There are not a lot of actors in Hollywood whose presence itself on-screen exudes badassery. Liam Neeson has carved a unique niche for himself in the film industry, where directors and producers look up to him for serious roles. From Schindler’s List to Batman Begins, the actor has carefully picked feathers for his cap that are a testament to his effervescent acting abilities.
However, he often goes offbeat and picks up projects that show off a different side to his demanding presence on the silver screen, like he is about to do in his upcoming The Naked Gun Reboot.
Liam Neeson with Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I
But before we talk about the rebooted crime spoof-comedy, let’s have a look at the franchise that established Neeson as the tough-as-nails character in Hollywood. The Taken series remains one of the most beloved and successful action franchises to this day,...
However, he often goes offbeat and picks up projects that show off a different side to his demanding presence on the silver screen, like he is about to do in his upcoming The Naked Gun Reboot.
Liam Neeson with Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I
But before we talk about the rebooted crime spoof-comedy, let’s have a look at the franchise that established Neeson as the tough-as-nails character in Hollywood. The Taken series remains one of the most beloved and successful action franchises to this day,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Sayantan Choudhary
- FandomWire
“Hopefully my other cast members will be funny and sexy,” says Liam Neeson, expressing how nervous he is about starring in The Naked Gun remake.
You’d think that after conquering the world of action cinema, everything else would seem like a doddle, but for Liam Neeson, that isn’t the case. Following 2008’s Taken, the world became thoroughly convinced of Liam Neeson’s ‘hard man’ bona fides.
With long-standing success in that genre now secured, could Neeson be plotting a similar career trajectory to the one Tom Cruise is said to be charting? That means making a few smart choices to gradually move away from action by working with auteur directors in a carefully-staged bid to remind the world of his dramatic chops as an actor.
The answer, of course, is no. Instead, Neeson is heading to the world of absurdist comedy in a remake of 1988’s The Naked Gun.
You’d think that after conquering the world of action cinema, everything else would seem like a doddle, but for Liam Neeson, that isn’t the case. Following 2008’s Taken, the world became thoroughly convinced of Liam Neeson’s ‘hard man’ bona fides.
With long-standing success in that genre now secured, could Neeson be plotting a similar career trajectory to the one Tom Cruise is said to be charting? That means making a few smart choices to gradually move away from action by working with auteur directors in a carefully-staged bid to remind the world of his dramatic chops as an actor.
The answer, of course, is no. Instead, Neeson is heading to the world of absurdist comedy in a remake of 1988’s The Naked Gun.
- 3/26/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
Pierre Morrel's 2008 film "Taken" is brazenly morally irresponsible.
"Taken" was not so much a thriller as an indulgent "dad fantasy," rooted in xenophobia and male sexual hysterics. The lead character, Bryan Mills, played by a wholly devoted and utterly capable Liam Neeson, was a divorced dad of a teenage girl named Kim (Maggie Grace) who saw his clout as a parent disappearing into the wealthy black hole of a cold-shouldered ex-wife (Famke Janssen) and her attentive new husband (Xander Berkeley). Bryan is a former CIA agent, and his job kept him away from home enough to damage his marriage. When Kim announces that she and a friend are going on an international holiday together, Bryan warns her that such an excursion is dangerous; kidnappers, he knows, often target traveling American teenage girls and sell them into sexual slavery. It sounds paranoid and everyone dismisses him.
Perhaps predictably, Kim is almost...
"Taken" was not so much a thriller as an indulgent "dad fantasy," rooted in xenophobia and male sexual hysterics. The lead character, Bryan Mills, played by a wholly devoted and utterly capable Liam Neeson, was a divorced dad of a teenage girl named Kim (Maggie Grace) who saw his clout as a parent disappearing into the wealthy black hole of a cold-shouldered ex-wife (Famke Janssen) and her attentive new husband (Xander Berkeley). Bryan is a former CIA agent, and his job kept him away from home enough to damage his marriage. When Kim announces that she and a friend are going on an international holiday together, Bryan warns her that such an excursion is dangerous; kidnappers, he knows, often target traveling American teenage girls and sell them into sexual slavery. It sounds paranoid and everyone dismisses him.
Perhaps predictably, Kim is almost...
- 12/23/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Prepare to see Jon Hamm like you’ve never seen him before: sporting nipple rings and a cowboy hat while lounging in a hot tub. That’s just one of the head-scratching moments buried in the trailer for “Fargo” Year 5.
The trailer starts with two cops telling Wayne Lyon (David Rysdahl) that his wife isn’t who she says she is. It then shifts to clips of Juno Temple as Dot Lyon fighting and scheming for her life.
“Let me tell you what I see. I see a woman who outsmarted two kidnappers,” Richa Moorjani, who plays Deputy Indira Olmstead, says in the trailer.
As much fun as it is to watch Temple strategically place ice cubes and play with flamethrowers as she “Home Alones” her way through the season, the real star of this first trailer is Jon Hamm’s Sheriff Roy Tillman. The first time his character appears,...
The trailer starts with two cops telling Wayne Lyon (David Rysdahl) that his wife isn’t who she says she is. It then shifts to clips of Juno Temple as Dot Lyon fighting and scheming for her life.
“Let me tell you what I see. I see a woman who outsmarted two kidnappers,” Richa Moorjani, who plays Deputy Indira Olmstead, says in the trailer.
As much fun as it is to watch Temple strategically place ice cubes and play with flamethrowers as she “Home Alones” her way through the season, the real star of this first trailer is Jon Hamm’s Sheriff Roy Tillman. The first time his character appears,...
- 10/25/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Denzel Washington has managed to avoid sequels and franchises for most of his career, but there is one exception: "The Equalizer," a movie reboot of the 1980s TV series that has since become Washington's first movie trilogy. All three movies were directed by Antoine Fuqua, whose working relationship with Washington dates back to 2001's "Training Day." Now, the early box office numbers for "The Equalizer 3" -- ostensibly the final outing for Washington's Robert McCall -- are in, and they're ending the 2023 summer box office on a high note.
More specifically, they've pushed the box office to its first $4 billion summer since the pandemic began, per The Hollywood Reporter. The movie grossed $13.1 million on its opening day and is expected to make between $42 million and $43.5 million over the Labor Day weekend, with a three-day total of $35 million. It's outperforming expectations from earlier in the week, when Variety predicted it...
More specifically, they've pushed the box office to its first $4 billion summer since the pandemic began, per The Hollywood Reporter. The movie grossed $13.1 million on its opening day and is expected to make between $42 million and $43.5 million over the Labor Day weekend, with a three-day total of $35 million. It's outperforming expectations from earlier in the week, when Variety predicted it...
- 9/2/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
It’s often claimed that good things come in threes, but try telling that to anyone who sat through the Big Momma’s House trilogy. Film sequels, in essence, are nothing new in Hollywood—the very first sequel came back in 1916 with the silent film The Fall of a Nation, Thomas Dixon Jr.‘s follow-up to D. W. Griffith’s jaw-droppingly racist epic, Birth of a Nation.
However, the concept only became commonplace in the 1970s when a string of follow-ups to successful dramas made waves at the box office. The Godfather, Part II, Rocky II, and The French Connection II were among the first movies that helped usher in this new era of filmmaking. Today though, moviedom has expanded beyond even the sequel and into new territory where the word “franchise” is king. Buoyed in recent times by the dominance of comic book movies and an increasing appetite for nostalgia,...
However, the concept only became commonplace in the 1970s when a string of follow-ups to successful dramas made waves at the box office. The Godfather, Part II, Rocky II, and The French Connection II were among the first movies that helped usher in this new era of filmmaking. Today though, moviedom has expanded beyond even the sequel and into new territory where the word “franchise” is king. Buoyed in recent times by the dominance of comic book movies and an increasing appetite for nostalgia,...
- 7/8/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
A generation may see Brian Cox only as Logan Roy, the patriarch of "Succession," but there's a lot more to the Scottish actor than HBO's hit black comedy. Cox is established not just in television but on stage and in film, where he's worked with directors such as Wes Anderson, David Fincher, Michael Mann, Spike Lee, and Spike Jonze.
