TO LOVE AND TO GUARD IN ROMANTIC ACTION COMEDY “MR. RIGHT”

Press release

 In the tradition of highly-successful romantic action comedies comes a one-of-a-kind love story in “Mr. Right” starring two of Hollywood’s well-sought actors Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell.  

                In “Mr. Right,” Martha (Anna Kendrick) discovers that her new beau, Francis (Sam Rockwell), is a professional assassin… with a cause.  He kills the people ordering the hits. As the bodies pile up, Martha must decide whether to flee or join her man in the mayhem.

                Sam Rockwell is that rare Hollywood star who's equally adept in somber dramas like the most recent Broadway revival “Fool For Love” and BAFTA award-winning “Moon” as he is playing quirky characters in such black-humored action fare “Seven Psychopaths” and “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.” When director Paco Cabezas met with the actor in late 2012, Rockwell immediately responded to Mr. Right 's subversive sense of humor. "I said 'yes' right away because Max Landis wrote a really fun script that reminded me of movies like “Grosse Point Blank” in the way it mixed action and romantic comedy," he says. "I saw Mr. Right as being kind of like Mr. and Mrs. Smith-meets-Silver Lining Playbook where you have two dysfunctional bi-polar type people who find each other. They're both hot messes, on edge and scary. Francis and Martha might freak other people out, but they don’t freak each other out."

                Kendrick also sparked to Mr. Right because she knew Rockwell would be playing the title role. "I always pictured Mr. Right as Sam," she says. "I knew he would bring amazing energy to the character. He makes you love this guy who’s killing people. but because it’s Sam playing Francis, you’re rooting for him."

                Producer Jacobs says "Often times with movies in this genre, you see the female lead running scared once the gunfire starts. We needed to find an actress who had that America's sweetheart girl next door quality, but underneath all of that, in Mr. Right, the gunfire kind of turns Martha on. Anna knew how to pull off that turn."

                The movie veered away from using CGI trickery in favor of old-fashioned physical fisticuffs. "I'm tired of watching action movies plagued with digital effects where nothing is real," Cabezas explains. "In Mr. Right, everything's real. Sam Rockwell did 99 percent of the action himself, and he did it with grace and speed."

                Rockwell rose to the live-action challenge. "I’m not formally trained as a dancer but I have been boxing off and on for twenty years so that helped a lot with the lateral movement, feet agility, that kind of crap," Rockwell explains. "It’s all the same stuff."

                Blending dancing, violence and romance into one-of-a-kind hybrid entertainment, "Mr. Right" aims to seduce audiences with its twisted take on the classic boy-meets-girl formula. "I don’t have a clue how to categorize this movie, and that's what I love about Mr. Right," says Cabezas. "It’s funny, it’s a thriller, it has action and a lot of heart. In that sense, it's an explosive cocktail. I love movies that are great roller coasters of emotion, where you never know what to expect. I hope people who see Mr. Right  have a laugh and have a good time and say 'Wow, I wasn’t expecting that.'"

                Rated R16 by the MTRB, “Mr. Right” opens April 6 in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

                 

Amy Adams Reprises As Lois Lane in "Batman v Superman"

Press release

Five-time Academy Award-nominee Amy Adams (“American Hustle,” “Doubt,”) has built an impressive body of work, challenging herself with each new role. She now returns to play the iconic character of Lois Lane in Warner Bros. Pictures' new action-adventure “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” She originally portrayed the role in 2013's global blockbuster “Man of Steel.”

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

In “Batman v Superman,” one individual who remains steadfast in the life of Clark Kent aka Superman (Henry Cavill) is girlfriend Lois Lane; their relationship is a source of comfort and acceptance for him. Cavill states, “He wants to make her happy and he wants to be as normal as possible with her. But it’s not a normal relationship—how could it be? One of them is an invulnerable alien.”

The other is a journalist with a dogged determination to find the truth about the latest incident tightening the noose around Superman’s neck. Amy Adams eagerly came back to the role of Lois Lane.

“What I liked about Lois’s path in this film is that she’s still in pursuit of the truth—she needs to find truth in order to have a sense of self, that’s always a part of who she is,” Adams relates. “But now she also needs to find the truth in order to help her man clear his name. So she’s not only approaching this as a journalist, but as a woman wanting to help the man she loves the only way she knows how.”

