ANSEL ELGORT IN “BABY DRIVER”

Press release

ANSEL ELGORT, AWKWARD HOTSHOT BEHIND THE WHEEL IN “BABY DRIVER”

Ansel Elgort has quickly amassed an impressive body of work in a very short amount of time as both an accomplished actor (The Fault in Our Stars, Divergent series) and musician. Now, he breaks from the pack as he plays the title role of Columbia Pictures’ U.S. No.1 box-office hit heist thriller Baby Driver (in Philippine cinemas August 02).

Photo credits: Columbia Pictures

Cool but a little naive. Young but with an old soul. goofy at times, but all business when it counts. Thrillingly good at his given task, but not always aware of the consequences of what he does. That’s Baby, a character writer-director Edgar Wright created as a way for moviegoers to live vicariously through a criminal, but also experience the very real fallout of that world.

The Baby we meet at the beginning of the movie – hidden behind sunglasses, dialed in to his iPod playlist, then a hellion at the wheel – is like the greatest gang apprentice ever. “This kid’s a hotshot, but he’s also on the fringes of the gang,” says Wright. “He literally sits as far away from them as he can, because he really doesn’t want to be part of the group. He thinks, wrongly, that he can be a getaway driver but not be a criminal Like, ‘I’m just the courier. I don’t have anything to do with the bad stuff.’ The action scenes are kind of like Baby’s day job, and I think a lot of people that work in a job sometimes shield themselves in a different persona. Then when they’re home, they’re a different person.”

When Wright was dreaming up the role, he envisioned a riff on the strong silent type personified by Clint Eastwood and Steve McQueen, but with the tension that it might all be a front. “You meet him, and he’s a badass in his profession, and then immediately afterwards you start to meet the real kid. It’s an interesting dichotomy, that he’s really good at a job that he should not be doing.”

Though he initially imagined Baby as short – “because I’m short,” he adds, laughing – he says meeting Ansel Elgort made him realize nobody else could play the title role.

“The thing that really charmed me about him was the fact that he’s very musical, and he can play lots of instruments,” says Wright. “One of my favorite scenes with Ansel, he has his headphones in and he’s listening to Dave Brubeck, and starts playing piano on the table. There was something so beguiling and hypnotic about watching a 21-year-old actor play along to some jazz from the ‘50s. Ansel is fascinating in that regard.”

Elgort explains that it was his and Edgar’s mutual love for music that connected them upon their first meeting in LA. “Edgar and I met in Los Angeles and we had lunch, and all we talked about was music,” says the actor. “At the time I didn't even know what this film was about, but we both shared a love for music.”

Says Wright, “Ansel is actually obsessed with music, which the lead character in the movie is. His life is completely governed by music and living to the rhythm of the music he's listening to, and Ansel has a dance background. And also he's a great actor and a nice guy.”

Elgort was excited to take on the role of Baby, explaining, “I loved how eclectic the role was. He’s the getaway driver so I had to learn to drive, he has a deaf foster dad who he signs with, so I had to learn to sign, and his life moves through music so there’s the dance and choreography challenges too.”

In the film, a talented, young getaway driver named Baby (Ansel Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. When he meets the girl of his dreams (Lily James), Baby sees a chance to ditch his criminal life and make a clean getaway. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.

Baby Driver stars Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jon Bernthal, Eiza Gonzalez with Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx.

Baby Driver is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

“BABY DRIVER” SETS WHOLE-DAY SNEAK PREVIEWS JULY 24 & 25

Press release

MANILA, July 22, 2017 – Columbia Pictures’ heist thriller Baby Driver, one of the year’s best-reviewed films, with a 95% Fresh Rating at Rotten Tomatoes, will have whole-day sneak previews on Monday and Tuesday, July 24 & 25 nationwide.  Tickets will be available at regular admission prices.

Moviegoers are advised to check with their favorite cinemas (please see photo graphics) for screening hours. 

In the film, a talented, young getaway driver named Baby (Ansel Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. When he meets the girl of his dreams (Lily James), Baby sees a chance to ditch his criminal life and make a clean getaway. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.

Full of reversals, rewinds, fast forwards and heart-stopping skips, Baby Driver is a game-changing, lane-changing, hard-charging blast only director Edgar Wright could have dreamed up.

Baby Driver stars Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jon Bernthal, Eiza Gonzalez with Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx.

Opening in Philippine cinemas in August 2, 2017, Baby Driver is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

TOM HARDY IN “DUNKIRK” (NOW SHOWING)

Press release

TOM HARDY DISPLAYS TRUE GRIT AS HEROIC PILOT IN “DUNKIRK”

Nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the epic frontier drama The Revenant, Tom Hardy re-teams with frequent collaborator Christopher Nolan (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises) in the action thriller Dunkirk (read my review here).

Movie scene photo credit: Warner Bros.

Dunkirk opens as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces. Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea, they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in.

