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Syfy Greenlights Ascension Event Series

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Syfy LogoSyfy’s getting back in the long-form scripted programming game with Ascension, created by Philip Levens (Smallville). Levens wrote the six-hour series and is an executive producer along with Jason Blum (the Paranormal Activity franchise), Mark Stern, Ivan Fecan, Tim Gamble, and Brett Burlock.
 
The intergalactic mystery will air in November and December 2014.
 
“Syfy is more committed than ever to bringing to life epic event television. We have a rich history in this arena, from Steven Spielberg’s Taken to the highly acclaimed mini that launched the Battlestar Galactica series, to reimagined takes on classic tales such as Alice and Tin Man. In keeping with that grand tradition, we are delighted to bring this thrilling, provocative and intelligent event to our fans later this year,” said Syfy President Dave Howe.
 
“Phil Levens has crafted a bold and surprising spin on the space opera that we are thrilled to bring to life,” added Bill McGoldrick, Executive Vice President of Original Content, Syfy. “We are equally excited to embark on this journey with our partners at UCP, Sea To Sky, Lionsgate, Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Productions and also with Mark Stern who shepherded this project while at Syfy.”
 
The Plot:
 
In 1963, the U.S. government launched a covert space mission sending hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard the starship Ascension to populate a new world. Nearly 50 years into the journey, as they approach the point of no return, a mysterious murder of a young woman causes the ship’s population to question the true nature of their mission.


Source: Syfy
 
-Posted by Rebecca Murray

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Imogen Poots on ‘Need for Speed’ and Aaron Paul

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Imogen Poots Need for Speed
Imogen Poots in ‘Need for Speed’ (Photo ©2014 DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC)

Imogen Poots did not have a drivers license before signing on to star in DreamWorks Pictures’ Need for Speed, an action-filled, car-racing film based on the popular video game series. In fact, it was the appeal of working again with Aaron Paul that was the main attraction for Poots to take on the lead female role among the 99% male cast.

And in this interview courtesy of DreamWorks, Poots talks about her working relationship with Aaron, shooting on location throughout the US, and the stunt sequences. She also reveals her favorite part of working on Need for Speed and what audiences can expect from this adrenaline-charged film.

The Plot:

DreamWorks Pictures’ Need for Speed marks an exciting return to the great car culture films of the 1960s and ’70s, when the authenticity of the world brought a new level of intensity to the action on-screen. Tapping into what makes the American myth of the open road so appealing, the story chronicles a near-impossible cross-country journey for our heroes — one that begins as a mission for revenge, but proves to be one of redemption.

Based on the most successful racing video game franchise ever with over 140 million copies sold, Need for Speed captures the freedom and excitement of the game in a real-world setting, while bringing to life the passion for the road that has made our love of cars so timeless.

The film centers around Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul), a blue-collar mechanic who races muscle cars on the side in an unsanctioned street-racing circuit. Struggling to keep his family-owned garage afloat, he reluctantly partners with the wealthy and arrogant ex-NASCAR driver Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper). But just as a major sale to car broker Julia Maddon (Imogen Poots) looks like it will save Tobey’s shop, a disastrous race allows Dino to frame Tobey for a crime he didn’t commit, and sending Tobey to prison while Dino expands his business out West.

Two years later, Tobey is released and set on revenge — but he knows his only chance to take down his rival Dino is to defeat him in the high-stakes race known as De Leon — the Super Bowl of underground racing. However to get there in time, Tobey will have to run a high-octane, action-packed gauntlet that includes dodging pursuing cops coast-to-coast as well as contending with a dangerous bounty Dino has put out on his car. With the help of his loyal crew and the surprisingly resourceful Julia, Tobey defies odds at every turn and proves that even in the flashy world of exotic supercars, the underdog can still finish first.

