5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD GET CINEMAWORLD

It's been a year since I first posted about CinemaWorld. Here are five reasons why you should subscribe now.

Catch 24/7, uninterrupted viewing of only the best movies from around the globe.  CinemaWorld is the first and only pan-Asia international movie channel.  Being first launched last October 2012, CinemaWorld is celebrating its first year after first airing in the Philippines and, to date, is available on Sky Cable and CableLink.

 

Know five reasons why you should pick up the phone, call your cable operator, and get CinemaWorld.

 

1. CinemaWorld offers award-winning movies and festival hits from around the world

CinemaWorld brings the best of movie entertainment from the world’s top storytellers.  From award-winning movies, to box-office successes, critics’ favorites and festival hits, the channel guarantees to be a treat for Filipino cable subscribers.

Fish Tank, the British Film winner of the 2010 BAFTA Film Awards and Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, revolves around a single mother Joanne and her rebellious fifteen-year old daughter Mia (played by Katie Jarvis), who are constantly at odds with one another.  Their relationship take a turn for the worse when mother and daughter fall in love with Connor (played by Michael Fassbender, who starred in 300, X-Men: First Class, Prometheus), boyfriend of the former.  Mia attempts to seduce Connor to take him away from her mother, and when she succeeds, Joanne's greatest anger is not with the man who has slept with her under aged daughter, but the girl who is now a rival for the affections of her lover.  Written and directed by Andrea Arnold, Fish Tank premieres October 5, at 9:00 PM, on CinemaWorld.

 

2. CinemaWorld has movies for every member of the family

CinemaWorld provides a breadth of entertainment, cutting across all genres.  The channel’s wide range of movies cover Action, Romance, Family, Action, Comedy, Suspense / Thriller, Horror, Drama – offering its viewers even a breadth of the world.

In time for the Halloween season, brought by the producers of The Ring, Shelter gives Filipino TV subscribers a new Horror movie to watch out for.   After her husband’s death, Dr. Cara Harding (played by multi-award winning actress Julianne Moore), a psychiatrist, finds her faith in God shaken until she begins watching over a new patient.  Being treated for multiple personalities, the patient who goes by Adam / David / Wesley (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is soon discovered to take on personalities of several murder victims.  As Cara finds out more about him and his past, the closer she and her loved ones are to becoming murder victims themselves.  Shelter will be shown first on Philippine TV on October 13, at 9:00 PM.

 

3. CinemaWorld is a unique option to your regular TV viewing

CinemaWorld gives diversity to liven up television view, adding a whole new dimension to one’s entertainment options.  No other channel gives such diversity of movies from different parts of the globe.

 

Zaytoun, produced only last year in the UK, is a Thriller Drama that takes on the somber reality of the Israel-Lebanon conflict, yet manages to draw in its audience with a fresh take on the meaning of friendship, survival and reconciliation.  Ten-year old Fahed lives with his father and grandfather in the Shatila Palestinian Refugee Camp.  His father obsessively tends to his prized but sickly olive tree, a remnant of the home they fled in 1948.  One day, Fahed and his group of friends see someone come off an Israeli jet – Yoni, a fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force, who is then captured and imprisoned.  Wanting to save his father’s possession from his ancestral land, Fahed frees Yoni to get him past the border and into Palestine to plant his father’s olive tree.  The two must overcome the fierce hatred, raw emotion and intolerance built up over generations in order to survive the dangerous journey as Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese military chase them across war-torn Lebanon.  Zaytoun will first air on CinemaWorld this October 6, at 9:00 PM.

 

4. CinemaWorld allows you to travel from the comforts of your home

Crossing boundaries and cultures, the channel takes its viewers on a ride to see the world.  From Italy, to Germany, to Iran, to Argentina, CinemaWorld knows no limits and helps expand horizons beyond one’s imagination.  Better understand cultures and languages as CinemaWorld offers a different kind of journey.