Cox's venerable reign at the top of Hollywood's B-list -- on his way to the A-list -- has been truly workmanlike, encompassing some 240-plus acting credits (via IMDb). In 2001, Cox won an Emmy for his performance as Hermann Göring in the TV movie "Nuremberg." Two years later, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him Commander of the British Empire, and then, in 2007, the UK Film Council recognized Cox as among the top 10 most powerful British actors in Hollywood (via PBS).
With "Succession" now concluding its fourth and final season, Cox will have a...
Cox's venerable reign at the top of Hollywood's B-list -- on his way to the A-list -- has been truly workmanlike, encompassing some 240-plus acting credits (via IMDb). In 2001, Cox won an Emmy for his performance as Hermann Göring in the TV movie "Nuremberg." Two years later, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him Commander of the British Empire, and then, in 2007, the UK Film Council recognized Cox as among the top 10 most powerful British actors in Hollywood (via PBS).
With "Succession" now concluding its fourth and final season, Cox will have a...
- 5/6/2023
- by Jack Hawkins
- Slash Film
The jokes will extend well past April 1st on HBO and HBO Max.
“Barry” returns for its fourth and final season. After the shocking Season 3 finale which saw Barry (Billy Hader) getting arrested and Cousineau (Henry Winkler) being hailed as a hero, there will be plenty of consequences for both. The dark comedy premieres on April 16 with two episodes.
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” will also bring plenty of laughs when it returns for its fourth season. The sketch comedy series premieres April 14.
On the drama side, the limited series “Love and Death” premieres on April 27. It’s based on the true story of Candy (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pat Montgomery (Patrick Fugit) and Betty (Lily Rabe) and Allan Gore (Jesse Plemons) – two churchgoing couples enjoying their small-town Texas life… until an extramarital affair leads somebody to pick up an axe.
For comic fans, the midseason premiere of the final season...
“Barry” returns for its fourth and final season. After the shocking Season 3 finale which saw Barry (Billy Hader) getting arrested and Cousineau (Henry Winkler) being hailed as a hero, there will be plenty of consequences for both. The dark comedy premieres on April 16 with two episodes.
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” will also bring plenty of laughs when it returns for its fourth season. The sketch comedy series premieres April 14.
On the drama side, the limited series “Love and Death” premieres on April 27. It’s based on the true story of Candy (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pat Montgomery (Patrick Fugit) and Betty (Lily Rabe) and Allan Gore (Jesse Plemons) – two churchgoing couples enjoying their small-town Texas life… until an extramarital affair leads somebody to pick up an axe.
For comic fans, the midseason premiere of the final season...
- 4/1/2023
- by Lawrence Yee
- The Wrap
With its list of new releases for April 2023, HBO Max is premiering the final episodes of two major shows.
First up is the continuation of Titans season 4 on April 13. Returning after a four month hiatus, these next six episodes will be the last go around for HBO Max’s gritty live-action DC series. Arriving three days later on HBO proper is the fourth and final season of Barry. Bill Hader and the rest of the Barry team wrote themselves into a fascinating corner with the conclusion of season 3. And judging by the first teasers for season 4, this final batch of episodes will indeed catch up with our favorite actor/hitman in prison.
Other TV shows of note this month include the Pete Davidson-starring animated series Fired on Mars on April 20 (light ’em up) the the Elizabeth Olsen-starring true crime story Love & Death on April 27.
HBO Max’s...
First up is the continuation of Titans season 4 on April 13. Returning after a four month hiatus, these next six episodes will be the last go around for HBO Max’s gritty live-action DC series. Arriving three days later on HBO proper is the fourth and final season of Barry. Bill Hader and the rest of the Barry team wrote themselves into a fascinating corner with the conclusion of season 3. And judging by the first teasers for season 4, this final batch of episodes will indeed catch up with our favorite actor/hitman in prison.
Other TV shows of note this month include the Pete Davidson-starring animated series Fired on Mars on April 20 (light ’em up) the the Elizabeth Olsen-starring true crime story Love & Death on April 27.
HBO Max’s...
- 4/1/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Bill Hader stars in ‘Barry’ season 4 (Photograph by Merrick Morton/HBO)
Bill Hader returns for one final season of Barry and the popular sketch comedy A Black Lady Sketch Show kicks off its fourth season on HBO Max in April 2023. Additional highlights of the streaming service’s April lineup include the debut of Love & Death, a limited series starring Elizabeth Olsen and Patrick Fugit; season two of Somebody Somewhere with Bridget Everett; and the return of 100 Foot Wave for a second season.
In addition, the Titans mid-season premiere arrives on April 13. HBO Max offers this description of the fourth and final season’s remaining episodes: “The Titans – with the exception of Gar – are returned to the Temple of Trigon and rush to find Sebastian and Mother Mayhem before Sebastian summons Trigon. Along the way, they come across a prophecy that may require Kory to make a huge sacrifice to save the world.
Bill Hader returns for one final season of Barry and the popular sketch comedy A Black Lady Sketch Show kicks off its fourth season on HBO Max in April 2023. Additional highlights of the streaming service’s April lineup include the debut of Love & Death, a limited series starring Elizabeth Olsen and Patrick Fugit; season two of Somebody Somewhere with Bridget Everett; and the return of 100 Foot Wave for a second season.
In addition, the Titans mid-season premiere arrives on April 13. HBO Max offers this description of the fourth and final season’s remaining episodes: “The Titans – with the exception of Gar – are returned to the Temple of Trigon and rush to find Sebastian and Mother Mayhem before Sebastian summons Trigon. Along the way, they come across a prophecy that may require Kory to make a huge sacrifice to save the world.
- 3/31/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
In the final season of HBO Max’s “Barry,” premiering on April 16, Barry’s arrest for the murder of Cousineau’s girlfriend leads to a shocking conclusion. Barry (Bill Hader), a hitman who stumbles into acting, explores the dark, often comedic underbelly of both LA gangsters and Hollywood. Henry Winkler stars as Cousineau, Barry’s acting teacher and the man forced to confront the reality of his former student.
Watch the “Barry” season 4 trailer:
Another crime story will come to HBO Max in April, although this one is based on a true story. “Love & Death” revolves around the murder of Betty Gore (played by Lily Rabe) in a small Texas town in 1980. Her husband Alan (Jesse Plemons) has an affair with Candy (Elizabeth Olsen), who attends their church. Suddenly, the thrills turn deadly. Candy picks up an ax, whacks her rival over 40 times, and then claims self-defense. The new...
Watch the “Barry” season 4 trailer:
Another crime story will come to HBO Max in April, although this one is based on a true story. “Love & Death” revolves around the murder of Betty Gore (played by Lily Rabe) in a small Texas town in 1980. Her husband Alan (Jesse Plemons) has an affair with Candy (Elizabeth Olsen), who attends their church. Suddenly, the thrills turn deadly. Candy picks up an ax, whacks her rival over 40 times, and then claims self-defense. The new...
- 3/28/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
Got something you’d like to ask the Mission: Impossible and Deep Impact actor? Send it our way and we’ll put it to him
There’s aren’t many actors who can put “hand picked by Tom Cruise” on their CV. Scottish actor Dougray Scott was personally cast by Tc to play rogue Impossible Missions Force agent and chief bad guy in 2000’s Mission: Impossible II – famous for that Cruise/Scott motorbike fighting scene. It’s a role that propelled the Twin Town and Deep Impact actor to international fame, even if it did mean he lost the role of Wolverine for 2000’s X-Men (to Hugh Jackman) after filming on MI2 overran. Scott was also apparently in the running to take over Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale, but was pipped to the post by Daniel Craig.
But let’s not worry about all that. This is a safe, happy...
There’s aren’t many actors who can put “hand picked by Tom Cruise” on their CV. Scottish actor Dougray Scott was personally cast by Tc to play rogue Impossible Missions Force agent and chief bad guy in 2000’s Mission: Impossible II – famous for that Cruise/Scott motorbike fighting scene. It’s a role that propelled the Twin Town and Deep Impact actor to international fame, even if it did mean he lost the role of Wolverine for 2000’s X-Men (to Hugh Jackman) after filming on MI2 overran. Scott was also apparently in the running to take over Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale, but was pipped to the post by Daniel Craig.
But let’s not worry about all that. This is a safe, happy...
- 6/23/2022
- by Rich Pelley
- The Guardian - Film News
March will see the return of a fan-favorite series, the launch of a spinoff of a fan-favorite series and a handful of noteworthy films added to Amazon Prime Video.
