TOM HARDY REVEALS NEW SIDE OF HIMSELF IN "THE DROP"

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                The discovery of an abandoned and abused puppy leads a lonely bartender out of his constricted world in "The Drop," a riveting journey through a rarely seen side of working-class Brooklyn. The first film written by best-selling author Dennis Lehane, "The Drop" sets an unusual love story against the volatile backdrop of organized crime’s unbreakable grip on the small pubs and taverns used as money-laundering “drops.”

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight

                Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) slings drinks in his Cousin Marv’s (James Gandolfini in his final performance) bar and looks the other way whenever Brooklyn crime bosses use the place as a temporary bank for their ill-gotten gains. He keeps to himself, attending Mass daily at the old neighborhood parish church, but never taking Communion.

                Bob’s simple life becomes much more complicated when he discovers a battered pit bull puppy in a trash can. Turning to his neighbor Nadia (Noomi Rapace) for help, he nurses the puppy back to health, as their mutual concern for the dog sparks an unexpected attraction between them. But when Eric Deeds (Matthias Schoenaerts), the dog’s original owner and Nadia’s abusive ex-boyfriend, tries to reclaim both of them, and a robbery at the bar puts Bob in the crosshairs of the Chechen crime boss who owns it, Bob is forced to face the shocking truth about the people he thinks he knows best—including himself.

                To direct the movie, the producers selected Michaël R. Roskam, a Belgian with one feature film to his credit: "Bullhead," a dark thriller about a brooding and dangerous loner that was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2011.

                “It was such a strong debut for a director,” says executive producer Larocca. “The way he handled the cast made it really clear that this is a guy who knows how to work with actors. Our script has rich and deeply complex characters, so we needed someone we knew could work with actors to draw out truly extraordinary performances.”

                The success of Roskam’s first feature was rapidly opening doors for the director in Hollywood, and he gave careful consideration to the choices he was offered. “This is the first time I have directed a film from a script I didn’t write,” Roskam says. “One of the things that drove my decision was that I wished I had written it. I knew it was the story for me. It was extremely well-written and plot-driven, but with the kind of complex character development that appeals to me.”  

                "The Drop" will open in cinemas soon from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

PUDSEY STARS IN HIS OWN MOVIE

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Pudsey who won with his owner Ashleigh in 2012’s Britain’s Got Talent leaps to the big screen in “Pudsey: The Movie” where he plays a London stray that eventually meets  three kind-hearted siblings who takes him home after he saves one of them from a bullying incident. 

In the movie, Pudsey is quite happy being a lone ranger until he meets siblings Molly (Izzy Meikle-Small), George (Spike White) and Tommy (Malachy Knights).  After losing their father, their mother Gail (Jessica Hynes) is moving the family to the sleepy village of Chuffington and Pudsey tags along, to the dismay of their landlord, Mr. Thorne (John Sessions), and his cat Faustus. As Pudsey starts to settle in with the family and realize what he was missing when he was alone, he stumbles across Thorne's evil plan and he determines to save them and the whole village.

Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment and Vertigo Films produce the movie under the direction of Nick Moore. 

Rupert Preston of Vertigo states "We're delighted to be developing this idea with Syco and we can't wait to bring Pudsey to the big screen, it will be great, feel-good, fun entertainment for all the family."

Mark Brittain, Global Commercial Director for Syco, adds: "This is a really exciting initiative for us - and we look forward to working with Vertigo as it develops."  Further, Pudsey's manager Jonathan Shalit, of Roar Global, adds: "The British people love Pudsey. He has met the Queen and was invited to 10 Downing Street by the Prime Minister. This represents a hugely exciting next step."

“Pudsey: The Movie” is now showing exclusively in SM Cinemas nationwide and distributed by Silverline, Inc.

If I Stay movie review

It's already months after Valentine's Day and there's a chick flick that is out of season. The reason why I like to watch this movie because of Chloe Grace Moretz, better known as Hit Girl in Kick Ass movies.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Besides Ms. Moretz, what made me interested was the concept of the afterlife in the story. But this is not the first time movies had this theme. I can recall, Always, the trending Ghost, and my personal favorite; Just Like Heaven.

What I appreciated in this movie was the comedy and the musical score which is also essential in the story. What I like that this movie still appreciate classical and it also compliments rock in general. I never thought a kid would even heard of Iggy Pop.