In German Comedy Turkish for Beginners, Lena is sent on a vacation to Southeast Asia.  Unfortunately, her plane is forced to do an emergency landing in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and winds up on an island with a sexy Turk, his religious sister, and a stuttering Greek.  The multi-cultured and multi-awarded movie revolves around their misadventures and what they need to do to cope with life on an island until they are rescued.  Boasting of being one of the Audience Awardees at the 2013 German Film Awards, Turkish for Beginners will have its Asian cable premiere on October 20, at 9:00 PM.

 

5. Movies on CinemaWorld are fresh yet still mainstream

The channel features international movies that do not make it to local theaters, yet are successes in their countries of origin.  CinemaWorld makes sure that these hidden gems are not missed out on by the rest of the world.  Freshly Squeezed is definitely one of them in this Sex and the City meets Bridget Jones German Comedy.

Andrea is single and perfectly content.  She then runs into her childhood friend Gregor (played by Alexander Beyer), a seductive man of the world, and meets a sweet and kind and noble young lawyer, Chris (played by Tom Wlaschiha, who stars in Game of Thrones), who helps her when she sprains her ankle.  Within a few days, she finds herself in bed, first with Gregor then with Chris.  But who, she wonders several weeks later, is responsible for the little baby growing within her?  The funny and entertaining Freshly Squeezed will air on CinemaWorld starting October 27, at 9:00 PM.

 

To know more about CinemaWorld, log on to www.facebook.com/CinemaWorldAsia, follow @CinemaWorldAsia, or visit www.cinemaworld.asia.

 

CinemaWorld is available in Metro Manila on Cable Link on channel 301, and on SkyCable HD on channel 184.  Contact your cable operator for more details.

Runner Runner movie review

Story: A grad student gambles with his life when he is seduced by the immense wealth promised by an online gambling tycoon.

Character quote and photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

 

Review: The internet is probably the best innovation invented that changed the world. Almost all benefited from the service of the internet. This also includes online gambling. This movie is the modern version of gangster genre. Sometimes, you can't separate gangsters from gambling in the movies.

 

Justine Timberlake proved once again that he is gaining box-office recognition. He knows how to select a good movie just like his previous works, In Time and Friends With Benefits which one of my favorites.

 

One thing to look forward to is the two actors who will have upcoming comic book incarnations. Recently, I announced in my other blog that Ben Affleck will takeover as Batman in Man Of Steel sequel. He plays online gambling lord Ivan Block. Anthony Mackie plays FBI agent Shavers. Mackie will make his superhero debut as the winged Avenger named Falcon in Captain America: Winter Soldier. It's a good start to follow up Anthony Mackie's career from now on.

 

Besides them, it is also an addition to see a femme fatale like Gemma Arterton here. She was Io from Clash Of The Titans, Gretel from Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Runner Runner is released by Twentieth Century Fox and distributed by Warner Bros. Phils.

Paranoia movie review

Story: A young man entangled in industrial espionage between two rival tech corporate executives.

Note: Paranoia is driven by anxiety and fear. There are times that it is irrational but it is not a phobia.

 

Review: Corporate rivalries is nothing new especially here in the Philippines. We are aware of rivalries in TV networks, fast foods, cellular services, and even in soda drinks. I don't need to identify who are these because you know who am I talking about.

 

I like the premise of the movie. There are battles that are done not with weapons. This is were industrial espionage comes in. There are no lives at stake but the results can also be a disaster. Gone are the days when the villains of the story are the terrorists, mad scientists, the marginalized. The most sinister evil today can be personified by a corporate executive. The corporate represents power and greed.

 

The conflict when you found out who is being used as chess pieces and you don't know how to escape the situation without sacrificing everything you hold precious. The casting is a mix of veterans and new talents. Liam Hemsworth is making a name for himself not because of his brother, Chris, who is known for his role as the Asgardian Avenger, Thor but for his role in The Hunger Games.

 

The veterans are Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman. You don't expect this guys especially Harrison Ford to embody the evil of a corporate executive and given this kind of role in this movie. What I like about this movie is that it can be a learning reference in business. Paranoia is shown exclusively at Ayala cinemas.