Below, we’ve assembled a complete list of what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in March, and it includes the highly anticipated second season of the sci-fi comedy series “Upload,” which premieres March 11. Additionally, the new series “The Boys Presents: Diabolical” premieres on March 4 and promises eight all-new animated stories set within the R-rated superhero world of “The Boys.”
Also on March 4, the Amy Poehler-directed documentary “Lucy and Desi” premieres, chronicling the relationship between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
In terms of library titles, March 1 brings the Ryan Reynolds-Sandra Bullock rom-com “The Proposal,” the classic “Dead Poets Society,” the sci-fi “Alien” prequel “Prometheus,” the comedy spoof “Spaceballs” and a number of other films to the streaming service.
Below, we’ve assembled a complete list of what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in March, and it includes the highly anticipated second season of the sci-fi comedy series “Upload,” which premieres March 11. Additionally, the new series “The Boys Presents: Diabolical” premieres on March 4 and promises eight all-new animated stories set within the R-rated superhero world of “The Boys.”
Also on March 4, the Amy Poehler-directed documentary “Lucy and Desi” premieres, chronicling the relationship between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
In terms of library titles, March 1 brings the Ryan Reynolds-Sandra Bullock rom-com “The Proposal,” the classic “Dead Poets Society,” the sci-fi “Alien” prequel “Prometheus,” the comedy spoof “Spaceballs” and a number of other films to the streaming service.
- 3/1/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Movie audiences go to see Liam Neeson get revenge the way they once went to see John Wayne ride a horse or Carmen Miranda dance with fruit on her head; the movie itself could be great or mediocre, but there’s that satisfaction of watching a movie star do the exact thing that you want and expect them to do. As “solidly senior Liam Neeson kicks ass” vehicles go, “Honest Thief” falls firmly in the middle, nowhere near the heights of “Taken” but well above the depths of “Taken 3.”
Neeson, as a bank robber trying to turn himself in, is the above-the-title draw here, but “Honest Thief” ultimately belongs to Jai Courtney as a crooked FBI agent who complicates the title character’s confession by attempting to steal the money and kill anyone who gets in his way.
One in a series of handsome character actors that Hollywood has...
Neeson, as a bank robber trying to turn himself in, is the above-the-title draw here, but “Honest Thief” ultimately belongs to Jai Courtney as a crooked FBI agent who complicates the title character’s confession by attempting to steal the money and kill anyone who gets in his way.
One in a series of handsome character actors that Hollywood has...
- 10/13/2020
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
The John Wick producer talks about some of the movies that made her.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Jurassic Park (1993)
Sicario (2015)
Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)
Wind River (2017)
John Wick (2014)
The Town (2010)
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Hotel Mumbai (2018)
A Private War (2018)
Moana (2016)
A History Of Violence (2005)
Spaceballs (1987)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Star Wars (1977)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
High Anxiety (1977)
High Fidelity (2000)
History of the World, Part 1 (1981)
Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead (1991)
Back To The Future (1985)
The Goonies (1985)
Cat’s Eye (1985)
Splash (1984)
Big (1988)
Bill And Ted Face The Music (2020)
The French Connection (1971)
Pretty Woman (1990)
Steel Magnolias (1989)
Parenthood (1989)
Beaches (1988)
The Wild Bunch (1969)
Heat (1995)
Cocktail (1988)
Gremlins (1984)
The Lost Boys (1987)
The Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008)
The Lost Boys: The Thirst (2010)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Curly Sue (1991)
Stagecoach (1939)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Some Kind Of Wonderful (1987)
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
Frozen (2013)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Beauty And The Beast (1991)
Raising Arizona (1987)
Baby Boom (1987)
I Confess (1953)
Avatar (2009)
Titanic (1997)
The Fast And The Furious...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Jurassic Park (1993)
Sicario (2015)
Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)
Wind River (2017)
John Wick (2014)
The Town (2010)
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Hotel Mumbai (2018)
A Private War (2018)
Moana (2016)
A History Of Violence (2005)
Spaceballs (1987)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Star Wars (1977)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
High Anxiety (1977)
High Fidelity (2000)
History of the World, Part 1 (1981)
Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead (1991)
Back To The Future (1985)
The Goonies (1985)
Cat’s Eye (1985)
Splash (1984)
Big (1988)
Bill And Ted Face The Music (2020)
The French Connection (1971)
Pretty Woman (1990)
Steel Magnolias (1989)
Parenthood (1989)
Beaches (1988)
The Wild Bunch (1969)
Heat (1995)
Cocktail (1988)
Gremlins (1984)
The Lost Boys (1987)
The Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008)
The Lost Boys: The Thirst (2010)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Curly Sue (1991)
Stagecoach (1939)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Some Kind Of Wonderful (1987)
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
Frozen (2013)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Beauty And The Beast (1991)
Raising Arizona (1987)
Baby Boom (1987)
I Confess (1953)
Avatar (2009)
Titanic (1997)
The Fast And The Furious...
- 9/1/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Hmmm. I’m not often one for starting an article with one long reflective exclamation (is anyone?), but that’s my immediate response after learning this.
Netflix’s number one film today – a dubious distinction given that its one of their originals – is The Last Days of American Crime. However, despite its popularity on the platform, the newly released action thriller has a 0% score over on Rotten Tomatoes. Yep, 18 reviewers have sat down to digest it, and 18 reviewers have emphatically thumbed it down. The average rating in those reviews was 2.4/10, and considering the bottom grade that many reviewers give is 2/10 (or one star), that’s pretty catastrophic.
This caught my eye because I remember covering the trailer for The Last Days of American Crime a few weeks ago. Now, this wasn’t exactly the science of deduction, but I’ll refer you to the following paragraph from that piece:
From...
Netflix’s number one film today – a dubious distinction given that its one of their originals – is The Last Days of American Crime. However, despite its popularity on the platform, the newly released action thriller has a 0% score over on Rotten Tomatoes. Yep, 18 reviewers have sat down to digest it, and 18 reviewers have emphatically thumbed it down. The average rating in those reviews was 2.4/10, and considering the bottom grade that many reviewers give is 2/10 (or one star), that’s pretty catastrophic.
This caught my eye because I remember covering the trailer for The Last Days of American Crime a few weeks ago. Now, this wasn’t exactly the science of deduction, but I’ll refer you to the following paragraph from that piece:
From...
- 6/8/2020
- by Alex Crisp
- We Got This Covered
It’s hard to imagine that the definitive studio movie about Trump-era authoritarianism would come from the guy behind “Taken 2” and “Taken 3,” but that sure didn’t stop him from trying. Of course, you should never doubt the delusional self-confidence of a man who changed his last name to “Megaton,” just as you should never put your faith in a filmmaker who’s basically the Mr. Brainwash to Luc Besson’s Banksy.
Here’s the thing about “The Last Days of American Crime” — you don’t have time for this shit. None of us do. And that’s not just because Olivier Megaton’s agonizingly dull Netflix feature is 149 minutes long (a crime unto itself). While there’s never really a good moment to introduce a bad movie into the world, . We’re all for escapism where you can get it — this critic has streamed an ungodly amount...
Here’s the thing about “The Last Days of American Crime” — you don’t have time for this shit. None of us do. And that’s not just because Olivier Megaton’s agonizingly dull Netflix feature is 149 minutes long (a crime unto itself). While there’s never really a good moment to introduce a bad movie into the world, . We’re all for escapism where you can get it — this critic has streamed an ungodly amount...
- 6/5/2020
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Considering how profoundly the coronavirus has affected the film industry, the vault full of original content Netflix had ready to pump out is an impressive coup. Obviously, they will run out eventually – the shutdown is going to catch up – but for now they seem to be coping fine.
Case in point: The studio have dropped a new trailer for the latest of their original movies, which they’ve pencilled in for release in the near future, Olivier Megaton’s The Last Days of American Crime. Based on a graphic novel, the film will posit a world where all crime will soon be obsolete, with the Us government planning to broadcast a signal that makes it impossible to commit unlawful acts. That leaves a career criminal looking to stage one last heist before it’s too late to do so. Sounds bonkers, right?
Want to see the trailer? It’s in the usual place,...
