For the TV viewer burned by “Westworld” and burned out by Marvel, Star Wars, and epic fantasy, Prime Video has an offer.
Unfortunately, “The Peripheral,” based on William Gibson’s 2014 novel, is not a comparable alternative to any of the dense, engrossing genre series it aspires to emulate. It has time travel, gaming, and the lure of a post-apocalyptic backdrop, but manages to suck the thrill out of these promising elements and deliver something decidedly mundane.
Created by Scott Smith, who serves as head writer, the series takes place in an approximation of our present, with slightly advanced technology that Flynne Fischer (Chloë Grace-Moretz) uses to dabble in a virtual reality “sim” procured by her brother Burton (Jack Reynor). Shockingly, the sim turns out to be the very real future, and suddenly saving both realities falls on Flynne’s charming Southern shoulders. Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy of “Westworld” executive produce,...
Unfortunately, “The Peripheral,” based on William Gibson’s 2014 novel, is not a comparable alternative to any of the dense, engrossing genre series it aspires to emulate. It has time travel, gaming, and the lure of a post-apocalyptic backdrop, but manages to suck the thrill out of these promising elements and deliver something decidedly mundane.
Created by Scott Smith, who serves as head writer, the series takes place in an approximation of our present, with slightly advanced technology that Flynne Fischer (Chloë Grace-Moretz) uses to dabble in a virtual reality “sim” procured by her brother Burton (Jack Reynor). Shockingly, the sim turns out to be the very real future, and suddenly saving both realities falls on Flynne’s charming Southern shoulders. Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy of “Westworld” executive produce,...
- 10/22/2022
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
This review of “Creation Stories” was first published on June 16, 2021 after the film’s premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Drug-fueled benders and a knack for finding promising musical acts defined several decades of Scottish producer Alan McGee‘s storied, fast-paced life. The irreverent man behind Creation Records, the fiercely independent label that launched a slew of prominent bands into international stardom, holds a treasure-trove of anecdotes.
Those accounts — from the early, no-expectations days to the downfall from his no-holds-barred lifestyle — were first poured into McGee‘s 2013 autobiography and have now been adapted for the screen by Dean Cavanagh and Irvine Welsh (“Trainspotting”) for actor-turned-director Nick Moran’s film “Creation Stories.” Danny Boyle is an executive producer.
The somewhat-successful framing device here, at least for most of the parade of memories, is McGee’s interview with a young reporter in Los Angeles. Ewen Bremner, best known for playing Spud in “Trainspotting” and its sequel,...
Drug-fueled benders and a knack for finding promising musical acts defined several decades of Scottish producer Alan McGee‘s storied, fast-paced life. The irreverent man behind Creation Records, the fiercely independent label that launched a slew of prominent bands into international stardom, holds a treasure-trove of anecdotes.
Those accounts — from the early, no-expectations days to the downfall from his no-holds-barred lifestyle — were first poured into McGee‘s 2013 autobiography and have now been adapted for the screen by Dean Cavanagh and Irvine Welsh (“Trainspotting”) for actor-turned-director Nick Moran’s film “Creation Stories.” Danny Boyle is an executive producer.
The somewhat-successful framing device here, at least for most of the parade of memories, is McGee’s interview with a young reporter in Los Angeles. Ewen Bremner, best known for playing Spud in “Trainspotting” and its sequel,...
- 2/25/2022
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
Producer Orian Williams makes his directorial debut with Jeff Buckley biopic “Everybody Here Wants You.” Culmination will produce and kick off worldwide sales of the pic at the European Film Market.
“Everybody Here Wants You” stars Reeve Carney as the singer-songwriter whose career was cut short by his death in 1997. The film has full support of the Buckley estate and has access to Buckley’s music.
Culmination Prod.’s Tom Butterfield will produce alongside Buckley’s mother, Mary Guibert, and Alison Raykovich, manager of his estate and VP of Jeff Buckley Music. Culmination’s Harry White handles sales at the EFM.
Jeff Buckley met his father, singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, whose own music spurred an intense following, only once. Tim Buckley died in 1975, but his estranged son did possess the same gift for music. Jeff Buckley released one album, “Grace,” in 1994, which rocketed him to the top of critics lists and inspired a deep fandom,...
“Everybody Here Wants You” stars Reeve Carney as the singer-songwriter whose career was cut short by his death in 1997. The film has full support of the Buckley estate and has access to Buckley’s music.
Culmination Prod.’s Tom Butterfield will produce alongside Buckley’s mother, Mary Guibert, and Alison Raykovich, manager of his estate and VP of Jeff Buckley Music. Culmination’s Harry White handles sales at the EFM.
Jeff Buckley met his father, singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, whose own music spurred an intense following, only once. Tim Buckley died in 1975, but his estranged son did possess the same gift for music. Jeff Buckley released one album, “Grace,” in 1994, which rocketed him to the top of critics lists and inspired a deep fandom,...
- 3/1/2021
- by Carole Horst
- Variety Film + TV
A Netflix requirement that cinematographers capture films in Hdr, or high dynamic range, has taken many by surprise, filmmakers say, but those at the 27th EnergaCamerimage festival in Poland seem increasingly accepting of the change.
Dp Roberto Schaefer, whose “Red Sea Diving Resort” screened at the cinematography fest in the historic city of Torun, said the new rule could benefit the viewing experience for TV viewers but also noted he only learned of it at the last moment on his most recent production.
Schaefer, at Camerimage to screen “Red Sea Diving Resort,” the fact-based feature about a Mossad operation to rescue Ethiopian Jews from persecution, said Hdr should be planned from the start of production.
“It’s about communication,” Schaefer said, speaking at a panel on closing the gap between technical and creative concerns sponsored by the American Society of Cinematographers, Netflix and Imago, the European federation of cinematographers.
