Chicago – The 2024 Chicago Critics Film Festival Day Four – Monday, May 6th – presents a film about music dreams and a documentary on a music store. “Dandelion” is written and directed by Nicole Riegel and “Flipside” by Chris Wilcha are the centerpiece screenings. For the full schedule, info and tickets, click Ccff May 6th. For individual films, click titles below.
Dandelion
Dandelion
Photo credit: ChicagoCriticsFilmFestival.com
Dandelion (KiKi Layne) is a struggling Cincinnati singer-songwriter in a downward spiral, takes a last-ditch-effort gig at a motorcycle rally in South Dakota where she meets Casey (Thomas Doherty), a guitarist who walked away from his dream long ago. As Dandelion joins Casey’s nomadic group of struggling musicians, the kindred spirits make music together and strike up a whirlwind romance.
Capsule Review: This is a passionate meditation on young love and the sensitive artist trying to interpret it. The love is as much about the...
Dandelion
Dandelion
Photo credit: ChicagoCriticsFilmFestival.com
Dandelion (KiKi Layne) is a struggling Cincinnati singer-songwriter in a downward spiral, takes a last-ditch-effort gig at a motorcycle rally in South Dakota where she meets Casey (Thomas Doherty), a guitarist who walked away from his dream long ago. As Dandelion joins Casey’s nomadic group of struggling musicians, the kindred spirits make music together and strike up a whirlwind romance.
Capsule Review: This is a passionate meditation on young love and the sensitive artist trying to interpret it. The love is as much about the...
- 5/6/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Nicholas Tomnay got some buzz back in 2010 for his twisty thriller “The Perfect Host,” starring David Hyde Pierce as a dinner party host with an appetite for violence. But Tomnay hasn’t made another feature until now, with “What You Wish For.” And, to be expected, it’s another twisty thriller with some culinary flair.
Read More: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2024
Tomnay’s latest stars Nick Stahl as Ryan, a talented but troubled chef who skips town to stay with a friend living in Latin America to escape a gambling debt.
Continue reading ‘What You Wish For’ Trailer: Nick Stahl Stars As A Chef In Hot Water In Twisty New Thriller On May 31 at The Playlist.
Read More: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2024
Tomnay’s latest stars Nick Stahl as Ryan, a talented but troubled chef who skips town to stay with a friend living in Latin America to escape a gambling debt.
Continue reading ‘What You Wish For’ Trailer: Nick Stahl Stars As A Chef In Hot Water In Twisty New Thriller On May 31 at The Playlist.
- 4/19/2024
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
"A bad dish from you and your life will end." Magnolia Pictures has revealed the official trailer for What You Wish For, an indie thriller from filmmaker Nicholas Tomnay, a follow-up to his first film The Perfect Host. This new one premiered at many genre fests: Fantasia, Fantastic Fest, FrightFest, A Night of Horror, Grimmfest, Celluloid Screams, and Screamfest previously before its upcoming release in theaters this May during the start of the summer. A down-on-his-luck chef with gambling problems flees to a Latin American villa, where he assumes the identity of another skilled chef. "A Hitchcockian, edge-of-your-seat descent into escalating moral compromise with generous servings of dark humour, shock, and surprise." The title is an obvious riff on the "be careful what you wish for" idiom, as the full synopsis hints that he "soon discovers just what Jack's been doing to maintain the lifestyle he so desperately craved." Uh oh.
- 4/18/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has acquired North American rights to “What You Wish For,” a new suspense-horror film written and directed by Nicholas Tomnay.
The film stars Nick Stahl (Showtime’s “Let the Right One In”) and had its world premiere at Fantasia Festival. Tamsin Topolski (“Slow Horses”) and Randy Vasquez (“America Has Fallen: Election Day”) also star. Magnet plans to release the film this summer. Tomnay previously co-wrote and directed “The Perfect Host,” which starred David Hyde Pierce.
In “What You Wish For,” Stahl plays Ryan, a talented chef whose crushing gambling problems prompts him to leave town in a hurry for the safe haven of an unnamed Latin American country. There, his friend Jack (Brian Groh), a more prestigious chef with his own unique troubles, welcomes him into his home. Ryan has no idea how Jack’s able to afford his extravagant lifestyle, and...
The film stars Nick Stahl (Showtime’s “Let the Right One In”) and had its world premiere at Fantasia Festival. Tamsin Topolski (“Slow Horses”) and Randy Vasquez (“America Has Fallen: Election Day”) also star. Magnet plans to release the film this summer. Tomnay previously co-wrote and directed “The Perfect Host,” which starred David Hyde Pierce.
In “What You Wish For,” Stahl plays Ryan, a talented chef whose crushing gambling problems prompts him to leave town in a hurry for the safe haven of an unnamed Latin American country. There, his friend Jack (Brian Groh), a more prestigious chef with his own unique troubles, welcomes him into his home. Ryan has no idea how Jack’s able to afford his extravagant lifestyle, and...
- 1/18/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The monkey's paw delivers in Nicholas Tomnay's "What You Wish For," a culinary chiller with strange and dangerous cravings. It's a Hitchcockian take on one-percenter conspiracies and ravenous appetites that cares more about characters caught hosting a unique dinner party experience. One man's cursed profession is another man's opportunity to start over, as Tomnay keys into how desperation can excuse even the most glaringly not-okay moral dilemmas. "What You Wish For" is a whodunit with sharp teeth and precise knife skills — except you already know who "dun it," and tension exists as the perpetrators try not to get caught.
Nick Stahl stars as hotel chain chef Ryan, who reunites with culinary school roommate Jack (Brian Groh) in the jungles of Latin America before his next assignment. Jack has been traveling the world as a private chef for years, padding his bank account with each high-end, well-paying feast. Ryan has been landlocked in America,...
Nick Stahl stars as hotel chain chef Ryan, who reunites with culinary school roommate Jack (Brian Groh) in the jungles of Latin America before his next assignment. Jack has been traveling the world as a private chef for years, padding his bank account with each high-end, well-paying feast. Ryan has been landlocked in America,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Matt Donato
- Slash Film
What You Wish For Photo: Fantasia International Film Festival
A choice item on the menu at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival and Frightfest, and about to screen at Fantastic Fest, Nicholas Tomnay’s What You Wish For tells the story of chef Ryan (Nick Stahl) who is down on his luck, being hunted by creditors, and decides to hide out for a while in South America, in the expensive house where his old friend Jack (Brian Groh) is staying. How has Jack, who works in the same line of business, ended up being so much more successful than him? He can’t understand it; still stranger, though, is how unhappy Jack seems to be with it. Ryan wishes he could live like that – but when he actually steps into Jack’s shoes, he finds himself very, very uncomfortable.
“In terms of the way the film was executed, I...
A choice item on the menu at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival and Frightfest, and about to screen at Fantastic Fest, Nicholas Tomnay’s What You Wish For tells the story of chef Ryan (Nick Stahl) who is down on his luck, being hunted by creditors, and decides to hide out for a while in South America, in the expensive house where his old friend Jack (Brian Groh) is staying. How has Jack, who works in the same line of business, ended up being so much more successful than him? He can’t understand it; still stranger, though, is how unhappy Jack seems to be with it. Ryan wishes he could live like that – but when he actually steps into Jack’s shoes, he finds himself very, very uncomfortable.
“In terms of the way the film was executed, I...
- 9/21/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The new film from Nicholas Tomnay (The Perfect Host) will have its US Premiere at Fantastic Fest this Friday. The first trailer is here for their sophomore feature film, What You Wish For. Nicholas Tomnay (The Perfect Host) reveals the first trailer for his highly-anticipated sophomore film, What You Wish For, ahead of its upcoming US premiere at Fantastic Fest. The unnerving culinary thriller stars Nick Stahl (Terminator 3) in a darkly comic cautionary tale of the ultra-wealthy. This noir-inspired morality tale follows Ryan (Nick Stahl), a down-on-his-luck chef who gets more than he bargained for when he steps into the life of an old culinary school pal, a private chef for the über-rich. What You Wish For is the second feature...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 9/19/2023
- Screen Anarchy
Grimmfest, Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Film, are delighted to announce their full feature film lineup for 2023. The festival will be returning to regular venue the Odeon Great Northern in Manchester on 6th – 8th October to showcase the best in genre cinema.
Never screened outside of Japan, and believed lost for nearly 30 years, Banmei Takahashi’s 1988 classic, Door, combines deadpan domestic comedy, chilling stalker thriller and baroquely bloody home invasion horror. It finally had its international premiere at Bifan in South Korea in July, and Grimmfest are delighted to be hosting the first UK screening.
Kenichi Ugana’s Love Will Tear US Apart encompasses dark and deadly romance, satiric slasher movie, psychological thriller and even some martial arts mayhem. Grimmfest is delighted to be hosting the UK premiere in Manchester, birthplace of Joy Division, whose music inspired the film’s title.
