CHRISTOPHER NOLAN TO DIRECT EPIC ACTION THRILLER “DUNKIRK”FOR WARNER

Press release

Casting is underway on the ensemble to be led by unknown actors, with Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hardy in talks to join the cast

BURBANK, CA – December 28, 2015 – Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Christopher Nolan will direct “Dunkirk” from his own original screenplay.  An epic action thriller, “Dunkirk” is set during the legendary evacuation. The announcement was made by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production.

The large scale film will be shot on a combination of IMAX 65mm and 65mm large format film photography for maximum image quality and high impact immersion.  Shooting will begin in May using many of the real locations of the true-life events, which form the background for the story.

The cast will be headed by yet-to-be-cast unknowns.  Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hardy are currently in talks to join the ensemble.

Nolan will also produce the film with his longtime producing partner Emma Thomas.

Silverman stated, “We are thrilled to be continuing our collaboration with Christopher Nolan, a singular filmmaker who has created some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful films of all time.  ‘Dunkirk’ is a gripping and powerful story and we are excited to see Chris, Emma and their cast realize it on the big screen.”

Warner Bros. Pictures is distributing “Dunkirk” worldwide and has slated the film for a July 21, 2017 release.  The film will be released theatrically on IMAX, 70mm, 35mm and all other screens.

“EDDIE THE EAGLE” TRAILER REVEAL

Eddie never gives up and likes to prove his detractors wrong. Sounds universally familiar?  Just like the unbreakable focus and determination of the recently crowned Ms. Universe 2015, Philippines’ Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach comes an inspiring story based on true events in “Eddie The Eagle” starring Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton. 

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

                From the producers of the blockbuster action movie “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” the feel-good story of “Eddie The Eagle” is about Michael “Eddie” Edwards (Egerton), a courageous yet unlikely British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself – even as his family and the entire nation initially counted him out.  Persistently trying to perfect his skill with the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach, portrayed by Hugh Jackman, Eddie eventually wins the hearts of sports fans round the globe when he performed a historic feat at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.  A loveable underdog with a never-say-die attitude will rise in “Eddie The Eagle” when it opens in cinemas this April 2016. 

GOLDEN GLOBES AND ANNIE AWARDS (2016) NOMINEE FOR BEST ANIMATION “SNOOPY AND CHARLIE BROWN THE PEANUTS MOVIE” VOICE CAST

Press release

 Golden Globes’ and Annie Awards’ 2016 nominee for Best Animated Motion Picture, “Snoopy and Charlie Brown The Peanuts Movie (3D)” will finally be seen in Philippine theatres starting January 8.

                From the imagination of Charles M. Schulz and the creators of the Ice Age films, “Snoopy and Charlie Brown The Peanuts Movie” is at its core, about everyday anxieties we encounter while growing up, going to school, and dealing with the perceptions people have about one another.  “We took that theme and changed the overall tone of the movie, which resulted in a stronger message, one that both adults and children can relate to,” says Craig Schulz, son of Charles.   

                The universal appeal of all Peanuts characters—encompassing Charlie Brown’s eternal underdog status, Linus’ heart, Franklin’s philosophy, Marcie’s introspection, Lucy’s crabbiness, Sally’s unrequited affection for her Sweet Babboo Linus, and Snoopy’s many personas— is the reason the strip and its characters have remained relevant as Peanuts celebrates its 65th anniversary with a big screen debut and casting the right young actors would be crucial to the film’s success. 

               

                After an exhausting search, Martino found his Charlie Brown in ten-year-old, Scarsdale, New York resident Noah Schnapp. “Noah has a great voice for Charlie Brown, but also has a similar temperament to the character,” says director Steve Martino.  “That allowed us to rely on his natural tendencies and it really felt like Charlie Brown.”

                Alex Garfin voices Linus who is nominated for an Annie Awards for his work in the movie. Casting the voice of Linus led to several sleepless nights for Martino.  “Linus was my favorite voice from the original Peanuts specials and was the voice I was most worried about casting,” he recalls.  “Linus had this wonderful natural lisp.  It was never overdone but it felt so ‘real.’  Eleven- year-old Alex Garfin, from New York, landed the role.  “In our story, Linus is that steady, supportive friend for Charlie Brown,” says Martino, “and like Noah does with Charlie Brown, Alex has a temperament that feels like Linus.”

                Likewise, Hadley Miller who voices Lucy is also nominated for her voice acting at the upcoming Annie Awards. It takes a confident actress to play Lucy, and Martino found that in ten-year-old Huntington Beach, California native Hadley Miller.  But rest assured, Hadley does not have the disposition of her crabby, bossy counterpart, Lucy.  “Hadley has this sweet, well-mannered personality and I wondered if she could play the bold, brash side of Lucy,” says the director.   But that concern was alleviated when Hadley stepped into the recording booth.   