The story unfolds on land, sea and air. RAF Spitfires engage the enemy in the skies above the Channel, trying to protect the defenseless men below. Meanwhile, hundreds of small boats manned by both military and civilians are mounting a desperate rescue effort, risking their lives in a race against time to save even a fraction of their army.

Tom Hardy, who plays Farrier, the more senior RAF pilot, had perhaps the most personal connection to the project. “My granddad was at Dunkirk,” he reveals. “He told me about it.”

Producer Emma Thomas says there were other reasons Hardy was perfect for the role. “He’s in a small cockpit of a plane, so his movements are very restricted, but Tom has a very big presence and can use his physicality in very interesting ways. And once again, we have much of his face covered, but the reason you can do that with Tom is because he is such an expressive actor you don’t need to see all of his face. There are moments in the film where all that’s visible are his eyes, and yet he can communicate and tell a story just with that.”

Hardy says he was eager to reunite with Nolan, stating, “Chris is the best at what he does. He pushes and inspires me as an actor. I’d jump on any role just to be in the company.”

Dunkirk features a multigenerational ensemble cast, including Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D’Arcy and Barry Keoghan, with Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance and Tom Hardy.

Dunkirk is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

BABY DRIVER movie review

Baby Driver is the story about getaway car driver named Baby (played by Ansel Elgort) who wants to get out of robbing banks. But he has to pay for the money he owes Doc (Kevin Spacey). You can categorize it as an action/dark comedy movie.

 

Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

As for the cast, their respective character suits them all. Ansel Elgort combines his charms with the wit and theatrics similar to Charlie Chaplin. Kevin Spacey still appears authoritative and a fearsome character. Jamie Foxx, John Hamm, and Eiza Gonzales combines the mixed between comical and violent characters of bank robbers that you never seen before. Lily James provides the love interest aspect for Baby which is darkly different from her Cinderella character.

It is different kind of car stunts which is simpler than Fast & Furious because there is only one getaway car that does all the stunts for every heist. Baby’s private music tracks are not just soundtracks but really part of the story which makes it fun.

The month of August surely opened with a good movie starting with Baby Driver. This is probably the ideal movie adaptation of the video game Grand Theft Auto. For more movie reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

DUNKIRK movie review

Press release

Besides being a movie buff, I am also into history. One of the specific eras in history that interest me is the World War II era especially the European battlefront. It got me hooked because it was the Great War that shows the battle between good and evil. Most of the wars in years after that are just civil conflicts.

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Dunkirk is one of the crucial times in World War II because this is part of the Battle of France. U.S. hasn’t joined the War yet because Pearl Harbor hasn’t happened yet during this battle. Even though some knows the outcome of this story, the movie showed how it affects the Allied Forces in Dunkirk.

Since this is a war movie, it has lots of explosions and fast-paced scenes that may give dizziness especially in IMAX because the screen is so huge. Some scenes also have angles from a first person perspective as if it makes the audience part of the movie.

What I didn’t expect was that it still makes me felt good in the end after all the war-torn scenes. What I didn’t expect was the movie was only an hour and a half long because director Christopher Nolan usually makes 2-hour movies. This is the movie I highly recommend watching especially in IMAX. Despite the war story, it is also inspiring because 400,000 soldiers couldn't go home but home came for them.

Viewed on SM IMAX Megamall last July 18. For more movie reviews blogs, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

PRODUCTION UNDERWAY ON NEW LINE CINEMA'S “ISN'T IT ROMANTIC?”

Press release

Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth Adam Devine and Priyanka Chopra

provide topsy-turvy love and laughs under the direction of Todd Strauss-Schulson

BURBANK, CA – July 10, 2017 – Principal photography has begun on New Line Cinema’s romantic comedy “Isn’t It Romantic?” starring Rebel Wilson (“How to Be Single,” the “Pitch Perfect” films), Liam Hemsworth (the “Hunger Games” films), Adam Devine (“The Intern,” the “Pitch Perfect” films) and Priyanka Chopra (“Quantico,” “Baywatch”), under the direction of Todd Strauss-Schulson (“A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,” “The Final Girls”).

New York City architect Natalie works hard to get noticed at her job, but is more likely to be asked to deliver coffee and bagels than to design the city’s next skyscraper. And if things weren’t bad enough, Natalie, a lifelong cynic when it comes to love, has an encounter with a mugger that renders her unconscious, waking to discover that her life has suddenly become her worst nightmare—a romantic comedy—and she is the leading lady.

Wilson stars as Natalie, alongside Liam Hemsworth as Blake, a handsome client; Adam Devine, as her earnest best friend, Josh; and Priyanka Chopra as yoga ambassador Isabella.

Strauss-Schulson directs from a screenplay by Erin Cardillo, Dana Fox & Katie Silberman, and Paula Pell. Todd Garner (“Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” “Tag”), Gina Matthews & Grant Scharbo (“13 Going on 30,” “What Women Want”) are producing, with Marty Ewing (“The Accountant,” “It”) and Jeremy Stein (“Into the Storm”) executive producing. Filming is taking place in and around New York City.