Mikhail Red’s Filipino psychological thriller Deleter (UK premiere) follows an overworked,...
Never screened outside of Japan, and believed lost for nearly 30 years, Banmei Takahashi’s 1988 classic, Door, combines deadpan domestic comedy, chilling stalker thriller and baroquely bloody home invasion horror. It finally had its international premiere at Bifan in South Korea in July, and Grimmfest are delighted to be hosting the first UK screening.
Kenichi Ugana’s Love Will Tear US Apart encompasses dark and deadly romance, satiric slasher movie, psychological thriller and even some martial arts mayhem. Grimmfest is delighted to be hosting the UK premiere in Manchester, birthplace of Joy Division, whose music inspired the film’s title.
Mikhail Red’s Filipino psychological thriller Deleter (UK premiere) follows an overworked,...
- 9/2/2023
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Ryan (Nick Stahl) and Jack (Brian Groh) haven’t seen each other for 12 years, since they use to share a flat when they were at culinary college. Life has taken them to very different places since then. Ryan is struggling to get by and pay off serious debts. Jack is being flown to exotic locations around the world to cook special meals for ridiculously rich people. Odd as it may sound, neither of them is happy; they both wish that they could swap places. Jack does not know, however, that – par for the course for a Stahl character – Ryan has someone scary on his tail. And Ryan does not know just what makes Jack’s special meals worth so much money.
As each secret is revealed in turn, Nicholas Tomnay’s sharp-edged black comedy shifts gears uncomfortably. Throw in a flirtatious Australian traveller (Penelope Mitchell) and a highly observant local detective.
As each secret is revealed in turn, Nicholas Tomnay’s sharp-edged black comedy shifts gears uncomfortably. Throw in a flirtatious Australian traveller (Penelope Mitchell) and a highly observant local detective.
- 8/26/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Canada’s Fantasia International Film Festival has announced the opening film of its 27th edition: Pascal Plante’s “Red Rooms,” about a high-profile case of a serial killer and the woman (Juliette Gariépy) obsessed with him.
“It’s a film of enormous emotional force, unbelievably controlled and smart, with a staggering performance from Gariépy. Pascal is one of the greatest talents of his generation in Quebec cinema and among the strongest filmmakers in the country right now,” says festival’s artistic director Mitch Davis.
“In a sense, it’s an unconventionally grim note to open a festival on. It’s a profoundly disturbing film. But I know the audience is going to be left completely breathless by it.”
“As a Montrealer, I have been a regular festival goer of Fantasia for years now, but it’s the first time one of my features will be screened in their lineup. I...
“It’s a film of enormous emotional force, unbelievably controlled and smart, with a staggering performance from Gariépy. Pascal is one of the greatest talents of his generation in Quebec cinema and among the strongest filmmakers in the country right now,” says festival’s artistic director Mitch Davis.
“In a sense, it’s an unconventionally grim note to open a festival on. It’s a profoundly disturbing film. But I know the audience is going to be left completely breathless by it.”
“As a Montrealer, I have been a regular festival goer of Fantasia for years now, but it’s the first time one of my features will be screened in their lineup. I...
- 6/8/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The Fantasia Film Festival, North America’s largest genre film festival, has released the first wave of titles for its upcoming 27th edition.
There’s world premieres for Theresa Sutherland’s Lovely Dark and Deep, which features Barbarian star Georgina Campbell; Victor Ginzburg’s Empire V; Jared Moshe’s Aporia, led by Judy Greer and Faithe Herman; and Where The Devil Roams, from directors Toby Poster, John Adams and Zelda Adams, also known as The Adams Family.
Other world bows in Montreal include Xavier Gens’ Mayhem!, which stars Nassim Lyes and Olivier Gourmet; horror auteur Larry Fessenden’s Blackout; Nicholas Tomnay’s What You Wish For, with Nick Stahl playing a chef with a gambling problem and from the producers of The Florida Project; and Ryan Ward’s Daughter of the Sun.
Fantasia’s first titles includes a world premiere for Jenn Wexler’s The Sacrifice Game, the follow-up to the debut feature The Ranger,...
There’s world premieres for Theresa Sutherland’s Lovely Dark and Deep, which features Barbarian star Georgina Campbell; Victor Ginzburg’s Empire V; Jared Moshe’s Aporia, led by Judy Greer and Faithe Herman; and Where The Devil Roams, from directors Toby Poster, John Adams and Zelda Adams, also known as The Adams Family.
Other world bows in Montreal include Xavier Gens’ Mayhem!, which stars Nassim Lyes and Olivier Gourmet; horror auteur Larry Fessenden’s Blackout; Nicholas Tomnay’s What You Wish For, with Nick Stahl playing a chef with a gambling problem and from the producers of The Florida Project; and Ryan Ward’s Daughter of the Sun.
Fantasia’s first titles includes a world premiere for Jenn Wexler’s The Sacrifice Game, the follow-up to the debut feature The Ranger,...
- 5/11/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Festival initiative “U.S. in Progress” introduces four U.S. productions in post-production to European buyers.
American Independent films, French Independent Films and Oscar Nominated Foreign Language Films will be showcased.
The Weinstein Company’s Harvey Weinstein wil receive a tribute and will host a retrospective of his films.
Donald Sutherland will host a screening of Klute and will receive a Medal of Arts and Letters bestowed by Frederic Mitterrand.
The Champs Elysees Film Festival’s U.S. President is Michael Madsen
The French Festival President is Lambert Wilson
The discussions held so often about the sustainability of arthouse theaters, about the joining of forces between them and festivals and the ownership of festivals themselves, and sometimes of theaters as well, by distributors as a way to sustain the three key players of this precious triangle of culture, continue as the first Champs Elysees Film Festival presents a jam-packed line up and full program of events at its inaugural edition.
The seven day festival, June 6-12, has been formed and is owned by the independent distributor Sophie Dulac. It is exciting for me to go to see the arthouses we have already written about in the area of the Champs Elysees - the Balzac, its rival the Lincoln, the Publicis, and the two major chains, Gaumont Champs Elysees and Ugc George V. Another interesting aspect of this upcoming event is the festival's ownership by a French distributor, Sophie Dulac. This is one of two similarities between Gutek and Dulac. The New Horizons and the American Film Festivals are owned by Roman Gutek whose distribution company Gutek is the largest arthouse distributor in Poland. Similarly Sophie Dulac seems to "own" this festival. Somewhat analagous to this is the "owning" of distribution company Tribeca Films by the Tribeca Film Festival or the Sundance Select Distribution arm owned by the Sundance Film Festival. The New York Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festivals have yet to declare themselves distributors but do own the arthouses in which to show "their" films year round in festival settings.
Dulac explains the impetus to launch the Champs Elysees Film Festival, “As Paris’ first truly international film festival, our mission is to create a bridge between the independent American and French film industries. In the most beautiful city in the world and one with a worldwide association to cinema, the Champs Elysées Film Festival will be a celebration of film promoting the work of young filmmakers and honoring the work of established directors.” She adds, “We want to throw a spotlight on independent film from France and the U.S. We will welcome famous names, offer new films, open up discussions between members of the film industry, give short films a special showcase and invite audiences to gala previews.”
I personally hope the tourists of Champs Elysees see this as a special opportunity to share inside festival experiences with international professionals and that it brings in more business than ordinary theatrical fare brings to the same theaters, thus proving that festivals serve as a new branch of film distribution and that the joining of forces between distributor, exhibitor and festival point toward a new mode of profitability for all parties.
U.S. in Progress was first presented at the American Film Festival in Wroclaw Poland in November. This is the second similarity between Dulac and Gutek. U.S. in Progress will now be here as well. U.S. in Progress is in fact a joint initiative between the American Film Festival in Wroclaw, the Champs Elysees Film Festival in Paris and Black Rabbit Film, a company of Adeline Monzier who also created the association of European indie distributors called EuropaDistribution. It is the first and only industry event devoted to U.S. indies in Europe. Its aim is to present U.S. indie films in post-production to European buyers in order to foster the circulation and distribution of American indie films in Europe. This presentation of American independent films in post-production to European buyers to promote the distribution of American independent films in Europe is uniquely one of the top new developments in the industry. The program works to forge inroads between the generation of talented American filmmakers emerging today and European buyers. I am so proud to be serving on its jury as I did on the first edition as well.
The other sections are: Official Selection of American Independent Films, French Galas, American Galas, Oscar Nominated Foreign Language Films and Shorts. A tribute to Harvey Weinstein will be presented on June 6 at an event to celebrate his career. Weinstein will participate in a roundtable conversation to discuss French/American co-productions and a Retrospective of 11 of his films will be shown throughout the week.