Watch the video:





It’s The Quiet Ones You Have to Watch Out For

By
Rebecca Murray
-

The Quiet Ones Trailer and Photo
Sam Claflin stars in 'The Quiet Ones' (Photo © Lionsgate Films)
Lionsgate and Hammer Films have unleashed a new creepy trailer for the horror film The Quiet Ones starring Jared Harris, Sam Claflin, and Olivia Cooke. Coming to theaters on April 25, 2014, The Quiet Ones was directed by John Pogue (Quarantine II: Terminal).
 
The Plot:
 
Set in 1974, and inspired by actual events, this film follows a group of university students as they try to uncover what is happening to a disturbed young girl, Jane Harper. The mystery of Jane Harper will take this group on an unnerving journey of unspeakable evil. After beginning their experiments, the students and their professor soon realize they’ve uncovered powers more astonishing than they’d ever imagined.
 
Watch the trailer:
 

 
-Posted by Rebecca Murray

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Movie Review: ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’

By
Kevin Finnerty
-
The Grand Budapest Hotel Review
Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori star in 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' (Photo © Fox Searchlight)

“She was dynamite in the sack, by the way.” “She was 84!” “Hmm, I’ve had older.” That’s Ralph Fiennes as Gustave H, a legendary concierge at the famous European hotel The Grand Budapest, talking to his newest lobby boy Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori) about Madame D. (Tilda Swinton), a regular guest at the hotel as they’re on their way to her funeral in the comedy/drama The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Set between two wars, Gustave H has taken young Zero under his wing and intends on mentoring him on how to be an exceptional lobby boy. But when he receives word that Madame D. has died, he takes Zero with him to her funeral to pay his respects. After the funeral it’s revealed that Madame D. left the priceless painting titled “Boy with Apple” to Gustave which upsets her family, especially Dmitri (Adrien Brody) who ends up in a minor altercation with Gustave. Knowing her family will never honor her wishes and fearing Dmitri will tie it up in the courts for years, Gustave and Zero steal her painting on their way out and head back to the train.

Things get even worse for Gustave when the local authorities, led by Henckels (Edward Norton), believe Madame D. was murdered and Gustave becomes their primary suspect. He digs a bigger hole for himself when they ask him about his whereabouts during the time of her murder. He pauses, fails to answer, and then runs away with the cops hot on his tail and Zero chasing the police. Being a gentleman, Gustave is not able to reveal his alibi when Madame D. was murdered and can only trust his protégé and one true friend Zero to help him escape from prison, clear his name by finding the real murderer, and get back to his beloved hotel.

Hilarious and sentimental, The Grand Budapest Hotel is Wes Anderson’s best film of his career and hands-down one of the funniest films to come along in years. It has an A-list cast led by Ralph Fiennes who gives an extraordinary performance and steals the movie as Gustave H, the gentleman charmer of the best hotel around in Europe before World War II. He delivers his lines with perfect comedic timing and is the emotional center of the film. He also has wonderful chemistry with Tony Revolori as Zero, the loyal and dedicated lobby boy who idolizes his mentor so much he’s willing to do anything to help him – even jeopardize his own life. It’s as much a buddy movie as a dark and zany comedy.

The rest of the supporting cast are wonderful in their roles including Bill Murray, Jude Law, Tom Wilkinson, Jeff Goldblum, and especially Adrien Brody as the greedy, scheming Dmitri and Willem Dafoe as his dedicated henchman, Jopling.

The film’s look, costumes, set designs, and cinematography are breathtaking, bringing back to life an era long since vanquished from the world. The writing, pacing and direction of the film is flawless and is sure to have the audience completely engaged in the comical action up on the big screen.

Charming and hysterical, The Grand Budapest Hotel is sure to have audiences laughing and smiling in their seats. It’s a must-see!

GRADE: A

The Grand Budapest Hotel is rated R for language, some sexual content and violence.