                Although the Little Red-Haired Girl has only a few lines, she is an undeniable force in the story, as Charlie Brown’s major crush.  “It was important that her voice have both sincere and sweet qualities,” says Martino.  Ten-year-old Francesca Capaldi, best known for work on the Disney Channel TV show “Dog with a Blog,” takes on the role.

                Early in the recording process, Craig Schulz attended a voice session of Mariel Sheets, the young actress who portrays Sally Brown.  Sheets had no idea who Schulz was, and during a break, Schulz recalls how she rattled off lines from the Christmas and Halloween specials, beat for beat, with perfect pacing.  “She was phenomenal,” he praises.   

                “The great thing about working with kids is that they have extraordinary imaginations,” says Martino.  “Given that they are acting in an empty room, and with no costumes, set, or props, they have only our ability to paint a picture in their minds of the scene they are playing.”

                Snoopy’s love interest, Fifi, presented another voice casting challenge. They found their Fifi in Tony and Emmy award winner Kristin Chenoweth.  Chenoweth won a Tony and Drama Desk awards in 1999 for her portrayal of Sally Brown in the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” 

                “Snoopy and Charlie Brown The Peanuts Movie (3D)” will open January 8 from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

POSTERS ARRIVE FOR CAUTIONARY TALE “THE BIG SHORT”

Press release

The international posters for the critically acclaimed satirical comedy “The Big Short” has just been released by Paramount Pictures, bearing the tagline, “If You Can't Beat the Banks, Make Them Pay.”

Based on a true story, the financial crisis-themed movie stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Hamish Linklater, John Magaro, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong, Marisa Tomei and Finn Wittrock.

In the film, when four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything.

With its fresh, irreverent take on one of the most widely covered stories of the century, “The Big Short” transforms a dark chapter of American history into a riveting cautionary tale shot through with black humor and quirky characters.

Castmember Steve Carell hopes the film rattles a few cages. "If I were at a cocktail party and someone asked me what this movie is about, I'd say, 'Do you remember when subprime mortgages went bust and all these companies went out of business and not one person went to jail? Do you remember that? Do you remember how everything just exploded? And then the government came in and bailed everybody out and everything seemed okay? That's what this movie is about. It's a horror movie and way scarier than the way I just described it.'"

Directed by Adam McKay, the screenplay is by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, based upon the book by Michael Lewis.

Opening across the Philippines in January 2016.

Blogger's note: Exact date was not mentioned.

TAKING THE MOVIE EXPERIENCE TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL AT AYALA MALLS SOLENAD CINEMAS

Press release

The newest Ayala Malls Cinemas opened its doors at Solenad in Nuvali last November 18, 2015. Located at the 3rd level of the mall’s cinema building, it houses four (4) state of the art theatres – bringing to the local community the latest technology that will elevate one’s cinematic experience - with (1) Recliner Seats, (1) Dolby Atmos^TM, and (2) Dolby Digital theaters.

 

Present during the opening ceremony was the Ayala Land team led by its executives Ms. Meean Dy – Ayala Land SVP & Head of Strategic Landbank Management, Ms. Myrna C. Fernandez – AVP-Commercial Business Group, and Ms. AC C. Legarda, Senior Division Manager-Commercial Business Group.  Santa Rosa Mayor Arlene Arcillas and family, Congressman Dan Fernandez and Santa Rosa homegrown celebrity Alden Richards were also in attendance.  Guests were also the first to experience the recliners seats, watching the epic final installment of The Hunger Games series, Mockingjay Part 2.

 

WATCH IN SUPERIOR COMFORT AND FEEL EVERY SOUND

A first that the Solenad Cinemas is bringing to the locale is the full, leather Recliner Seats.  The 100-seater cinema gives new meaning in movie watching – one can enjoy the latest blockbusters in great comfort with a special USB charging feature.  It’s as if you were watching in your own home, but with superb theatre technology. 

 

Another first that the local community will delight in is the Dolby Atmos^TM theatre.  Hear and feel every sound with this latest sound technology.   It creates a powerful, moving audio by introducing two important elements to cinema sound: audio objects and overhead speakers. The movie's sounds will flow all around you, completely immersing you in the action, heightening the impact of the story and creating a powerfully moving cinema experience. 

 

DELIGHTFUL MOVIE OFFERINGS

One of the more convenient offerings of the Ayala Malls Cinemas is the quick access to movie information, viawww.sureseats.com.   You can easily view Solenad’s movie schedules and soon, reserve and purchase tickets online using any major credit card or the Ayala Malls Cinemas’ MPass card.  This reloadable prepaid movie card lets you pay for your movie tickets online and over the counter plus lets you enter the theater ahead with just a flash of the card.