“Lois in many ways is the center and the heart of the movie because she is constantly turning over rocks to get at what is going on,” says producer Charles Roven. “Through Lois we uncover a lot of the plot and the mystery behind who’s pulling the strings. And then there is her complicated relationship with Clark/Superman. Amy does an amazing job of revealing the complexities of her character and the situation Lois finds herself in.”

One of the reasons Adams was keen to return was to work with director Zack Snyder again. “Zack has so much respect and reverence for these characters, but at the same time he isn’t afraid to let them grow, to show people a different way to look at them,” she says. “He’s fearless that way.”

Especially, observes Adams, when it comes to the females. “Zack takes women like Lois and allows them to be strong without making them masculine,” she continues. “He’s not afraid of their feminine sides, and it’s so great to work with him because he doesn’t force the strength, he just trusts that it’s there. He also allows you to explore the layers of love and vulnerability along with it, which I think makes them appear even stronger. Because working through fear, working through vulnerability, that’s where true strength lies.”

From director Zack Snyder comes “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” starring Oscar winner Ben Affleck (“Argo”) as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent in the characters’ first big-screen pairing.

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

Opening  theaters on Black Saturday, March 26, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is distributed worldwide and  across the Philippines in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 3D and 2Dby Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

EISENBERG ADDS SINISTER HUMOR TO LEX LUTHOR IN “BATMAN v SUPERMAN”

Press release

Academy Award-nominee for his portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in “The Social Network,” Jesse Eisenberg plays one of the most fascinating villains in cinema – Lex Luthor, in Warner Bros. Pictures' new action-adventure “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Eisenberg infuses the character with a very sinister humor, one that arises from an illogical obsession with Superman.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

“Lex Luthor has always been one of the great DC villains. And one of the most epic stories in the canon was when Batman and Superman squared off against each other,” offers producer Charles Roven. “As we sought an expansion of the universe with this film, we felt that bringing these characters together was natural.”

To carry Lex Luthor into 2016, Oscar-winning screenwriter Chris Terrio (“Argo”) recalls asking himself, “What would a capitalist gone mad look like today?” Looking for real-world inspiration from many of the world’s largest high-tech corporations, he found an environment that “often cultivates eccentricity as a virtue and rewards outside-the-box innovation.”

Adding those qualities to a damaged psyche, he re-imagined Lex as “a younger, brilliant, post-modern villain aware of his own villainy who has chosen to use his wealth and power to bring down one whose own power appears limitless.”

“If you look at Lex in the comics, there’s a brilliant absurdity to his scenes,” Eisenberg offers. “He’s always trying to concoct these very complicated schemes to kill Superman; it’s funny in the way that he is so focused on this one thing. And even though he might appear pretty serious, to me he’s this clever person who uses word play and puns to talk circles around people, to condescend to them. Lex uses his cleverness to his advantage in a dark way.”

The filmmakers were really pleased with this new interpretation. “We wanted a character who conveyed exactly what a young, compelling, constantly innovating, genius entrepreneurial businessman is like,” says Roven. “Somewhat mercurial, always magnetic; someone you can’t take your eyes off. Jesse was perfect for this. His performance is truly mesmerizing. He surpassed all our expectations.”

Eisenberg enjoyed playing with Luthor’s fanatical nature. “Lex thinks of Superman as almost an existential paradox—he cannot be all good because he’s so powerful or all powerful if he’s all good,” he hypothesizes. “On the flip side, Lex wants to be the most powerful person, but for him that’s okay because he is a person, he’s earned it, whereas Superman is this horrible alien interloper who doesn’t even deserve to exist. Lex is so myopic that he views his own morality as the only correct belief system in the world, and anybody opposing him is immoral and needs to be kind of destroyed.”

A good deal of Lex’s bad traits may stem from his dad, which he alludes to in the film. “Lex has a degree of self-awareness about his own relationship with his father, who was this powerful but abusive guy, and he somehow draws a parallel to Superman that makes him automatically distrust him. Modern psychology would probably diagnose Lex as some kind of narcissistic sociopath who is funny and charming but isn’t capable of empathy. As an actor, it’s really fun because you’re able to behave in all sorts of ways that would probably get you arrested, but do it in a safe environment.”

From director Zack Snyder comes “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” starring Oscar winner Ben Affleck (“Argo”) as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent in the characters’ first big-screen pairing.

