Nyong'o and June Squibb in the Actors branch not to mention curious additions such as Josh Hutcherson, Rob Riggle and Jason Statham, but, okay. The Directors branch adds Jay and Mark Duplass along with Jean-Marc Vallee, Denis Villeneuve and Thomas Vinterberg. I didn't do an immediate tally of male to female additions or other demographics, but at first glance it seems to be a wide spread batch of new additions on all fronts. The Academy is also clearly attempting to aggressively bump up the demographics as this is the second year in a row where they have added a large number of new members, well over the average of 133 new members from 2004 to 2012. As far as...
- 6/26/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 271 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.
Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2014.
“This year’s class of invitees represents some of the most talented, creative and passionate filmmakers working in our industry today,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “Their contributions to film have entertained audiences around the world, and we are proud to welcome them to the Academy.”
The 2014 invitees are:
Actors
Barkhad Abdi – “Captain Phillips”
Clancy Brown – “The Hurricane,” “The Shawshank Redeption”
Paul Dano – “12 Years a Slave,” “Prisoners”
Michael Fassbender – “12 Years a Slave,” “Shame”
Ben Foster – “Lone Survivor,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”
Beth Grant – “The Artist,” “No Country for Old Men”
Clark Gregg – “Much Ado about Nothing,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”
Sally Hawkins – “Blue Jasmine,...
Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2014.
“This year’s class of invitees represents some of the most talented, creative and passionate filmmakers working in our industry today,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “Their contributions to film have entertained audiences around the world, and we are proud to welcome them to the Academy.”
The 2014 invitees are:
Actors
Barkhad Abdi – “Captain Phillips”
Clancy Brown – “The Hurricane,” “The Shawshank Redeption”
Paul Dano – “12 Years a Slave,” “Prisoners”
Michael Fassbender – “12 Years a Slave,” “Shame”
Ben Foster – “Lone Survivor,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”
Beth Grant – “The Artist,” “No Country for Old Men”
Clark Gregg – “Much Ado about Nothing,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”
Sally Hawkins – “Blue Jasmine,...
- 6/26/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong’o of 12 Years a Slave were two of the 271 artists and industry leaders invited to become members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which determines nominations and winners at the annual Oscars. The entire list of Academy membership—which numbers about 6,000—isn’t public information so the annual invitation list is often the best indication of the artists involved in the prestigious awards process. It’s worth noting that invitations need to be accepted in order for artists to become members; some artists, like two-time Best Actor winner Sean Penn, have declined membership over the years.
- 6/26/2014
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
Pop quiz: What do Chris Rock, Claire Denis, Eddie Vedder and Josh Hutcherson all have in common? Answer: They could all be Oscar voters very soon. The annual Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences invitation list always makes for interesting reading, shedding light on just how large and far-reaching the group's membership is -- or could be, depending on who accepts their invitations. This year, 271 individuals have been asked to join AMPAS, meaning every one of them could contribute to next year's Academy Awards balloting -- and it's as diverse a list as they've ever assembled. Think the Academy consists entirely of fusty retired white dudes? Not if recent Best Original Song nominee Pharrell Williams takes them up on their offer. Think it's all just a Hollywood insiders' game? Not if French arthouse titans Chantal Akerman and Olivier Assayas join the party. It's a list that subverts expectation at every turn.
- 6/26/2014
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
(L-r) Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger and director Scott Cooper on the set of the as-yet-untitled Whitey Bulger film, which has begun filming on location in Boston. Photo credit: Claire Folger
Principal photography is underway on the as-yet-untitled drama based on the book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob, about the infamous gangster Whitey Bulger.
The film stars Oscar nominee Johnny Depp (“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “Finding Neverland,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films) as Whitey Bulger and Joel Edgerton (“The Great Gatsby,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) as FBI Agent John Connolly.
Filming began in Boston under the direction of Scott Cooper (“Out of the Furnace,” “Crazy Heart”).
The film also stars Benedict Cumberbatch (“Twelve Years a Slave”) as Whitey’s brother, Billy Bulger, who is a Massachusetts State Senator; Jesse Plemons (AMC’s “Breaking Bad...
Principal photography is underway on the as-yet-untitled drama based on the book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob, about the infamous gangster Whitey Bulger.
The film stars Oscar nominee Johnny Depp (“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “Finding Neverland,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films) as Whitey Bulger and Joel Edgerton (“The Great Gatsby,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) as FBI Agent John Connolly.
Filming began in Boston under the direction of Scott Cooper (“Out of the Furnace,” “Crazy Heart”).
The film also stars Benedict Cumberbatch (“Twelve Years a Slave”) as Whitey’s brother, Billy Bulger, who is a Massachusetts State Senator; Jesse Plemons (AMC’s “Breaking Bad...
- 5/22/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger and director Scott Cooper on the set of the as-yet-untitled Whitey Bulger film.
Principal photography is underway on the as-yet-untitled drama based on the book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob, about the infamous gangster Whitey Bulger. The film stars Oscar® nominee Johnny Depp (“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “Finding Neverland,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films) as Whitey Bulger and Joel Edgerton (“The Great Gatsby,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) as FBI Agent John Connolly. Filming began in Boston under the direction of Scott Cooper (“Out of the Furnace,” “Crazy Heart”).