Kristen Bell Talks Veronica Mars and Kickstarter

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Kristen Bell Veronica Mars Interview
Ryan Hansen and Kristen Bell in the comedy movie 'Veronica Mars' (Photo © Warner Bros Pictures)
Fans demanded it, the actors wanted it, and Veronica Mars series creator Rob Thomas was up to the challenge and thus a feature film was…eventually…born. The result of a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign, the long-awaited Veronica Mars movie finally arrives in theaters on March 14, 2014 with pretty much everyone reprising their roles from the TV series. Heading up the cast is Kristen Bell, once again tackling the title role.
 
In this interview courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures, Bell talks about returning to the world of Veronica Mars, the Kickstarter campaign, and the premise of the film. She also discusses the story and her character.
 
The Plot:
 
In the film, Veronica Mars has put Neptune and her amateur sleuthing days behind her on the eve of graduating law school. While interviewing at high-end law firms, Veronica gets a call from her ex-boyfriend Logan who has been accused of murder. Veronica heads back to Neptune just to help Logan find an attorney, but when things don’t seem right with how Logan’s case is perceived and handled, Veronica finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind.
 
Watch the video:
 

 
-Posted by Rebecca Murray

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Aaron Paul Discusses Starring in Need for Speed

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Aaron Paul stars in Need for Speed Trailer
Aaron Paul stars in 'Need for Speed' (Photo © DreamWorks Pictures)
Aaron Paul gets into action-mode with a starring role in DreamWorks Pictures’ Need for Speed directed by Scott Waugh. The film’s based on the popular video game series of the same name and finds Paul playing a race car driver who goes on a fast-paced, cross-country trek to clear his name and make the real driver who killed one of his best friends pay for his actions. And in this interview courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures, Paul talks about why he chose to star in Need for Speed, working with ex-stuntman Scott Waugh, his co-stars, and the training process.
 
The Plot:
 
DreamWorks Pictures’ Need for Speed marks an exciting return to the great car culture films of the 1960s and ’70s, when the authenticity of the world brought a new level of intensity to the action on-screen. Tapping into what makes the American myth of the open road so appealing, the story chronicles a near-impossible cross-country journey for our heroes — one that begins as a mission for revenge, but proves to be one of redemption. Based on the most successful racing video game franchise ever with over 140 million copies sold, Need for Speed captures the freedom and excitement of the game in a real-world setting, while bringing to life the passion for the road that has made our love of cars so timeless.


The film centers around Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul), a blue-collar mechanic who races muscle cars on the side in an unsanctioned street-racing circuit. Struggling to keep his family-owned garage afloat, he reluctantly partners with the wealthy and arrogant ex-NASCAR driver Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper). But just as a major sale to car broker Julia Maddon (Imogen Poots) looks like it will save Tobey’s shop, a disastrous race allows Dino to frame Tobey for a crime he didn’t commit, and sending Tobey to prison while Dino expands his business out West.
 
Two years later, Tobey is released and set on revenge — but he knows his only chance to take down his rival Dino is to defeat him in the high-stakes race known as De Leon — the Super Bowl of underground racing. However to get there in time, Tobey will have to run a high-octane, action-packed gauntlet that includes dodging pursuing cops coast-to-coast as well as contending with a dangerous bounty Dino has put out on his car. With the help of his loyal crew and the surprisingly resourceful Julia, Tobey defies odds at every turn and proves that even in the flashy world of exotic supercars, the underdog can still finish first.
 
Watch the video:
 

 
-Posted by Rebecca Murray

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Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor Earn Rising Star Awards

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Jack Reynor and Nicola Peltz Win Rising Star Awards
Jack Reynor plays Shane Dyson in TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, from Paramount Pictures. (Photo (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures)

Transformers: Age of Extinction stars Jack Reynor and Nicola Peltz have been selected as winners of CinemaCon’s Rising Stars of 2014 awards and will be honored at the Big Screen Achievement Awards on March 27, 2014. The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is holding their annual get-together March 24 through March 27th, and the awards ceremony is the final event at the annual gathering.

“With their upcoming appearance in Transformers: Age of Extinction Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor are sure to show Hollywood that they are forces to be reckoned with,” said Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. “CinemaCon could not be more thrilled to honor such great young talent with the ‘CinemaCon Rising Stars of 2014 Award.’”