The American independent films selected as part of the inaugural program include Richard Linklater’s Bernie (Isa: Hyde Park, U.S.: Millennium) with Jack Black, Shirley Maclaine and Matthew McConaughey; Jesus Henry Christ (Isa: Im Global, U.S. E1) with Toni Collette and Michael Sheen; Bruce Beresford’s Peace, Love & Misunderstanding (Isa: Voltage, U.S. IFC) starring Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener and Elizabeth Olsen and Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present (Isa: Submarine, U.S. Music Box). An Audience Award will be given out to the most popular American Independent. American Galas include Jennifer Westfeldt’s Friends with Kids (Isa: Red Granite, U.S. Roadside Attractions/ Lionsgate) and Wes Craven’s My Soul to Take (2010) in 3D.
French films include Comme Un Homme (Isa: Memento) directed by Safy Nebbou; Journal de France (Isa: Wild Bunch) directed by Claudine Nougaret and Raymond Depardon; Vous n'avez encore rien vu (Isa: Studiocanal) directed by Alain Resnais and Wrong (Isa: Kinology) helmed by Quentin Dupieux.
The Champs Elysees Film Festival has selected esteemed French Actor Lambert Wilson for the role of French President and Michael Madsen has accepted the role of the Festival’s U.S. President.
The festival will pay tribute to the actor Donald Sutherland who will be at the Festival to host a screening of the masterpiece Klute directed by Alan J. Pakula followed by a “Hollywood Conversation” with the iconic actor. Frederic Mitterrand will bestow Sutherland with the medal of Commander of Arts and Letters that evening.
Official Selection of American Independent Films
Blank City, a documentary directed by Celine Danhier’s
Bernie directed by Richard Linklater starring Jack Black, Shirley Maclaine and Matthew McConaughey
Jesus Henry Christ with Toni Colette, Jason Spevack and Michael Sheen
Keep The Lights On directed by Ira Sachs
Luv directed by Sheldon Candis
Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present, Matthew Akers acclaimed documentary
Not Waving But Drowning directed by Devyn Waitt, winner of U.S. in Progress Prize, Wroclaw, Poland.
Peace, Love & Misunderstanding directed by Bruce Beresford starring Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener and Elizabeth Olsen
Tabloid, Errol Morris fascinating documentary
The Perfect Family, directed by Anne Renton and starring Kathleen Turner, Emily Deschanel and Jason Ritter
French Galas
Adieu Berthe directed by Bruno Podalydès
Comme Un Homme directed by Safy Nebbou
Du Vent Dans Mes Mollets directed by Carine Tardieu
Journal De France directed by Claudine Nougaret and Raymond Depardon
La Clinique De L’Amour directed by Artus de Penguern
L’Air De Rien directed by Grégory Magne and Stéphane Viard
Mains Armees directed by Pierre Jolivet
Quand Je Serai Petit directed by Jean-Paul Rouve
Vous N’Avez Encore Rien Vu directed by Alain Resnais
Wrong helmed by Quentin Dupieux.
American Galas
After Life directed by Agnieszka Wojtow
Brake directed by Gabe Torres
Bitch Slap directed by Rick Jacobson
Friends With Kids directed by Jennifer Westfeldt
My Soul To Take (3D) directed by Wes Craven
Perfect Host directed by Nick Tomnay
Terri, directed by Azazel Jacobs
Summertime directed by Matthew Gordon.
The Champs Elysees Film Festival intends to reflect the diversity of international production by offering the public a selection of the 2012 Oscar nominated foreign language films, some never before seen in France:
Bullhead directed by Michael R.Roskam (Belgium)
Dans Ses Veux directed by Juan José Campanella (Spain/Argentina)(2010)
Monsieur Lazhar directed by Philippe Falardeau (Canada)
Une Separation directed by Asghar Farhadi (Iran)
72 Days directed by Danilo Serbedzija (Croatia)
Letters To Angel directed by Sulev Keedus (Estonia)
Volcano directed by Runar Runarsson (Iceland)
Films being screened as part of Harvey Weinstein’s retrospective include The Aviator, Chicago, Gangs Of New York, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill 1&2, The English Patient, Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare In Love, Good Will Hunting and The Yards.
More than thirty short films comprise the Champs Elysees Film Festival’s Official Selection of Short Films which were selected by a French industry team as well as four major film school programs: University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and Columbia University’s Columbia University Film Festival for the United States and Paris-based film school La Femis for France:
French Shorts Selection
Hurlement D’Un Poisson directed by Sébastien Carfora
It’S A Miracul’House directed by Stéphane Freiss
Les Meutes directed by Manuel Schapira
Mon Canard directed by Emmanuelle Michelet & Vincent Fouquet
Les Grossesses De Charlemagne directed by Nicolas Slomka and Matthieu Rumani,
Plume directed by Barry Purves
Personne(S) directed by Marc Fouchard
La Fille De L’Homme directed by Manuel Schapira
Kiss & Kill directed by Alain Ross
USC School of Cinematic Arts Shorts Selection
Little Spoon directed by Lauren Fash
Ellen directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
Efrain directed by Matthew Breault
Fig directed by Ryan Coogler
The Nature Of Fall directed by Tomer Stolz
New York University Tisch School of the Arts Shorts Selection
Little Horse directed by Levi Abrino
Border Land directed by Alexander Smolowe
Premature directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green
Down In Number 5 directed by Kim Spurlock
Columbia University Film Festival Shorts Selection
Rolling On The Floor Laughing directed by Rusel Harbaugh
Motherland directed by Shario Siddiqui
Hatch directed by Christoph Kusching
Crossing directed by Gina Atwater
Off Season directed by Jonathan Van Tulleken
The Hirosaki Players directed by Jeff Sousa
La Femis Shorts Selection
Goose directed by Morgan Simon
Demain Ce Sera Bien directed by Pauline Gay
On Traks directed by Laurent Navarri
Bye Bye Wild Boy directed by Julie Lena...
American Independent films, French Independent Films and Oscar Nominated Foreign Language Films will be showcased.
The Weinstein Company’s Harvey Weinstein wil receive a tribute and will host a retrospective of his films.
Donald Sutherland will host a screening of Klute and will receive a Medal of Arts and Letters bestowed by Frederic Mitterrand.
The Champs Elysees Film Festival’s U.S. President is Michael Madsen
The French Festival President is Lambert Wilson
The discussions held so often about the sustainability of arthouse theaters, about the joining of forces between them and festivals and the ownership of festivals themselves, and sometimes of theaters as well, by distributors as a way to sustain the three key players of this precious triangle of culture, continue as the first Champs Elysees Film Festival presents a jam-packed line up and full program of events at its inaugural edition.
The seven day festival, June 6-12, has been formed and is owned by the independent distributor Sophie Dulac. It is exciting for me to go to see the arthouses we have already written about in the area of the Champs Elysees - the Balzac, its rival the Lincoln, the Publicis, and the two major chains, Gaumont Champs Elysees and Ugc George V. Another interesting aspect of this upcoming event is the festival's ownership by a French distributor, Sophie Dulac. This is one of two similarities between Gutek and Dulac. The New Horizons and the American Film Festivals are owned by Roman Gutek whose distribution company Gutek is the largest arthouse distributor in Poland. Similarly Sophie Dulac seems to "own" this festival. Somewhat analagous to this is the "owning" of distribution company Tribeca Films by the Tribeca Film Festival or the Sundance Select Distribution arm owned by the Sundance Film Festival. The New York Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festivals have yet to declare themselves distributors but do own the arthouses in which to show "their" films year round in festival settings.
Dulac explains the impetus to launch the Champs Elysees Film Festival, “As Paris’ first truly international film festival, our mission is to create a bridge between the independent American and French film industries. In the most beautiful city in the world and one with a worldwide association to cinema, the Champs Elysées Film Festival will be a celebration of film promoting the work of young filmmakers and honoring the work of established directors.” She adds, “We want to throw a spotlight on independent film from France and the U.S. We will welcome famous names, offer new films, open up discussions between members of the film industry, give short films a special showcase and invite audiences to gala previews.”
I personally hope the tourists of Champs Elysees see this as a special opportunity to share inside festival experiences with international professionals and that it brings in more business than ordinary theatrical fare brings to the same theaters, thus proving that festivals serve as a new branch of film distribution and that the joining of forces between distributor, exhibitor and festival point toward a new mode of profitability for all parties.
U.S. in Progress was first presented at the American Film Festival in Wroclaw Poland in November. This is the second similarity between Dulac and Gutek. U.S. in Progress will now be here as well. U.S. in Progress is in fact a joint initiative between the American Film Festival in Wroclaw, the Champs Elysees Film Festival in Paris and Black Rabbit Film, a company of Adeline Monzier who also created the association of European indie distributors called EuropaDistribution. It is the first and only industry event devoted to U.S. indies in Europe. Its aim is to present U.S. indie films in post-production to European buyers in order to foster the circulation and distribution of American indie films in Europe. This presentation of American independent films in post-production to European buyers to promote the distribution of American independent films in Europe is uniquely one of the top new developments in the industry. The program works to forge inroads between the generation of talented American filmmakers emerging today and European buyers. I am so proud to be serving on its jury as I did on the first edition as well.