 

The cinemas at Solenad also has a Movie Snackbar that offers delicious snack meals like nachos, popcorn, mozzarella sticks, sandwiches and more.

 

With all these new entertainment offerings and excellent customer service, each member of the family will surely enjoymovie watching in superior comfort with the latest in sound technology.

 

SO GET READY TO COME OUT AND PLAY AT AYALA MALLS SOLENAD – DISCOVER THE MALL YOU’LL LOVE INSIDE AND OUT!  LOV’EM MOVIES, LOV’EM STATE OF THE ART CINEMAS, LOV’EMALL AT AYALA MALLS SOLENAD!

THORNTON TAKES ON BULLOCK IN “OUR BRAND IS CRISIS”

Press release

Academy Award-winner Billy Bob Thornton (“The Judge,” FX's “Fargo”) stars as Pat Candy, the rival election strategist of Sandra Bullock's character, Jane Bodine, in Warner Bros. Pictures' satirical comedy, “Our Brand is Crisis.”

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

As the story opens, the infamous campaign fixer Jane Bodine is in seclusion, following a tragically unsuccessful run that left her more shattered than she can admit. She’s not quite ready to return to the fray when a former associate comes knocking in hopes that Jane can help turn things around for a hugely unpopular presidential candidate in Bolivia, named Castillo. She declines. But when Jane learns that her bitter rival Pat Candy has been hired by the opposing party, her competitive nature kicks in. Having lost to Pat more than once before, this could be her chance to even the score.

“I imagine political consultants are, in a lot of ways, like actors,” says Billy Bob Thornton. “Sometimes you do things because it’s something you really love and are passionate about and other times – hopefully not too often – you do it because you’re a professional and you’re getting paid, so you go in there and turn it on in that moment.”

Clearly, this isn’t the first time Jane Bodine and Pat Candy have taken positions on opposite sides of a fight. For strategists at their level, it’s no surprise they have frequently crossed paths. And swords. “I love this kind of powerful, adversarial relationship that may also have just a hint of affection,” says Thornton. “They get it, what most people wouldn’t understand. They know what it’s all about.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and worked with a lot of actors, and I have to say that working with Sandra has been a real pleasure,” he continues. “She’s been the girl next door, she’s been a big commercial movie draw, and she’s been an edgy actress who delivers award-winning performances; Sandra’s run the gamut and she knows what kind of weight to bring to a role like this. She’s got grit.”

Conversely, “Billy Bob was the perfect choice for Pat because he can say the nastiest things and you still love him,” director David Gordon Green remarks. “There’s a very specific quality and charisma that comes with a great actor that, no matter what he does, you know you’re going to forgive him just a little. As Pat tests Jane, we wanted an actor who could be a formidable counterpart for Sandra, someone with gravitas and wit…and that smile that lets him off the hook.”

Describing that smile as “Cheshire cat,” Bullock adds, “Billy Bob just transforms on screen with all that mischievousness and evil. I would have to take a deep breath every time we started a scene because I had no idea what that man was going to bring. Yet I trusted him completely.”

For Thornton, “Jane and Pat are chess players, but chess players moving real people around the board. Pat Candy is so confident and so good at what he does that he probably gets bored easily and so he constantly has to stir things up to keep himself interested. When he sees Jane, he thinks, ‘Good, now I have someone to play with.’”

“In a way, Pat is the devil on her shoulder, always keeping her alert and aware,” says Green. “Pat is convinced he taught Jane everything she knows and delights in anticipating her next move.” Consequently, they dig deep and elevate each other’s game. If he scores a photo op for his camp, she undercuts it; she organizes a rally and he sabotages the coverage; he floats a damning rumor and she turns it to her advantage. And so it goes, riding the polls and counting down the hours to Election Day.

Opening across the Philippines on Jan. 13, 2016, “Our Brand is Crisis” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

“JOY” MOVIE STARRING JENNIFER LAWRENCE NOMINATED IN BEST PICTURE AND BEST ACTRESS CATEGORY

Press release

Academy Award® winner Jennifer Lawrence stars in this year’s highly-anticipated movie “Joy” this awards season directed by of David O. Russell that probes four decades in the upward-moving life of a single-mom-turned-business-magnate to explore how daring, resilience and the persistence of vision carry people from the ordinary into extraordinary moments of creation, striving and love.    

                “Joy” has recently been nominated for two major awards in the upcoming (2016) Golden Globes – Best Motion Picture, Comedy and Best Actress In a Motion Picture, Comedy (Jennifer Lawrence).  "I am incredibly grateful to be recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press for my role in JOY. It was an enormous privilege to play such an amazing woman. And it is an honor to be among the other extraordinarily talented women in this category. I share this with David O. Russell and the incredible cast and crew,” says Lawrence on her nomination.