The film also stars Benedict Cumberbatch (“Twelve Years a Slave”) as Whitey’s brother, Billy Bulger, who is a Massachusetts State Senator; Jesse Plemons (AMC’s “Breaking Bad”) as Whitey’s longtime partner in crime, Kevin Weeks; Sienna Miller (HBO’s...
Principal photography is underway on the as-yet-untitled drama based on the book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob, about the infamous gangster Whitey Bulger. The film stars Oscar® nominee Johnny Depp (“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “Finding Neverland,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films) as Whitey Bulger and Joel Edgerton (“The Great Gatsby,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) as FBI Agent John Connolly. Filming began in Boston under the direction of Scott Cooper (“Out of the Furnace,” “Crazy Heart”).
The film also stars Benedict Cumberbatch (“Twelve Years a Slave”) as Whitey’s brother, Billy Bulger, who is a Massachusetts State Senator; Jesse Plemons (AMC’s “Breaking Bad”) as Whitey’s longtime partner in crime, Kevin Weeks; Sienna Miller (HBO’s...
- 5/22/2014
- by Kellvin Chavez
- LRMonline.com
Scott Cooper's steel-town drama has an A-list cast and superb score, but its debts to The Deer Hunter outweigh its strengths
Actor-turned-director Scott Cooper's previous film, Crazy Heart, was a portrait of world-weary Americana boasting a terrifically grizzled performance by Jeff Bridges, and buoyed by an audience-friendly musicality that earned Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett an Oscar for the tellingly entitled song The Weary Kind. This second directorial outing is altogether less mellifluous, although once again music provides a doorway into a world which may otherwise be impenetrably gruff. While Pearl Jam's Release may be the attention-grabbing theme bookending the drama, it's Dickon Hinchliffe's mournfully clanging score that sets the tone for this earnest tale of overwrought male bonding against an evocative backdrop of rust-belt desolation.
Shot in and around the photogenically depressed town of Braddock, Pennsylvania, Cooper's long-gestated film (on which original key players Leonardo DiCaprio...
Actor-turned-director Scott Cooper's previous film, Crazy Heart, was a portrait of world-weary Americana boasting a terrifically grizzled performance by Jeff Bridges, and buoyed by an audience-friendly musicality that earned Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett an Oscar for the tellingly entitled song The Weary Kind. This second directorial outing is altogether less mellifluous, although once again music provides a doorway into a world which may otherwise be impenetrably gruff. While Pearl Jam's Release may be the attention-grabbing theme bookending the drama, it's Dickon Hinchliffe's mournfully clanging score that sets the tone for this earnest tale of overwrought male bonding against an evocative backdrop of rust-belt desolation.
Shot in and around the photogenically depressed town of Braddock, Pennsylvania, Cooper's long-gestated film (on which original key players Leonardo DiCaprio...
- 2/2/2014
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
Hoyte Van Hoytema hit most cinephiles' radar in 2008 with the Swedish horror film "Let the Right One In." It was a dazzling display, a crystalline vision from director Tomas Alfredson aided by rich visuals that found Van Hoytema's work prominently recognized in an annual In Contention feature celebrating the greatest images in cinematography (and again a few years later.) From there, the director of photography made his move into domestic features as David O. Russell — who has an eye for top cinematography talent, from Newton Thomas Sigel to Peter Deming to Masanobu Takayanagi — tapped him for the award-winning...
- 1/3/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Fire Walk: Cooper’s Sophomore Effort a Somber, Fatalistic Malaise
Director Scott Cooper returns with Out of the Furnace, his first film since his Oscar winning 2009 feature debut, Crazy Heart, working from a retooled script by Brad Ingelsby. Wearing us down with its man vs. fate inevitability, Cooper’s film is clearly not out to surprise or shock. As predictable as its outcome may be, which feels like watching a slow motion train wreck, even an oddly emotional distance from all its supporting characters can’t distract from Cooper’s adept execution, giving us familiar characters in familiar scenarios via subtlety effective bits and pieces rather than being inveigled by showy flairs or hysterical melodrama. It’s a film that’s hard to love, and a rather obvious homage to Cimino’s The Deer Hunter may distract more than enhance the narrative fabric. But regardless of all this, at its...
Director Scott Cooper returns with Out of the Furnace, his first film since his Oscar winning 2009 feature debut, Crazy Heart, working from a retooled script by Brad Ingelsby. Wearing us down with its man vs. fate inevitability, Cooper’s film is clearly not out to surprise or shock. As predictable as its outcome may be, which feels like watching a slow motion train wreck, even an oddly emotional distance from all its supporting characters can’t distract from Cooper’s adept execution, giving us familiar characters in familiar scenarios via subtlety effective bits and pieces rather than being inveigled by showy flairs or hysterical melodrama. It’s a film that’s hard to love, and a rather obvious homage to Cimino’s The Deer Hunter may distract more than enhance the narrative fabric. But regardless of all this, at its...