“You really should be told,...
Dp Roberto Schaefer, whose “Red Sea Diving Resort” screened at the cinematography fest in the historic city of Torun, said the new rule could benefit the viewing experience for TV viewers but also noted he only learned of it at the last moment on his most recent production.
Schaefer, at Camerimage to screen “Red Sea Diving Resort,” the fact-based feature about a Mossad operation to rescue Ethiopian Jews from persecution, said Hdr should be planned from the start of production.
“It’s about communication,” Schaefer said, speaking at a panel on closing the gap between technical and creative concerns sponsored by the American Society of Cinematographers, Netflix and Imago, the European federation of cinematographers.
“You really should be told,...
- 11/16/2019
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
Torun, Poland – While Gideon Raff’s Netflix thriller “The Red Sea Diving Resort” shot largely in South Africa and Namibia, the project was a welcomed opportunity for cinematographer Roberto Schaefer due to his own memorable travels through Ethiopia. The film, which screened in the EnergaCamerimage Intl. Film Festival’s Contemporary World Cinema section, is loosely based on an operation by the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, to evacuate Jewish Ethiopian refugees to Israel in the 1980s using an abandoned seaside resort in Sudan. Chris Evans, Ben Kingsley, Michael Kenneth Williams and Greg Kinnear star. “Story-wise obviously it moved me very much,” Schaefer said, speaking at the film’s screening in Torun, Poland on Thursday. “I had sort of a personal connection to it because in 1972 I visited Ethiopia with my sister and my brother-in-law. We travelled around the whole country and we went to three different Falasha villages – Ethiopian Jews are Falashas.
- 11/16/2019
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Chris Evans, Alessandro Nivola, Mbulelo Grootboom, Sizo Mahlangu, Michael Kenneth Williams, Masasa Mbangeni, Setlhabi Jacob Taunyane, Ditebogo Ledwaba, Motsi Tekateka, Yossi Vasa, Greg Kinnear | Written and Directed by Gideon Raff
The Red Sea Diving Resort, directed by Gideon Raff, is the latest feature from streaming service Netflix with little to no fanfare and often arrives dead on arrival. It stars Chris Evans as Ari Levinson, an undercover Israeli operative who smuggles displaced refugees and with a team gets them to safety. On paper, The Red Sea Diving Resort is a mixture between Blood Diamond and Entebbe. The two comparable films run incredibly similar sequences of suspense and narrative threads, albeit far better executed than this sub-par Chris Evans vehicle.
Gideon Raff’s film is not lousy per se; best described merely as weak. The narrative by Raff – who also writes as well as directs this feature – has an exciting tale to tell.
The Red Sea Diving Resort, directed by Gideon Raff, is the latest feature from streaming service Netflix with little to no fanfare and often arrives dead on arrival. It stars Chris Evans as Ari Levinson, an undercover Israeli operative who smuggles displaced refugees and with a team gets them to safety. On paper, The Red Sea Diving Resort is a mixture between Blood Diamond and Entebbe. The two comparable films run incredibly similar sequences of suspense and narrative threads, albeit far better executed than this sub-par Chris Evans vehicle.
Gideon Raff’s film is not lousy per se; best described merely as weak. The narrative by Raff – who also writes as well as directs this feature – has an exciting tale to tell.
- 8/2/2019
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
Cary Fukunaga and Daniel Craig have found an exciting new addition for Bond 25: Cinematographer Linus Sandgren. The Swedish Dp will join Fukunaga behind the camera for the next 007 adventure, which will be Sandgren’s first James Bond movie and one of his biggest studio projects to date. IndieWire confirmed the hiring with Sandgren himself.
Sandgren is best known for his collaborations with Damien Chazelle. The 46-year-old Dp won the Oscar for Best Cinematography at the 89th Academy Awards for his work on the musical “La La Land,” and he’s expected to be back in the race again next year with his work on Chazelle’s astronaut drama “First Man.”
Other notable films shot by Sandgren include David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” and “Joy,” Gus Van Sant’s “Promised Land,” and Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris’ “Battle of the Sexes.” The cinematographer’s last release was Disney...
Sandgren is best known for his collaborations with Damien Chazelle. The 46-year-old Dp won the Oscar for Best Cinematography at the 89th Academy Awards for his work on the musical “La La Land,” and he’s expected to be back in the race again next year with his work on Chazelle’s astronaut drama “First Man.”
Other notable films shot by Sandgren include David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” and “Joy,” Gus Van Sant’s “Promised Land,” and Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris’ “Battle of the Sexes.” The cinematographer’s last release was Disney...
- 12/7/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The more tragic yet intimate a story, the more you, as an audience member, hope for a personal touch in order to ground things in a relatable way. It just feels right to have that, as opposed to something fantastical and out there. There’s a personal touch that’s found all throughout What They Had. While you may leave the film raving about Robert Forster’s performance, what also stays with you is the deft touch that writer/director Elizabeth Chomko has. Films about Alzheimer’s and the deterioration of a parent are often just tearjerkers. Chomko refutes that notion, instead creating something deeply lived in and real. The laughter, the tears, the emotion, it’s all earned. Opening today, it’s an independent picture with a lot to offer. The movie is a drama, though one tinged with the sort of laughs that only happen when a family...
- 10/19/2018
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
The board of governors of the American Society of Cinematographers has re-elected Kees van Oostrum as president to serve his third consecutive one-year term.
The Amsterdam native was elected two years ago to a one-year term, succeeding Richard Crudo. The organization, now in its 99th year, has 370-plus active members and 200 associate members from ancillary segments of the industry. Membership is by invitation only.