                The movie is based loosely on the life and rise of inventor and home shopping star Joy Mangano, the genre-blurring story of JOY follows the wild path of a hard-working but half-broken family and the young girl who ultimately becomes its shining matriarch and leader in her own right.  The result is an emotional and human comedy about a woman’s rise – navigating the unforgiving world of commerce, the chaos of family and the mysteries of inspiration while finding an unyielding source of happiness.

                “Joy” follows on the heels of David O. Russell’s “The Fighter,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle,” which between them garnered 25 Oscar® nominations.  Each unleashed an unforgettable array of cinematic characters yet also honed in on a singularly compelling idea:  the allure and trials of re-inventing oneself.  Joy takes that same idea somewhere new – as Russell takes on the question of how one person, confronted with madcap circumstances, endless obstacles and a long road of self-searching, forges a meaningful, joyful life.  While Joy’s life moves forward, the film’s style hearkens back in time, revisiting and redesigning the craftsmanship and melodrama of classical Hollywood cinema for our image-laden times. 

                Joining Lawrence is a typically wide-ranging Russell ensemble including Robert De Niro as Joy’s hot-tempered yet hopelessly romantic father; Edgar Ramirez as Joy’s ex-husband, a struggling musician living in the basement … with her father; Diane Ladd as Joy’s insightful and influential grandmother; Virginia Madsen as Joy’s soap-opera addicted mother; Isabella Rossellini as her father’s well-off Italian lover; Dascha Polanco as Joy’s life-long friend and confidante,; Elisabeth Rohm as Joy’s rivalrous sister and Bradley Cooper as the mogul-style home shopping executive who becomes both Joy’s ally and adversary. 

                Says Lawrence: “This is a story about so many things.  It’s not just the story of Joy. It’s about family, imagination, faith in yourself, about the ruthlessness of success and what it means when you find it. I love most of all how much Joy changes.  I loved taking her from vulnerable and self-deprecating to cold and strong, and I loved that she turns into a real matriarch of her family.” 

                “Joy” is released by 20^th Century Fox and distributed by Warner Bros.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO’S LATEST AND LOUDEST BUZZ ON HIS AWARD-WINNING PERFORMANCE IN “THE REVENANT”

Press release

In what the movie critics and cineastes consider his (latest) most powerful performance, Academy Award nominee Leonardo DiCaprio stars in a fully immersive and visceral cinematic experience in “The Revenant” - directed, produced and co-written by Academy Award®-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu.  “The Revenant” also gathers a highly-pedigreed impressive cast that includes Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Forrest Goodluck, Paul Anderson, Kristoffer Joner, Joshua Burge and Duane Howard.    

 

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

                Inspired by true events, DiCaprio plays the legendary Hugh Glass, a fur trapper in an epic adventure set in the unchartered 19th century American Frontier.  Based on author Michael Punke’s “The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge,” published in 2002 and is one of the most extensively researched accounts about, Glass’s mythology began in 1823, when he was among thousands joining the fur trade, a driving new force in the US economy. It was a time when many saw the wild as a spiritual void that demanded to be tamed and conquered by the steeliest of men. And so they poured into the unknown, plying unmapped rivers, disappearing into impossibly lush forests, seeking not only excitement and adventure but also profits -- often in fierce competition with the Native tribes for whom these lands had long been home. 

                Many such men died anonymously, but Glass entered the annals of American folklore by flat-out refusing to die. His legend sparked after he faced one of the West’s most feared dangers:  a startled grizzly bear.  For even the most tested frontiersmen that should have been the end.  But not for Glass. In Iñárritu’s telling of the tale, a mauled Glass clings to life – then suffers a human betrayal that fuels him to continue at any cost. In spite of tremendous loss, Glass pulls himself from an early grave – clawing his way through a gauntlet of unknown perils and unfamiliar cultures on a journey that becomes not just a search for reckoning but for redemption. As Glass moves through the frontier in turmoil, he comes to reject the urge for destruction that once drove him.   He has become a “revenant” -- one returned from the dead.

                Immersing audiences in the unparalleled beauty, mystery and dangers of life in 1823 America, the film explores one man’s transformation in a quest for survival. Part thriller, part wilderness journey, The Revenant explores primal drives not only for life itself but for dignity, justice, faith, family and home. 

Known for such films as 21 Grams, Babel and the Academy Award®-winning Best Picture Birdman, The Revenant is Iñárritu’s first historical epic.  He brings his distinctive mix of visual immediacy and emotional intimacy to a story that transports audiences to a time and place that have rarely been experienced through visceral modern filmmaking. 