The other sections are: Official Selection of American Independent Films, French Galas, American Galas, Oscar Nominated Foreign Language Films and Shorts. A tribute to Harvey Weinstein will be presented on June 6 at an event to celebrate his career. Weinstein will participate in a roundtable conversation to discuss French/American co-productions and a Retrospective of 11 of his films will be shown throughout the week.
The American independent films selected as part of the inaugural program include Richard Linklater’s Bernie (Isa: Hyde Park, U.S.: Millennium) with Jack Black, Shirley Maclaine and Matthew McConaughey; Jesus Henry Christ (Isa: Im Global, U.S. E1) with Toni Collette and Michael Sheen; Bruce Beresford’s Peace, Love & Misunderstanding (Isa: Voltage, U.S. IFC) starring Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener and Elizabeth Olsen and Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present (Isa: Submarine, U.S. Music Box). An Audience Award will be given out to the most popular American Independent. American Galas include Jennifer Westfeldt’s Friends with Kids (Isa: Red Granite, U.S. Roadside Attractions/ Lionsgate) and Wes Craven’s My Soul to Take (2010) in 3D.
French films include Comme Un Homme (Isa: Memento) directed by Safy Nebbou; Journal de France (Isa: Wild Bunch) directed by Claudine Nougaret and Raymond Depardon; Vous n'avez encore rien vu (Isa: Studiocanal) directed by Alain Resnais and Wrong (Isa: Kinology) helmed by Quentin Dupieux.
The Champs Elysees Film Festival has selected esteemed French Actor Lambert Wilson for the role of French President and Michael Madsen has accepted the role of the Festival’s U.S. President.
The festival will pay tribute to the actor Donald Sutherland who will be at the Festival to host a screening of the masterpiece Klute directed by Alan J. Pakula followed by a “Hollywood Conversation” with the iconic actor. Frederic Mitterrand will bestow Sutherland with the medal of Commander of Arts and Letters that evening.
Official Selection of American Independent Films
Blank City, a documentary directed by Celine Danhier’s
Bernie directed by Richard Linklater starring Jack Black, Shirley Maclaine and Matthew McConaughey
Jesus Henry Christ with Toni Colette, Jason Spevack and Michael Sheen
Keep The Lights On directed by Ira Sachs
Luv directed by Sheldon Candis
Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present, Matthew Akers acclaimed documentary
Not Waving But Drowning directed by Devyn Waitt, winner of U.S. in Progress Prize, Wroclaw, Poland.
Peace, Love & Misunderstanding directed by Bruce Beresford starring Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener and Elizabeth Olsen
Tabloid, Errol Morris fascinating documentary
The Perfect Family, directed by Anne Renton and starring Kathleen Turner, Emily Deschanel and Jason Ritter
French Galas
Adieu Berthe directed by Bruno Podalydès
Comme Un Homme directed by Safy Nebbou
Du Vent Dans Mes Mollets directed by Carine Tardieu
Journal De France directed by Claudine Nougaret and Raymond Depardon
La Clinique De L’Amour directed by Artus de Penguern
L’Air De Rien directed by Grégory Magne and Stéphane Viard
Mains Armees directed by Pierre Jolivet
Quand Je Serai Petit directed by Jean-Paul Rouve
Vous N’Avez Encore Rien Vu directed by Alain Resnais
Wrong helmed by Quentin Dupieux.
American Galas
After Life directed by Agnieszka Wojtow
Brake directed by Gabe Torres
Bitch Slap directed by Rick Jacobson
Friends With Kids directed by Jennifer Westfeldt
My Soul To Take (3D) directed by Wes Craven
Perfect Host directed by Nick Tomnay
Terri, directed by Azazel Jacobs
Summertime directed by Matthew Gordon.
The Champs Elysees Film Festival intends to reflect the diversity of international production by offering the public a selection of the 2012 Oscar nominated foreign language films, some never before seen in France:
Bullhead directed by Michael R.Roskam (Belgium)
Dans Ses Veux directed by Juan José Campanella (Spain/Argentina)(2010)
Monsieur Lazhar directed by Philippe Falardeau (Canada)
Une Separation directed by Asghar Farhadi (Iran)
72 Days directed by Danilo Serbedzija (Croatia)
Letters To Angel directed by Sulev Keedus (Estonia)
Volcano directed by Runar Runarsson (Iceland)
Films being screened as part of Harvey Weinstein’s retrospective include The Aviator, Chicago, Gangs Of New York, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill 1&2, The English Patient, Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare In Love, Good Will Hunting and The Yards.
More than thirty short films comprise the Champs Elysees Film Festival’s Official Selection of Short Films which were selected by a French industry team as well as four major film school programs: University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and Columbia University’s Columbia University Film Festival for the United States and Paris-based film school La Femis for France:
French Shorts Selection
Hurlement D’Un Poisson directed by Sébastien Carfora
It’S A Miracul’House directed by Stéphane Freiss
Les Meutes directed by Manuel Schapira
Mon Canard directed by Emmanuelle Michelet & Vincent Fouquet
Les Grossesses De Charlemagne directed by Nicolas Slomka and Matthieu Rumani,
Plume directed by Barry Purves
Personne(S) directed by Marc Fouchard
La Fille De L’Homme directed by Manuel Schapira
Kiss & Kill directed by Alain Ross
USC School of Cinematic Arts Shorts Selection
Little Spoon directed by Lauren Fash
Ellen directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
Efrain directed by Matthew Breault
Fig directed by Ryan Coogler
The Nature Of Fall directed by Tomer Stolz
New York University Tisch School of the Arts Shorts Selection
Little Horse directed by Levi Abrino
Border Land directed by Alexander Smolowe
Premature directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green
Down In Number 5 directed by Kim Spurlock
Columbia University Film Festival Shorts Selection
Rolling On The Floor Laughing directed by Rusel Harbaugh
Motherland directed by Shario Siddiqui
Hatch directed by Christoph Kusching
Crossing directed by Gina Atwater
Off Season directed by Jonathan Van Tulleken
The Hirosaki Players directed by Jeff Sousa
La Femis Shorts Selection
Goose directed by Morgan Simon
Demain Ce Sera Bien directed by Pauline Gay
On Traks directed by Laurent Navarri
Bye Bye Wild Boy directed by Julie Lena...
- 6/7/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
We have a contest, giveaway, sweepstakes for one copy of The Perfect Host (2010) on Blu-ray for one (1) lucky winner. This The Perfect Host DVD contest, giveaway, sweepstakes illustrates The Perfect Host‘s release on DVD and Blu-ray on August 30, 2011.
The Perfect Host was directed by Nick Tomnay and stars David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker, Helen Reddy, Megahn Perry, Joseph Will, Tyrees Allen, Brooke Anderson, and Cooper Barnes.
The Perfect Host‘s plot synopsis: “Warwick Wilson is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set and the duck perfectly timed for 8:30 p.m. John Taylor is a career criminal. He’s just robbed a bank and needs to get off the streets. He finds himself on Warwick’s doorstep posing as a friend of a friend, new to Los Angeles, who’s been mugged and lost his luggage. As the wine flows and the evening progresses,...
The Perfect Host was directed by Nick Tomnay and stars David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker, Helen Reddy, Megahn Perry, Joseph Will, Tyrees Allen, Brooke Anderson, and Cooper Barnes.
The Perfect Host‘s plot synopsis: “Warwick Wilson is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set and the duck perfectly timed for 8:30 p.m. John Taylor is a career criminal. He’s just robbed a bank and needs to get off the streets. He finds himself on Warwick’s doorstep posing as a friend of a friend, new to Los Angeles, who’s been mugged and lost his luggage. As the wine flows and the evening progresses,...
- 8/31/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
Release Date: Aug. 30, 2011
Price: DVD $26.98, Blu-ray $29.98
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
David Hyde Pierce has a secret in The Perfect Host.
Magnolia‘s The Perfect Host, starring David Hyde Pierce (TV’s Frasier) and Clayne Crawford (TV’s 24), is an offbeat crime thriller.
The movie follows the meticulous Warwick Wilson (Pierce), the consummate host, as he prepares his dinner table for a roast duck dinner. Wilson receives an unexpected dinner guest in the form of John Taylor (Crawford), a bank robber on the run who arrives on Warwick’s doorstep posing as a friend of a friend, new to Los Angeles, who has been mugged and lost all his luggage. But Taylor gets more than he bargained for as the night moves forward, secrets are revealed and it becomes clear that nothing is quite as it seems.
