If you loved 2011’s Hugo, then you should know that it is based on the astounding book The Adventures of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, who also wrote Hugo’s screenplay. Wonderstruck is another one of Selznick’s graphic intensive books that feature an astounding story (I don’t even think Hugo is his best book, so really check out his stuff), and it looks like they may have captured Selznick’s unique magic again. Wonderstruck takes place in two timelines 50 years apart, featuring two children seeking answers to tragedies that have befallen them. Selznick has again written the script and Wonderstruck will open in theaters on October 20, 2017.
Sony Pictures has revealed the first trailer and poster for director Ridley Scott’s Getty kidnapping drama All the Money in the World, starring Michelle Williams, Kevin Spacey, Mark Wahlberg, Romain Duris, Charlie Plummer and Timothy Hutton.
All the Money in the World follows the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III (Plummer) and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother Gail (Williams) to convince his billionaire grandfather (Spacey) to pay the ransom. When Getty Sr. refuses, Gail attempts to sway him as her son’s captors become increasingly volatile and brutal. With her son’s life in the balance, Gail and Getty’s advisor (Wahlberg) become unlikely allies in the race against time that ultimately reveals the true and lasting value of love over money.
Directed by Ridley Scott (Alien: Covenant, The Martian, Gladiator) from a script by David Scarpa (The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Last Castle), the true-life drama is based on the book by John Pearson.
Sony will release All the Money in the World in theaters on December 8, 2017.
*Text from Coming Soon
Hugh Jackman’s first film of his post-Wolverine career will be a routine to his roots: musicals. An unknown song and dance man before becoming a household name thanks to his iconic portrayal of Wolverine in the X-Men films, Jackman will be headlining the big holiday musical of 2017. With the songwriters of La La Land, will The Greatest Showman, starring Jackman as circus legend P.T. Barnum be able to duplicate that film’s success? Jackman’s only Oscar nomination was for leading the cast of the big screen adaptation of Les Miserables, so this is familiar territory, the only question is can a first-time director deliver? The first trailer looks very promising. Co-starring Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya, The Greatest Showman will open Christmas Day. Read more below from Coming Soon.
Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business & tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.
The Greatest Showman is directed by exciting new filmmaker, Michael Gracey, with songs by Academy Award winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land). Hugh Jackman produced The Greatest Showman alongside Laurence Mark and Chernin Entertainment. Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Jenny Bicks (Rio 2, Sex and the City) and Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Beauty and the Beast) wrote the screenplay.
Most films I go see in the theater, I go because I have some interest in them. Around this time of year, I try to go to see most of the award front runners primarily because of this blog (get ready to shoulder some blame), and that’s why I found myself sitting through 147 of the pointless, rambling misery that is Manchester by the Sea rather than standing in the sold out line for Rogue One for the third time. I don’t want to mince words, because I honestly cannot spend more than a few minutes more dwelling on this pointless wreck. Manchester is boring, uncomfortable, awkward, unsympathetic, weirdly directed, poorly scored, and all-around the worst film I paid to see in a theater in the last three years. Continue reading Movie Review: Manchester by the Sea (2016) *Somebody Please Drown Me*→
“Aren’t you the great man we’ve been waiting for?”
What you take away from OZ: The Great and Powerful (hereafter referred to as simply OZ for the sake of carpal tunnel syndrome), is in large part tied to what you bring to it. If you go in expecting the 1939 movie. You’re going to be really disappointed. If you go in expected a fantasy classic on the level of Lord of the Rings or the first Narnia film, you’re going to be really disappointed. If you just wanted to see OZ again and have a good time or-probably best of all for younger viewers-have no reference to this amazing world, you’re going to have a really good time.
OZ is the story of how the wizard who rules OZ came to find himself in that position. Over the course of the film OZ morphs from a womanizing carny to a ruler (as much as the wizard ever really does rule OZ). This character transformation comes from his interactions with OZ’s citizens: most notably three witches played by Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz. The film pays homage to the classic while never detracting or cheapening it. In fact, the motivations given to the Wicked Witch of the West especially give her a much more believable and powerful motive for her hate than say Wicked does. Not a Wicked fan.
The effects, cinematography, art direction and costumes are spectacular. It is a stunningly beautiful film. The Emerald City is as you’ve always imagined it and more. I absolutely loved how they mirrored the 1939 film by beginning in black and white and so subtly (much more so than in the trailer where they showed way too much) becoming an explosion of color and wonder as we move from Kansas to OZ.
I can’t talk too much about how good the witches are without spoiling a very clever, very tragic plot point that I thought was the film’s best moment. Suffice it to say, you end up with a Wicked Witch with the chops and the incentive to visit havoc on OZ for sequels to come. OZ assembles his own band of misfits as Dororthy does in the first film. There are many parallels to be found between them, but I didn’t feel any of them were too heavy-handed.
A film this gets compared to a lot is the Alice in Wonderland film Tim Burton did several years ago. Without reviewing that film, let’s just say there’s no futterwacking moment (sounds like a filthy German word) that tanks the entire film. I did like the movie very much. I’m glad they’re making more and that it’s doing so well. I hope it inspires kids to discover the Baum novels. I did not; however, love it for really two reasons.
The score. I’m a movie score snob. I’ve been listening to film scores since I had functioning ears and the music of movies makes up roughly 70% of my iPod. Danny Elfman did the score for this and Danny Elfman is getting lazy. Not James Horner-level lazy (don’t start me on Horner; he makes me angrier than the national debt), but whereas once Elfman had a unique voice that turned out classics like Batman, Edward Scissorhands and Big Fish; he essentially took his score for Alice and removed the chorus. It’s bland and for a place as fantastic as OZ, you need grand and wondrous music that I don’t think Elfman can write any more. But that’s not my biggest problem.
James Franco was miscast. Robert Downey Jr. was originally playing the Wizard (which would have been perfect) but left over differences with Raimi. Franco is not a suitable replacement. I don’t think he can act. I think he plays James Franco in everything he’s in, only modulating the level of stoner that shines through. He’s hammy, utterly without charm and unconvincing. That’s kind of big problem when your movie is about his character.
It’s absolutely worth seeing and, for what it’s worth, I had the most problems of anyone in my group that did go. It IS OZ. It’s nice to see it again. I look forward to returning and I hope they smooth out some of the Franco-sized issues. Sam Raimi has said he will not return to direct so it’ll be interesting what comes next.