                The film’s wilderness-based production mirrored the harsh conditions Glass and company actually lived through in the 1800s. Iñárritu and his whole cast and crew were up for all that was thrown at them, welcoming the challenges of shooting in Canada and Argentina, regions known for unpredictable weather and untouched wilds, in order to fully understand the experience of fur trappers in the early 19th century.

                Leonardo DiCaprio shares,  “The Revenant is an incredible journey through the harshest elements of an uncharted America. It’s about the power of a man’s spirit. Hugh Glass’s story is the stuff of campfire legends, but Alejandro uses that folklore to explore what it really means to have all the chips stacked against you, what the human spirit can endure and what happens to you when you do endure.” 

                Hailed as this era’s most technically advanced film with impossible camera moves, “The Revenant” opens in Philippine cinemas this January 27 from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

MMFF movie feature: #WalangForever

After the success of last year's MMFF entry, English Only Please; director Dan Villegas comes back this year with Walang Forever. Written by Paul Sta. Ana.

L-R: Paul Sta. Ana, Juan Miguel Severo, Jennylyn Mercado, Jericho Rosales, and Dan Villegas

The movie is about Ethan who is a hopeless romantic and a RomCom writer Mia played respectively by Jericho Rosales and Jennylyn Mercado.

This is Echo's first RomCom movie. Just like in her previous work, it just shows that Jennylyn is more than just one of the Philippine sexiests but also a great actress in this genre.

Dan Villegas is a good storyteller since English Only Please. I am one of those movie buffs that rarely watches local movies depending on the genre and it was because of  English Only Please that it made me not lose hope with the quality of Pinoy movie making.

I am also certain that this movie will do well despite some of the latest entries that also shows potential in the film fest. For more movie reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook. #WalangForever is released by Quantum Films

Love wins this Christmas in All You Need Is Pag-ibig

Press release

KRIS Aquino, Jodi Sta. Maria, Ian Veneracion, Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Julia and Talia Concio, Bimby Aquino Yap, Ronaldo Valdez, Nova Villa, Pokwang and Derek Ramsay comprise the stellar line-up of All You Need Is Pag-Ibig – Star Cinema’s official entry to the upcoming 41^st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) its MerryGalo this December.

All You Need Is Pag-ibig is a heartwarming and romantic family movie, written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone, with Yoshe Dimen as co-writer. The film illustrates and presents the varied forms of love along with all its complications and triumphs through the intertwined stories of the characters portrayed by its ensemble cast. All You Need Is Pag-ibig is an intensely relatable movie as it explores and presents all the wonders one may discover from the many facets of love – from puppy love to unrequited love; from love of family to a love that is the stuff of dreams; and from the kind love that has faded to a love that is jaded.

All You Need Is Pag-ibig is the very first film that Jadaone directed under Star Cinema since You’re My Boss, which is one of the highest grossing films of 2015. Jadaone is widely known as the Blockbuster Hugot Director Of The Philippines after she wrote and directed That Thing Called Tadhana in 2014, which is to date, the highest grossing Filipino independent film of all time.

It should also be noted that All You Need Is Pag-ibig marks her return to the MMFF since the very successful second installment of Feng Shui in last year’s festival.

This is also the first big-screen team up of Jodi Sta. Maria and Ian Veneracion, who are now known as Amorado and JodIan after gaining a massive mainstream following because of their roles as star-crossed lovers Amor de Jesus-Powers and Eduardo Buenavista on the top-rating primetime series Pangako Sa ‘Yo.

The inimitable love team of Kim Chiu and Xian Lim, whose most recent project together is the mobile series on Star Flix Must Date The Playboy, make a grand movie comeback to give their signature rom-com flavor to the film. All You Need Is Pag-ibig is also Derek Ramsay’s third project under Star Cinema this year after he appeared in the smash hits Ex With Benefits and Etiquette For Mistresses.

All You Need Is Pag-ibig also stars Pokwang, who has endeared herself to millions of Filipinos after consistently portraying family-centric characters in numerous Star Cinema hit movies; veteran actors Ronaldo Valdes and Nova Villa; award-winning child actor Bimby Aquino-Yap; and child wonders Julia and Talia, also known as the Concio Sisters.         

All You Need Is Pag-ibig is the perfect family bonding movie this Christmas as it celebrates the power and many forms of love. The film will remind Filipinos that love is the only and ultimate force that could overcome the many hardships and challenges of life.

All You Need Is Pag-ibig opens in cinemas nationwide starting Dec. 25.