The independent film is the first movie written and directed by Nick Tomnay, whose previous works included short films.
Price: DVD $26.98, Blu-ray $29.98
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
David Hyde Pierce has a secret in The Perfect Host.
Magnolia‘s The Perfect Host, starring David Hyde Pierce (TV’s Frasier) and Clayne Crawford (TV’s 24), is an offbeat crime thriller.
The movie follows the meticulous Warwick Wilson (Pierce), the consummate host, as he prepares his dinner table for a roast duck dinner. Wilson receives an unexpected dinner guest in the form of John Taylor (Crawford), a bank robber on the run who arrives on Warwick’s doorstep posing as a friend of a friend, new to Los Angeles, who has been mugged and lost all his luggage. But Taylor gets more than he bargained for as the night moves forward, secrets are revealed and it becomes clear that nothing is quite as it seems.
The independent film is the first movie written and directed by Nick Tomnay, whose previous works included short films.
- 7/29/2011
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
Oftentimes, an independent film will score a major coup by attaching a well-known actor to the project. That name on the poster or the DVD cover can end exponentially grow the audience that would otherwise have watched relative unknowns. The problem with such a strategy is that no matter the talent of an actor, he can't improve on a terrible script. And that's the problem with Nick Tomnay's The Perfect Host. He landed David Hyde Pierce, who absolutely murders his role with such delightful and whimsical glee. And yet, Pierce's performance is so outstanding that it just shines a beacon on the amateurish and awkwardly paced remains of the film. You can put a bow on a pig but that don't make her a princess, no matter how lovely and sparkly the bow. The agonizing part of The Perfect Host, other than sitting through an overlong and trite series...
- 7/14/2011
- by Brian Prisco
Magnolia Pictures Nick Tomnay
If Nick Tomnay’s feature-film debut “The Perfect Host” was set in his native Australia, it might take place in the middle class suburbs of Sydney where he grew up. As a child there in the 80s, Tomnay saw his parents play regular host to dinner parties of friends and family members.
“People did that, had parties,” Tomnay said. “People dressed up and everything.”
It’s a tradition that the writer/director hasn’t carried on in his adult life.
If Nick Tomnay’s feature-film debut “The Perfect Host” was set in his native Australia, it might take place in the middle class suburbs of Sydney where he grew up. As a child there in the 80s, Tomnay saw his parents play regular host to dinner parties of friends and family members.
“People did that, had parties,” Tomnay said. “People dressed up and everything.”
It’s a tradition that the writer/director hasn’t carried on in his adult life.
- 7/2/2011
- by Nick Andersen
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Three new movies are opening wide this holiday weekend:
Michael Bay’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon starring Shia Labeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whitley, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Malkovich, Patrick Dempsey, Ken Jeong, Alan Tudyk, Frances McDormand and John Turturro already opened on Wednesday. The film’s music is composed by Steve Jablonsky. A score album has been released digitally and is available to download on iTunes (check out our soundtrack announcement for more information). A physical CD release is expected later this year. For an audio interview with Jablonsky talking about his score for the film, visit Film Music Magazine. A separate soundtrack with songs from the movie is also available. Click here for more details on the song album.
Also opening wide this weekend is the Tom Hanks-directed comedy drama Larry Crowne starring Hanks and Julia Roberts. The movie is scored by composer James Newton Howard. A soundtrack...
Michael Bay’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon starring Shia Labeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whitley, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Malkovich, Patrick Dempsey, Ken Jeong, Alan Tudyk, Frances McDormand and John Turturro already opened on Wednesday. The film’s music is composed by Steve Jablonsky. A score album has been released digitally and is available to download on iTunes (check out our soundtrack announcement for more information). A physical CD release is expected later this year. For an audio interview with Jablonsky talking about his score for the film, visit Film Music Magazine. A separate soundtrack with songs from the movie is also available. Click here for more details on the song album.
Also opening wide this weekend is the Tom Hanks-directed comedy drama Larry Crowne starring Hanks and Julia Roberts. The movie is scored by composer James Newton Howard. A soundtrack...
- 7/2/2011
- by filmmusicreporter
- Film Music Reporter
For his directorial debut Nick Tomnay has done something remarkable: He manages to breathe new life into the dark comedy thriller subgenre of cinema with his efforts in the upcoming film The Perfect Host, which stars David Hyde Pierce as Warwick Wilson, the demented sociopath who loves nothing more in life but to host the perfect dinner party.
Recently Dread Central had the opportunity to speak with Tomnay to discuss the project, how his original short film evolved into a feature almost ten years later and why he loves exploring the extreme side of human nature.
For those who may need to be brought up-to-speed, The Perfect Host (review here) centers around John (Clayne Crawford), a criminal on the run after a bank robbery who finagles his way into the home of the seemingly hospitable Warwick (David Hyde Pierce) while trying to evade the police who are hot on his trail.
Recently Dread Central had the opportunity to speak with Tomnay to discuss the project, how his original short film evolved into a feature almost ten years later and why he loves exploring the extreme side of human nature.
For those who may need to be brought up-to-speed, The Perfect Host (review here) centers around John (Clayne Crawford), a criminal on the run after a bank robbery who finagles his way into the home of the seemingly hospitable Warwick (David Hyde Pierce) while trying to evade the police who are hot on his trail.
- 7/1/2011
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
Summary: Goofy and gory until it dashes its credibility against a rock.
The beating heart of Nick Tomnay's The Perfect Host is a perfect short film -- tense, suspenseful, funny and seductive. It is all too apparent where this story ends and where, "Oh sh*t, we have forty minutes left to fill," begins. An already unbelievable story loses all credibility and becomes completely preposterous. It's still fun, but unignorably disappointing.
Screen Frontpage
read more...
The beating heart of Nick Tomnay's The Perfect Host is a perfect short film -- tense, suspenseful, funny and seductive. It is all too apparent where this story ends and where, "Oh sh*t, we have forty minutes left to fill," begins. An already unbelievable story loses all credibility and becomes completely preposterous. It's still fun, but unignorably disappointing.
Screen Frontpage
read more...
- 6/30/2011
- by Benny Gammerman
- Filmology
Everett David Hyde Pierce in “The Perfect Host” (2010)
David Hyde Pierce just can’t seem to let Dr. Niles Crane go.
In his newest film, “The Perfect Host,” the 52-year-old actor plays a character that bears more than a passing resemblance to the fussy, fidgety psychiatrist that he played for eleven seasons on NBC’s “Fraiser.”
“An audience familiar with ‘Fraiser’ will see me when the movie starts and say, ‘Oh, Oh great, we know him. We’ll enjoy this,...
David Hyde Pierce just can’t seem to let Dr. Niles Crane go.
In his newest film, “The Perfect Host,” the 52-year-old actor plays a character that bears more than a passing resemblance to the fussy, fidgety psychiatrist that he played for eleven seasons on NBC’s “Fraiser.”
“An audience familiar with ‘Fraiser’ will see me when the movie starts and say, ‘Oh, Oh great, we know him. We’ll enjoy this,...
- 6/30/2011
- by Nick Andersen
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Although David Hyde Pierce spends more time on stage these days, every time he hits the silver screen he gives a dynamite performance. Pierce is captivating as Warwick Wilson in the new dark comedy/thriller The Perfect Host.
The Perfect Host is the kind of movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, guessing what the next twist will be. Originally developed as an Australian short by director Nick Tomnay, the story follows fugitive John Taylor as he finds the perfect hiding place that turns out to be the perfect nightmare.
Without spilling too much, the host, Warwick has far more dimensions than John could’ve imagined. As you learn the background of both men, your view may shift on who the bad guy really is. Just when you think you know the whole story, you’ll be completely surprised. As someone who can often foresee the endings in movies,...
The Perfect Host is the kind of movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, guessing what the next twist will be. Originally developed as an Australian short by director Nick Tomnay, the story follows fugitive John Taylor as he finds the perfect hiding place that turns out to be the perfect nightmare.
Without spilling too much, the host, Warwick has far more dimensions than John could’ve imagined. As you learn the background of both men, your view may shift on who the bad guy really is. Just when you think you know the whole story, you’ll be completely surprised. As someone who can often foresee the endings in movies,...
- 6/30/2011
- by Leigh.Raines@gmail.com (Leigh Raines)
- Reel Movie News
You'll have to hang on to something to get through the hairpins in The Perfect Host, a chamber piece hostage thriller black comedy undone less by its twists than by the stretches of bad road between them. First-time writer and director Nick Tomnay has undertaken a hugely ambitious script, and found the perfect actor to host the blighted dinner party at its center. The casting of David Hyde Pierce as Warwick Wilson, a fastidious Los Angeles bachelor preparing a sumptuous meal for his friends, is so inspired it's obvious, or vice-versa. The initial setup -- the preparations for a flawless gathering are interrupted by a fugitive (Clayne Crawford) looking for a hideout -- works beautifully. Then the evening takes its first turn.
