VENICE (Reuters) - South Korean movie 'Pieta', an ultra-violent story of a loan shark confronted by a mysterious woman claiming to be his mother, scooped the Golden Lion award for best picture at the Venice film festival on Saturday.
The other big winner on the night was Paul Thomas Anderson's 'The Master', loosely based on the early days of Scientology, which earned him a Silver Lion for best director and a joint best actor award for Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix.
All three prizes will be popular on the Lido waterfront, where critics praised Pieta's visceral portrayal of a twisted story of love and revenge, difficult at times to watch but also absorbing and moving in equal measure.
Director Kim Ki-duk sang a traditional Korean song 'Arirang' as part of his acceptance speech, and later told reporters: 'This is a song that we Koreans sing when we are sad, when we feel alone, when we feel desperate, but also when we're happy.'
Asked how he felt about receiving the award, he picked up the Golden Lion and kissed it.
Hoffman, playing a character based on Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and Phoenix as his troubled, volatile protege, were clear front runners for the acting prize and both are expected to be in the frame when Oscar nominations are announced.
Hoffman rushed back to Italy to accept the awards on his own and his colleagues' behalf.
'I just got off a plane, like, five minutes ago, literally,' he told the red carpet awards ceremony.
'I still have crust in my eyes from the sleep on the plane. I put this suit on in a bathroom, so please don't judge.'
He went on to praise Phoenix, who was back to his best form in 'The Master' after several years in the acting wilderness.
'Joaquin Phoenix is a life force in this film ... and I kind of rode that life force and that was my performance.
'It was really riding his life force because it was something that was untameable and my job was to try to and it was almost impossible, which is kind of the movie.'
In examining the founding of the self-described religion of Scientology, Anderson tackled a topic many film makers would consider taboo given the support it enjoys in Hollywood and its sensitivity to perceived criticism.
He confirmed he had shown the film to Tom Cruise, a leading Scientologist, and said the two were 'still friends'.
RELIGIOUS THEME
This year, the theme of religion ran throughout the festival and was also a major factor at the awards ceremony, which brought the curtain down on 11 days of screenings, parties, photoshoots and interviews.
Austria's Ulrich Seidl picked up the Special Jury Prize runner-up award for 'Paradies: Glaube' (Paradise: Faith) about a woman's obsessive faith which is sorely tested when her estranged Muslim husband suddenly returns home.
And Hadas Yaron was named best actress for her performance in 'Fill the Void', Rama Burshtein's rare glimpse into her own ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in a tale about a young bride torn between love and her obligations to her family.
The screenplay award was won by Olivier Assayas of France for his 1970s political drama 'Apres Mai', and Italy's Daniele Cipri was named winner of the cinematography category for 'E Stato Il Figlio'.
Notable films that did not figure among the prizes included 'Spring Breakers', experimental director Harmony Korine's raunchy and raucous tale of hard-drinking college students starring former Disney teen star Selena Gomez.
Terrence Malick, who is revered in some quarters and won the Palme d'Or in Cannes in 2011 for 'The Tree of Life', went away empty-handed after 'To the Wonder', an impressionistic love story with almost no dialogue, received some stinging reviews.
Another American veteran, Brian De Palma, also saw his reputation dented when 'Passion', his steamy sex thriller set in the cutthroat world of advertising, was jeered at a screening.
As well as competition movies, dozens more had their world premieres in Venice, including opening film 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', another film touching on religion, and Robert Redford's political drama 'The Company You Keep'.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
This news article is brought to you by DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
South Korean movie "Pieta" wins Venice Golden Lion
VENICE (Reuters) - South Korean movie 'Pieta', an ultra-violent story of a loan shark confronted by a mysterious woman claiming to be his mother, won the Golden Lion award for best picture at the Venice film festival on Saturday.
The victory will prove popular on the Lido waterfront, where Pieta was one of the hot favorites to scoop the top prize from among 18 main competition films.
Also cheered will be the best actor award that was shared by Hollywood heavyweights Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix for their performances in 'The Master', a film loosely based on the founding days of the Church of Scientology.
Hoffman flew to Venice and rushed from the airport to receive the award on his and Phoenix's behalf, and apologized for his disheveled appearance.
He also accepted the Silver Lion for Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed the movie.
Austria's Ulrich Seidl was awarded the runner-up Special Jury Prize for 'Paradies: Glaube' ('Paradise: Faith'), and best actress went to Hadas Yaron for Israeli picture 'Fill the Void'.
The screenplay award was won by Olivier Assayas of France for his 1970s political drama 'Apres Mai', and Italy's Daniele Cipri was named the winner of the cinematography category for 'E Stato Il Figlio'.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Sophie Hares)
This news article is brought to you by PARENTING KIDS - where latest news are our top priority.
The victory will prove popular on the Lido waterfront, where Pieta was one of the hot favorites to scoop the top prize from among 18 main competition films.