Case in point: The studio have dropped a new trailer for the latest of their original movies, which they’ve pencilled in for release in the near future, Olivier Megaton’s The Last Days of American Crime. Based on a graphic novel, the film will posit a world where all crime will soon be obsolete, with the Us government planning to broadcast a signal that makes it impossible to commit unlawful acts. That leaves a career criminal looking to stage one last heist before it’s too late to do so. Sounds bonkers, right?
Want to see the trailer? It’s in the usual place,...
- 5/20/2020
- by Alex Crisp
- We Got This Covered
Shakespearean Transformer Olivier Megaton is back with a brand new actioner. The Versailles-born director of Taken 2 and Taken 3 will bring his latest cars-and-shooting movie to Netflix in June, and the streaming service has just released a first trailer for it.
The Last Days of American Crime is based on the 2009 Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini graphic novel, and has been adapted for the screen by Oblivion scribe Karl Gajdusek. It’s got a decent cast, too – The Assassination of Gianni Versace‘s Edgar Ramírez leads the pack alongside Anna Brewster (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) with a surprising appearance from Boardwalk Empire‘s Michael Pitt, who appears to be firing on all cylinders at Full Michael Pitt. That just so happens to be our favorite level of Michael Pitt, so we’ll probably have to check this one out.
An official synopsis from Netflix lies yonder:
“As...
The Last Days of American Crime is based on the 2009 Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini graphic novel, and has been adapted for the screen by Oblivion scribe Karl Gajdusek. It’s got a decent cast, too – The Assassination of Gianni Versace‘s Edgar Ramírez leads the pack alongside Anna Brewster (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) with a surprising appearance from Boardwalk Empire‘s Michael Pitt, who appears to be firing on all cylinders at Full Michael Pitt. That just so happens to be our favorite level of Michael Pitt, so we’ll probably have to check this one out.
An official synopsis from Netflix lies yonder:
“As...
- 5/20/2020
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
When will the Us government really fight back against the threat of terrorism and crime? Sure, police and law enforcement officials do their best, but in the new film “The Last Days of American Crime,” the government has figured out a way to stop all crime and it leads to some pretty insane results.
As seen in the trailer for “The Last Days of American Crime,” the film follows the story of an alternate future where the government sends out a massive signal that makes it impossible for any citizen to knowingly commit a crime.
Continue reading ‘The Last Days Of American Crime’ Trailer: Edgar Ramirez Stars In New Netflix Thriller From ‘Taken 3’ Director at The Playlist.
As seen in the trailer for “The Last Days of American Crime,” the film follows the story of an alternate future where the government sends out a massive signal that makes it impossible for any citizen to knowingly commit a crime.
Continue reading ‘The Last Days Of American Crime’ Trailer: Edgar Ramirez Stars In New Netflix Thriller From ‘Taken 3’ Director at The Playlist.
- 5/19/2020
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
José Antonio Domínguez Bandera, known professionally as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish actor, producer, director, and singer. Ok, I didn’t have to plagiarize his Wikipedia article, I know who he is. But now we have his full creative background, which can’t hurt, right?
Sorry, preamble over. What’s Antonio been up to lately? Well, speaking to a reporter from the Associated Press, the actor, producer, direc- you get me, has discussed his prospects of returning to the Desperado franchise.
For those who don’t know, Desperado was a trilogy of contemporary westerns, with Banderas starring as gunslinger El Mariachi in two of the three films. His last turn as the character came back in 2003’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico and 17 years later, Banderas is pessimistic about whether his current age prohibits a return to his rootin’-tootin’ days.
When asked if he’d do another one,...
Sorry, preamble over. What’s Antonio been up to lately? Well, speaking to a reporter from the Associated Press, the actor, producer, direc- you get me, has discussed his prospects of returning to the Desperado franchise.
For those who don’t know, Desperado was a trilogy of contemporary westerns, with Banderas starring as gunslinger El Mariachi in two of the three films. His last turn as the character came back in 2003’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico and 17 years later, Banderas is pessimistic about whether his current age prohibits a return to his rootin’-tootin’ days.
When asked if he’d do another one,...
- 1/10/2020
- by Alex Crisp
- We Got This Covered
Andrei Kamarowsky, who recently stepped down from Orange Studio, where he spearheaded international, has joined Dubai-based distribution group Gulf Film as its chief operating officer.
Founded three decades ago, Gulf Film is involved in both distribution and exhibition in the Middle East, and has close relationships with Studiocanal and Pathé, and output deals with Stx Entertainment, MGM and EuropaCorp, where Kamarowsky worked as senior VP of international sales for more than six years. Gulf Film also has deals with companies such as Osn, Filmbox, Netflix and Vubiquity.
Gulf Film is the sister company of Novo Cinemas, one of the region’s leading cinema chains with more than 200 screens.
Every year, the company distributes more than 100 movies in the Middle East. Some of its biggest B.O. hits include “Spectre,” “Fast & Furious 6” and “Taken 3,” which grossed $12.6 million, $10.4 million and $10.2 million, respectively.
Kamarowsky told Variety that he was joining...
Founded three decades ago, Gulf Film is involved in both distribution and exhibition in the Middle East, and has close relationships with Studiocanal and Pathé, and output deals with Stx Entertainment, MGM and EuropaCorp, where Kamarowsky worked as senior VP of international sales for more than six years. Gulf Film also has deals with companies such as Osn, Filmbox, Netflix and Vubiquity.
Gulf Film is the sister company of Novo Cinemas, one of the region’s leading cinema chains with more than 200 screens.
Every year, the company distributes more than 100 movies in the Middle East. Some of its biggest B.O. hits include “Spectre,” “Fast & Furious 6” and “Taken 3,” which grossed $12.6 million, $10.4 million and $10.2 million, respectively.
Kamarowsky told Variety that he was joining...
- 10/16/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp has posted unflattering results for the 2018-19 financial year, including a loss of $125M, which was a 27% increase year-on-year.
The beleaguered French mini-studio was recently granted a six-month debt waiver from a French court to give it more time to balance its books. Talks are ongoing with French giant Pathé about the latter buying a majority stake in the company.
The Valerian and Anna outfit generated revenues of $170M for the year ending March 31, 2019, a 30% drop year-on-year while international sales generated $60M, $25M less than last year. On the plus side, there was a return to a positive operating margin of $32M. Following staff cuts, overheads were inevitably reduced by $8M year-on-year to $34M.
The company said net debt stood at $181M as of March 31, a reduction of almost $90M year-on-year, mainly due to the payment of production debts related to Anna, the series Taken, and Taxi 5.
The beleaguered French mini-studio was recently granted a six-month debt waiver from a French court to give it more time to balance its books. Talks are ongoing with French giant Pathé about the latter buying a majority stake in the company.
The Valerian and Anna outfit generated revenues of $170M for the year ending March 31, 2019, a 30% drop year-on-year while international sales generated $60M, $25M less than last year. On the plus side, there was a return to a positive operating margin of $32M. Following staff cuts, overheads were inevitably reduced by $8M year-on-year to $34M.
The company said net debt stood at $181M as of March 31, a reduction of almost $90M year-on-year, mainly due to the payment of production debts related to Anna, the series Taken, and Taxi 5.
- 6/28/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Financially ailing company in talks with Pathé for film group to acquire majority stake.
Luc Besson’s beleaguered French cinema empire EuropaCorp posted a loss of $139m (€109.9m) for the 2018-19 financial year, a 27.4% increase on its 2017-18 loss of $104m (€82.5m), as it continues to restructure its debts under the protection of a court ordered safeguard procedure.
According to final consolidated results released after the close of the Paris stock exchange on Thursday (27), the company generated revenues of $189m (€150m) in the financial year to March 31, 2019, against $286m (€226.5m) for the financial year to March 31 2018.
The company said that while losses had increased,...
Luc Besson’s beleaguered French cinema empire EuropaCorp posted a loss of $139m (€109.9m) for the 2018-19 financial year, a 27.4% increase on its 2017-18 loss of $104m (€82.5m), as it continues to restructure its debts under the protection of a court ordered safeguard procedure.
According to final consolidated results released after the close of the Paris stock exchange on Thursday (27), the company generated revenues of $189m (€150m) in the financial year to March 31, 2019, against $286m (€226.5m) for the financial year to March 31 2018.
The company said that while losses had increased,...