- 6/30/2011
- Movieline
Interview With Nick Tomnay On The Perfect Host
Nick Tomnay, director of the twist-ridden thriller The Perfect Host, took some time to answer our questions about his film. In his directorial debut, Tomnay manages to take a simple premise and do something rather inventive and refreshing with it. He crafts a disturbing dark comedy that also doubles as an intense cat and mouse psychological thriller which will keep you guessing and gripped the whole way through.
Thanks for reading We Got This Covered...
Nick Tomnay, director of the twist-ridden thriller The Perfect Host, took some time to answer our questions about his film. In his directorial debut, Tomnay manages to take a simple premise and do something rather inventive and refreshing with it. He crafts a disturbing dark comedy that also doubles as an intense cat and mouse psychological thriller which will keep you guessing and gripped the whole way through.
Thanks for reading We Got This Covered...
- 6/30/2011
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Nick Tomnay’s debut feature, The Perfect Host, fits into the subgenre of two-person mystery-thrillers like Sleuth and Deathtrap, and while it’s nowhere near as good as either of those, the writer-director does make good use of his limited set and characters, and keeps introducing new surprises. Clayne Crawford plays a bank robber who’s slinking through the suburbs of Los Angeles, looking for a place to lay low, when he comes across the home of dapper aesthete David Hyde Pierce. Crawford swipes some of Pierce’s mail so he can make up a story and con his way ...
- 6/30/2011
- avclub.com
[With The Perfect Host beginning a limited Us theatrical run on Friday we revisit Hugo Ozman's previous review.]The Perfect Host is a clever little thriller. John Taylor (Clayne Crawford) has just robbed a bank and injured his foot during the escape. He manages to con his way into the house of Warwick Wilson (David Hyde Pierce). As it turns out, however, Wilson is not quite the defenceless host that he appears to be, and Taylor soon finds himself struggling in his attempts to overpower and outwit Wilson. The film is Australian director and screenwriter Nick Tomnay's feature film debut. Mostly taking place in Wilson's house, the film works thanks to Tomnay's slick direction and his cast's superb acting. Clayne Crawford gives a decent performance,...
- 6/29/2011
- Screen Anarchy
Azazel Jacobs's "Terri" is the criticWIRE pick of the week heading into this holiday weekend. Following two straight weeks of documentaries ("Conan O'Brien Can't Stop" and "Page One: A Year Inside The New York Times") topping iW's weekly chart, the 2011 Sundance Film Festival alum edged out the likes of Cristi Puiu's "Aurora" and Nick Tomnay's "The Perfect Host," both of which also open this week. Poignant, unexpected and quietly ...
- 6/29/2011
- Indiewire
In writer/director Nick Tomnay’s feature film debut The Perfect Host, actor David Hyde Pierce portrays Warwick Wilson, a consummate perfectionist who’s preparing for a lavish dinner party that ends up being crashed by a wounded bank robber (Clayne Crawford) on the run.
However, we soon realize that there is a lot more to Warwick than just a mild-mannered dinner host, and a devilishly demented game of cat and mouse begins between these two strangers that wields some surprising twists and turns for audiences along the way.
Recently Dread Central had the opportunity to speak with Pierce about his shocking new role, what attracted him to the indie project and his experiences in bringing the twisted sociopath Warwick to life.
For most of his career on the big and small screens, Pierce has been known as the lovably awkward Niles Crane on the hit NBC comedy “Frasier.” And...
However, we soon realize that there is a lot more to Warwick than just a mild-mannered dinner host, and a devilishly demented game of cat and mouse begins between these two strangers that wields some surprising twists and turns for audiences along the way.
Recently Dread Central had the opportunity to speak with Pierce about his shocking new role, what attracted him to the indie project and his experiences in bringing the twisted sociopath Warwick to life.
For most of his career on the big and small screens, Pierce has been known as the lovably awkward Niles Crane on the hit NBC comedy “Frasier.” And...
- 6/29/2011
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
After last week's rousing round of My Favorite Scene, actor David Hyde Pierce returns to Movieline today to chat about The Perfect Host. Director Nick Tomnay's feature debut features Pierce as Warwick, a posh Angeleno hosting a dinner party crashed by a wounded bank robber (Clayne Crawford) on the lam. That's about all I'm going to tell you about the narrative, which twists like a Red Vine and swings from psychological thriller to dark comedy to heist intrigue -- and sometimes back again -- with dizzying speed.
- 6/28/2011
- Movieline
Reviewed by Elliot V. Kotek
(April 2011, screening at the 2011 Newport Beach Film Festival)
Directed by: Nick Tomnay
Written by: Nick Tomnay and Krishna Jones
Starring: David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker, Megahn Perry and Helen Reddy
Having debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010, where it was a feature effort stemming from a short film shown almost 10 years earlier, “The Perfect Host” is finally making its way into the world, ushered by Australian producer Stacey Testro (“Saw,” “Insidious”). Helmer Nick Tomnay, another Aussie, has been working in advertising for the past few years, but with his feature effort now coming to theatrical fruition with Magnolia Pictures, he’s sure to be offered other opportunities, and hopefully audiences won’t have to wait as long for whatever’s next.
Tomnay’s central cast is a solid coupling of faces seen before, assembled for roles in which we’ve not seen them previously.
(April 2011, screening at the 2011 Newport Beach Film Festival)
Directed by: Nick Tomnay
Written by: Nick Tomnay and Krishna Jones
Starring: David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker, Megahn Perry and Helen Reddy
Having debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010, where it was a feature effort stemming from a short film shown almost 10 years earlier, “The Perfect Host” is finally making its way into the world, ushered by Australian producer Stacey Testro (“Saw,” “Insidious”). Helmer Nick Tomnay, another Aussie, has been working in advertising for the past few years, but with his feature effort now coming to theatrical fruition with Magnolia Pictures, he’s sure to be offered other opportunities, and hopefully audiences won’t have to wait as long for whatever’s next.
Tomnay’s central cast is a solid coupling of faces seen before, assembled for roles in which we’ve not seen them previously.
- 6/27/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Reviewed by Elliot V. Kotek
(April 2011, screening at the 2011 Newport Beach Film Festival)
Directed by: Nick Tomnay
Written by: Nick Tomnay and Krishna Jones
Starring: David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker, Megahn Perry and Helen Reddy
Having debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010, where it was a feature effort stemming from a short film shown almost 10 years earlier, “The Perfect Host” is finally making its way into the world, ushered by Australian producer Stacey Testro (“Saw,” “Insidious”). Helmer Nick Tomnay, another Aussie, has been working in advertising for the past few years, but with his feature effort now coming to theatrical fruition with Magnolia Pictures, he’s sure to be offered other opportunities, and hopefully audiences won’t have to wait as long for whatever’s next.
Tomnay’s central cast is a solid coupling of faces seen before, assembled for roles in which we’ve not seen them previously.
(April 2011, screening at the 2011 Newport Beach Film Festival)
Directed by: Nick Tomnay
Written by: Nick Tomnay and Krishna Jones
Starring: David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker, Megahn Perry and Helen Reddy
Having debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010, where it was a feature effort stemming from a short film shown almost 10 years earlier, “The Perfect Host” is finally making its way into the world, ushered by Australian producer Stacey Testro (“Saw,” “Insidious”). Helmer Nick Tomnay, another Aussie, has been working in advertising for the past few years, but with his feature effort now coming to theatrical fruition with Magnolia Pictures, he’s sure to be offered other opportunities, and hopefully audiences won’t have to wait as long for whatever’s next.
Tomnay’s central cast is a solid coupling of faces seen before, assembled for roles in which we’ve not seen them previously.
- 6/27/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
The Perfect Host Review
Nick Tomnay is the perfect host. No really, he is. He lures you in by setting a delightful appetizer, complete with intrigue and a gripping premise. He then serves up the main course, full of suspense, psychological thrills and maniacal behavior. Just when you're getting ready for dessert he offers a shocking twist, leaving you genuinely surprised. It really is a great meal, despite a few undercooked dishes.
Thanks for reading We Got This Covered...
Nick Tomnay is the perfect host. No really, he is. He lures you in by setting a delightful appetizer, complete with intrigue and a gripping premise. He then serves up the main course, full of suspense, psychological thrills and maniacal behavior. Just when you're getting ready for dessert he offers a shocking twist, leaving you genuinely surprised. It really is a great meal, despite a few undercooked dishes.
Thanks for reading We Got This Covered...