We're The Millers movie review

Synopsis: David Clark(Jason Sudeikis) is a small-time drug dealer but when he owes his supplier a major debt, he has no choice but to agree to be a drug mule across Mexico pretending to be a family man with a stripper for a wife(Jennifer Aniston), a runaway(Emma Roberts) and neighbor(Will Poulter) as his kids on a family road trip.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

 

Review: Jason Sudeikis usually stars in comedies with a group but this is the first time he is the sole focus as a lead. For the other cast, it is also refreshing to see another actress plays a stripper and I didn't expect it was Jennifer Aniston and she was a good choice to play the role. She is funny and sexy.

 

For Will Poulter, I am surprised to see him grew up. I last saw him in Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader but it seems he is too old to play the part of Eustace Scrubbs in the next Narnia movie. But you will never forget this guy after watching this. Emma Roberts does her share of comedy in her own way. She also grew up from her unforgettable title role as Nancy Drew years ago.

 

I first thought that the story was so simple but when I watched it, I never expected that I am going to get a good laugh. This is probably the best comedy for this year. I can compare the comedy of this movie to Hangover with a difference. It was not surprising that this movie is a hit in U.S.

 

We're The Millers is directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. We're The Millers is now showing in Philippine cinemas and distributed and released by Warner Bros. Philippines.

Sneak Peek: Linsanity

Online release

In February 2012, the New York Knicks, mired in a disappointing season and out of desperation, looked to the end of their bench and found Jeremy Lin, an undrafted free agent from Harvard. On the verge of seeing his lifelong NBA dream vanish, Lin – at, or near what was believed to be his last chance as an NBA professional, underwent a now-legendary run, obliterating stereotypes along the way, and in the process birthed a global phenomenon known as "LINSANITY" Basketball -- and the world – was never the same.

Photo courtesy of Solar Entertainment Corp.

Solar Entertainment Corporation  presents “LINSANITY”, a film that chronicles the amazing journey of the American-Asian NBA superstar Jeremy Lin.

 Jeremy Lin came from a humble background to make an unbelievable run in the NBA. State high school champion, all-Ivy League at Harvard, undrafted by the NBA and unwanted there: his story started long before he landed on Broadway

 A native of Palo Alto, CA, Lin is the NBA’s first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Overlooked after his prep career ended, he is believed to be the only California Division II Player of the Year to not receive a Division I scholarship. However, Harvard University did take notice of Lin, and he helped pave the way for his Harvard team to become nationally-ranked for the first time in its history along with making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1946.

Undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft, he was signed by his home town Golden State Warriors for the 2010-11 season. After being cut by the Warriors, he was signed by the Houston Rockets, and ultimately cut on Christmas Day in 2011. He was then picked up by the Knicks, and after being inserted as a starter for the injury-laden team in February 2012. In the course of just a few weeks, Lin went from benchwarmer to international icon, by scoring a historic 136 points in his first five career starts. His magical run included scoring 38 points against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, 28 points on the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, and 27 points and a last-second game winning three-pointer against the Toronto Raptors. Heading into the 2012 off-season, Lin was a restricted free agent and was ultimately signed by the Houston Rockets.

 

 Get court-side seats to “Linsanity” as it opens on Oct 2

in cinemas nationwide.

“INSIDIOUS 2” GROSSES P50.70-M IN 5 DAYS, BIGGEST OPENING EVER FOR HORROR GENRE

MANILA, Sept. 23, 2013 – Sony Pictures’ horror thriller “Insidious: Chapter 2” haunted the Philippine box-office to the tune of P50.70-million in five days of release (Sept 18-22), terrifying the competition for a No.1 bow as well as the industry’s record for biggest opening ever for a horror film.

Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures

            This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. which distributed the film.

            The sequel to the 2011 surprise hit “Insidious” outperformed the recent horror blockbuster “The Conjuring” which opened last August with P33.5-million.  Ironically, both movies were directed by James Wan who’s being touted as the new, modern master of the genre.

            The successful launch of “Insidious: Chapter 2” in the Philippines mirrored its sensational run in the U.S. and North America where it opened at No. 1 last week to massive $41-M.  It’s ten-day total now stands at a robust $60.9-M which already exceeds the $54-M domestic gross of its predecessor. A third chapter is now in development.