- 6/27/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Veteran actor Jean Reno has been tapped to star in “Rogue City,” a thriller that sees director Olivier Marchal re-team with French studio Gaumont.
Budgeted at $13 million, the film is set in Marseille and follows an anti-gang cop (Reno) with unorthodox methods who investigates a shooting at a local nightclub along with his longtime rival.
Lannick Gautry, Stanislas Merhar and David Belle complete the cast. Alain Figlarz, who has previously worked on “Taken 3,” “The Bourne Identity” and “The Transporter,” will be handling the action scenes and stunts.
The movie is set to start shooting on location in the south of France in September. Gaumont will kick off pre-sales for “Rogue City” at Cannes with a fully story-boarded script, and expects to release “Rogue City” in France during the second quarter of 2020.
Marchal is himself a former cop who worked for both the police and French intelligence. Through films such...
Budgeted at $13 million, the film is set in Marseille and follows an anti-gang cop (Reno) with unorthodox methods who investigates a shooting at a local nightclub along with his longtime rival.
Lannick Gautry, Stanislas Merhar and David Belle complete the cast. Alain Figlarz, who has previously worked on “Taken 3,” “The Bourne Identity” and “The Transporter,” will be handling the action scenes and stunts.
The movie is set to start shooting on location in the south of France in September. Gaumont will kick off pre-sales for “Rogue City” at Cannes with a fully story-boarded script, and expects to release “Rogue City” in France during the second quarter of 2020.
Marchal is himself a former cop who worked for both the police and French intelligence. Through films such...
- 5/10/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Several family-friendly holdover titles looking for strong holds.
Studiocanal’s revenge thriller Cold Pursuit will aim to weather the storm of recent controversy around star Liam Neeson to challenge a selection of family titles at the UK box office this weekend.
In the film, Neeson plays a snowplough driver who seeks revenge against the drug dealers he believes killed his son. Hans Petter Moland directs, with the film based on his 2014 Norwegian title In Order Of Disappearance.
Neeson has fronted a string of box office hits in recent years, led by the Taken series. The first title started with £1.2m in September 2008, finishing on £6.4m.
Studiocanal’s revenge thriller Cold Pursuit will aim to weather the storm of recent controversy around star Liam Neeson to challenge a selection of family titles at the UK box office this weekend.
In the film, Neeson plays a snowplough driver who seeks revenge against the drug dealers he believes killed his son. Hans Petter Moland directs, with the film based on his 2014 Norwegian title In Order Of Disappearance.
Neeson has fronted a string of box office hits in recent years, led by the Taken series. The first title started with £1.2m in September 2008, finishing on £6.4m.
- 2/22/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Without a marquee English-language title to boost overall performance, French films in 2018 saw a precipitous drop in overseas admissions, totaling 40M versus 2017’s 82.5M. That 52% tumble is matched by a 51% slide in receipts to 237M euros, export body Unifrance reported today in Paris.
In its findings, Unifrance said it was clear that 2018 “was a disappointing year overall, with certain films performing below forecasts.” These annual ups and downs have become somewhat commonplace owing to the production cycle and the fact that animation and French movies produced in English skew performance in particular years.
Over the past few, such films as Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets, Leap! Le Petit Prince, Taken 3, The Transporter Refueled and Lucy have been the strongest earners outside the Hexagon. Many of those have in common that they hail from Luc Besson’s now beleaguered EuropaCorp, which, despite the struggles it is facing,...
In its findings, Unifrance said it was clear that 2018 “was a disappointing year overall, with certain films performing below forecasts.” These annual ups and downs have become somewhat commonplace owing to the production cycle and the fact that animation and French movies produced in English skew performance in particular years.
Over the past few, such films as Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets, Leap! Le Petit Prince, Taken 3, The Transporter Refueled and Lucy have been the strongest earners outside the Hexagon. Many of those have in common that they hail from Luc Besson’s now beleaguered EuropaCorp, which, despite the struggles it is facing,...
- 1/17/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Radical restructuring plan has yet to stem losses as content pipeline runs dry.
French filmmaker and producer Luc Besson’s embattled film company EuropaCorp has posted a $101m (€88.9m) loss for the first half of the 2018-19 financial year, as it struggles to bring debts worth some $280m (€236m) under control.
The results come on the back of a turbulent three weeks for the company and its founder, after French media reported a fresh round of sexual misconduct accusations against Besson, following those of Belgian actress Sand Van Roy, who filed a police complaint against the filmmaker in May. Besson denies all allegations.
French filmmaker and producer Luc Besson’s embattled film company EuropaCorp has posted a $101m (€88.9m) loss for the first half of the 2018-19 financial year, as it struggles to bring debts worth some $280m (€236m) under control.
The results come on the back of a turbulent three weeks for the company and its founder, after French media reported a fresh round of sexual misconduct accusations against Besson, following those of Belgian actress Sand Van Roy, who filed a police complaint against the filmmaker in May. Besson denies all allegations.
- 12/14/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp is in advanced discussions to sell its vast post-production facility, Digital Factory, to Chinese research and engineering studio Southbay, Variety has learned.
Southbay specializes in 3D conversion, VFX and post-production for film and TV, and has offices in Los Angeles and in Hangzhou and Shaoxing in China. EuropaCorp is one of Southbay’s clients, along with The Walt Disney Company, Marvel, Warner Bros., Paramount and Dreamworks, among others.
Southbay has worked on various films directed and/or produced by Besson, notably “Valerian: City of a Thousand Planets,” “Lucy,” “Transporter Refueled,” “Taken 3” and “The Warrior’s Gate.” The company’s recent credits also include “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2,” “King Arthur,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.”
The move to sell off Digital Factory comes as EuropaCorp tries to recover from a series of disappointing performances at the box office and to ease its massive debt burden,...
Southbay specializes in 3D conversion, VFX and post-production for film and TV, and has offices in Los Angeles and in Hangzhou and Shaoxing in China. EuropaCorp is one of Southbay’s clients, along with The Walt Disney Company, Marvel, Warner Bros., Paramount and Dreamworks, among others.
Southbay has worked on various films directed and/or produced by Besson, notably “Valerian: City of a Thousand Planets,” “Lucy,” “Transporter Refueled,” “Taken 3” and “The Warrior’s Gate.” The company’s recent credits also include “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2,” “King Arthur,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.”
The move to sell off Digital Factory comes as EuropaCorp tries to recover from a series of disappointing performances at the box office and to ease its massive debt burden,...
- 12/13/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
A schlocky horror comedy with a few good laughs and lots of n’importe quoi (the French term for "nonsense"), Olivier Afonso’s Girls With Balls scores some points for its Z-movie conceits but could have benefited from stronger writing and direction.
Afonso, who is one of France’s top special effects makeup artists and has worked on everything from Raw to Taken 3 to The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, is no stranger to gore and seems to relish in all the fake blood, severed heads and trashy gags he tosses at the viewer.
It’s almost enough to make this short ...
Afonso, who is one of France’s top special effects makeup artists and has worked on everything from Raw to Taken 3 to The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, is no stranger to gore and seems to relish in all the fake blood, severed heads and trashy gags he tosses at the viewer.
It’s almost enough to make this short ...
- 12/12/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
A schlocky horror comedy with a few good laughs and lots of n’importe quoi (the French term for "nonsense"), Olivier Afonso’s Girls With Balls scores some points for its Z-movie conceits but could have benefited from stronger writing and direction.
Afonso, who is one of France’s top special effects makeup artists and has worked on everything from Raw to Taken 3 to The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, is no stranger to gore and seems to relish in all the fake blood, severed heads and trashy gags he tosses at the viewer.
It’s almost enough to make this short ...
Afonso, who is one of France’s top special effects makeup artists and has worked on everything from Raw to Taken 3 to The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, is no stranger to gore and seems to relish in all the fake blood, severed heads and trashy gags he tosses at the viewer.
It’s almost enough to make this short ...
- 12/12/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kirsten Howard Oct 10, 2018
There's no proof (yet) but you never know...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Huge news broke this week that the lovable Liam Neeson, star of such films as Taken, Taken 2, and Taken 3, has become convinced that a horse that pulled his wagon during production on Netflix's upcoming Coen brothers movie, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, remembered him from another film.