I like how the story progressed. It's like there are two timelines are happening at the same time. The characters were proven useful except for Chloe's character. She just run around without looking for the solution while the living did their part.

I haven't read the book which it was adapted from but from the way I see it, the target audience enjoyed the movie after hearing their reaction in the last scene. I also heard from another movie critic that someone really cried. I am glad that there are "guinea pigs" or "test subjects" present during the premiere screening.

For more chick flick reviews, follow this blog or like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook. Thanks to Warner Bros for the premiere screening.

STATE-SPONSORED NIGHT OF VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN “THE PURGE: ANARCHY”

Universal Pictures brings to the big screen “The Purge: Anarchy,” the sequel to summer 2013’s sleeper hit that opened to No. 1 at the North American box-office. The film sees the return of writer/director James DeMonaco to craft the next terrifying chapter of dutiful U.S. citizens preparing for their country’s yearly 12 hours of anarchy. The cast is lead by Frank Grillo (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”).

Photo courtesy of UIP

The new story follows an unlikely group of five citizens who, over the course of the night, find out just how far they will go to protect themselves and, ultimately, each other, as they fight to survive a night fraught with impossible decisions.

We begin our story with a haunted loner, Leo (Grillo), a sergeant who has suffered the loss of his son prior to tonight. Arming himself with enough guns and body armor to make it until dawn, he is a man possessed...and one clearly going out on a vigilante mission of vengeance against those responsible for his loss.

Eva (Carmen Ejogo) is a single mother trying to make ends meet who lives on the wrong side of the tracks. She lives with her teenage daughter, Cali (Zoe Soul), and can't afford the security offered the wealthy. When they are attacked in the home where they attempt to hide and are briefly captured by masked Purge assailants, Eva and Cali must rely on the unlikely help of a stranger named Leo to save them from certain death. When Leo, against his better judgment and to the detriment of his plan of retribution upon someone who wronged his family, witnesses their kidnapping, he opens fire to protect Eva and Cali.

Meanwhile, a couple on the brink of separating, Shane (Zach Gilford) and Liz (Kiele Sanchez), become the victims of a carjacking just as The Purge commences. Seeking refuge in Leo's armored car, they team up with these other three strangers to fend off those seeking to exercise their right to mayhem.

As the new allies question everything they've ever been told by their leaders, they will be hunted across the massive city in a kill-or-be-killed series of survival scenarios that blur the line between sponsored revenge and righteous justice.

Returning alongside writer/director/producer James DeMonaco to produce the next chapter fo the thriller are Blumhouse Productions' Jason Blum (“Paranormal Activity” and “Insidious” series), alongside Sebastien K. Lemercier (“Assault on Precinct 13”) and Platinum Dunes partners Michael Bay (“Transformers” franchise), Brad Fuller (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”) and Andrew Form (“Friday the 13^th”).

Now showing across the Philippines, “The Purge: Anarchy″ is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Nightcrawler Poster Released

Captive Cinema has now debuted the official poster for writer/director Dan Gilroy's Nightcrawler, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, and Bill Paxton.

Nightcrawler is a pulse-pounding thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling -- where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou thrives. In the breakneck, ceaseless search for footage, he becomes the star of his own story. 

‘Nightcrawler’ is released and distributed by CAPTIVE CINEMA.

SHOWING SOON.

WARNER BROS. PICTURES CROSSES BILLION-DOLLAR MARK AT U.S. BOX OFFICE

WB Remains The Only Studio In History To Surpass $1 Billion Domestically For 14 Consecutive Years

BURBANK, CA – On Monday, August 4, Warner Bros. Pictures became the only film studio in history to earn more than $1 billion at the domestic box office for 14 years in a row. In fact, the division has crossed the billion-dollar mark for 15 of the past 16 years. The announcement was made recently by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures’ President of Domestic Distribution.

The studio passed the billion-dollar threshold thanks to a huge first quarter, featuring the box office success of New Line Cinema’s and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” the second in Peter Jackson’s Trilogy, which opened in late 2013 but which enjoyed substantial returns in the first quarter of this year.