Back in the Philippines, “Insidious: Chapter 2” rolled out in 116 screens nationwide and recorded its biggest grosses at Trinoma (P2.52-M), SM Mall of Asia (P2.51-M) and SM North EDSA (P2.46-M).

The Top Ten cinemas also include SM Megamall (P2.19-M), Glorietta 4 (P1.81-M), SM Manila (P1.51-M), Gateway (P1.36-M), SM Fairview (P1.21-M), SM Cebu (P1.12-M) and Greenbelt 3 (P1.05-M).

A haunted family struggles to uncover a terrifying secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world in “Insidious: Chapter 2,” the latest nerve-twisting horror thriller from director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell (“Saw,” “Insidious”).

            Produced by “Paranormal Activity's” Jason Blum and Oren Peli, the sequel reteams the cast of the first film, including Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey, Lin Shaye and Ty Simpkins.

            Now playing across the Philippines, “Insidious: Chapter 2” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. For more movie updates and reviews, follow Mark_Templar on Twitter.

“THE COUNSELOR” CHARACTER POSTERS REVEALED

Online Release

 

Legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott and Pulitzer Prize winning author Cormac McCarthy (“No Country for Old Men”) have joined forces in the motion picture thriller “The Counselor,” starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt.  McCarthy, making his screenwriting debut and Scott interweave the author’s characteristic wit and dark humor with a nightmarish scenario, in which a respected lawyer’s one-time dalliance with an illegal business deal spirals out of control.

 

                “The Counselor” is a cautionary tale about mistakenly tempting fate.  Rounding off this tale are people who get involved in something they should have stayed out but are eventually lured into a world where immense amount of cash can be quickly handed in a very dangerous way.

 

                Revealed are the latest online character posters of “The Counselors” assembled to portray unforgettable characters – damaged goods yet attractive who have all ducked in unexpected moments of thrill and humor.

 

                Michael Fassbender is simply known as The Counselor tempted to try for once an illegal way of amassing a large amount of money instantly. Although he’s received numerous warnings about the potential dangers of getting into this deal, his blind arrogance deafened him of those warnings.

 

                Laura, played by Penélope Cruz is the fiancée of The Counselor.  Laura is a beautiful woman whom The Counselor prizes the most.  Her intelligence and foresight – and her love for The Counselor – are no match for his descent into the rabbit hole, and they both face tragic consequences if the deal he has made with unseen, powerful forces, goes south.

 

                Javier Bardem takes on the colorful character of Reiner, a nightclub owner who brought The Counselor into the shady deal.  Reiner straddles two worlds: the extravagant and decadent realm of a nightclub owner, and the brutal, lawless and merciless criminal underworld that is rapidly closing in on The Counselor, and on Reiner.  Reiner appears to possess special insight into The Counselor’s increasingly dire circumstances, but he’s just as much a potential victim of a life he little understands. 

 

                Malkina, the toughest and probably the darkest of characters who surrounds The Counselor is played by no other than Cameron Diaz.  As Reiner’s malevolent girlfriend, Malkina’s drive is to take control and possess anything she believes she deserves.

 

                Brad Pitt rounds up the cirque of intrigue with his portrayal of Westray, a philosophizing and shady middleman whose warnings to The Counselor about the dangers of a world he seeks to enter go unheeded.  Handsome, charming and witty, Westray is also an unapologetic womanizer. 

 

                “The Counselor” will open November 15 in cinemas from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Emma Roberts in 'runaway' hit "We're The Millers"

Movie release

 

Young actress Emma Roberts (“Aquamarine,” “Valentine's Day”) stars in New Line Cinema's hit comedy “We're the Millers” as pierced street punk Casey, who rounds out the fake Miller family as the daughter David (Jason Sudeikis) never wanted. He knows she’s practically homeless; she knows she can get some cash out of him. So, they strike a deal for her to come along.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

In the film, David Clark (Sudeikis) is a small-time pot dealer who, in order to pay a huge debt to his supplier, Brad (Ed Helms) must now become a big-time drug smuggler by bringing Brad’s latest shipment in from Mexico. Twisting the arms of his neighbors, cynical stripper Rose (Jennifer Aniston) and wannabe customer Kenny (Will Poulter), as well as streetwise teen Casey, David devises a foolproof plan. One fake wife, two pretend kids and a huge, shiny RV later, the “Millers” are headed south of the border for a Fourth of July weekend that is sure to end with a bang.

