A24’s offering up this behind the scenes look at the dramatic thriller A Most Violent Year from writer/director J.C. Chandor. Cast members Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, and David Oyelowo, as well as filmmaker Chandor, discuss the film in this short featurette in support of the movie’s upcoming December 31, 2014 release.
The Plot:
A Most Violent Year is a searing crime drama set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically the most dangerous year in the city’s history. This gripping story plays out within a maze of rampant political and industry corruption plaguing the streets of a city in decay.
J.C. Chandor’s third feature examines one immigrant’s determined climb up a morally crooked ladder, where simmering rivalries and unprovoked attacks threaten his business, family, and – above all – his own unwavering belief in the righteousness of his path.
“Hello, are you my family?” asks Private (voiced by Christopher Knights), the newly hatched baby penguin. “You don’t have a family and we’re all going to die,” replies Kowalski (voiced by Chris Miller). “What’s the matter with you, Kowalski?” yells Skipper (voiced by Tom McGrath), the leader of the three young penguins who’ve just adopted Private into their family as their origin story is revealed in the opening sequence of the animated adventure film, Penguins of Madagascar.
Fed up with hearing the same song every day (“I like to move it, move it”) and realizing Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, and the rest of the gang no longer need their help, the Penguins launch themselves out of the circus and head out on an adventure. It’s not long before they run into Dr. Octavius Brine – otherwise known as Dave (voiced by John Malkovich) – an evil mad scientist who, it seems, has an old score to settle with the feathery little guys. Blaming them for his loneliness and failures, Dr. Brine intends to destroy all the penguins everywhere with his new secret weapon.
With a few choice moves and dodges, Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private manage to escape aided by their new allies, a secret undercover organization called “The North Wind” led by Wolf Agent Classified (no, his name isn’t ‘Classified’ – it’s classified…understand? Don’t worry, neither do the penguins). It seems The North Wind has been tracking Dr. Brine to try and uncover his evil plan and then attempt to stop him before he can carry out his evil deeds. So, having a common interest in wanting to stop Dr. Brine, a.k.a Dave, the Penguins reluctantly team up with the North Wind to help save penguins everywhere.
Silly, funny, and chaotic, Penguins of Madagascar is a bright, colorful, enjoyable rollercoaster of an adventure for both children and adults. It has a top-notch voice cast, with John Malkovich bringing Dr. Brine to life and Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Agent Classified.
Of course, the real stars this time out are the four black and white birds Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private who provided the biggest and funniest laugh-out-loud moments in the three Madagascar films as supporting characters. And, actually, the fact this is a spin-off from Madagascar works against Penguins of Madagascar as while it has plenty of crazy fast–paced antics, wordplay one-liners, and slapstick, it doesn’t really have an original story to tell nor does it really have as much heart as the films that spawned it. In fact, it seems to borrow from a much stronger animated film, The Incredibles.
Still, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, frantic action, and four cute but smart-aleck penguins leading the way, Penguins of Madagascar is pure fun for kids and adults alike.
GRADE: B-
Penguins of Madagasacar is rated PG for mild action and some rude humor.
Showtime’s fourth season of House of Lies is set to premiere on January 11, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT and Steven Weber’s just signed up for a guest-starring role in the upcoming season. Weber’s the latest addition to the list of guest stars on the half-hour comedy series that includes Valorie Curry, Demetri Martin, Fred Melamed, Jenny Slate, Mary McCormack, Larenz Tate, and Alicia Witt.
According to Showtime, Weber’s set to play Ray Montinola, “a turnaround specialist who jumps in to assist Marty and the Pod, but Marty has different ideas for the so-called savior.”
The cast is led by Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell and includes Ben Schwartz, Josh Lawson, Glynn Turman, and Donis Leonard Jr.
The Plot:
We last left a despondent Marty alone in the desert after a cataclysmic double-cross by Jeannie (Bell) and a visit by the Feds. This season, Marty’s brief stint in white collar prison left Jeannie to pick up the pieces of the now tainted Kaan & Associates with Clyde (Schwartz) and Doug (Lawson). Client flight decimated the bottom line, but Marty is a singular focus: winning, at any and all cost.