The Asc made the announcement Tuesday. Its board also named its roster of officers for 2018-2019, including Bill Bennett, John Simmons and Cynthia Pusheck as vice presidents; Levie Isaacks as treasurer; David Darby as secretary; and Isidore Mankofsky as sergeant-at-arms.
“During this past year at the Asc, we have been steadfastly focused on educational events, international outreach, and efforts to promote diversity and inclusion,” said van Oostrum. “These all support our mission of loyalty, progress and artistry. As we look ahead, we plan to usher in...
The Amsterdam native was elected two years ago to a one-year term, succeeding Richard Crudo. The organization, now in its 99th year, has 370-plus active members and 200 associate members from ancillary segments of the industry. Membership is by invitation only.
The Asc made the announcement Tuesday. Its board also named its roster of officers for 2018-2019, including Bill Bennett, John Simmons and Cynthia Pusheck as vice presidents; Levie Isaacks as treasurer; David Darby as secretary; and Isidore Mankofsky as sergeant-at-arms.
“During this past year at the Asc, we have been steadfastly focused on educational events, international outreach, and efforts to promote diversity and inclusion,” said van Oostrum. “These all support our mission of loyalty, progress and artistry. As we look ahead, we plan to usher in...
- 6/12/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Versatile cinematographer Roberto Schaefer has worked on films of all sizes: from Quantum of Solace to The Paperboy, Geostorm to Waiting for Guffman. His newest project is a low-budget indie from first-time writer/director Elizabeth Chomko. The film assembles a formidable cast – Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Blythe Danner and Robert Forster – to tell a family drama set in the Chicago suburbs. The film premieres with five screenings at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Schaefer speaks below about the time and money crunch inherent in making a small, character-driven drama today. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the cinematographer of your […]...
- 1/25/2018
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Get ready for the end of the world… again. Making his feature film directorial debut, Dean Devlin (writer/producer, “Independence Day”) brings audiences this fall the sci/fi suspense thriller Geostorm.
After an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong—the system built to protect the Earth is attacking it, and it’s a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything…and everyone along with it.
Warner Bros. Pictures has released a brand new trailer for the film.
Starring Gerard Butler (“Olympus Has Fallen,” “300”), Jim Sturgess (“Cloud Atlas”), Abbie Cornish (“Limitless”), Alexandra Maria Lara (“Rush”), Daniel Wu (“The Man with the Iron Fists,” “Warcraft: The Beginning”), Eugenio Derbez (“How to Be a Latin Lover...
After an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong—the system built to protect the Earth is attacking it, and it’s a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything…and everyone along with it.
Warner Bros. Pictures has released a brand new trailer for the film.
Starring Gerard Butler (“Olympus Has Fallen,” “300”), Jim Sturgess (“Cloud Atlas”), Abbie Cornish (“Limitless”), Alexandra Maria Lara (“Rush”), Daniel Wu (“The Man with the Iron Fists,” “Warcraft: The Beginning”), Eugenio Derbez (“How to Be a Latin Lover...
- 7/6/2017
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Cinematographers guild board also votes in officers for 2017-18 term.
The American Society of Cinematographers (Asc) has re-elected Kees van Oostrum for a second term as president.
The Asc board met on Monday night and also voted in the officers for the 2017-18 term.
They are: Bill Bennett, John Simmons and Cynthia Pusheck as vice-presidents; Levie Isaacks as treasurer; David Darby as secretary; and Isidore Mankofsky as sergeant-at-arms.
“As an organisation, we are focused on education, international outreach, diversity and preservation of our heritage,” van Oostrum said. “Over the past year, we expanded our Master Class programme internationally to Toronto and China. We launched a Chinese version of American Cinematographer magazine. We are preparing for a third International Cinematography Summit, which sees attendees from several other societies around the world.
“And our Vision Committee has many initiatives planned after presenting two very successful ‘Day of Inspiration’ events in Los Angeles and New York, which were designed...
The American Society of Cinematographers (Asc) has re-elected Kees van Oostrum for a second term as president.
The Asc board met on Monday night and also voted in the officers for the 2017-18 term.
They are: Bill Bennett, John Simmons and Cynthia Pusheck as vice-presidents; Levie Isaacks as treasurer; David Darby as secretary; and Isidore Mankofsky as sergeant-at-arms.
“As an organisation, we are focused on education, international outreach, diversity and preservation of our heritage,” van Oostrum said. “Over the past year, we expanded our Master Class programme internationally to Toronto and China. We launched a Chinese version of American Cinematographer magazine. We are preparing for a third International Cinematography Summit, which sees attendees from several other societies around the world.
“And our Vision Committee has many initiatives planned after presenting two very successful ‘Day of Inspiration’ events in Los Angeles and New York, which were designed...
- 6/6/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Today the world will be taken by storm. Check out the new Official Teaser for Geostorm now, in theaters October 20.
After an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong—the system built to protect the Earth is attacking it, and it’s a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything…and everyone along with it.
Dean Devlin (writer/producer, “Independence Day”) makes his feature film directorial debut with suspense thriller Geostorm, starring Gerard Butler (“Olympus Has Fallen,” “300”), Jim Sturgess (“Cloud Atlas”), Abbie Cornish (“Limitless”), Alexandra Maria Lara (“Rush”), Daniel Wu (“The Man with the Iron Fists,” “Warcraft: The Beginning”), with Oscar nominees Ed Harris (“The Hours,” “Apollo 13”) and Andy Garcia (“The Godfather: Part III...
After an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong—the system built to protect the Earth is attacking it, and it’s a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything…and everyone along with it.