Vice, Coco, Jadine spreads love and laughter at the MMFF with Beauty And The Bestie

Press release

STAR Cinema continues its tradition of non-stop fun and laughter for the whole family in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) as it collaborates with Viva Films for its MerryGalo-- Wenn V. Deramas’ Beauty And The Bestie starring Vice Ganda and Coco Martin.

With a script written by Mel Del Rosario, Beauty And The Bestie marks the 5^th team-up of the phenomenal and unbeatable tandem of Deramas and Vice Ganda in the MMFF, this time with television’s Primetime King Coco Martin.

The film is centered on Erika (Vice Ganda), a gay photographer, and his former best friend, special agent Emman (Coco Martin). Emman offers Erika a secret mission to post as the missing Miss Uzeklovakia in the Miss Uniworld 2015 pageant to prevent the latter’s recluse country from waging a possible world war. As Erika accepts the mission, the former BFFs find themselves entangled in the crazy world of beauty pageants in their action-packed adventure of finding the elusive Miss Uzeklovakia. As they race against time, Erika and Emman find themselves in an awkward situation that forces them to rekindle a peculiar flame in their past.

This action-packed, laugh-a-minute comedy also stars James Reid and Nadine Lustre, who are two of the hottest young stars today whose love team is soaring high on ABS-CBN’s top-rating primetime series On The Wings Of Love. Completing the whacky gang of Beauty And The Bestie are child superstars Marco Masa and Alonzo Muhlach, Badji Mortiz, Karla Estrada, Ryan Bang, MC Calaquian, and Lassy. 

Beauty And The Bestie is showing in all cinemas nationwide starting December 25.

My Bebe Love Director says Maine Mendoza's a natural

In their first movie debut, the AlDub phenomenon brings the "kilig" to the cinema screen. Richard Alden and Maine Mendoza joins AiAi delas Alas and Vic Sotto in this year's Metro Manila Film Fest entry, My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore.

Alden Richards and Jose Javier Reyes

In this movie, Maine plays daughter of Vic's character and Richard plays the nephew of AiAi's character while both parent/guardian are competitors in business. Director Joel Javier Reyes shares that Maine is a very intelligent and she does not need any acting workshop. What you see in the movie is all her.

Workshops don't teach you how to build good chemistry onscreen unlike these two(Alden and Mendoza), adds the director. Unlike any traditional movie, they are playing with the content. That is how spontaneous this movie is.

My Bebe Love is released by OctoArts Films. For movie reviews and blogcon coverage, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Angela Markado movie review

For action movies in the Filipino entertainment industry, it seldom makes the female the protagonist of the story.But if the story is this dark, it is possible to have a woman take the matter in her own hands.

Angela Markado is a dark story of vengeance. Works at night at a night club, Angela became an obsession of a rich customer and his drinking buddies that got her brutally raped and beaten. She was called Angela Markado because each culprit's name was tattooed in her back.

She escaped her captors and got in shape as a weapon of vengeance and tracked them all down. What I like about the movie is it will make you think if Angela is doing what it should be done regardless of how far she can go by killing them.

It also shows the city in a CGI animation at night. All the building structures look unreal like in Sin City.The actors who played the antagonists did very well acting their part as the people we love to hate.

Andi Eigemann was the right choice since she looks very young and helpless then she transformed. The horrible experience made her a different person. It also shows in series of flashbacks how different she is as if it was two different characters.

I got to watch this during the premiere at SM Megamall. The casts are there and it was this screening that showcased Andi wearing her red evening dress that got people talking. It is not my first premiere with the cast present but it always happen in Megamall. Angela Markado opens December 3. Thanks to SM Cinemas for the movie preview.

For more movie reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs for more movie reviews.

MIND-BOGGLING DEATH STUNTS DONE BY REAL ICONIC ATHLETES IN “POINT BREAK”

Press release

Brace yourselves for this year’s most ambitious groundbreaking action movie “Point Break” starring Luke Bracey (“Best of Me”) with Edgar Ramírez along with real-world action sports heroes whom director Eric Core cast instead of the traditional stunt team  that gives the film the first-of-its-kind extreme ante  in the action genre.

                “Point Break” brings the audience in a whole new level, highly dangerous, high stakes world of extreme sports when Johnny Utah (Bracey) goes deep undercover to forge strong allies with a group of extreme athletes whom he believes are the perpetrators of international crimes across the globe headed by their charismatic leader Bodhi (Ramírez).   Proving that he’s solidly with the group, Johnny gains the trust of their leaders and eventually steals stash after stash from their group and takes on a Robin Hood-esque task of giving to the poor eventually bringing them to justice.   

                Filmed with a staggering US$120 million in budget, “Point Break” is filled with spectacular stunts devoid of camera tricks and visual effects, done by the actors and the athletes themselves poised to surpass all other phenomenal blockbuster action movies in recent years such as “James Bond,” “Mission Impossible” and the “Fast and The Furious” movies.  