Snoopy relaxes on top of his doghouse while Woodstock rests on his tummy on the teaser poster for 20th Century Fox’s animated comedy movie The Peanuts Movie. Based on the beloved Charles Schultz characters, The Peanuts Movie opens in theaters on November 6, 2015.
The Plot: In Peanuts, a 3D, CGI animated comedic adventure, Snoopy, the world’s most lovable beagle – and flying ace! – embarks upon his greatest mission as he and his team take to the skies to pursue their arch-nemesis, while his best pal Charlie Brown begins his own epic quest back home.
It’s only a teaser trailer but it’s enough to get Salem fans excited about the upcoming second season of the WGN America horror series. Salem‘s second season kicks off in April 2015 with Janet Montgomery back as Mary Sibley, Shane West returning as John Alden, and Seth Gabel back as Cotton Mather. The series also stars Ashley Madekwe as Tituba, Tamzin Merchant as Anne Hale, Elise Eberle as Mercy Lewis, and Iddo Goldberg as Isaac Walton.
Season two will consist of 13 episodes.
The Plot [Courtesy of WGN America]:
In the first season, Captain John Alden returned home after seven years at war only to discover that his true love, Mary, wed his old (and wealthy) nemesis George Sibley. During his years on the battlefield, Mary has emerged as a true power broker in a Puritan town fully immersed in witch panic.
Throughout a fiery first season, filled with wicked deceit and shocking revelations, John and Mary found themselves navigating a supernatural world where paranoia, revenge, evil and hysteria reign. Ultimately, John risks his life for Mary, even after learning that she is the ruling witch of Salem who is at the center of all the mayhem plaguing the embattled village.
In Salem season two, the Grand Rite triggered at the end of last season is now underway and death is in the air. In order to bring her plan to completion, Mary must not only control Captain John Alden and the citizens of Salem, but also those lurking in the shadows who seek the power she wields.
The Bazillion Dollar Club is moving forward at Syfy, with the Silicon Valley based docu-series set up to search for the next big idea. Filming’s expected to get underway later this year and Syfy’s planning to premiere The Bazillion Dollar Club sometime in 2015.
“The Bazillion Dollar Club gives our audience of imaginative thinkers the opportunity to literally invent the future by bringing to life their visionary ideas and dreams,” said Syfy president Dave Howe. “This show is important to Syfy’s unscripted strategy to engage fans with entertaining and informative real-world drama that taps into their curiosity, passion and creativity.”
Details on the People Behind The Bazillion Dollar Club [Courtesy of Syfy]:
The show follows Dave McClure, a relentless drill sergeant who founded software accelerator 500 Startups, and Brady Forrest, the quirky and creative mind behind the hardware accelerator Highway1. Their companies offer two of the world’s most aggressive accelerator programs that mentor startups leading up to the launch of their billion dollar idea.
McClure has invested in over 800 companies worldwide including 3D printing company Makerbot, which was acquired by Stratasys for 400 million dollars; the social media startup Wildfire, acquired by Google for 350 million dollars; financial monitoring service Credit Karma, recently valued at over one billion dollars; and telephony innovator Twilio, which has raised over 100 million dollars in venture capital. In just five years, his venture capital firm has funded thousands of entrepreneurs and helped them raise over two billion dollars. McClure is regarded as an innovator and influencer in social networking, and he was also an early employee at PayPal, working with the infamous “PayPal Mafia,” a group of tech entrepreneurs who later founded multiple billion dollar startup companies including LinkedIn, YouTube, Yelp and Yammer.