Dean Devlin (writer/producer, “Independence Day”) makes his feature film directorial debut with suspense thriller Geostorm, starring Gerard Butler (“Olympus Has Fallen,” “300”), Jim Sturgess (“Cloud Atlas”), Abbie Cornish (“Limitless”), Alexandra Maria Lara (“Rush”), Daniel Wu (“The Man with the Iron Fists,” “Warcraft: The Beginning”), with Oscar nominees Ed Harris (“The Hours,” “Apollo 13”) and Andy Garcia (“The Godfather: Part III...
- 3/8/2017
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Tornadoes, massive tidal waves, and more manipulated aspects of Mother Nature threaten to destroy life as we know it in the official trailer for Geostorm.
"After an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong—the system built to protect the Earth is attacking it, and it’s a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything...and everyone along with it.
Dean Devlin (writer/producer, “Independence Day”) makes his feature film directorial debut with suspense thriller “Geostorm,” starring Gerard Butler (“Olympus Has Fallen,” “300”), Jim Sturgess (“Cloud Atlas”), Abbie Cornish (“Limitless”), Alexandra Maria Lara (“Rush”), Daniel Wu (“The Man with the Iron Fists,” “Warcraft: The Beginning”), with Oscar nominees Ed Harris (“The Hours,” “Apollo 13...
"After an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong—the system built to protect the Earth is attacking it, and it’s a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything...and everyone along with it.
Dean Devlin (writer/producer, “Independence Day”) makes his feature film directorial debut with suspense thriller “Geostorm,” starring Gerard Butler (“Olympus Has Fallen,” “300”), Jim Sturgess (“Cloud Atlas”), Abbie Cornish (“Limitless”), Alexandra Maria Lara (“Rush”), Daniel Wu (“The Man with the Iron Fists,” “Warcraft: The Beginning”), with Oscar nominees Ed Harris (“The Hours,” “Apollo 13...
- 3/8/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The board of governors of the American Society of Cinematographers on Tuesday elected Kees Van Oostrum to lead the organisation.
This will mark Oostrum’s first term and the period will run for one year, effective immediately.
The Asc board also selected its officers, who include: Bill Bennett, Dean Cundey and Lowell Peterson as vice-presidents; Levi Isaacs as treasurer; Fred Goodich as secretary; and Roberto Schaefer as sergeant-at-arms.
Hulu has acquired exclusive streaming rights to all episodes of A+E Networks’ Roots, which runs on History and just attracted more than 14.4m linear viewers across all telecasts in its premiere...
This will mark Oostrum’s first term and the period will run for one year, effective immediately.
The Asc board also selected its officers, who include: Bill Bennett, Dean Cundey and Lowell Peterson as vice-presidents; Levi Isaacs as treasurer; Fred Goodich as secretary; and Roberto Schaefer as sergeant-at-arms.
Hulu has acquired exclusive streaming rights to all episodes of A+E Networks’ Roots, which runs on History and just attracted more than 14.4m linear viewers across all telecasts in its premiere...
- 6/14/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Like many aspiring filmmakers, cinematographer Roberto Schaefer spent his youth fermenting his imagination by creating his own backyard epics. But unlike your typical kid – who concentrates on, depending on the era, recreating Harryhausen or Spielberg or maybe just blowing up G.I. Joes with M-80s on camera – Schaefer crafted abstract, experimental 8mm films. “I did do a couple of stop-motion things, but I was always more into art than movies growing up,” Schaefer said. “I liked going to the movies, but I wasn’t thinking about making movies like the ones I saw at the theater. I was thinking about […]...
- 6/2/2016
- by Matt Mulcahey
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Last year at the New York Film Festival, I saw the fest wrap up with the directorial debut of actor Don Cheadle. It was the biopic Miles Ahead, a passion project of Cheadle’s that he’d been trying to get off the ground for years. It played at the Closing Night selection and had some awards buzz surrounding it, but no 2015 release date. Well, that turned out to mean something, as it never came out, opting instead for this early 2016 slot. Part of that might be due to the middling reviews at the time, but mostly it was just a function of studios having other priorities and this being an odd little title. It’s hitting theaters this week though, so it’s time to discuss it a bit more now. Once again, here’s a quick primer on the film itself, which of course is a look at...
- 3/30/2016
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
It's pretty clear where I got the first name of my first son, Toshiro, and he's well aware of the legacy of the artist who inspired that name. While he hasn't seen Seven Samurai yet, he knows who Toshiro Mifune was and that he is an actor I hold in very high regard. What's less immediately clear is that my younger son is also named after one of my artistic heroes, because it's his middle name. He is Allen Miles McWeeny, and sure enough, he is named after one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, a towering figure whose music has meant more to me than I can ever fully express. Don Cheadle must share some of that same reverence for Miles Davis, and it's certainly clear from his new film as a star and as a writer/director that he embraces the full complexity of Miles, flaws and all.
- 1/24/2016
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Read More: 14 Films We Cannot Wait to See at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival Cinematographer Roberto Schaefer has worked on big blockbusters ("Quantum of Solace"), critically acclaimed dramas ("Finding Neverland" and "The Kite Runner"), Christopher Guest mock-documentaries ("Best in Show") and TV comedies (HBO’s "Family Tree"). With "Miles Ahead," Schaefer takes on an indie biopic about Miles Davis, which was a long time in the making passion project for Don Cheadle, who makes his directorial debut and stars as the jazz legend in the free-wheeling take on Davis' remarkable life.What camera and lens did you use? Our main camera was an Alexa Xt recording to ArriRaw. We also shot about one-fourth of the film on Super 16mm film with two Arri 416 cameras with Zeiss Super Speeds, Canon 8-64mm and 11.5-138mm zooms. And of course the Canon C500 recording to an Odyssey 7Q in 10 bit logC. I chose...