                Directed by Ericson Core, the film includes sports icons such as renowned extreme athletes that  include surfer legend Laird Hamilton, Sebastian Zietz, Makua Rothman, Billy Kemper, Brian Keaulana, Ahanu Tson-dru, Ian Walsh, Laurie Towner, Dylan Longbottom, Albee Layer, Bruce Irons, Tikanui Smith and Tuhiti Humani; snowboarders Xavier De Le Rue, Louis Vito, Christian Haller, Lucas DeBari and Ralph Backstrom; skateboarders Bob Burnquist and Eric Koston; motorcyclists Riley Harper and Oakley Lehman; wingsuit stunt pilots Jon Devore, Julian Boulle, Noah Bahnson, Jhonathan Florez and Mike Swanson, and consultant Jeb Corliss; and free climber Chris Sharma, among others.   Making cameos are DJs Steve Aoki, Seth Troxler and The Art Department, as well as sports commentator and TV host Sal Masekela.

                Taking the audience for a never-been-there thrilling ride at the movies, “Point Break” breaks all barriers seen in traditional action films with daring, death-defying stunts and a no-limits attitude from the actors and the whole production crew.  Early trade screenings of “Point Break” introduced the audience to nail-biting scenes employing the world of surfing, motocross, sky-diving and wingsuit-flying across eleven countries.  

                Actor Ramirez in related news humorously admitted that he’s relieved he didn’t die during the production of “Point Break.”  This generation’s action movie for the thrill seeking travellers and sports oriented fanatics, “Point Break’s" surfing technical advisor, Laird Hamilton, who was also part of the original “Point Break” crew that starred Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, introduces a new behind-the-scenes look at how the cast, crew, and professional surfers came together to film in some of the world’s biggest surf spots. “Everything about this film is just the next level up,” Hamilton says as he explains the film is seeking to capture the same philosophy as the original film but in a more modern context.

                Opening in Philippine cinemas three (3) weeks ahead of its US release date, “Point Break” opens December 3 (Thursday) in theatres nationwide from Pioneer Films.

Secret In Their Eyes movie review

Each person has his/her secrets. I don't know anyone who doesn't have secrets. He/she may not exist. How long can anyone keep a secret and to what cost? This movie may answer that.

Secret In Their Eyes is not just about secrets. It is a crime-suspense-thriller that makes you guessing until the end. It is also make you think if the characters' actions are justifiable. It tackles ethical issues as well as legal.

Having both critically acclaimed actresses like Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman in one movie is something not to be missed since it is a rare production to have them both together. Joining them is another acclaimed actor Chiwetel Ejiofor whose breakthrough performances earned him a great recognition besides being also awarded.

For Julia Roberts, it is not her first time to do suspense. Unlike in Sleeping In The Enemy, she is no weak victim. For Nicole Kidman, she was being sexy and a commanding figure since she is a district attorney. But what makes this movie unique was that it will make you surprise or shock to find out the truth.

This movie is an adaptation of a award-wining foreign film which the movie is adapted from with direction of Billy Ray, who did Captain Phillips and Mark Johnson for Breaking Bad.and Rain Man. Both did great work retelling an originally Italian movie and adapted it in American setting. It won Best Foreign Movie. The production is compared to a TV movie or independent movie which is alright so it won't be identified as a Hollywood flick.

Secret In Their Eyes opens December 2 in Philippine cinemas and is distributed and released by Axinite Digicinema. For more movie reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

BILLY RAY TAKES ON LATEST DIRECTORIAL SEAT IN “SECRET IN THEIR EYES”

Press release

Billy Ray, an Academy Award nominee known for his stirring screenplays of box-office smash hits such as “The Hunger Games,” “Captain Phillips” and “Flightplan” takes director’s seat in “Secret In Their Eyes” where he has assembled an award-winning cast and for the first time brings together Academy Award winners Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman with Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor.

                “Secret in Their Eyes” is based on “El Secreto de Sus Ojos,” the 2010 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, directed by Juan Jose Campanella.  In the movie, a parent’s worst nightmare happens when investigator Jess Cobb (Roberts) finds her daughter brutally murdered, along with his best pal in the force, Ray Kasten (Ejiofor), the two set out to uncover the elusive killer with the aid of district attorney Claire Sloan (Kidman).  Years passed and the killer is still lose on the streets of Los Angeles, beneath the missions, Jess tries hard to cover the pain that has haunted her for years after her daughter’s death. 