The internet meme machine quickly got to work on the revelation after the actor appeared at this year's New York Film Festival, stating to the gathered audience "This horse knew me. He actually remembered me from another western we made a while back … He whinnied when he saw me. And pawed the ground. I love animals. When we worked together before I took special care of him. I fed him treats. Gave him apples.”
That's brilliant, because horses love apples. They do.
There's no proof (yet) but you never know...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Huge news broke this week that the lovable Liam Neeson, star of such films as Taken, Taken 2, and Taken 3, has become convinced that a horse that pulled his wagon during production on Netflix's upcoming Coen brothers movie, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, remembered him from another film.
The internet meme machine quickly got to work on the revelation after the actor appeared at this year's New York Film Festival, stating to the gathered audience "This horse knew me. He actually remembered me from another western we made a while back … He whinnied when he saw me. And pawed the ground. I love animals. When we worked together before I took special care of him. I fed him treats. Gave him apples.”
That's brilliant, because horses love apples. They do.
- 10/10/2018
- Den of Geek
The three French majority productions playing in competition in Venice are entirely different from one another in style and tone, and even more so in terms of their American distribution strategies.
Both Jacques Audiard’s “The Sisters Brothers” and Olivier Assayas’ “Double Lives” will be released under significantly different conditions, while David Oelhoffen’s “Close Enemies” will hit the Lido still looking for a buyer. Taken all together, however, these three cases offer a reasonable snapshot of the current U.S. market for French cinema.
Audiard’s “The Sisters Brothers” stands as the outlier, one of the rare French productions to land U.S. distribution before the cameras ever rolled. L.A.-based production company Annapurna Pictures came on board in May 2017 and announced that it would release the English-language Western through its nascent distribution arm.
Time will no doubt tell, but Annapurna’s interest in the project likely does...
Both Jacques Audiard’s “The Sisters Brothers” and Olivier Assayas’ “Double Lives” will be released under significantly different conditions, while David Oelhoffen’s “Close Enemies” will hit the Lido still looking for a buyer. Taken all together, however, these three cases offer a reasonable snapshot of the current U.S. market for French cinema.
Audiard’s “The Sisters Brothers” stands as the outlier, one of the rare French productions to land U.S. distribution before the cameras ever rolled. L.A.-based production company Annapurna Pictures came on board in May 2017 and announced that it would release the English-language Western through its nascent distribution arm.
Time will no doubt tell, but Annapurna’s interest in the project likely does...
- 9/4/2018
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Damon Lindelof’s “Watchmen” pilot at HBO has set a number of actors in key roles, Variety has learned.
Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Adelaide Clemens, and Andrew Howard will all appear in the series, with King in the lead role. King previously appeared on “The Leftovers,” the HBO drama series co-created by Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, based on Perrotta’s novel of the same name.
The exact details of their characters are being kept under wraps. Lindelof on Tuesday posted a letter to fans in which he laid out his vision for the series, which he said will not be a re-telling of the story from the original graphic novel, but rather a new story in the same world with new characters set in the present day.
“Some of the characters will be unknown,” he said. “New faces. New masks to cover them. We...
Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Adelaide Clemens, and Andrew Howard will all appear in the series, with King in the lead role. King previously appeared on “The Leftovers,” the HBO drama series co-created by Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, based on Perrotta’s novel of the same name.
The exact details of their characters are being kept under wraps. Lindelof on Tuesday posted a letter to fans in which he laid out his vision for the series, which he said will not be a re-telling of the story from the original graphic novel, but rather a new story in the same world with new characters set in the present day.
“Some of the characters will be unknown,” he said. “New faces. New masks to cover them. We...
- 5/23/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
36th Fajr International Film Festival announces the Winners
Closing ceremony of the 36th edition of Fajr international film festival was held in presence of Iran minister of culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi, head of cinema organization Mohammad Mehdi Heidarian, festival director Reza Mir Karimi, and prominent Iranian and international cinema individuals including Oliver Stone, Reza Kianian, Oliver Montagon, and many well-known personalities. Reza Mirkarimi director of the festival delivered a short speech and said nothing could be don…
Director Oliver Stone says Iran is the heart of Middle East for me and I’m astonished by its cinema
American movie director Oliver Stone arrived in Tehran Monday morning aiming to attend the 36th edition Fajr international film festival runs April 19–27 in Tehran, Iran. Stone hosted a workshop for filmmakers at Tehran University for the students craving to learn more and benefit from the knowledge and experiences of the prominent individuals.
Closing ceremony of the 36th edition of Fajr international film festival was held in presence of Iran minister of culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi, head of cinema organization Mohammad Mehdi Heidarian, festival director Reza Mir Karimi, and prominent Iranian and international cinema individuals including Oliver Stone, Reza Kianian, Oliver Montagon, and many well-known personalities. Reza Mirkarimi director of the festival delivered a short speech and said nothing could be don…
Director Oliver Stone says Iran is the heart of Middle East for me and I’m astonished by its cinema
American movie director Oliver Stone arrived in Tehran Monday morning aiming to attend the 36th edition Fajr international film festival runs April 19–27 in Tehran, Iran. Stone hosted a workshop for filmmakers at Tehran University for the students craving to learn more and benefit from the knowledge and experiences of the prominent individuals.
- 5/3/2018
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Paris-based film production and distribution company is restructuring its business to rein in spiralling debts.
Source: EuropaCorp
‘Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets’
Luc Besson’s Paris-based film production and distribution company EuropaCorp has responded to press and market rumours revolving around its future as it restructures its business to rein in spiralling debts.
In a statement, posted on the company website early evening Tuesday, the company said it was sticking to a strategy first announced last November of refocusing on its core business of production, distribution and international sales.
EuropaCorp said the plan remained to produce two to three English-language features a year, two French-language films and English-language TV series as well as continue its distribution and international sales activities.
The company added that in keeping with this plan the group had already announced the sale of certain non-strategic assets as well as a redundancy plan.
The company also responded to rumours that it was...
Source: EuropaCorp
‘Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets’
Luc Besson’s Paris-based film production and distribution company EuropaCorp has responded to press and market rumours revolving around its future as it restructures its business to rein in spiralling debts.
In a statement, posted on the company website early evening Tuesday, the company said it was sticking to a strategy first announced last November of refocusing on its core business of production, distribution and international sales.
EuropaCorp said the plan remained to produce two to three English-language features a year, two French-language films and English-language TV series as well as continue its distribution and international sales activities.
The company added that in keeping with this plan the group had already announced the sale of certain non-strategic assets as well as a redundancy plan.
The company also responded to rumours that it was...
- 1/24/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Lack of EuropaCorp hit sees number dip below 100m.
The international box office for French films recovered some of its élan in 2017 after a difficult 2016, although the absence of a big hit from Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp meant admissions remained well below the 100m of recent years.
According to preliminary annual figures released by export body UniFrance on Friday evening (January 19) as part of its Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris programme, French films drew 80.5m spectators internationally in 2017 for a total box office of €468m ($572m).
The international box office also generated more admissions for French cinema than France, where local pictures sold 78.2m tickets in 2017. Unifrance said the 2017 international box office figure represented a 98% rise on 2016 figures, when French films drew 34m spectators worldwide.
Breaking the box office figure down, majority French productions accounted for 60.7m, or 76%, of these admissions. French-language productions generated 38m entries, accounting for 47% of the international box office.
UniFrance noted that French-language...
The international box office for French films recovered some of its élan in 2017 after a difficult 2016, although the absence of a big hit from Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp meant admissions remained well below the 100m of recent years.
According to preliminary annual figures released by export body UniFrance on Friday evening (January 19) as part of its Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris programme, French films drew 80.5m spectators internationally in 2017 for a total box office of €468m ($572m).
The international box office also generated more admissions for French cinema than France, where local pictures sold 78.2m tickets in 2017. Unifrance said the 2017 international box office figure represented a 98% rise on 2016 figures, when French films drew 34m spectators worldwide.
Breaking the box office figure down, majority French productions accounted for 60.7m, or 76%, of these admissions. French-language productions generated 38m entries, accounting for 47% of the international box office.
UniFrance noted that French-language...
- 1/20/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Beyond just the standard trailer(s) and poster, many films have an entire promotional campaign designed to spark interest. Here’s a look at ten film promotional campaigns which should have stayed on the drawing board.
