“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.

SEXUAL TENSION, BROKEN TABOOS IN NEW THRILLER “THE BEGUILED”

Press release

Focus Features presents The Beguiled, an atmospheric thriller from acclaimed writer/director Sofia Coppola and starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning.

Photo credit: UIP

Adapted from the novel by Thomas Cullinan, The Beguiled is a sexually charged tale that unfolds during the Civil War, at a Southern girls’ boarding school. Its sheltered young women take in an injured enemy soldier. As they provide refuge and tend to his wounds, the house is taken over with sexual tension and dangerous rivalries, and taboos are broken in an unexpected turn of events.

Laced with elements of a taut psychological thriller, The Beguiled explores the theme of women isolated during the Civil War. In writing the screenplay adaptation, Sofia Coppola went back to the book to tell the story from the female characters’ perspective for her film.

While there is tension – both sexual and otherwise – throughout the story, Colin Farrell gravitated to what he deems an “extraordinary” script because “it looks at how whatever innocence has been maintained in a time of war can be lost. It also explores how the more animalistic aspects of human behavior can be provoked – and pervade – even when you’re not on the front lines.

“The violence of the human heart is a timeless theme, no matter what period a story takes place in.”

Kirsten Dunst remarks, “The story is Southern Gothic, with things bubbling under until they get to a boiling point and then an explosion happens. It’s not horror, but it feels like there is horror in it, with intensity and destruction – all made more compelling because this is happening among women.

“When Sofia told me about the idea a couple of years ago, my impression was that she was drawn to the subject matter of so many women together alone.”

Nicole Kidman comments, “I thought it was exciting to work with a group of women and then put Colin in the equation. I was so happy to support Sofia as a female director, and I always thought that she made such atmospheric movies in such a signature style. That was the main thing which drew me to working with her.”

Elle Fanning adds, “Besides working with Sofia again, this was a reason for me to be part of The Beguiled: the women hold the power in this story – even though it’s set during the Civil War.”

The women’s wartime lives at the school are, as the story begins, heavily ritualized. Fanning notes, “They get up, they work in the garden at a certain time. There’s prayer, playing music, French lessons, dinner and bedtime. Until, everything gets shaken up; they take in the wounded soldier, and selfishness sets in.”

Opening across the Philippines on July 26, The Beguiled is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

“DESPICABLE ME 3” OPENS AT NO.1, GROSSES P93.6M, the Biggest Opening Weekend for an animated title in 2017

Press release

MANILA, June 19, 2017 – Universal Pictures and Illumination's new comedy adventure Despicable Me 3 ran off with a nationwide box-office haul of P93.6-M to open a No.1 and grab the biggest opening weekend for an animated title in 2017.

Photo credit: UIP

Bowing two weeks earlier in the Philippines ahead of the US, Despicable Me 3 proved to be a worthy successor to its previous two blockbuster installments, reinforcing its formidable brand as a family franchise. Its successful launch in PH is the biggest in the region, grossing more than in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Getting the lion's share of box-office grosses are SM Mall of Asia, Trinoma and SM Megamall.

In fourth to tenth rankings are SM North Edsa, Glorietta IV, Powerplant, Greenbelt III, Alabang Town Center, Fairview Terraces and SM Southmall.

Rounding up the top 20 (11^th to 20^th) are SM Baguio, SM Dasmarinas, Robinsons Magnolia, Fisher Mall, SM Marikina, SM Fairview, Eastwood, SM Clark, Shang Cineplex and Bonifacio High Street.

Illumination Entertainment continues the story of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions in Despicable Me 3.

After he is fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to take down the latest bad guy to threaten humanity, Gru finds himself in the midst of a major identity crisis. But when a mysterious stranger shows up to inform Gru that he has a long-lost twin brother—a brother who desperately wishes to follow in his twin’s despicable footsteps—one former super-villain will rediscover just how good it feels to be bad.

Now playing across the Philippines, Despicable Me 3 is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS FOR “TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT” JUNE 21 AT 12:01AM

Press release

MANILA, June 19, 2017 – The species war between flesh and metal begins earlier for Filipino fans as United International Pictures (UIP) has announced that Transformers: The Last Knight, will have special midnight screenings in participating cinemas nationwide on Wednesday, June 21 at 12:01 AM.

The public is advised to reserve and buy their tickets now to be among the first in the world to watch Michael Bay'sTransformers: The Last Knight, the fifth installment in the hugely successful franchise.

In Metro Manila, midnight screenings are confirmed to be held in Alabang Town Center, Greenbelt 3, Bonifacio High Street, Trinoma, Glorietta 4, Eastwood, Fisher Mall, Newport, Venice Cineplex, Uptown Cineplex, Starmall Edsa, Metropolis Alabang, Vista Taguig, Vista Evia Cinema, SM Aura, SM BF, SM Clark, SM Fairview, SM Mall of Asia, S'Maison, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa and SM Southmall.

Moviegoers in the provinces may watch at Starmall San Jose, Vista Sta. Rosa, Vista Bataan, Vista Pampangga, SM Baguio and SM Cebu.

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

The Last Knight shatters the core myths of the Transformers franchise, and redefines what it means to be a hero. Humans and Transformers are at war, Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Saving our world falls upon the shoulders of an unlikely alliance: Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg); Bumblebee; an English Lord (Sir Anthony Hopkins); and an Oxford Professor (Laura Haddock).

There comes a moment in everyone’s life when we are called upon to make a difference. In Transformers: The Last Knight, the hunted will become heroes. Heroes will become villains. Only one world will survive: theirs, or ours.

The film also stars Josh Duhamel, Isabella Moner, Stanley Tucci and John Turturro.

Transformers: The Last Knight is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

“DUNKIRK” OFFICIAL IMAX POSTER

Press release

Warner Bros. Pictures has just revealed the IMAX one-sheet art for Christopher Nolan's new epic action thriller Dunkirk (see my movie review here), which was shot with IMAX film cameras.

Check out the IMAX exclusive poster below and watch Dunkirk in Philippne cinemas with special engagements in IMAX 70mm film.

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.

The film 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.

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

“BABY DRIVER” LAUNCHES ITS `TEKILLYAH' TRAILER

Press release

The latest trailer for Columbia Pictures’ Baby Driver, the much anticipated action comedy from acclaimed director Edgar Wright.

Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

Dubbed as `TeKillYah' – which references the infectious song – the trailer exploits the rave, critical acclaim thatBaby Driver has garnered since its premiere in festivals several months back.

The film stars Ansel Elgort as Baby, a getaway driver who suffers from a hearing impairment that requires him to listen to music in order to drown out the humming noise.

In the film, a talented, young getaway driver (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.

Written and directed by Edgar Wright, Baby Driver stars Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jon Bernthal, Eiza González 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.