KEIRA KNIGHTLEY PERSONIFIES LOVE IN “COLLATERAL BEAUTY”

Press release

Two-time Oscar-nominee Keira Knightley (Pride and Prejudice, The Imitation Game) is the epitome of Love, in New Line Cinema's heartwarming drama, Collateral Beauty.

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

In the film, Howard (Will Smith), a successful New York advertising executive retreats from life after suffering a great tragedy. While his concerned friends try desperately to reconnect with him, he seeks answers from the universe by writing letters to Love, Time and Death. But it’s not until his notes bring unexpected personal responses that he begins to understand how these constants interlock in a life fully lived, and how even the deepest loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty.

Howard’s most recent letter to Love said simply, “Goodbye,” and it’s now incumbent upon Keira Knightley’s character, Amy, to make him realize that giving up on love is not an option. Quite the contrary; this is when love matters most. Says Knightley of the role, “She’s highly empathetic to Howard’s grief, empathy being a part of love, and talks to him in emotional terms that he can feel. But she wants him to understand that love isn’t just the part where everything is great; it’s also the unbelievable pain you feel when something is taken away, and that in no way diminishes it or ends it.”

“It’s such an intriguing idea, and how can you say no to being the personification of love?” she asks.

The actress was enjoying a rare bit of down time and not actively seeking a film role when Collateral Beauty came her way. “I have a very young child and had come to the end of a grueling job and didn’t really want to work at the time,” she remembers. “I gave the script to my mom, mostly so she would say ‘No, don’t do that, stay at home with the baby and chill out.’ But she read it and phoned me in tears. She said nothing had made her feel like that for a long time. I think it speaks to something that we’re all frightened of and yet there’s an incredible feeling of relief and optimism within that. What people will experience individually I don’t know, but I was very moved by it. Plus, I didn’t know where it was going, and that was exciting.”

Opening across the Philippines on January 4, 2017, Collateral Beauty is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

Begin Again movie review

When I first saw the poster and the scenes, I thought it was another love story. But I decided to see it since because the current hulkster Mark Ruffalo is in the movie. I also thought the movie was a scheme to make a movie debut for Adam Levine but I can be proven wrong.

Photo courtesy of Weinstein Company

The movie is not like the type that can out of Hollywood. The quality of this movie can be compared to an independent production. The movie needs no big budget and the main stars are not just Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley and Adam Levine but the songs which play the integral part of the movie especially the characters. Just a note, it is not a musicale.

I first saw Mark Ruffalo in Just Like Heaven. I really like his performance. He did well in his succeeding movies including this one not because he is now Hulk's alter ego Bruce Banner. Adam Levine is the right choice for movie not because he is a recording artist. He is a performer who can show potential in movies. Maybe he can follow the steps of Mark Wahlberg formerly known as the rapper Marky Mark and Justin Timberlake.

But the big revelation for me was Keira Knightley. When I was watching the movie, I was asking myself. Is that really her singing? After waiting for the credits, I saw her name in most of the songs. Her singing reminds me of Natalie Imbruglia.

The movie is something different and I highly recommend it specially for movie buffs like me. This is probably the best movie this month has to offer.The story has quality and substance. The movie is rated R-18. It has no nudity nor violence. Only that the story is for mature, thinking audience. I can find seeing myself in the situation of the characters and relate to the movie.

Screened at SM MOA Cinema. For more quality reviews, interviews, movie releases and more; follow this blog or like L.E.N.S. blogs. on Facebook.

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY IN "SEEKING A FRIEND..."

Oscar-nominee Keira Knightley (“Pride & Prejudice,” “Atonement”) stars opposite Steve Carell in Focus Features' critically acclaimed comedy “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.” The film is shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt3 and Trinoma).

             In the film, Dodge (Carell) is a man who has always played by the rules of life, while his neighbor Penny (Knightley) is an extroverted woman who hasn't. From these opposite perspectives, both initially choose to navigate the impending end of the world with blinders on. Dodge declines joining his friends in increasingly reckless behavior, while Penny fixates on her relationship issues with a self-absorbed musician. On the road together, the unlikely traveling companions' respective personal journeys accelerate, and their outlooks - if not the world's – brighten.

             "Up until this tipping point, these two people have lived their lives very differently,” says writer-director Lorene Scafaria. “As much as Dodge has avoided life, Penny has been diving in head first. Together, they find they can face the end of the world." 

             Knightley recalls why she's drawn to the script with an unusual premise. "My agent sent me the script. I thought it was one of the most strangely optimistic pieces that I'd read, and I instantly said, 'Yeah, I want to be a part of it.' It was one of the best scripts I'd seen in years - and so unique. I got on the phone with Lorene and we had a great chat for about an hour. I don't think we even actually talked about the film. We talked about our mothers, and about family." 

             Producer Mark Roybal notes that "there's a profound depth Keira brings to Penny even when her character's behavior is whimsical, spontaneous, or flighty. There's a light in her eyes that reflects her inner light, which is why Penny is Dodge's beacon." 

             Producer Steve Golin adds, "Keira is a lot of fun to watch as Penny. She is well known for making movies set in different time periods, so playing a funny modern girl - in sneakers! - is a fresh turn for her." 

             Knightley admits, "I love doing modern-day movies - because I'm able to get up later in the morning."

             "I knew she'd be amazing and stunning and super-smart," says Scafaria. "But here's the surprise; she is so damn funny. So there's this refreshing blend of Keira, known as a dramatic actress, being more of a comedienne; and Steve, known as a comedic actor, doing a more dramatic role. 

             "Steve and Keira play off each other so well and have such great chemistry. Getting to hear my words said by these two actors? I couldn't have asked for more."