Emma Roberts allows that her character “is a runaway and a bit of a delinquent, a brat, a rebel, and in it for the money. The four of them, the Millers, could not be any more different; they’re all kind of loveable, but each character has a quirky shortcoming of some kind, which makes for a funny group. And a pretty realistic family, I think,” she laughs.

Roberts enjoyed getting to revisit the attitude she remembers from her own teen years in playing Casey. “She’s so sarcastic and she’s miserable for a lot of the movie,” the actress says. “So it was fun to get to play her just because I got to do a lot of eye-rolling and huffing and puffing. I guess I went through a phase like that, so it was fun to get to play that.”

Roberts says her greatest challenge on the movie was being away from family and friends for the film’s three-month shoot, but says co-star Jennifer Aniston helped. “She was so nice,” Roberts recalls. “We hung out a little bit outside of work and she was just the sweetest, most down-to-earth person. And I’ve always been such a fan of Jennifer, so to get to work with her was really, really cool. And Jason Sudeikis is hilarious. He was really funny. A lot of the stuff in the movie he ad-libbed, and we would be dying laughing, trying to hold it in so we could get through the take.”

On the set, Roberts was frequently on her smart phone, tweeting, checking email, and so forth. She even selected her character’s prop smart phone for use in the film to match her own, real one, so she could use that when in the background.

“Very cagey, that Emma Roberts,” director Rawson Marshall Thurber grins, adding that “Emma is funny in a way that I don’t know if she knows how funny she is. She has no filter, so she’ll say whatever’s on her mind, and some of it is truly the most hilarious stuff you can imagine. She was fabulous.”

 

New Line Cinema’s “We’re The Millers” opens across the Philippines on Sept. 18 and is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

The Visual Special Effects of Kung Fu Divas

You don't get to see two box-office actress in one production that often so it is a rare opportunity to see actress from two different networks paired up in a  movie. That is the case with the latest movie, Kung Fu Divas starring Ai-Ai Delas Alas and Marian Rivera.

 

What makes this movie so unique that the visuals and special effects are from the same people that brought you Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles. Ai-Ai admits that she find it difficult pretending that she is dodging arrows that will appear in the post-production while doing a sequence in green screen.

 

Marian said that even though they are doing scenes in a CGI environment, there are stunts that are real. Ai-Ai and Marian experienced hanging in stunt cables and coordinated fight scenes with Hong Kong stuntmen. Ai-Ai confessed that these stuntmen are really as hard as a block. Marian said she already has experienced doing stunts in her Darna series, it was more challenging in this movie. Both of them took Wushu kung fu training for this movie.

 

Kung Fu Divas opens October 3 in Philippine cinemas.

Fortissimo Films secures rights to Joselito Altarejos' Unfriend

EXCLUSIVE: Fortissimo picks up international rights to Unfriend from Filipino ‘new wave’ auteur Joselito Altarejos

Fortissimo Films has added another auteur title to its growing 2013 release slate with Unfriend from Joselito Altarejos, the Filipino director behind The Game of Juan’s Life, Pink Halo-Halo and Antonio’s Secret, and renowned as one of the innovators of gay cinema in the Philippines.

Fortissimo will represent all rights outside of the Philippines. Local release through Solar Entertainment Corporation is planned for early 2104 while Fortissimo will launch the film internationally later this year.

The deal was negotiated by Fortissimo chairman Michael J Werner together with the film’s executive producers Wilson Tieng, head of distributor Solar Entertainment Corporation, and director Brillante Mendoza.