                The movie is also produced by Academy Award winner Mark Johnson (“Rain Man,” “Breaking Bad”) who has known Ray’s works for decades but it’s the first time that Ray and Johnson work for “Secret In Their Eyes.”  When they saw the Argentine thriller “El Secreto de Sus Ojos,” neither of them could stop talking about it.    “El Secreto de Sus Ojos, is spectacular,” says Billy, “I was completely floored by it, had a reverence for it that bordered on awe. Then Mark asked me if I wanted to adapt it. At first I was hesitant because you don’t want to take on anything that is so great that you feel dwarfed by it before you even start. But I did feel there was an American version of the story worth retelling and exploring.” Every time the pair got frustrated tackling the weighty subject matter, they had an unabashed cheerleader in Juan Campanella, who directed the Argentine film. “Here was a man who wanted to solve a cold case but the reason why he wanted to solve it was not only to find the culprit but to find the root of his own loneliness,” Campanella says. “That to me was very original. Contrary to what people might think, I really like it when somebody takes a piece of work and turns it into something different.”   Billy says an impetus for the American version lay in the events of 9/11. ”The horror of that event was so big and so indelible for anybody who was in America at that time. But it created a story opportunity for our movie that no other context could have.” “Billy found a great twist on the story,” Campanella says. “He respected a lot of the emotion of the original but found a very American way of telling it.” Billy admits that he initially thought he was writing a movie about loss. “But it turns out that I was writing a movie about obsession. Stories do that sometimes, they tell you what they are about.

                For Julia Roberts the essence of the story is about the evolution of people who were taken off track by destiny.  “I was very taken with Billy’s script. I don’t read a lot of scripts that I like and I don’t work very often. But I read this and thought it was truly interesting.  “Billy has been remarkable for me as an actor. He’s so available and he’s like Encyclopedia Brown. He knows everything, he’s calm and he’s super-loving. He’s always taking care of all of us in these very fragile scenarios that he’s created. I think he probably feels bad for putting us through all this,” she laughs. 

                Nicole Kidman says that the plot intrigued her when she first read the script. “Rarely do you get scripts that have three strong protagonists and a really, really strong storyline. I’ve known Billy for a while now and I wanted to work with him and the idea of doing this with Julia and Chiwetel was compelling. “For me writer-directors are the best combination.  Billy is so collaborative and he has a great sense of structure and a great sense of humor. He frequently would rewrite or change things a little bit in order to adapt to what Chiwetel and I needed. I call him Professor Billy because he also teaches writing and has so much knowledge of film."

                “Secret in their Eyes” opens December 2 in theaters from Axinite Digicinema.

TEASER TRAILER TELLS “HOW TO BE SINGLE”

Press release

Warner Bros. Pictures has unveiled the teaser trailer and poster for its upcoming romantic comedy “How to Be Single” starring Dakota Johnson and Rebel Wilson. 

There’s a right way to be single, a wrong way to be single, and then…there’s Alice. And Robin. Lucy. Meg. Tom. David. New York City is full of lonely hearts seeking the right match, be it a love connection, a hook-up, or something in the middle. And somewhere between the teasing texts and one-night stands, what these unmarrieds all have in common is the need to learn how to be single in a world filled with ever-evolving definitions of love. Sleeping around in the city that never sleeps was never so much fun.

“How to Be Single” stars Dakota Johnson (“Fifty Shades of Grey”), Rebel Wilson (“Pitch Perfect”), Damon Wayans, Jr. (“Let’s Be Cops”), Anders Holm (“Neighbors,” upcoming “The Intern”), Alison Brie (“Get Hard”), Nicholas Braun (“The Perks of Being a Wallflower”), Jake Lacy (HBO’s “Girls”), with Jason Mantzoukas (“Neighbors,” TV’s “The League”) and Leslie Mann (“This is 40,”).

Christian Ditter (“Love, Rosie,” “The Crocodiles”) directed the comedy from a screenplay by Abby Kohn & Marc Silverstein (“The Vow,” “He’s Just Not That Into You”) and Dana Fox (“Couples Retreat,” “What Happens in Vegas”), screen story by Kohn & Silverstein, based on the book by Liz Tucillo (TV’s “Sex & the City,” He’s Just Not That Into You). John Rickard and Fox are producing the film. Marcus Viscidi, Richard Brener, Michael Disco, Dave Neustadter, Michele Weiss, Drew Barrymore and Nancy Juvonen are executive producers.

Ditters’ behind-the-scenes creative team is headed by his frequent collaborator, director of photography Christian Rein, as well as production designer Steve Saklad (“Juno,” “Up in the Air”), editor Tia Nolan (“Friends with Benefits”) and costume designer Leah Katznelson (“Enough Said,” “21 Jump Street”). The music is by Fil Eisler (FOX TV’s “Empire”).

Opening across the Philippines in February 2016, “How to Be Single” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.