- 6/27/2011
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Read our roundtable interview with actor David Hyde Pierce and Australian screenwriter-director Nick Tomnay, whose psychological thriller ‘The Perfect Host’ is now available via VOD, and will be released in select theaters on July 1, 2011. The movie, which is based on Tomnay’s 2001 short film ‘The Host’ and marks his feature-length debut, follows John Taylor, played by Clayne Crawford, who just robbed a bank and is trying to escape capture from the Lapd. He shows up at the doorstep of Warwick Wilson, portrayed by Pierce, who is preparing a dinner party for some friends. As the night progresses, the two men both discover how deceiving looks can really be....
- 6/24/2011
- by karen
- ShockYa
Read our exclusive interview with filmmaker Nick Tomnay, who is making his feature-length directorial and screenwriting debut with the upcoming psychological thriller ‘The Perfect Host.’ The movie follows John Taylor, played by Clayne Crawford, who just robbed a bank and is trying to escape capture from the Lapd. He shows up at the doorstep of Warwick Wilson, portrayed by David Hyde Pierce, who is preparing a dinner party for some friends. As the night progresses, the two men both discover how deceiving looks can really be. ‘The Perfect Host,’ which is based on Tomnay’s 2001 short film ‘The Host,’ is currently available through VOD and is scheduled to hit theaters...
- 6/23/2011
- by karen
- ShockYa
Aussie director/writer Nick Tomnay (left) and actor David Hyde Pierce screened their creepy psychological thriller, "The Perfect Host," last night to a small crowd at the Core Club on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. In the twisty Magnolia release, Pierce plays Warwick Wilson, a consummate host preparing for a dinner party at his swank pad where he lives alone. When a criminal on the run arrives on his doorstep, ...
- 6/21/2011
- Indiewire
Roadside Attractions Hamish Linklater and Miranda July in “The Future”
The summer movie season is upon us, with explosion-heavy TV trailers, big name stars, and sequels to movies that weren’t all that great the first time around.
That’s not to say that the popcorn pictures aren’t worth a look. Recent releases like “X-Men: First Class” and “Super 8″ have been pulling in both rave reviews and big audiences.
But if the onslaught of summer action-adventure-comedy-drama-sequels is a bit too much for some,...
The summer movie season is upon us, with explosion-heavy TV trailers, big name stars, and sequels to movies that weren’t all that great the first time around.
That’s not to say that the popcorn pictures aren’t worth a look. Recent releases like “X-Men: First Class” and “Super 8″ have been pulling in both rave reviews and big audiences.
But if the onslaught of summer action-adventure-comedy-drama-sequels is a bit too much for some,...
- 6/18/2011
- by Nick Andersen
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Title: The Perfect Host Director: Nick Tomnay Featuring: David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker, Megahn Perry, Helen Reddy, George Cheung Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 6/9/11 Opens: July 1, 2011 It’s every law-abiding, criminal-hating American’s fantasy, isn’t it? Guy comes to burgle your house, overcomes you, threatens to kill you, puts serious crimps in your dignity. In a weak moment, the intruder is overcome by the owner of the residence, is tied up, and is made sport of. An eye for an eye. We saw this theme in action in David Slade’s movie “Hard Candy,” wherein Hayley Stark, played by Ellen Page, is a fourteen-year-old girl who meets a...
- 6/13/2011
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
John Swihart is the composer on the new ABC Family drama Switched at Birth. The show centers around two teen girls who discover that they were accidentally switched at birth. One girl grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and two brothers, while the other one, who lost her hearing as a child due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a poor neighborhood. The series is created and produced by Lizzy Weiss (Blue Crush) and stars Vanessa Marano, Katie Leclerc, Constance Marie, D.W. Moffett, Lea Thompson and Lucas Grabee. Steve Miner (Halloween H2O, Forever Young) directed the pilot. Also producing are Paul Stupin (Dawson’s Creek) and John Ziffren (Melissa & Joey). Swihart has previously worked on ABC Family’s Greek, which finished its series run earlier this year after four seasons. Switched at Birth is premiering on June 6, 2011 and will be...
- 6/4/2011
- by filmmusicreporter
- Film Music Reporter
There's a fine line between thrillers and pure horror projects, but when a film sounds like as much fun as The Perfect Host debuting this month from Magnolia Pictures, we're willing to cross it just to make sure our readers are aware of all their options.
Available On Demand everywhere since May 27th and hitting theatres in New York and Los Angeles on July 1st is writer/director Nick Tomnay's The Perfect Host, which stars David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker, Megahn Perry, and pop singer Helen Reddy(!). It'll then be available on DVD/Blu-ray on August 30th.
Synopsis:
A criminal on the run cons his way into the wrong dinner party where the host is anything but ordinary.
John Taylor (Clayne Crawford) has just robbed a bank. He planned and executed it perfectly. It comes as a shock to him then when he discovers the robbery is...
Available On Demand everywhere since May 27th and hitting theatres in New York and Los Angeles on July 1st is writer/director Nick Tomnay's The Perfect Host, which stars David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker, Megahn Perry, and pop singer Helen Reddy(!). It'll then be available on DVD/Blu-ray on August 30th.
Synopsis:
A criminal on the run cons his way into the wrong dinner party where the host is anything but ordinary.
John Taylor (Clayne Crawford) has just robbed a bank. He planned and executed it perfectly. It comes as a shock to him then when he discovers the robbery is...
- 5/30/2011
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Title: The Perfect Host Director: Nick Tomnay Starring: David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford (A Walk To Remember, 24) Unpredictable plot twists are always the key point to any successful thriller movie. With Magnolia Pictures’ latest suspense-filled thriller, ‘The Perfect Host,’ first time feature film director and writer Nick Tomnay proved his natural film-making abilities by not only creating unforeseen story elements, but also including multi-dimensional characters. The movie’s two main actors, David Hyde Pierce and Clayne Crawford, also help prove that a thriller doesn’t need big budget action sequences to create intrigue. ‘The Perfect Host’ follows criminal John Taylor (played by Crawford), who is on the run from the Lapd...
- 5/27/2011
- by karen
- ShockYa
Did you see The Ref and think that it really needed a little more American Psycho? Then The Perfect Host might be for you. It tells the story of bad guy robber Nathaniel Parker, who tries to take refuge in the home of David Hyde Pierce after a crime goes bad. But it turns out that Mr. Pierce is a lot less normal than he looks, and things get a little crazy. There is a trailer that hints at just how crazy the movie gets -- and in some cases how wacky, like Beetlejuice calypso dance scene wacky. Check it out after the break. The basic idea here is actually pretty appealing; I can't be the only one who likes the idea of being able to turn the tables on some criminal who tries to turn your home into a hideout. But the execution is something else, and for me...
- 4/12/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
The Perfect Host Movie Trailer has premiered. Nick Tomnay‘s The Perfect Host (2010) stars David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker, Helen Reddy, and Megahn Perry. The Perfect Host‘s plot synopsis: “A criminal on the run cons his way into the wrong dinner party where the host is anything but ordinary.” The film starts out one way then completely changes direction, much like David Slade‘s Hard Candy (written about here: Hardy Candy (2005) Film Review), which starred Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson. I doubt The Perfect Host is as brillant as Hard Candy from this movie trailer but who knows, it might be. The beauty of Hard Candy is that it never gave anything away in its promotinal materials. This film does. I love the fact that Warwick Wilson (David Hyde Pierce) is even more violent and twisted than robber/criminal John Taylor (Clayne Crawford). The Perfect Host also stars Joseph Will,...
- 4/12/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
Today we have the trailer for "The Perfect Host" psychological thriller, starring David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford and Nathaniel Parker. Check it out below, but be warned, the end of the trailer may actually spoil the movie for you a bit. Plot: Warwick Wilson (Pierce) is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set and the duck perfectly timed for 8:30pm. John Taylor (Crawford) is a career criminal. He has just robbed a bank and needs to get off the streets. He finds himself on Warwick's doorstep posing as a friend of a friend, new to Los Angeles, who's been mugged and lost his luggage. As the wine flows and the evening progresses, we become deeply intertwined in the lives of these two men and discover just how deceiving appearances can be. The new film is written and directed by Nick Tomnay, and...
- 4/12/2011
- WorstPreviews.com
Let's party! Oh you gotta love concepts that twist concepts. The Perfect Host is a slippery psychological thriller that exposes true human nature and reveals just how far we're willing to go to satisfy our needs. David Hyde Pierce of "Fraiser" stars as Warwick Wilson, our "host", and he's joined by Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker and Megahn Perry. Magnolia recently debuted the trailer on Apple for the release of this film, which first premiered at Sundance in early 2010. As usual, I'm surprised by how good some of the indie films I miss at Sundance actually look. I am definitely renting this! "Is everyone not enjoying themselves?!" Watch the official trailer for Nick Tomnay's The Perfect Host: You can also watch The Perfect Host trailer in High Definition on Apple A criminal on the run cons his way into the wrong dinner party... where the host is ...