Selling a movie is not an easy task, and over the years it has not gotten any easier. Promotional campaigns have to be very creative and persistent in order to capture people’s attention amid the sea of advertising we are flooded with on a daily basis. Common tactics include giveaways, publicity stunts, viral marketing techniques, sponsorships, and product tie-ins. Many films try to push the boundaries of traditional promotional campaigns in an effort to get an edge on the competition. Below is a brief look at ten campaigns (in no particular order) which definitely pushed the envelope, but doing so did more harm than good for the films they were trying to promote.
Selling a movie is not an easy task, and over the years it has not gotten any easier. Promotional campaigns have to be very creative and persistent in order to capture people’s attention amid the sea of advertising we are flooded with on a daily basis. Common tactics include giveaways, publicity stunts, viral marketing techniques, sponsorships, and product tie-ins. Many films try to push the boundaries of traditional promotional campaigns in an effort to get an edge on the competition. Below is a brief look at ten campaigns (in no particular order) which definitely pushed the envelope, but doing so did more harm than good for the films they were trying to promote.
- 11/29/2017
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (G.S. Perno)
- Cinelinx
Welcome to this week’s “Preview Reel” column, where we look at the week’s upcoming wide release movies. Blade Runner 2049 received rave reviews last week, but that did not translate to box-office success as the movie stumbled to a $32.8 million opening against a $155 million budget. The sci-fi flick has a chance to retain the top spot, however, as the competition this week looks relatively weak—there’s the revenge thriller The Foreigner, and the Blumhouse horror flick, Happy Death Day.
The Foreigner
What we are excited about: While it would be easy to say that the thing we are most excited about here is Jackie Chan (and we are excited about that), we are going to go with the film’s director. Martin Campbell is responsible for two of the best James Bond movies of the past twenty-five years in Casino Royale (2006) and GoldenEye (1995). While we will ignore his last movie,...
The Foreigner
What we are excited about: While it would be easy to say that the thing we are most excited about here is Jackie Chan (and we are excited about that), we are going to go with the film’s director. Martin Campbell is responsible for two of the best James Bond movies of the past twenty-five years in Casino Royale (2006) and GoldenEye (1995). While we will ignore his last movie,...
- 10/11/2017
- by Scott Davis
- CinemaNerdz
“Kong: Skull Island” is not the only Hollywood movie to employ dizzyingly fast editing, but the latest installment of Legendary Entertainment’s MonsterVerse is taking some hits for its rapid cutting pace. A YouTube video entitled “Terrible editing in Kong: Skull Island” reveals that an early sequence in the film averages one cut every two seconds during a nearly five-minute span.
Read More: This Is What Giant Movie Monsters Would Actually Sound Like, According to Science — Watch
While that is a lot of cutting, Hollywood in general has tended to use faster editing in action movies, with some scenes even averaging less than two seconds per cut. Both “Taken 3” and “Resident Evil: Apocalypse” include scenes with average shot lengths of 1.7 seconds, No Film School reported last year. Tony Scott’s 2005 film “Domino” also features sequences with an Asl of 1.8, while “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “Mad Mad: Fury Road” clock in at 2.0 and 2.1 respectively.
Read More: This Is What Giant Movie Monsters Would Actually Sound Like, According to Science — Watch
While that is a lot of cutting, Hollywood in general has tended to use faster editing in action movies, with some scenes even averaging less than two seconds per cut. Both “Taken 3” and “Resident Evil: Apocalypse” include scenes with average shot lengths of 1.7 seconds, No Film School reported last year. Tony Scott’s 2005 film “Domino” also features sequences with an Asl of 1.8, while “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “Mad Mad: Fury Road” clock in at 2.0 and 2.1 respectively.
- 6/27/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
Gear up for Father's Day with our list of Memorable Movie Dads!Gear up for Father's Day with our list of Memorable Movie Dads!Zachary Dent6/16/2017 10:01:00 Am
Father's Day is upon us once again! Whether you're getting together with family, heading up to the cottage, or just hitting the park for some fresh air it's always good to mix in a cinematic adventure. We've all got a favourite movie; ok, well at least a top 3. And there's nothing like sitting back with family and friends to take in everyone's favorites. What better reason to check out the Cineplex store's Father's Day sale and earn some extra Scene points!
To inspire your viewing choices, we've got a list of the most memorable movie dads coming at you before the weekend. Take a look, there's something here for everyone.
Marlin - Finding Nemo/Finding Dory
"If this is some kind of practical joke,...
Father's Day is upon us once again! Whether you're getting together with family, heading up to the cottage, or just hitting the park for some fresh air it's always good to mix in a cinematic adventure. We've all got a favourite movie; ok, well at least a top 3. And there's nothing like sitting back with family and friends to take in everyone's favorites. What better reason to check out the Cineplex store's Father's Day sale and earn some extra Scene points!
To inspire your viewing choices, we've got a list of the most memorable movie dads coming at you before the weekend. Take a look, there's something here for everyone.
Marlin - Finding Nemo/Finding Dory
"If this is some kind of practical joke,...
- 6/16/2017
- by Zachary Dent
- Cineplex
Liam Neeson cut his teeth performing in searing dramas, but pivoted to Death Wish-style action in his twilight years, having mowed through a variety of gangsters, thugs, and deadbeats in films like Taken, A Walk Among The Tombstones, Taken 2, Non-Stop, and Taken 3. His latest movie fits snugly in that lineage; it’s called Hard Powder, which stars Neeson as an “upright snowplow driver” whose “vengeful crusade sparks a turf war between a Viking gangster and a Native American mafia boss.”
Anyways, the film was originally set to film in the Canadian cities of Banff and Jasper, but was denied access by Parks Canada after they realized one of the characters was an indigenous gang leader. Now they’re filming in British Columbia, which was very exciting for a New Westminster eatery called Big Star Sandwich.
They never expected the hard-nosed actor to show up when they put...
Anyways, the film was originally set to film in the Canadian cities of Banff and Jasper, but was denied access by Parks Canada after they realized one of the characters was an indigenous gang leader. Now they’re filming in British Columbia, which was very exciting for a New Westminster eatery called Big Star Sandwich.
They never expected the hard-nosed actor to show up when they put...
- 5/4/2017
- by Randall Colburn
- avclub.com
Kirsten Howard Apr 20, 2017
Crackle's most-watched original drama lands a second season, with Harry Potter's Rupert Grint set to return...
Only very loosely based on Guy Ritchie's 2000 movie of the same name, the Snatch TV series has been a hit for Sony streaming service Crackle, and they've decided to give it a second season.
See related The Leftovers: brave, beautiful television drama
"Rupert, Luke [Pasqualino] and the rest of the cast have created memorable characters who truly resonated with our viewers," Crackle's manager Eric Berger said, "and we look forward to following their adventures in season 2 of Snatch."
Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint plays Charlie Cavendish in the organised crime caper, and it's the second piece of good news he's has this month, after his other show Sick Note was renewed earlier in April for a second season over at Sky Atlantic, before the first has even started airing.
Crackle's most-watched original drama lands a second season, with Harry Potter's Rupert Grint set to return...
Only very loosely based on Guy Ritchie's 2000 movie of the same name, the Snatch TV series has been a hit for Sony streaming service Crackle, and they've decided to give it a second season.
See related The Leftovers: brave, beautiful television drama
"Rupert, Luke [Pasqualino] and the rest of the cast have created memorable characters who truly resonated with our viewers," Crackle's manager Eric Berger said, "and we look forward to following their adventures in season 2 of Snatch."
Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint plays Charlie Cavendish in the organised crime caper, and it's the second piece of good news he's has this month, after his other show Sick Note was renewed earlier in April for a second season over at Sky Atlantic, before the first has even started airing.
- 4/20/2017
- Den of Geek
Revealing statistics unveiled during this week’s CinemaCon.
Aarp announced on Wednesday their findings of a study examining the importance of older cinema-goers for the movie business.
The study, titled The 50-plus Moviegoer, An Industry Segment That Should Not Be Ignored and conducted by marketing data analytics firm Movio on behalf of Aarp, was released during CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
According to the findings, more than 30 percent of all visits by moviegoers were made up by adults aged 50 and over.
“Theater owners and studios will benefit from the insight provided in this study, which demonstrates that this demographic cluster – the 50-plus – has the ability to significantly contribute to the success of movies at the domestic box office,” said Heather Nawrocki, director, Aarp Movies for Grownups.