Collaborating with Strauss-Schulson behind the scenes are director of photography Simon Duggan (“The Great Gatsby,” “Hacksaw Ridge”), production designer Sharon Seymour (“Argo,” “The Town”), editor Andrew Marcus (“Begin Again,” “Sing Street”), and costume designer Leah Katznelson (“How to Be Single,” “Sleeping with Other People”).

The film is set for release in the Philippines a day before Valentine’s Day, February 13, 2019, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

OFFICIAL “DUNKIRK” POSTER SHOWS WAR UP CLOSE

Press release

Warner Bros. Pictures has just revealed the new official Dunkirk (see movie review here) poster which may be seen below.

Nolan (Interstellar, Inception, The Dark Knight Trilogy) directs Dunkirk from his own original screenplay, utilizing a mixture of IMAX® and 65mm film to bring the story to the screen.

Dunkirk opens as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces. Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in.

Dunkirk features a prestigious cast, including Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and Cillian Murphy as well as newcomer Fionn Whitehead. The ensemble cast also includes Aneurin Barnard, Harry Styles, James D’Arcy, Jack Lowden, Barry Keoghan and Tom Glynn-Carney.

Warner Bros. Pictures is distributing Dunkirk worldwide and has slated the film for a July 20, 2017 release in the Philippines.

“ROUGH NIGHT” STARS ROCK THEIR CHARACTER POSTERS

Press release

Columbia Pictures has launched the character posters for its upcoming adult comedy Rough Night, slated to open in Philippine cinemas August 9, 2017.

Take a look at the individual one-sheets below featuring the principal castmembers Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Zoë Kravitz.

In Rough Night, five friends from college reunite when they rent a beach house in Miami for a wild bachelorette weekend that goes completely off the rails. Just when all hope is lost, they realize there’s more to the story than they could’ve ever imagined.

Scarlett Johansson plays Jess Thayer, the bride-to-be who has dedicated her life to public service, and has set her sights on becoming a member of the state legislature. “She is definitely a socially conscious person,” explains Johansson. “She’s involved in the community and wants to make a positive difference in people’s lives. That’s why she’s running for state senate.”

Kate McKinnon portrays the Australian Pippa (a/k/a Kiwi), who is Jess’ eccentric friend from her semester abroad down under. “She's the freest spirit there possibly could be,” says McKinnon. “There are no rules with Pippa. But even though she’s a strange bird, she’s also sincere, tender and sweet – she has an absolute joy – which I think is a good combo.”

Jillian Bell plays Alice, Jess’ overly possessive friend who relishes reliving the past. Though the two were very close when they were in college, the passing years have changed that friendship. “Alice thinks she’s still Jess’ best friend,” says Bell. “Alice believes that she and Jess are much closer than they actually are and that they can still have fun times together.”

Frankie, played by Ilana Glazer, is the consummate activist. “Frankie is a hyper-politicized rich kid from Brentwood who thinks the things that she does are very important,” says Glazer. “She forgoes a life of leisure to devote herself to making a difference.”

Blair, played by Zoë Kravitz, is the successful, straight laced, proper and seemingly put-together one of the group. However, outward appearances can be deceptive – there is more turmoil going on in Blair’s life than she would rather admit. “Blair is the conservative one in the group,” says Kravitz. “She’s married. She has a child. She’s a businesswoman. She has chosen a more conventional and materialistic route.”

Rough Night is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

“SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING” HOLDS MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS JULY 6 AT 12:01AM

Press release

MANILA, July 03, 2017 – Peter Parker comes home to the Marvel Cinematic Universe sooner than you think, as Columbia Pictures has announced midnight screenings for Spider-Man: Homecoming onThursday, July 06 at 12:01AM in selected cinemas in Metro Manila and regional cities.

Fans are advised to reserve and buy their tickets now to be among the first in the world to watch Spider-Man: Homecoming.

In Metro Manila, midnight screenings are confirmed to be held in SM Aura IMAX, Vista Taguig, Venice, Uptown, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Century City, SM BF, SM Southmall, CommerCenter, Starmall Alabang, Vista Evia, SM Mall of Asia, SM S'Maison, SM Light Mall, SM Megamall, Eastwood, Starmall EDSA, SM North EDSA, SM Fairview, Gateway, Fisher Mall and Trinoma.

Moviegoers in the provinces may watch in SM Cebu, Abreeza, Gaisano Davao, Vista Sta. Rosa, Starmall San Jose, Ayala Legaspi, Vista Bataan, Vista Pampanga, SM Clark and SM Baguio.

For the updated list, fans may check with their favorite cinemas.

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Embraced all over the world, Spider-Man is the most popular comic book character in history and the crown jewel of Marvel comics. Now, he comes home in a film with a fresh, fun tone and new take, produced by Marvel Studios, that brings the Peter Parker of the comic books to the screen alongside MCU heroes for the first time.

Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened. His moment has arrived as he is challenged to become the hero he is meant to be.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.