2014 continued to build with Warner Bros. Pictures’, Village Roadshow Pictures’ and LEGO® System A/S’s blockbuster animated feature “The LEGO Movie”—which was the #1 movie for the first half of 2014—and “300: Rise of an Empire,” the heavy-hitting follow up to Zack Snyder’s groundbreaking “300,” from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Summer started with a bang thanks to the monster hit “Godzilla,” from Warner Bros. and Legendary, IMAX®’s largest opening this year, followed by Doug Liman’s action thriller from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow, “Edge of Tomorrow,” starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, and one-of-a-kind comedy from Melissa McCarthy as New Line’s “Tammy.”

In making the announcement, Fellman said, “This is a proud day for our studio. To cross such an extraordinary milestone once again is a direct reflection of the high standards and incredible efforts of the dedicated and creative individuals at work here, both on and off the screen. We still have an exciting roster of films yet to open this calendar year and, together with the talented teams bringing them to the theater, we look forward to continued success.”

Still to come in 2014 from Warner Bros. Pictures are: New Line’s and MGM’s “If I Stay”; Alcon Entertainment’s “Dolphin Tale 2”; the dramatic comedy ensemble of “This Is Where I Leave You,” starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and Jane Fonda; “Annabelle,” another chapter in New Line’s highly successful “The Conjuring”; David Dobkin’s “The Judge,” starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall in tour-de-force performances, from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow; New Line’s sequel to the hit comedy “Horrible Bosses,” “Horrible Bosses 2,” reuniting the stars from the original, including Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day; “Inherent Vice,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “surf noir” adaptation of author Thomas Pynchon’s cult favorite novel; and from New Line and MGM, the much-anticipated finale to Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” Trilogy, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.”

“CONTINUUM” ACTOR VICTOR WEBSTER STARS IN “A GOOD MAN”

Victor Webster, known for his starring recurring role in the television series “Continuum” is featured alongside Steven Seagal in “A Good Man” movie.

Photo courtesy of Crystalsky Media

Steven Seagal plays Alexander Coates in “A Good Man” where he meets Sasha Ivanov (played by Webster) two years after his voluntary recluse from his life as a Special Forces agent.  Sasha works as an enforcer for a Russian mobster known as Vladimir who is forced to pay off a debt from his father that has been passed down to his family.  When low level gangsters start turning up dead and money begins to disappear, Sasha  suspects that he is being set up to take the fall. And when his sisters Mya and Lena are kidnapped by Vladimir, Sasha turns to the only man who can help – Alexander Coates.

Sasha and Alexander take on Vladimir’s men as well as the mysterious Mr. Chen to rescue Sasha’s sisters. Alexander is fighting to do what is right while Sasha is fighting for the most important thing in his life – his family. Action and mayhem ensue as the body count rises with Alexander returning to what he does best – killing in the name of what’s right. 

 “There are just so many action sequences in this movie” says Victor Webster “And it was great performing next to an action star such as Steven Seagal”.  Born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Webster then began his theatrical film career in the box office smash “Bringing Down the House.” During this time he continued to alternate between television and theatrical film roles. He has had guest appearances on shows including Bones, CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Necessary Roughness and Single Ladies. 

He has also had recurring roles on such shows as, Related, Charmed, Lincoln Heights, Harper's Island, Melrose Place and Castle. Victor holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has taught and competed in many forms of martial arts. He holds an undefeated record as a heavyweight in both Tae Kwon Do competition and amateur kick boxing, and is also a multiple medal winner in the no gi jiu jitsu world championships.

Fresh, International Movies Premiere on CinemaWorld

CinemaWorld, an international movie channel, continues to bring the best movies from around the world to cable television.  This month, CinemaWorld offers fresh, new titles, premiering on the channel just months after their official theatrical releases this year.

 

Seven Little Killers

A group of 13-year old village youths in Italy are playing one afternoon when tragedy strikes.  They find that, 30 years later, their past returns to haunt them.  Screened at the 17th Shanghai International Film Festival 2014, Seven Little Killers stars Best Actor awardee Michele Venitucci, and will premiere first on CinemaWorld on August 24, at 9:00 PM.