Set in Manila and based on a recent news story, Unfriend tells the story of a socially isolated teen, David (Sandino Martin) coming to terms with his sexuality and dealing with the intense emotions of his first relationship, which has gone bad.

After having met fellow teen Jonathan (Angelo Ilagan) on Facebook, David begins to develop strong feelings for his social media friend but soon realizes he has been discarded for another. David embarks on a self destructive mission to win him back at all costs.

Direct source: http://www.screendaily.com/5059480.article

“GRAVITY” PULLS AUDIENCES TO UNFORGIVING REALM OF DEEP SPACE

Warner Bros. movie release

 

Warner Bros.’ new heart-pounding thriller “Gravity” starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney promises to pull audiences into the infinite and unforgiving realm of deep space. The film was directed by Oscar® nominee Alfonso Cuarón (“Children of Men,” “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”).

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

In the film, Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) in command. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone—tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

Right now, orbiting hundreds of miles above the Earth, there are people working in a place where there is very little separation between life and death. The inherent dangers of spaceflight have grown in the decades since we first began venturing beyond our own atmosphere…and those increasing dangers are manmade. The refuse from past missions and defunct satellites has formed a debris field that can cause disaster in an instant. NASA has even given the scenario a name: the Kessler Syndrome.

David Heyman, who produced “Gravity” with Cuarón, attests, “This is a real issue. Every screw or piece of junk that has been dropped or left behind is orbiting at an incredible speed and if, or when, they collide, they create still more debris. It is life-threatening for the astronauts, the spacecrafts and possibly for us here on Earth, too.”

Bullock affirms, “It is heartbreaking to think about not only the destruction of this planet, but also about what we don’t see: the trash that is literally orbiting above us.”

That premise becomes the catalyst for a harrowing fight for survival in “Gravity,” which transports you into the awe-inspiring but forbidding vacuum of space.

The film opens in the silent abyss above the Earth’s atmosphere, where the Shuttle Explorer is in orbit. Mission Specialist Ryan Stone (Bullock), attached to a robotic arm, is installing a new scanning system on the Hubble Telescope. Dr. Stone’s obvious discomfort in zero gravity is in stark contrast to Mission Commander Matt Kowalski’s (Clooney) apparent ease. On his final voyage into space, Kowalski is having a fine time testing the mettle of a new jet pack that lets him fly unrestrained by the usual tethers.

On the other side of the planet, the intentional demolition of an obsolete satellite has sent sharp fragments hurtling into space, setting off a chain reaction that puts the fast-growing debris field on a collision course with Explorer. The inescapable impact is catastrophic, destroying the shuttle and leaving Stone and Kowalski as the lone survivors. All communication with Mission Control has been lost…and, with it, any chance of rescue. Adrift in the void, the two must find a way to see past their own limitations and escape their inertia if they are ever going to get back to Earth.

Bullock remarks, “I think it’s a story about what makes us try when it seems there is no light at the end of the tunnel. What is it that makes you go that extra step just in case it was worth the effort to try?”

“It is very much a woman’s passage from a place of loss and being in an emotionally numb state to a place where she rediscovers her purpose and reason for life…and then fights for it,” Heyman concludes.

Opening across the Philippines in Oct. 3 in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D, 2D and regular theatres, “Gravity” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

Colin Firth in Arthur Newman

Oscar award-winning actor Colin Firth and Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt star together in the romantic comedy, Arthur Newman.

Photo courtesy of Solar Entertainment Corp.

In the film Colin Firth plays Wallace Avery is tired of being a loser. His ex-wife and son hate him and he’s blown his one shot at living his dream. After once being a hot shot in competitive amateur golf, Wallace is dubbed “The Choker” in the pro circle.

After being unable to shake his nerve, he does something radical. Wallace stages his own death, buys a new identity as Arthur Newman and decides to move away. On the road trip to his new life, he meets Mike (Emily Blunt), who is also trying to forget her past. Connected by a common goal, Arthur and Mike break into empty homes and take on the identities of the absent owners. In the process, they begin to own up to the identities they've left behind and help each other to rediscover themselves.