- 1/22/2016
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
'Finding Neverland' movie: Johnny Depp as James M. Barrie, with the Llewelyn Davies family: Kate Winslet, Freddie Highmore, Joe Prospero, Nick Roud and Luke Spill. 'Finding Neverland' movie review: Losing reality Back in 2001, German-born director Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace, World War Z) brought a much welcome non-Hollywood touch to the independently made psychological drama Monster's Ball. Besides the daring (if way overlong) sex scenes, that film imparted a refreshingly realistic atmosphere that was much enhanced by Forster's minimalist approach. As the title implies, his follow-up effort, Finding Neverland (2004), has absolutely nothing to do with reality, whether Peter Pan author James M. Barrie's or anyone else's. Even so, Forster's early, no-nonsense directorial touch is sorely missing from what is little more than your usual big-studio holiday movie whose “magical moments” might as well have been created by a computer. 'Finding Neverland' plot: James M. Barrie...
- 12/23/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Over the weekend, the 53rd annual New York Film Festival came to a close with the World Premiere screening of Don Cheadle’s long brewing passion project Miles Ahead. This biopic of jazz musician Miles Davis has been in the works forever (with Cheadle as the star, co-writer, and director), so expectations were quite high for this one, which Nyff debuted as their 2015 Closing Night selection. A potential Academy Award player, either this year or next (more on that below), this was one of the bigger debuts in a while. Is it an Oscar contender or a pretender? Something in between, perhaps? Well, why don’t we find out below right now? Here’s a quick primer on the film itself, which of course is a look at a moment in time for legend Miles Davis. Cheadle plays Davis mostly during a period in which he had receded from public...
- 10/12/2015
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
I don’t know why any film about someone as innovative, unstoppable, and crazy as Miles Davis leaves so little impression, but to begin addressing that question would require remembering many significant things from Miles Ahead. This slip-up grates for a few reasons. First and foremost is, indeed, the obvious disconnect between what fascination a man creates and how a feature about his life pulls us in, and this nagging sense of failure extends toward the knowledge that this work is a labor of love. More than the story of a significant figure, Miles Ahead is also the crowdfunded-to-make-sure-they-can-do-it-right feature debut of Don Cheadle, who, from the first second of being onscreen, makes clear that he’s putting a lot on the table.
It’s not just the wig, the glasses, the scratchy voice, or the jittery physical presence; it’s that all of these are working in concert to...
It’s not just the wig, the glasses, the scratchy voice, or the jittery physical presence; it’s that all of these are working in concert to...
- 10/12/2015
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
This past week's Camerimage Festival of the Art of Cinematography in Bydgoszcz, Poland honored Director of Photography Roberto Schaefer with a special Cinematographer / Director Duo Award celebrating his collaborations with Marc Forster. Their projects together include Loungers (1995), Everything Put Together (2000), Monster's Ball (2001), Finding Neverland (2004), Stay (2005), Stranger Than Fiction (2006), The Kite Runner (2007), Quantum of Solace (2008) and, most recently, Machine Gun Preacher (2011). ComingSoon.net sat down with Schaefer as part of our ongoing series of interviews from the festival. In the below conversation, he discusses his history with Forster, his work with other directors and explains why he wasn't able to re-team with his longtime...
- 11/29/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Continuing our series of interviews from this month's Camerimage Festival of the Art of Cinematography in Bydgosczc, Poland, ComingSoon.net spoke with Dp Simon Duggan who, following credits like I, Robot and Live Free or Die Hard , was the man behind the lens on one of this year's more visually ambitious projects, Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby . In the below interview, Duggan discusses the difficulty of making the project a reality, working with 3D for the first time and teases his next project, Duncan Jones' Warcraft , which is about to enter production in Vancouver. If you missed them, be sure to check out our previous Camerimage interviews with director Terry Gilliam , production designer Rick Carter and cinematographer Roberto Schaefer . Also, be on the lookout...
- 11/27/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Hunger Games DoP Tom Stern and 12 Years a Slave cinematographer Sean Bobbitt among those chosen for jury duty.
The 21st Camerimage, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography (Nov 16-23), has revealed the competition jurors who will judge entries at this year’s event in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Jury members of the main competition jury are:
Tom Stern, cinematographer (Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, The Hunger Games);Ed Lachman, cinematographer (Erin Brockovich, The Virgin Suicides, I’m Not There);Todd McCarthy, journalist and film critic;Denis Lenoir, cinematographer (Paris, je t’aime, Righteous Kill, 88 Minutes);Adam Holender, cinematographer (Midnight Cowboy, Smoke, Fresh);Timo Salminen, cinematographer (The Man Without a Past, La Havre, The Match Factory Girl);Franz Lustig, cinematographer (Don’t Come Knocking, Land of Plenty, Palermo Shooting);Jeffrey Kimball, cinematographer (Top Gun, Mission: Impossible II, The Expendables).Polish Films Competition
Jost Vacano, the cinematographer behind several Paul Verhoeven films including Total Recall, RoboCop and [link...
The 21st Camerimage, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography (Nov 16-23), has revealed the competition jurors who will judge entries at this year’s event in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Jury members of the main competition jury are:
Tom Stern, cinematographer (Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, The Hunger Games);Ed Lachman, cinematographer (Erin Brockovich, The Virgin Suicides, I’m Not There);Todd McCarthy, journalist and film critic;Denis Lenoir, cinematographer (Paris, je t’aime, Righteous Kill, 88 Minutes);Adam Holender, cinematographer (Midnight Cowboy, Smoke, Fresh);Timo Salminen, cinematographer (The Man Without a Past, La Havre, The Match Factory Girl);Franz Lustig, cinematographer (Don’t Come Knocking, Land of Plenty, Palermo Shooting);Jeffrey Kimball, cinematographer (Top Gun, Mission: Impossible II, The Expendables).Polish Films Competition
Jost Vacano, the cinematographer behind several Paul Verhoeven films including Total Recall, RoboCop and [link...