- 4/12/2011
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
After premiering at Sundance Film Festival in 2010, we haven’t heard much about Nick Tomnay‘s directorial debut. The “slippery psychological thriller” stars a very creepy-looking David Hyde Pierce (Frasier, Wet Hot American Summer) and Clayne Crawford (24, A Walk To Remember). The film will finally be getting a theatrical and VOD release, looking to be a good alternative to Transformers: Dark of the Moon (but again, what isn’t?) on the first of July. Check out the trailer below via Apple.
If you want a complete, unfiltered taste of Tomnay, I’ve also included a short he completed last year titled Swimming to France, about “some disturbing news [that] offers Donald an opportunity to leave his mundane sea side town and embark on a long desired journey.”
Swimming to France:
Synopsis:
Warwick Wilson is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set and the duck perfectly timed for 8:30 p.
If you want a complete, unfiltered taste of Tomnay, I’ve also included a short he completed last year titled Swimming to France, about “some disturbing news [that] offers Donald an opportunity to leave his mundane sea side town and embark on a long desired journey.”
Swimming to France:
Synopsis:
Warwick Wilson is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set and the duck perfectly timed for 8:30 p.
- 4/12/2011
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Here is a poster and trailer for The Perfect Host from co-writer/director Nick Tomnay and starring David Hyde Pierce and Clayne Crawford.
Official Synopsis:
Warwick Wilson is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set and the duck perfectly timed for 8:30 p.m. John Taylor is a career criminal. He’s just robbed a bank and needs to get off the streets. He finds himself on Warwick’s doorstep posing as a friend of a friend, new to Los Angeles, who’s been mugged and lost his luggage. As the wine flows and the evening progresses, we become deeply intertwined in the lives of these two men and discover just how deceiving appearances can be. With outstanding performances by David Hyde Pierce and Clayne Crawford, cowriter/director Nick Tomnay takes us on a suspense-filled ride where nothing is as it seems. The Perfect Host...
Official Synopsis:
Warwick Wilson is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set and the duck perfectly timed for 8:30 p.m. John Taylor is a career criminal. He’s just robbed a bank and needs to get off the streets. He finds himself on Warwick’s doorstep posing as a friend of a friend, new to Los Angeles, who’s been mugged and lost his luggage. As the wine flows and the evening progresses, we become deeply intertwined in the lives of these two men and discover just how deceiving appearances can be. With outstanding performances by David Hyde Pierce and Clayne Crawford, cowriter/director Nick Tomnay takes us on a suspense-filled ride where nothing is as it seems. The Perfect Host...
- 4/11/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
The 41st edition of the USA Film Festival will open with a tribute to Cary Grant and a screening of Nick Tomnay's "The Perfect Host," starring David Hyde Pierce. The Grant tribute will include a 55th Anniversary screening of "To Catch a Thief" and a book signing and conversation with Jennifer Grant, Grant's daughter and author of "Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant." Pierce will be in ...
- 4/8/2011
- Indiewire
The Perfect Host ArtMore entertaining goodies are leaking out of the 2010 American Film Market, with The Perfect Host the latest. This is a "psychological thriller" (American) where looks can be deceiving and even deceptively threatening. Two men live two very different lives in this film. One is a career criminal, while the other is the host of "a dinner party" (American). Except this distinguished dinner host has a hidden, darker side in store, for his latest visitor. The Perfect Host is a film from Cinema Group Entertainment and the film will be shown at the Afm beginning November 4th. Have a watch of the trailer below, until more details become available.
The synopsis for the film:
"Warwick Wilson is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set and the duck perfectly timed for 8:30 p.m. John Taylor is a career criminal. He's just...
The synopsis for the film:
"Warwick Wilson is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set and the duck perfectly timed for 8:30 p.m. John Taylor is a career criminal. He's just...
- 10/25/2010
- by 28DaysLaterAnalysis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to Sitges 2010:
Exorcisms, Vampires, Zombies, Martial Arts And Liters Of Blood At Sitges 2010
The 43rd Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, that will take place from 7 to 17 October, presents its lineup, with some films still to be confirmed, for the following sections:
Sitges 43 Official FANTÀSTIC Selection - In Competition
The official selection par excellence will be offering a lineup emphasizing a variety of nationalities (Bulgaria, Japan, France, Swede, Uruguay,...), the impact of new South American cinema, the rebirth of oriental cinema and the mixture of supernatural horror movies with exorcisms, vampires and mutants and everyday horror with real extreme violence.
13 Assassins (Takashi Miike, Japan)
14 Days With Victor (Román Parrado, Spain)
A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop (Zhang Yimou, China, Hong Kong)
Bedevilled (Jang Cheol-soo, South Korea)
Black Death (Christopher Smith, Germany)
La Casa Muda (Gustavo Hernández, Uruguay)
Confessions (Tetsuya Nakashima,...
Exorcisms, Vampires, Zombies, Martial Arts And Liters Of Blood At Sitges 2010
The 43rd Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, that will take place from 7 to 17 October, presents its lineup, with some films still to be confirmed, for the following sections:
Sitges 43 Official FANTÀSTIC Selection - In Competition
The official selection par excellence will be offering a lineup emphasizing a variety of nationalities (Bulgaria, Japan, France, Swede, Uruguay,...), the impact of new South American cinema, the rebirth of oriental cinema and the mixture of supernatural horror movies with exorcisms, vampires and mutants and everyday horror with real extreme violence.
13 Assassins (Takashi Miike, Japan)
14 Days With Victor (Román Parrado, Spain)
A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop (Zhang Yimou, China, Hong Kong)
Bedevilled (Jang Cheol-soo, South Korea)
Black Death (Christopher Smith, Germany)
La Casa Muda (Gustavo Hernández, Uruguay)
Confessions (Tetsuya Nakashima,...
- 9/17/2010
- Screen Anarchy
If I had the holiday time left, I’d be booking a trip to España right about now. The 43rd annual Sitges kicks off on October 7th and their line up so far is impressive. Damned impressive.
In competition are Gregg Araki’s Kaboom (teaser, stills), Christopher Smith’s Black Death (review), Jalmari Helander’s Rare Exports (trailer), Quentin Dupieux’s Rubber (clip) and Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins among many others. In competition in the Panorama section are another great set of films including Shion Sono’s Cold Fish (trailer), Takeshi Kitano’s Outrage (trailer), Jim Mickle’s Stake Land (trailer) and Srdjan Spasojevic’s A Serbian Film (review).
If those titles aren’t enough, there’s loads more including Rob Stefaniuk’s vampire musical road trip film Suck (review, trailer), James Wan’s Insidious (clip), Adam Green’s Frozen (trailer), Black Lightning (trailer), Super (clip), The Vanishing on 7th...
In competition are Gregg Araki’s Kaboom (teaser, stills), Christopher Smith’s Black Death (review), Jalmari Helander’s Rare Exports (trailer), Quentin Dupieux’s Rubber (clip) and Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins among many others. In competition in the Panorama section are another great set of films including Shion Sono’s Cold Fish (trailer), Takeshi Kitano’s Outrage (trailer), Jim Mickle’s Stake Land (trailer) and Srdjan Spasojevic’s A Serbian Film (review).
If those titles aren’t enough, there’s loads more including Rob Stefaniuk’s vampire musical road trip film Suck (review, trailer), James Wan’s Insidious (clip), Adam Green’s Frozen (trailer), Black Lightning (trailer), Super (clip), The Vanishing on 7th...
- 9/17/2010
- QuietEarth.us
Several press releases went out today featuring some huge news coming out of Canada's Fantasia Film Festival including the first batch of films that will be populating this massive three-week long event. Pull up your chair, kids! You're gonna be here for a while!
Dig on the wealth of information below from today's releases and look for more announcements and of course full coverage soon!
Spotlight: Between Death And The Devil
Recent times and crimes have seen extraordinary levels of disillusionment with organized religion, particularly with the Catholic Church, and genre cinema has mirrored this anger with startling impact. In the face of this, we’ve put together this troubling spotlight focused on the abuse of faith, the horrors of ideology and the corruption of Godliness. Several of these films will absolutely stagger you.
Black Death (UK) Dir: Christopher Smith – North American premiere. Hosted by Director Christopher Smith
With the Black Death sweeping across England,...
Dig on the wealth of information below from today's releases and look for more announcements and of course full coverage soon!
Spotlight: Between Death And The Devil
Recent times and crimes have seen extraordinary levels of disillusionment with organized religion, particularly with the Catholic Church, and genre cinema has mirrored this anger with startling impact. In the face of this, we’ve put together this troubling spotlight focused on the abuse of faith, the horrors of ideology and the corruption of Godliness. Several of these films will absolutely stagger you.
Black Death (UK) Dir: Christopher Smith – North American premiere. Hosted by Director Christopher Smith
With the Black Death sweeping across England,...
- 6/29/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.