Paramount Pictures is releasing the latest Transformers movie (the first without Shia LaBeouf) on June 27, 2014. Michael Bay’s back in charge of this fourth installment with a cast that includes Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Li Bing Bing, Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles, T. J. Miller, and Titus Welliver.

The Plot:

Transformers: Age of Extinction begins after an epic battle that left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history…while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans, led by Mark Wahlberg, Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet.

Nicola Peltz Background [Courtesy of CinemaCon]

Born and raised in New York, Peltz first made her acting debut on the stage in 2007 opposite Jeff Daniels and Alison Pill in the Olivier Award-winning production of Blackbird, directed by Joe Mantello. Peltz made her feature film debut in 2006 opposite Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth in Deck the Halls before going on to star in The Last Airbender and Eye of the Hurricane.

Later this summer, Peltz will also star in Kevin Asch’s Affluenza, which is set for limited release in July. The film is a coming of age story inspired by The Great Gatsby and is set amongst the upper class in the Long Island suburb of Great Neck during the weeks leading up to the financial meltdown of 2008. On the small screen she is currently reprising her role as Bradley Martin on the second season of A&E’s critically acclaimed series Bates Motel.

Details on Jack Reynor [Courtesy of CinemaCon]

Raised in Ireland, Reynor first garnered rave reviews last winter for playing the titular character in the Irish independent film What Richard Did. He followed this up by making his U.S. film debut in the Vince Vaughn comedy Delivery Man. Most recently, Reynor wrapped filming on the human trafficking story Glassland alongside Toni Collette and has begun filming the upcoming adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth alongside Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender.




Nick Frost Hits the Dance Floor in ‘Cuban Fury’ Trailer

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Cuban Fury Trailer
Nick Frost stars in 'Cuban Fury'

eONE Films has danced out this new official US trailer for the comedy movie Cuban Fury starring Nick Frost (The World’s End), Rashida Jones, and Chris O’Dowd. Written by Jon Brown and directed by James Griffiths, Cuban Fury will arrive in theaters on April 11, 2014.

The Plot:

In 1987 a thirteen-year-old natural born dancer with fire in his heels and snakes in his hips is working himself up to explode all over the UK Junior Salsa Championships. But then: a freakish bullying incident on the mean streets of London robs him of his confidence, and our young hero finds his life diverted down a very different path.

Twenty-two-years later, an adult Bruce Garrett (Frost) finds himself out-of-shape and unloved – trapped in a downward spiral of self-pity, repression and Nando’s take-outs. Only Julia (Jones), his smart, funny, gorgeous new American boss, gives him reason to live. But she’s untouchable; out of his league. Luckily for him, she also has a secret passion. Thus, Bruce is once again brought face-to-face with the darkest and most powerful of his inner demons. Somehow, someway, Bruce must learn how to unshackle his dancing beast, regain his long lost fury and claim the love of his life…and he’s going to do it all On The Dance Floor…

Movie Review: ‘Need for Speed’

By
Ian Forbes
-
Need for Speed Review
Aaron Paul and Dominic Cooper star in 'Need for Speed' (Photo © DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC. All Rights Reserved)

I have exciting news! I just saw a really good movie. It was the first good movie I’ve seen in all of 2014 (granted, I’ve seen fewer movies this year than I normally do). The only problem with this great movie I saw … was that I’m not talking about Need for Speed. Hopefully next week you’ll find out what movie I’m talking about.

But for now, let me start with the good aspects of Need for Speed. Director Scott Waugh, who did 2012’s Act of Valor, comes from a stunt department background. As such, he understands stunts and made sure that there was no CGI in this festival of expensive car crashes. Let me repeat that, there is NO CGI involved when it comes to the cars. Now sure, they’re using body kits when they’re going to wreck something, but even Hollywood isn’t dumb enough to wreck multi-million dollar cars yet. YET. In any case, I was quite impressed with the stunt work involved, and some of the car scenes were exciting.