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

Opening across the Philippines in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 3D and 2D theaters on Black Saturday, March 26, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

POIGNANT MOVIE ON HOMELESSNESS IN AMERICA EXPOSED IN PAUL BETTANY’S “SHELTER”

Press release

Real life couple Paul Bettany and Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly collaborate in the actor’s directorial debut in “Shelter.”  Bettany, best known for his role in the global blockbuster “Avengers” movies, “Iron Man,” “Legion” and “The Da Vinci Code” takes the back seat and helms a movie with a very powerful message on homelessness set in New York.  Bettany’s wife Jennifer Connelly who starred with the late David Bowie in the classic and unforgettable “Labyrinth” and whose hit and acclaimed film credits include “A Beautiful Mind,” “Hulk,” “Blood Diamond,” “Noah” and “Little Children” gives a riveting performance in the movie as a homeless woman named Hannah, heroin addict who abandoned her son after she lost her husband during 9/11 mission.

                Co-starring with Connelly is Anthony Mackie as Tahir as Nigerian immigrant whose recent release in jail led him to an encounter with Hannah.  Coming from two different worlds, and as they learn about each other’s past, they begin to realize that they need each other to survive.  

                “Shelter” is inspired by a man who lived on the sidewalk to the left of Bettany’s apartment building in TriBeCa where he lives with wife and children. “He had three shopping trolleys ("carts" if you're an American) stacked full of books—heady books: Ulysses; Remembrance of Things Past, and so on. Over the years, I tried to talk to him, but he was taciturn in the extreme, and after many attempts, I decided to respect his silence and privacy. I  returned to watching him from my window and he to reading and protecting his books from the elements. When hurricane Sandy hit New York City in 2012, it saw a mandatory evacuation of our neighborhood on the Hudson River, and in the mayhem of trying to fit three unruly kids and a dog in the car and head to higher ground, I never once stopped to think about where my silent, well-read friend would go to weather the storm. I've never seen him again,” shares Bettany.             

                Long before he started shooting, he showed the script to Coalition for the Homeless, an advocacy group in New York, who vetted it. Bettany wanted to highlight the bureaucracy that prevents the homeless from getting help and finding shelter. “But I didn't want to make a film about homelessness,” he insists. “I wanted it to be about judgment.”

                Bettany further reveals that he decided to take the director’s chair because for him, the script seems to be an interim document, “I've been wondering whether in our attempt to control the outcome of our efforts and to protect our investment, we sometimes develop scripts to death.  Over develop them to the point where there is no real imaginative job left for the actor, no room for surprises, just enough space for him or her to paint by numbers and fill in the blanks. I've finally become bored of hearing myself moan on about how it isn't the 70's anymore, and have decided to try and do something about it—I love actors, they are magical and anarchic and trustworthy storytellers, and I want to give them their jobs back. To that end, I will be shooting Shelter fast and loose.  Handheld, 1.85:1, which feels intimate to me and to my mind is a very actor friendly format—actors being, with very few exceptions, more vertical than they are horizontal,” reveals the actor-director on helming “Shelter.”

                “Shelter” as Paul Bettany puts it is a love story is for him and for all people who for whatever reason slip by the wayside.

                “Shelter” opens March 26 in cinemas from CrystalSky Multimedia.

LIFE OF SEVEN-YEAR OLD JESUS CHRIST TOLD IN “THE YOUNG MESSIAH”

Press release

“The Young Messiah” is a story that imagines a year in the boyhood of Jesus, directed by award-winning filmmaker Cyrus Nowrasteh, who also developed and wrote the pilot episode of the USA Network hit show “La Femme Nikita.”

                The movie is also produced by Hollywood’s blockbuster maker Chris Columbus who launched one of the biggest series in the history of film, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” where he cast completely unknown youngsters Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in the lead roles - once again demonstrating his acumen for nurturing and cultivating young talent.  He reunited then with the young actors to direct the second movie in the saga, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”

                In “The Young Messiah,” up and coming young actor Adam Greaves-Neal who stars as Jesus in the movie, has also appeared in “Sherlock” television series alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and has a starring role on the hit series “All At Sea.”

                “The Young Messiah” follows the inspiring and unique story of seven-year-old Jesus Christ and His family as they come to a fuller understanding of His divine nature and purpose.  Remaining true to the character of Jesus revealed in the Bible, The Young Messiah is an inspirational story about the childhood of the Savior for the whole family.

                “There is a rich history of Jesus movies that have dramatized Jesus’ ministry and crucifixion, but none have ever glimpsed into his life as a boy. What kind of child was he? What was his family like? What kind of parents were Joseph and Mary? How could they guide and protect this special child?” says director Nowrasteh on the developing the story.