- 12/4/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
The easiest way to look at Out of the Furnace is as a bleak tale of revenge. To look a fraction deeper is to find commentary on the current state of the American economy, the treatment of returning soldiers from war and other bits of rather obvious socioeconomic themes. The film's third act is where Out of the Furanace will either lose or enrapture its audience. The question arises as to whether director and co-writer Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) has abandoned everything he has built or if what we're watching is a product of those themes. I personally fall in the latter camp, but it took a while for me to get there. In a lot of ways, Out of the Furnace has a narrative similar to that of samurai films. Here's a story of bad men living in the untamed New Jersey Ramapo Mountains, defying the law, dealing drugs and killing without punishment.
- 12/3/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Here is my complete 2014 Oscar Preview in one complete list, with all 40 Oscar Contenders and my thoughts on each over the course of a massive 13-page spread and over 8,500 words. Trust me, I don't blame you if you take your time, but I think it may serve as a helpful list to look back at throughout the year. And, if you missed Parts 1-4 in which I featured each of these films, ten per installment, and just because it's fun to see them all in one place, here's a list of all 40 films included in this preview: The Great Gatsby, 12 Years a Slave, A Most Wanted Man, The Place Beyond the Pines, August: Osage County, Before Midnight, Blue Jasmine, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Diana, Elysium, The Fifth Estate, Foxcatcher, Frozen, Fruitvale, Grace of Monaco, Gravity, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, Inside Llewyn Davis, Labor Day, Lowlife, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom,...
- 3/8/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Hopefully each of these preview pieces are not only introducing you to the year's most likely 2014 Oscar contenders, but perhaps introducing a few films you may have not already known about or had on your radar, giving you a little something more to look forward to. Today I offer up ten more films and we are talking movies from the likes of George Clooney, Alexander Payne, Scott Cooper and Spike Lee to name a few. Today's installment includes James Gray's Lowlife starring Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Renner and Joaquin Phoenix, then Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom featuring Idris Elba in the title role, George Clooney's The Monuments Men which just began filming in Berlin, Anton Corbijn's A Most Wanted Man, Mud from Take Shelter director Jeff Nichols and starring Matthew McConaughey, Alexander Payne's Nebraska, Spike Lee's remake of Oldboy, Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper's follow-up...
- 3/6/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
“I'd rather have someone human and available and raw and open. Don't give me someone cold, or cut off, or someone who considers themselves dignified.”
—Lily Tomlin, The New York Times, Sep. 19, 2004
We live in suburban single-families just around the corner; we walk, run, or ride bikes to get where we’re going, and don’t use cars or even sidewalks (there’s a fuckin’ tons of roads to run in!). The second-hand soundtrack of our lives, overheard from other movies, is overplayed classic rock, usually Zeppelin, but sometimes a drum-heavy instrumental there to underscore abandon. Our clothes express where we’re at in life, not who we are. We come running from out of nowhere like we always have, like the security guard in I Heart Huckabees, tackling Jason Schwartzmann from outside the frame for planting trees in a parking lot. Like immigrants or the crew of a John Ford movie on location,...
—Lily Tomlin, The New York Times, Sep. 19, 2004
We live in suburban single-families just around the corner; we walk, run, or ride bikes to get where we’re going, and don’t use cars or even sidewalks (there’s a fuckin’ tons of roads to run in!). The second-hand soundtrack of our lives, overheard from other movies, is overplayed classic rock, usually Zeppelin, but sometimes a drum-heavy instrumental there to underscore abandon. Our clothes express where we’re at in life, not who we are. We come running from out of nowhere like we always have, like the security guard in I Heart Huckabees, tackling Jason Schwartzmann from outside the frame for planting trees in a parking lot. Like immigrants or the crew of a John Ford movie on location,...
- 2/27/2013
- by Otie Wheeler
- MUBI
The Hollywood Reporter has debuted a new video with the cast and crew behind the 2012 critically acclaimed drama, ‘Silver Linings Playbook’. The clip features director David O. Russell, who also wrote the script, lead star Bradley Cooper, producers Bruce Cohen and Jonathan Gordon, production designer Judy Becker, cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi, film editor Jay Cassidy and composer Danny Elfmam, all on board to discuss the film in depth. The group discussed their own personal insecurities and obstacles while filming the Matthew Quick adaption that chronicles Cooper’s character Pat Solitano, a former teacher that has to move back in with his parents following a stint in a mental institution. Life’s ups [ Read More ]
The post David O. Russell, Bradley Cooper Talk ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (Video) appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post David O. Russell, Bradley Cooper Talk ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (Video) appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 1/2/2013
- by Sarah Anne Luoma
- ShockYa
I recently sat down in Hollywood with a big chunk of the team that is most responsible for Silver Linings Playbook -- writer-director David O. Russell, actor Bradley Cooper, producers Bruce Cohen and Jonathan Gordon, production designer Judy Becker, cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi, film editor Jay Cassidy and composer Danny Elfman -- to discuss the making of the dramedy, which has become one of the most critically-acclaimed films of 2012 and The Weinstein Co.'s strongest Oscar contender of the season. As you can see by checking out the video of our conversation at the top of this post, each individual
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- 12/30/2012
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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