 

Behavior. Photos courtesy of CinemaWorld

Eleven-year old Chala, played by Armando Valdés, lives alone with his drug addict mother.  He illegally trains fighting dogs to earn some money for his family, and this world of violence sometimes finds itself surfacing when at school.  In spite of this, Chala’s sixth grade teacher Carmela, played by Alina Rodríguez, feels affection and respect for him.  One day she becomes ill and musts give up teaching for several months.  When Carmela returns, she rebels against the transformations Chala and her class have been subjected to.  The relationship between the veteran teacher and the boy grows stronger, but this mutual commitment will jeopardize their continuance at the school.  Already boasting of multiple awards, including the Havana Star Prize for Best Film and Best Latin American Film at the Malaga Spanish Film Festival 2014, don’t miss this Cuban Drama Behavior on August 31, at 9:00 PM.

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

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

WILL THESE CHARACTERS SURVIVE THE PURGE IN “ANARCHY” ?

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In Universal Pictures' blood-curdling sequel “The Purge: Anarchy,” the New Founders of America (NFA), has sanctioned its annual 12-hour Purge to ensure that the crime rate stays below one percent for the rest of the year. With police and hospitals suspending help, it’s one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment or fear of retribution.

Photo courtesy of UIP

The new story follows an unlikely group of five citizens who, over the course of the night, find out just how far they will go to protect themselves and, ultimately, each other, as they fight to survive a night fraught with impossible decisions.

Portraying these characters are Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zoe Soul, Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez.

The filmmakers sought out actress Carmen Ejogo to portray Eva, a passive working mother who looks to her daughter, Cali, for strength. Just minutes before the annual Purge begins on March 21 at 7:00 p.m., we are introduced to Eva, who works long hours at a diner to make ends meet, leaving work after meekly asking for, and being denied, a promotion and a raise.

Ejogo shares what drew her to the character and the film: “I thought it was interesting the fact that it was a social commentary on gun violence in America, which is something I’m very interested in and what the ramifications are for all of us culturally. Beyond that, my character goes through an incredible arc—from being passive and codependent on her daughter, to being proactive and empowered.”

As Eva and daughter Cali prepare to stay inside their home for The Purge, an intruder busts down their door and tries to kill both of them…setting us up for a night of terror.

For Cali, filmmakers looked no further than up-and-comer Zoë Soul. “The film explores what happens outside, not just indoors with one family in one home,” Soul says. “I was curious to see where it would take us. Playing Cali was a trip, because she’s such a strong 16-year-old, and she reminds me so much of myself when I was a little bit younger.”

Next up, filmmakers went in search of actors to play the separating duo Shane and Liz, two characters who are across town from our other players. Gathering last-minute items before The Purge commences—and discussing how to tell their families that they are separating—Shane and Liz discover that masked men on motorcycles have cut their fuel line. The couple is left with no choice but to seek shelter before the commencement…and very quickly.

After interviewing Zach Gilford and wife Kiele Sanchez separately, filmmakers realized the duo could bring a real-life dynamic to the characters’ relationship. Director James DeMonaco shares: “The fact that Zach and Kiele are a married couple brings an organic authenticity to their dynamic. There’s a scene when they’re bickering in the car, which plays very real because of course they’ve done that before in real life.”

What drew Gilford to the film was the fresh concept. He shares: “It’s a totally different take on the concept from the first film, which I thought was fun. It’s not a contrived way to keep characters from the first one continue their story, it’s just telling another story from this night.”

Sanchez appreciated DeMonaco’s views on what The Purge was actually about. She offers: “James and I talked about how we’re both terrified of guns and what would happen if you’re in a society where it is a gun culture. In this film, we have the revolutionaries come in who have figured out that the government is behind wanting to get rid of the poor. I thought that was incredibly unexpected and interesting.”

Kill The Messenger Posters Debut

A colourful debut Kill the Messenger posters for the dramatic thriller based on the true story of a journalist who was the target of a smear campaign by the CIA.  

Jeremy Renner stars and showing soon across the Philippines. Released and distributed by Captive Cinema.

KILL THE MESSENGER, based on the true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb.

Webb becomes aware of a story which leads to accusations that the CIA are aware of major drug dealers in the USA, and are using the profits to arm rebel groups fighting in Nicaragua. Webb looks into this even further and attempts to uncover a conspiracy with catastrophic implications for the safety of not just himself, but his family too.

Also starring Rosemarie DeWitt, Ray Liotta, Tim Blake Nelson, Barry Pepper, Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen, Paz Vega, Michael Kenneth Williams, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Andy Garcia.