                Nowrasteh further explains that, “Obviously there are great challenges in depicting this because we know very little about Jesus’ childhood. This movie seeks to present a realistic portrait of Jesus rooted in faith. Scripture is the inspiration for the emotions and actions of the boy Jesus as they are envisioned in our story. We do this with respect and reverence in order to imagine a child consistent with Jesus as revealed in the Bible.”

                The story takes place during one year in Jesus’ life when he was seven. With the Holy Land in turmoil, young Jesus and his family leave Egypt for their home in Israel. Joseph and Mary are fully aware of the dangers of their world: a corrupt King Herod, civil unrest, and a brutal occupying Roman force.

                “While we hope that our film finds a place alongside other Jesus classics, it’s more important to us that it inspires people to visit, or revisit, the Jesus story from a fresh new angle. As believers, we hope that children will be attracted by another child’s story — Jesus’ story — and that this can be a “Passion of the Christ” for the entire family. We even hope that, in some small way, our film leads viewers to the transformation and grace that Jesus extends to us all,” concludes Nowrasteh.

                Opening in cinemas nationwide on April 20 from Pioneer Films, follow “The young Messiah” as He and His family take the extraordinary journey from Egypt to Nazareth and on to Jerusalem – where His true identity and profound destiny are revealed. 

Hail, Caesar! movie review

As a movie buff, I also like the old movies as well as the popular movies. If you don't like the old movies, you don't have an idea how the industry progressed since then. My appreciation with classic movies came from the influence of my dad. He loves the old movies.

It follows tradition of Noises Off and The Producers that is about a play within a movie. But Hail, Caesar is four movies within a movie. The post-war Hollywood is popular with four movie genres: Western movies, romance, musicals and Biblical epics.

Although the movie pays tribute to the golden age of movies, the humor of this movie is darker because it expose the reality of what goes behind the camera in making movies. You will see how a producer can do a lot of things you can't imagine.

It also shows one dark history in the golden age of cinema that at one time in history, there was a commotion of Communist witch hunting. There were Hollywood personalities that are also suspected of being Communist sympathizers.

The movie is just simple but it was well directed and well-cast.  It was also a good idea to cast Channing Tatum. Since he can also dance, he did a Fred Astaire type of scene. You may be surprise that the story is just fictional.

The movie also give that old feel of watching classic movies when the colors are not yet defined clearly. The post-war era is still adjusting from the black and white to color. I highly suggest this movie for the current generation especially if you are taking up studies related to film and movies.

Starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Scarlett Johanson, Tilda Swinton, Jonah Hill, Frances McDormand and more. Hail Caesar opens May 16 exclusively to SM Cinema. For more reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO’S “THE REVENANT” RETURN ENGAGEMENT IN PHILIPPINE CINEMAS – MARCH 2

Press release

 “The Revenant,” which bagged this year’s plum awards at the Oscars - Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Director (Alejandro Iñarritu) and Best Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki) will return in select Philippine cinemas starting March 2.

                DiCaprio’s Best Actor award for his winning performance which the domestic and global audience have been rooting for in his work in “The Revenant” has finally been realized at the recently concluded Academy Awards.  While Iñarritu has for two years in a row have also won Best Director last year for his work in “Birdman” and Lubezki for the third time since his win in 2014 for “Gravity” and last year’s “Birdman.”

                “The Revenant,” meaning someone who came back presumably from the dead tells of the highly-inspiring true story of Hugh Glass (DiCaprio), a fur trapper on his impossible survival during the 1800s.  Inspired by true events, “The Revenant” is an epic story of survival and transformation on the American frontier.  While on an expedition into the uncharted wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass  is brutally mauled by a bear, then abandoned by members of his own hunting team. Alone and near death, Glass refuses to succumb.  Driven by sheer will and his love for his Native American wife and son, he undertakes a 200-mile odyssey through the vast and untamed West on the trail of the man who betrayed him: John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy).  What begins as a relentless quest for revenge becomes a heroic saga against all odds towards home and redemption. 

                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.

                Check out the following cinemas where “The Revenant” will have its return engagement starting March 2, Wednesday – Powerplant, Robinson’s Galleria, Eastwood, Festival Mall, Gateway, Gaisano Davao and SM Megamall.

                “The Revenant” is a 20^th Century Fox presentation distributed by Warner Bros.