Forrest is a technology evangelist, obsessed with opening doors for makers, entrepreneurs and inventors looking to launch the world’s next game-changing product. Forrest is currently vice president at Highway1, the hardware accelerator that is part of PCH, and is responsible for some of the hottest names in the hardware renaissance including: CUE, the mobile medical testing kit; Navdy’s iPhone HUD for cars; Drop’s connected baking assistant; and Ringly’s fashionable connected rings. Under his leadership, PCH & Highway1 have funded over 35 companies with a focus on innovative consumer products. Forrest also co-founded Ignite, the worldwide global talk series that has been embraced by geeks in over 200 cities.
Could Jennifer Aniston snag a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role in Cake? Aniston’s performance is generating a lot of attention, and the just-released trailer makes good use of quotes from critics to make a case for Aniston’s place in the Oscar race. Directed by Daniel Barnz, Cake also features Sam Worthington, Anna Kendrick, Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, and Adriana Barraza.
Cake opens in limited release on January 23, 2015.
The Plot:
Claire Simmons (Aniston) is in pain. Her physical pain is evident in the scars that line her body and the way she carries herself, wincing with each tentative step. She’s no good at hiding her emotional pain either. Blunt to the point of searing insult, Claire’s anger seethes out of her with nearly every interaction. She has driven away her husband, her friends – even her chronic-pain support group has kicked her out.
The only one left in Claire’s otherwise solitary existence is her housekeeper-cum-caretaker, Silvana (Barraza), who barely tolerates her boss’ need for liquor and prescription pills. But the suicide of Nina (Kendrick), one of Claire’s fellow chronic-pain group members, prompts another fixation. In pursuing questions about the death of a woman she barely knew, Claire explores the boundaries between life and death, abandonment and heartbreak, danger and salvation. As she inserts herself into the lives of Nina’s husband (Worthington) and the son Nina left behind, Claire just might find salvation.
James Frain (Photo by Richard Chavez / ShowbizJunkies)
Justin Chatwin, James Frain, Ksenia Solo, Kyra Harper, and Earl Pastko have joined the cast of the upcoming season of the critically acclaimed BBC drama series Orphan Black starring Tatiana Maslany. The third season will air in 2015 and is currently in production in Toronto.
According to the official announcement, the third season will plunge “the clone sisterhood into unexpected territory with the realization that they’re not alone.” Series co-creator Graeme Manson writes and co-creator John Fawcett directs the compelling show, which has a large, passionate fanbase.
Per BBC America, here are the descriptions of who the new cast members will be playing:
– Justin Chatwin joins in a recurring role as Jason Kellerman. With rugged good looks and street-smarts, Jason is a savvy drug-dealer in the guise of a charismatic businessman.
– James Frain guest stars as Ferdinand, a well-educated, “cleaner” who is both charming and intimidating. Ferdinand is a powerful player in a secretive, multi-national political faction that operates with questionable ethics and a ruthless approach.
– Ksenia Solo is Shay, a soulful and compassionate holistic healer with a great sense of humor destined to become a new friend to Cosima Niehaus (Tatiana Maslany).
– Kyra Harper will play Dr. Coady, a ruthless doctor and advisor to the military. Coady is outwardly the soul of reason, but her maternal, nurturing manner conceals an agenda that even her superiors do not suspect.
– Earl Pastko is Bulldog, Ferdinand’s silent, imposing and violent personal bodyguard. Communicating with his boss by looks only, Bulldog carries out the dirty work of his shady employers.
Warner Bros Pictures’ Pan has unveiled the official trailer for the action adventure tale, Pan, directed by Joe Wright (Hanna, Atonement). The origin story is based on J.M. Barrie’s characters and stars Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard, Garrett Hedlund as Hook, Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily, Adeel Akhtar as Smee, and Levi Miller as Peter Pan. The cast also includes Taejoo Na as Kwahu, Nonso Anozie as Bishop, Kathy Burke as Mother Barnabas, Kurt Egyiawan as Murray, Lewis MacDougall as Nibs, Leni Zieglmeier as Wendy Darling, and Jack Charles as The Chief/Tig.
Pan will open in theaters on July 17, 2015.
The Plot:
Offering a new take on the origin of the classic characters created by J.M. Barrie, the action adventure follows the story of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland. There, he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny—to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.