- 11/8/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Camerimage, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography, announced today that long-time, award-winning collaborators Marc Forster ( World War Z , Finding Neverland , Quantum of Solace ) and Roberto Schaefer ( Finding Neverland , Quantum of Solace , Stranger Than Fiction ) will receive the Festival's special 'Cinematographer / Director Duo Award,' honoring both their creativity and passion, and their ability to reach compromise in realizing a joint vision. Throughout a decade of collaboration, Forster and Schaefer have made eight diverse, award-winning films. They know each other so well that they could work in silence, but they always invest their time and imagination in several week-long preparation periods during which they think about the given project's...
- 11/7/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Millions of Twilight fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the March 29th opening of The Host (Open Road Films) starring Saoirse Ronan, the next best-selling epic sci-fi love story by Stephenie Meyer, creator of the Twilight Saga. On March 26th, three days before the opening, KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records will release an exciting collection of music titled The Host. Choose To Listen. The album is executive produced by KIDinaKORNER Records founder-producer-songwriter Alex Da Kid and Stephenie Meyer.
The Host. Choose To Listen is headlined by previously unreleased tracks from artists on KIDinaKORNER Records, most notably the new track “Radioactive (The Dirty Tees Remix)” by platinum selling break-out rock band Imagine Dragons- check it out Here. Also in the spotlight are: “Slowly Freaking Out” by Skylar Grey (co-writer of “Love the Way You Lie,” the worldwide #1 hit by Eminem featuring Rihanna); and “Making Time” by Jamie N Commons.
The new...
The Host. Choose To Listen is headlined by previously unreleased tracks from artists on KIDinaKORNER Records, most notably the new track “Radioactive (The Dirty Tees Remix)” by platinum selling break-out rock band Imagine Dragons- check it out Here. Also in the spotlight are: “Slowly Freaking Out” by Skylar Grey (co-writer of “Love the Way You Lie,” the worldwide #1 hit by Eminem featuring Rihanna); and “Making Time” by Jamie N Commons.
The new...
- 3/18/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Lee Daniels has made something far afield from his 2009 sophomore effort, Precious, with The Paperboy, a somewhat campy, exploitative, '70s style feature with thematic hints of A Time to Kill and To Kill a Mockingbird and a second half vibe that reminded me of Cape Fear. That narrative, however, can't support the weird mix of serious drama and over the top craziness that come together to create a story that never finds its footing.
Daniels' script, which he co-wrote with Peter Dexter based on Dexter's novel, tends to be throwing scenes at the wall just to see what will stick and while it's largely a messy production, the totally unexpected final act shows promise for how great this might have been with a little more focus.
Set in 1969, The Paperboy takes place in the small town of Lately, Florida where Ward James (Matthew McConaughey), a reporter for the "Miami...
Daniels' script, which he co-wrote with Peter Dexter based on Dexter's novel, tends to be throwing scenes at the wall just to see what will stick and while it's largely a messy production, the totally unexpected final act shows promise for how great this might have been with a little more focus.
Set in 1969, The Paperboy takes place in the small town of Lately, Florida where Ward James (Matthew McConaughey), a reporter for the "Miami...
- 5/28/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
In Relativity Media’s Machine Gun Preacher, when ex-biker-gang member Sam Childers (Butler) makes the life-changing decision to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war, he is outraged by the unspeakable horrors faced by the region.s vulnerable populace, especially the children. Ignoring the warnings of more experienced aide workers, Sam breaks ground for an orphanage where it.s most needed.in the middle of territory controlled by the brutal Lord.s Resistance Army (Lra), a renegade militia that forces children to become soldiers before they even reach their teens.
But for Sam, it is not enough to shelter the Lra.s intended victims. Determined to save as many as possible, he leads armed missions deep into enemy territory to retrieve kidnapped children, restoring peace to their lives.and eventually his own. Wamg is giving away passes to an advanced screening of Machine Gun Preacher on Tuesday,...
But for Sam, it is not enough to shelter the Lra.s intended victims. Determined to save as many as possible, he leads armed missions deep into enemy territory to retrieve kidnapped children, restoring peace to their lives.and eventually his own. Wamg is giving away passes to an advanced screening of Machine Gun Preacher on Tuesday,...
- 9/27/2011
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Gerard Butler, stars as “Sam Childers,” the impassioned founder of Angels of East Africa rescue organization, brings hope where there is none to hundreds of children in Relativity Media’s release Machine Gun Preacher.
Relativity Media has released these new images and poster from Machine Gun Preacher - the inspirational true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who undergoes an astonishing transformation and finds his unexpected calling as the savior of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children in war-torn Sudan. Gerard Butler (300) delivers a searing performance as Childers, the impassioned founder of the Angels of East Africa rescue organization in Golden Globe®-nominated director Marc Forster.s (Monster.s Ball, The Kite Runner) moving story of violence and redemption.
Michelle Monaghan and Gerard Butler star as husband and wife in the inspirational true story of Sam Childers. A former drug-dealing criminal Sam (Butler) makes the life-changing decision to...
Relativity Media has released these new images and poster from Machine Gun Preacher - the inspirational true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who undergoes an astonishing transformation and finds his unexpected calling as the savior of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children in war-torn Sudan. Gerard Butler (300) delivers a searing performance as Childers, the impassioned founder of the Angels of East Africa rescue organization in Golden Globe®-nominated director Marc Forster.s (Monster.s Ball, The Kite Runner) moving story of violence and redemption.