"Arthur Newman" is released and distributed by Solar Entertainment Corporation. 

 

Showing on Octoberber 11. Nationwide.

Runner Runner Feature: Ben Affleck

One of my favorite achievements of Ben Affleck was in Shakespeare in Love Daredevil and Argo. Recently, it was revealed that he will take the role of The Dark Knight in Man Of Steel sequel.

 

Movie release

 

Despite the risks – statistical and criminal – online gambling holds innumerable attractions.   In today's post-economic-meltdown world, young people have fewer job options than ever before. But that hasn't done anything to affect their desire to get-rich-quickly.  This generation – consumers from early childhood – is used to getting what they want, when they want it, with the click of a mouse.

                “Runner Runner” depicts the risks of this reality starring Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake and Gemma Arterton where Timberlake plays Princeton grad and former Wall Street star Richie Furst, who believes he’s been swindled by an online poker organization based in Costa Rica. He decides to head to Central America to confront the owner, Affleck’s Ivan Block, and is soon seduced by the promise of immense wealth. As Block’s right-hand man he uncovers more than he bargains for, and is soon juggling loyalties and trying to stay alive.

                The lavish life of “Runner Runner’s” gambling kingpin Ivan Block is what director Brad Furman calls, “the new American dream.”  He elaborates:  “Technology has led us to a world where everything comes very quickly, which has expedited this concept of the American dream.  Young people today want everything faster – especially money.”

                Affleck agrees, “Underneath this allure of fast and easy money is something inherently fraudulent,  crooked, broken and wrong.” Everything now is about getting rich quickly, by any means necessary.  The new corporate ethos is to cut the other guy’s throat.  In some circles, it’s even considered healthy and to be prized.”

                Ivan Block’s own journey down the rabbit hole has yielded untold riches, which is all the enticement Richie needs for what ultimately becomes a rite of passage.  “Ivan Block is the unapologetic mentor who says, ‘Get what you can get and don’t think twice about it,’” says Affleck.  “Block wants to manipulate Richie, to get him to be part of his team.  His mission is to groom Richie so he won’t object to some of the darker things he sees.”

                Affleck notes that reading people is one of Block’s chief strengths in distracting Richie from the tycoon’s less savory aspects: “Block knows what buttons to press on people, and his most impressive trick is to distract them from his true motives.  To Block, people are insecure and almost desperate to succeed. He knows people feel they’ve been kicked around and that we’re taught to chase the dollar and to equate wealth with status, honor, success, and manliness.  So he holds up that wealth, which blinds Richie to what’s really going on.”

                “The movie hopefully will show how complicated Ivan Block is. We like to stand apart and look at people in this binary way and say you're bad and you’re good, and I think that makes really an interesting drama. What I hoped was that people would understand and identify with this guy on some levels, and maybe some people would find him and what he's proselytizing appealing. Justin's character does early on, and then given time he's revealed to be a guy who makes very bad choices and does things we recognize as immoral. What I think is interesting is that hopefully, if we've done our job right, you see at the root of those choices was a guy who wasn't necessarily bad to begin with, but chose a road. Once he made that choice he did what he had to do in order to be successful on that road,” Affleck explains of his character.

                Before stepping in the caped crusader’s realm, Affleck says he immensely enjoyed the opportunity to “chew the scenery” of “Runner Runner” and, after the enormous success he had as director of last year’s “Argo,” relished the chance to “just be an actor again”. Which may come as a surprise to those who have adjusted to thinking of him as a world-class director – before the groundbreaking “Argo,” Affleck helmed the kidnapping drama “Gone Baby Gone” and Boston heist thriller “The Town.”

                Included in Affleck’s journey as one of Hollywood’s A-list actors are unforgettable and blockbuster films such as “Good Will Hunting,” “Chasing Amy,” “Jay and Silent Bob,” “Mallrats,” “Dogma,” “Armageddon,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Daredevil,” “Gigli,” “Hollywoodland,” “Smokin’ Aces” and “The Company Men.”   

 

                “Runner Runner” opens September 26 in theaters from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.