That being said, while Waugh may understand that it’s better to do things practically than with a computer, he doesn’t quite seem to grasp how to shoot all that action. For a movie with so many ridiculously beautiful and expensive cars doing so many ridiculously crazy and dangerous things, I expected to have more thrills. I realize there’s not going to be a decent script. This is based on a video game series largely devoid of plot, so that there’s no place to go from a writing standpoint than your blasé vengeance angle, with a dash of hackneyed romance thrown in, doesn’t surprise me. But if you’re going to spend millions of dollars to create a brainless action flick, get the action right.

Adding to the “holy crap this movie is terrible” rating that I’ll sum up with some sort of letter grade at the end of this review, it felt like the actors knew how bad the script was and just gave up. Dominic Cooper is capable of very good acting. Aaron Paul is capable of very good acting. But as the respective villain and hero in this tale, they come off like two guys workshopping characters for a college production of go-kart racing. Surprisingly some of the supporting characters were able to add a little bit of energy to the production, but much of the time, it felt like the screenwriters had watched Drive and thought they knew how to mix that seamlessly with Torque. Side note: If you can truly imagine what that would be like, you have my understanding and sympathy.

Adding to the less-than-spectacular overall result is the attempt to use 3D. Every once in a while it felt okay, but any amount of time spent trying to make the gimmick work should have been set aside for a script rewrite. To no surprise to anyone who’s read the words I crafted above, I simply cannot recommend Need for Speed. You’re far better off playing Gran Turismo on your PS3 or watching Top Gear on BBC. Your money is better spent buying a ticket to a car expo. At least then you can take your time to admire the cars. Here, you have to sit through two hours of people trying to compete with the cars for screen time. Pass.

GRADE: D

Need for Speed is rated PG-13 for sequences of reckless street racing, disturbing crash scenes, nudity and crude language.




Showtime’s Working on a Dramatic Series About Hedge Fund Billionaires

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Showtime Logo

A series about the One Percenters? Showtime’s greenlit a “complex, contemporary drama” pilot about some of the United States’ wealthiest hedge fund billionaires. Billions comes from Andrew Ross Sorkin (Too Big to Fail), Brian Koppelman and David Levien who wrote the script together and will be executive producing the series.

According to the very brief description offered by the network, Billions “is a fictional drama that focuses on the collision and, at times, collusion between an aggressive U.S. attorney in New York and some of the richest hedge fund billionaires in the country.”

Sorkin, Koppelman, and Levien’s project has the honor of being the first pilot picked up by Showtime in 2014.

Details on the Writers/Executive Producers [Courtesy of Showtime]

Andrew Ross Sorkin is an award-winning journalist and author. He is a columnist for The New York Times and co-anchor of Squawk Box, CNBC’s signature morning program. He wrote the best-selling book Too Big to Fail: How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System – and Themselves (Viking, 2009), which chronicled the events of the 2008 financial crisis. He served as a co-producer of HBO Films’ adaptation of his book in 2011. Sorkin is also the founder and editor-at-large of DealBook, an online daily financial report published by The Times that he started in 2001. He often appears on NBC’s Nightly News, The Charlie Rose Show, Real Time with Bill Maher and many others.

David Levien and Brian Koppelman have written, directed and produced a number of critically-acclaimed projects including Rounders, Runaway Jury, Ocean’s Thirteen, The Girlfriend Experience, Runner Runner – all which they co-wrote, and Knockaround Guys and Solitary Man, which they wrote and directed. Levien and Koppelman also served as producers on The Illusionist, Interview With The Assassin and The Lucky Ones. Levien has authored several novels including Wormwood, Swagbelly: A Novel For Today’s Gentleman, City Of The Sun, Where The Dead Lay and Thirteen Million Dollar Pop. Koppelman is a regular contributor to Grantland, and also hosts the podcast “The Moment with Brian Koppelman.”

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