Michelle Monaghan and Gerard Butler star as husband and wife in the inspirational true story of Sam Childers. A former drug-dealing criminal Sam (Butler) makes the life-changing decision to...
- 9/10/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Bbdo, At&T and BlackBerry have just released a new interactive advertisement directed by Michael Mann (Public Enemies, Heat, The Insider) that ties a broadcast TV spot (a 24-style action-thriller) with a your Facebook account information to insert you into the story. The television broadcast version of the advertisement is a bit shorter, and keeps the identity of the central character a mystery. In the online version, your photo, key information, and even your friends are inserted into the action. Also of note, Roberto Schaefer (Quantum of Solace, The Kite Runner, Stranger Than Fiction) was the director of photography on the spot, which was edited by the two-time Academy Award-nominated Saar Klein (Almost Famous, The Bourne Identity, The Thin Red Line). Go to onestepaheadmovie.com to watch/be in the spot now. Thanks to DannyT for the tip.
- 12/22/2009
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
The 2009 American Film Market today announced its schedule of seminars and conferences to be held between Nov. 4 and 11. Celebrating its 30th year, the Afm will showcase panels on film financing opportunities, local and international distribution trends, marketing strategies and digital technologies. The sessions will include film executives, producers, writers, directors, distributors, financiers and attorneys. This year’s seminars and conferences will include the annual “Afm Finance Conference” on Friday, Nov. 6; “Pitch Me!” on Saturday, Nov. 7; “No Direction Home – Changing Indie Distribution Strategies” on Sunday, Nov. 8; “Writing for the Genre World” on Monday, Nov. 9; “Case Study: How to Package and Finance Your Independent Project Overseas” on Monday, Nov. 9; and “The New Hollywood Movie Studio, New Media and Social Networking” on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Programming the seminars and conferences will be the American Society of Cinematographers, British Academy of Film & Television Arts/Los Angeles, Directors Guild of America, Film Independent, Hong Kong Trade Development Council,...
Programming the seminars and conferences will be the American Society of Cinematographers, British Academy of Film & Television Arts/Los Angeles, Directors Guild of America, Film Independent, Hong Kong Trade Development Council,...
- 10/16/2009
- by sean
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Relativity Media's Ryan Kavanaugh, Comerica Bank's Morgan Rector and Media Rights Capital's Modi Wiczyk will discuss the current state of the indie film business at the opening panel of the American Film Market's finance conference on Nov. 6.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld's P. John Burke will moderate the session to be held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica.
The conference will also include a session on foreign investment as a source of film financing, to be moderated by Kpmg's Benson R. Berro, and a look at Hong Kong as a co-production partner programmed by the Hong Kong Development Council.
Afm's lineup of panels, programmed by the Independent Film & Television Alliance, consists of:
Nov. 7
-- "Pitch Me!," moderated by Peggy Rajski; panelists, Caroline Baron and Ron Yerxa.
-- "Produce & Sell Your Film with Dov S-s Simens," presented by Dov S-s Simens.
Nov. 8
-- "No Direction Home - Changing Indie Distribution Strategies,...
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld's P. John Burke will moderate the session to be held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica.
The conference will also include a session on foreign investment as a source of film financing, to be moderated by Kpmg's Benson R. Berro, and a look at Hong Kong as a co-production partner programmed by the Hong Kong Development Council.
Afm's lineup of panels, programmed by the Independent Film & Television Alliance, consists of:
Nov. 7
-- "Pitch Me!," moderated by Peggy Rajski; panelists, Caroline Baron and Ron Yerxa.
-- "Produce & Sell Your Film with Dov S-s Simens," presented by Dov S-s Simens.
Nov. 8
-- "No Direction Home - Changing Indie Distribution Strategies,...
- 10/14/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Finally I am getting around to typing this up as the Blu-rays covered in this second report on Fox's James Bond titles on Blu-ray were released in stores two weeks ago. Unfortunately a variety of pressing engagements and other work got in the way, but is it ever too late to talk James Bond? This time around there is a smorgasbord of titles to choose from including the most recent Bond, an infrequently seen Bond and three more original Bond classics to consider. Across the five titles we will see Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig all inhabiting the iconic British spy, which one is your favorite is up to you. Personally I have found Craig's Bond to be a highly entertaining twist. I thought Brosnan may have been best suited to play Bond, but his films didn't exactly give me much to work with. Connery is...
- 4/6/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Quantum of Solace, the 22nd film in the James Bond franchise, will feature a complex visual effects shot captured digitally in 4K resolution, which offers four times the amount of picture information typically captured by most digital cinematography cameras.
The shot for the Marc Forster-helmed title is being lensed using eight shutter synchronized 4K Origin cameras from Dalsa, one of only two companies now shipping 4K digital cinematography cameras. Specifics are being kept under wraps, but the shot will feature Daniel Craig in his role as James Bond and Olga Kurylenko as the film's lead Bond girl, Camille.
Director of photography Roberto Schaefer and consulting visual effects cinematographer David Stump collaborated on the shot.
"The Dalsa Origin was the only uncompressed, high-resolution, low-noise camera system we could count on to do what we needed to do," visual effects designer Kevin Tod Haug said.
Added Stump: "Working with uncompressed 4K gave us the ability to mine the maximum amount of detail from the scene."
Dalsa shipped the camera packages from Los Angeles to Movietech Camera Rentals at Pinewood Studios in the U.K., where both companies prepped the cameras, which recorded 4K data to eight Codex digital disk recorders.
The shot for the Marc Forster-helmed title is being lensed using eight shutter synchronized 4K Origin cameras from Dalsa, one of only two companies now shipping 4K digital cinematography cameras. Specifics are being kept under wraps, but the shot will feature Daniel Craig in his role as James Bond and Olga Kurylenko as the film's lead Bond girl, Camille.