“The 50-plus audience segment has disposable income, more leisure time and high loyalty to specific actors making this segment extremely valuable.”
The Aarp study highlighted an emerging genre referred to as “mature...
Aarp announced on Wednesday their findings of a study examining the importance of older cinema-goers for the movie business.
The study, titled The 50-plus Moviegoer, An Industry Segment That Should Not Be Ignored and conducted by marketing data analytics firm Movio on behalf of Aarp, was released during CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
According to the findings, more than 30 percent of all visits by moviegoers were made up by adults aged 50 and over.
“Theater owners and studios will benefit from the insight provided in this study, which demonstrates that this demographic cluster – the 50-plus – has the ability to significantly contribute to the success of movies at the domestic box office,” said Heather Nawrocki, director, Aarp Movies for Grownups.
“The 50-plus audience segment has disposable income, more leisure time and high loyalty to specific actors making this segment extremely valuable.”
The Aarp study highlighted an emerging genre referred to as “mature...
- 3/29/2017
- ScreenDaily
As the film distribution landscape keeps evolving, distributors of foreign language fare in the United States are struggling to keep up with a brave new world. French cinema, a niche favorite of American audiences for decades, is struggling to stay in the game — and right now, its future is uncertain.
“Ten years ago, we had more success at the box office,” Isabelle Giordano, the Executive Director of UniFrance, recently told IndieWire. “We have to admit that the situation is not as good as it was then.”
But it’s not for lack of effort. Thanks to a number of initiatives headed up by UniFrance – a government-supported body that operates with the sole aim of promoting French cinema throughout the world – French films are fighting to find new life at the U.S. box office.
Per Deadline, ticket sales in foreign markets for French titles dipped to $35 million in 2016, down 69% from...
“Ten years ago, we had more success at the box office,” Isabelle Giordano, the Executive Director of UniFrance, recently told IndieWire. “We have to admit that the situation is not as good as it was then.”
But it’s not for lack of effort. Thanks to a number of initiatives headed up by UniFrance – a government-supported body that operates with the sole aim of promoting French cinema throughout the world – French films are fighting to find new life at the U.S. box office.
Per Deadline, ticket sales in foreign markets for French titles dipped to $35 million in 2016, down 69% from...
- 3/9/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The Keanu-ssance is in full swing, but here's some news which could cause that upward trajectory to come to a crashing halt.
Before we get to the bad news, let's all get on the same page. We've known for months that Keanu Reeves is set to star in a China-set film racing movie called Rally Car. Here's the synopsis:
Rally Car centers on a hot-shot former champion Nascar driver (Reeves) who doesn’t want to believe his glory days are behind him. When his professional and personal life begin to spiral out of control, he’s forced to take part in a high-stakes international rally race across the face of China, with a young Chinese girl as his co-driver, in order to prove he’s still the badass racer he thinks he is.
That alone might not be so terrible...the bad news is who is going to direct it.
Before we get to the bad news, let's all get on the same page. We've known for months that Keanu Reeves is set to star in a China-set film racing movie called Rally Car. Here's the synopsis:
Rally Car centers on a hot-shot former champion Nascar driver (Reeves) who doesn’t want to believe his glory days are behind him. When his professional and personal life begin to spiral out of control, he’s forced to take part in a high-stakes international rally race across the face of China, with a young Chinese girl as his co-driver, in order to prove he’s still the badass racer he thinks he is.
That alone might not be so terrible...the bad news is who is going to direct it.
- 2/15/2017
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
Exclusive: Paris-based Upside Distribution is screening a teaser trailer at Efm.
French action director Olivier Megaton is hitting the European Film Market (Efm) this weekend with a teaser screening of his upcoming documentary Roc, The World’s Greatest Con Artist, about infamous French con artist Christophe Rocancourt, which is currently in post-production.
The Taken 2 and Taken 3 and Transporter 3 director reveals that between big budget action pictures he likes to make documentaries.
“I started out as a painter, not a director. Documentary helps me return to something more human and artisanal that I had when I was painting,” says Megaton.
“As time goes by the films I make are more and more heavy, complicated and pressured. When I am not making films, I need to do something different as I am addicted to work and find it impossible to stop. Documentary is something perfect for me. There’s not so much pressure and I love...
French action director Olivier Megaton is hitting the European Film Market (Efm) this weekend with a teaser screening of his upcoming documentary Roc, The World’s Greatest Con Artist, about infamous French con artist Christophe Rocancourt, which is currently in post-production.
The Taken 2 and Taken 3 and Transporter 3 director reveals that between big budget action pictures he likes to make documentaries.
“I started out as a painter, not a director. Documentary helps me return to something more human and artisanal that I had when I was painting,” says Megaton.
“As time goes by the films I make are more and more heavy, complicated and pressured. When I am not making films, I need to do something different as I am addicted to work and find it impossible to stop. Documentary is something perfect for me. There’s not so much pressure and I love...
- 2/12/2017
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Paris-based Upside Distribution is screening a teaser trailer at Efm.
French action director Olivier Megaton is hitting the European Film Market (Efm) this weekend with a teaser screening of his upcoming documentary Roc, The World’s Greatest Con Artist, about infamous French con artist Christophe Rocancourt, which is currently in post-production.
The Taken 2 and Taken 3 and Transporter 3 director reveals that between big budget action pictures he likes to make documentaries.
“I’m started out as a painter, not a director. Documentary helps me return to something more human and artisanal that I had when I was painting,” says Megaton.
“As time goes by the films I make are more and more heavy, complicated and pressured. When I am not making films, I need to do something different as I am addicted to work and find it impossible to stop. Documentary is something perfect for me. There’s not so much pressure and I love...
French action director Olivier Megaton is hitting the European Film Market (Efm) this weekend with a teaser screening of his upcoming documentary Roc, The World’s Greatest Con Artist, about infamous French con artist Christophe Rocancourt, which is currently in post-production.
The Taken 2 and Taken 3 and Transporter 3 director reveals that between big budget action pictures he likes to make documentaries.
“I’m started out as a painter, not a director. Documentary helps me return to something more human and artisanal that I had when I was painting,” says Megaton.
“As time goes by the films I make are more and more heavy, complicated and pressured. When I am not making films, I need to do something different as I am addicted to work and find it impossible to stop. Documentary is something perfect for me. There’s not so much pressure and I love...
- 2/12/2017
- ScreenDaily
Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.
-Sony Pictures is acquiring the worldwide rights to “Greyhound,” the World War II drama written by Tom Hanks, Deadline reports. Hanks will also star in the film, which will be directed by Aaron Schneider (“Get Low”), and produce with his Playtone partner Gary Goetzman.
In the film, Hanks plays George Krause, the commander of a Navy destroyer called the Greyhound. Sony acquired the rights to the film at the Berlin International Film Festival’s European Film Market.
Read More: Shia Labeouf, Rooney Mara and More: 10 Hot Projects at Berlin’s European Film Market
-Lionsgate has acquired U.S. rights to action film “Rally Car,” starring Keanu Reeves. The film will be directed by Olivier Megaton (“Taken 2,...
-Sony Pictures is acquiring the worldwide rights to “Greyhound,” the World War II drama written by Tom Hanks, Deadline reports. Hanks will also star in the film, which will be directed by Aaron Schneider (“Get Low”), and produce with his Playtone partner Gary Goetzman.
In the film, Hanks plays George Krause, the commander of a Navy destroyer called the Greyhound. Sony acquired the rights to the film at the Berlin International Film Festival’s European Film Market.
Read More: Shia Labeouf, Rooney Mara and More: 10 Hot Projects at Berlin’s European Film Market
-Lionsgate has acquired U.S. rights to action film “Rally Car,” starring Keanu Reeves. The film will be directed by Olivier Megaton (“Taken 2,...
- 2/10/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
Lionsgate, which is releasing the Keanu Reeves-starring John Wick 2 nationwide tomorrow via its Summit label, has just acquired U.S. distribution rights to Reeves’ film Rally Car. Deadline revealed last month the distributor was in pole position to land the film. The China-centric movie will be directed by Olivier Megaton (Taken 2, Taken 3, Colombiana) and be shot from a script by Jeremy Lott based on a treatment by Stephen Hamel. The film, described as in the vein of Can…...
- 2/9/2017
- Deadline
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