Director of photography Roberto Schaefer and consulting visual effects cinematographer David Stump collaborated on the shot.
"The Dalsa Origin was the only uncompressed, high-resolution, low-noise camera system we could count on to do what we needed to do," visual effects designer Kevin Tod Haug said.
Added Stump: "Working with uncompressed 4K gave us the ability to mine the maximum amount of detail from the scene."
Dalsa shipped the camera packages from Los Angeles to Movietech Camera Rentals at Pinewood Studios in the U.K., where both companies prepped the cameras, which recorded 4K data to eight Codex digital disk recorders.
- 3/24/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Everything is going oh so perfectly in Angie and Russ' lives. They've got a big house, an enduring marriage and a baby on the way. They're insulated from everything awful, yet "Everything Put Together" shows their vulnerability and the transience of their well-being. A sober and skillfully rendered portrait of the American Dream unraveling, "Everything Put Together" is one of the most visually accomplished and emotionally provocative films in the Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival.
No yuppie magazine could find a better poster couple than Russ (Justin Louis) and Angie (Radha Mitchell). They're attractive, intelligent and endearingly supportive of one another. Also, they're blessed with friends who commiserate and compare notes on Angie's pregnancy. All is going well, especially the pregnancy. Everything is wonderfully normal, in no small part due to the fact that Angie is doing all the right things.
Yet this oh-so-pretty picture falls apart when merely hours after her Baby Boy's birth, the child unexpectedly dies from sudden infant death syndrome. It happens, the doctors explain, and nobody knows what causes it or what to do about it. It's a staggering blow to Angie, and even kind, supportive nourishment from her husband does not keep her from sinking into a sharp malaise. Her behavior becomes erratic and frightening to her friends. Indeed, her friends turn out to be the fair-weather variety, and Angie becomes isolated in her torment.
A compassionate character portrait of what can happen when tragedy unexpectedly strikes, "Everything Put Together" shows the full strains of one woman's burden and isolation. Poignantly scripted by a triumvirate of writers (Adam Forgash, Catherine Lloyd Burns, Marc Forster), it's a wrenching story of personal loss and overwhelming heartache. Much of the film's power derives from Mitchell's acutely etched performance as the grief-stricken mother, a woman who has always relied on the security of her blessed and well-ordered world. Plaudits to Louis for his compact portrayal of Angie's well-meaning husband, conveying the quiet strength of a man forced to walk on eggs.
Everything works in "Everything Put Together", a testament to the sophistication and skills of director Marc Forster. Under his guiding hand, the technical contributions are alive and vital, telling us as much about the character's suffering and strength as the story itself. In particular, Roberto Schaefer's cinematography is a masterwork of telling compositions: His framings, some askew and some straight on, point us to the fullest story dimensions and character depths.
EVERYTHING PUT TOGETHER
Furst Films
Producer:Sean Furst
Director:Marc Forster
Screenwriters:Adam Forgash, Catherine Lloyd Burns, Marc Forster
Executive producer:Adam Forgash
Co-producer:Jill Silverthorne
Director of photography:Roberto Schaefer
Editor:Matt Chesse
Production designer:Paul Jackson
Music:Thomas Koppel
Color/stereo
Cast:
Angie:Radha Mitchell
Russ:Justin Louis
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating...
No yuppie magazine could find a better poster couple than Russ (Justin Louis) and Angie (Radha Mitchell). They're attractive, intelligent and endearingly supportive of one another. Also, they're blessed with friends who commiserate and compare notes on Angie's pregnancy. All is going well, especially the pregnancy. Everything is wonderfully normal, in no small part due to the fact that Angie is doing all the right things.
Yet this oh-so-pretty picture falls apart when merely hours after her Baby Boy's birth, the child unexpectedly dies from sudden infant death syndrome. It happens, the doctors explain, and nobody knows what causes it or what to do about it. It's a staggering blow to Angie, and even kind, supportive nourishment from her husband does not keep her from sinking into a sharp malaise. Her behavior becomes erratic and frightening to her friends. Indeed, her friends turn out to be the fair-weather variety, and Angie becomes isolated in her torment.
A compassionate character portrait of what can happen when tragedy unexpectedly strikes, "Everything Put Together" shows the full strains of one woman's burden and isolation. Poignantly scripted by a triumvirate of writers (Adam Forgash, Catherine Lloyd Burns, Marc Forster), it's a wrenching story of personal loss and overwhelming heartache. Much of the film's power derives from Mitchell's acutely etched performance as the grief-stricken mother, a woman who has always relied on the security of her blessed and well-ordered world. Plaudits to Louis for his compact portrayal of Angie's well-meaning husband, conveying the quiet strength of a man forced to walk on eggs.
Everything works in "Everything Put Together", a testament to the sophistication and skills of director Marc Forster. Under his guiding hand, the technical contributions are alive and vital, telling us as much about the character's suffering and strength as the story itself. In particular, Roberto Schaefer's cinematography is a masterwork of telling compositions: His framings, some askew and some straight on, point us to the fullest story dimensions and character depths.
EVERYTHING PUT TOGETHER
Furst Films
Producer:Sean Furst
Director:Marc Forster
Screenwriters:Adam Forgash, Catherine Lloyd Burns, Marc Forster
Executive producer:Adam Forgash
Co-producer:Jill Silverthorne
Director of photography:Roberto Schaefer
Editor:Matt Chesse
Production designer:Paul Jackson
Music:Thomas Koppel
Color/stereo
Cast:
Angie:Radha Mitchell
Russ:Justin Louis
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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