Also cheered will be the best actor award that was shared by Hollywood heavyweights Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix for their performances in 'The Master', a film loosely based on the founding days of the Church of Scientology.
Hoffman flew to Venice and rushed from the airport to receive the award on his and Phoenix's behalf, and apologized for his disheveled appearance.
He also accepted the Silver Lion for Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed the movie.
Austria's Ulrich Seidl was awarded the runner-up Special Jury Prize for 'Paradies: Glaube' ('Paradise: Faith'), and best actress went to Hadas Yaron for Israeli picture 'Fill the Void'.
The screenplay award was won by Olivier Assayas of France for his 1970s political drama 'Apres Mai', and Italy's Daniele Cipri was named the winner of the cinematography category for 'E Stato Il Figlio'.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Sophie Hares)
This news article is brought to you by PARENTING KIDS - where latest news are our top priority.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Juno Temple, Joe Anderson, Kelli Garner circle "Horns"
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Juno Temple, Joe Anderson and Kelli Garner are in negotiations to join the supernatural fantasy/thriller 'Horns,' Red Granite Pictures announced on Friday in Toronto.
The trio will join lead Daniel Radcliffe and Max Minghella, who is also negotiating for a role.
'Horns' is being co-produced and financed by Riza Aziz' and Joey McFarland's Los Angeles-based film production, finance and international sales company Red Granite Pictures.
Red Granite will co-produce the film with Mandalay Pictures. Red Granite Pictures' international sales arm (Red Granite International), led by Danny Dimbort and Christian Mercuri, is handling foreign sales for the film and will begin discussions with international buyers in Toronto this week.
Based on the best-selling novel by Joe Hill, 'Horns' is being directed by Alexandre Aja ('The Hills Have Eyes,' 'Piranha 3D,' 'High Tension') from an adapted screenplay by Keith Bunin ('In Treatment').
The producers are Riza Aziz, Joey McFarland and Mandalay Pictures President Cathy Schulman. Joe Hill and Red Granite's Joe Gatta are executive producers.
This rock-and-roll-infused dark fantasy explores why bad things happen to good people and what the loss of true love can do to a man. The film is based on the New York Times best seller.
Principal photography is slated to begin this fall.
This news article is brought to you by DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
The trio will join lead Daniel Radcliffe and Max Minghella, who is also negotiating for a role.
'Horns' is being co-produced and financed by Riza Aziz' and Joey McFarland's Los Angeles-based film production, finance and international sales company Red Granite Pictures.
Red Granite will co-produce the film with Mandalay Pictures. Red Granite Pictures' international sales arm (Red Granite International), led by Danny Dimbort and Christian Mercuri, is handling foreign sales for the film and will begin discussions with international buyers in Toronto this week.
Based on the best-selling novel by Joe Hill, 'Horns' is being directed by Alexandre Aja ('The Hills Have Eyes,' 'Piranha 3D,' 'High Tension') from an adapted screenplay by Keith Bunin ('In Treatment').
The producers are Riza Aziz, Joey McFarland and Mandalay Pictures President Cathy Schulman. Joe Hill and Red Granite's Joe Gatta are executive producers.
This rock-and-roll-infused dark fantasy explores why bad things happen to good people and what the loss of true love can do to a man. The film is based on the New York Times best seller.
Principal photography is slated to begin this fall.
This news article is brought to you by DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Royals to attend James Bond "Skyfall" world premiere
(Reuters) - British royal couple Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, will attend the world premiere of the newest James Bond film, 'Skyfall,' at the Royal Albert Hall in London on October 23, producers said on Friday.
The premiere will benefit charities that support former and current members of Britain's intelligence agencies.
The Bond film franchise has a history with Britain's royal family. Over the years, many of them - including Princes William and Harry - have attended premieres and used the event to help support various charities.
More recently, 86-year old Queen Elizabeth made her film debut with James Bond star Daniel Craig during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics in July, in a spoof video that ended with her appearing to jump from a helicopter into the Olympic stadium.
'Skyfall,' which stars Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Albert Finney, will be released in the UK and internationally on October 26. The film, directed by Sam Mendes, hits U.S. theaters November 9.
(Reporting By Zorianna Kit in Los Angeles; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Leslie Gevirtz)
This article is brought to you by BUY COMPUTERS.
The premiere will benefit charities that support former and current members of Britain's intelligence agencies.
The Bond film franchise has a history with Britain's royal family. Over the years, many of them - including Princes William and Harry - have attended premieres and used the event to help support various charities.
More recently, 86-year old Queen Elizabeth made her film debut with James Bond star Daniel Craig during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics in July, in a spoof video that ended with her appearing to jump from a helicopter into the Olympic stadium.
'Skyfall,' which stars Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Albert Finney, will be released in the UK and internationally on October 26. The film, directed by Sam Mendes, hits U.S. theaters November 9.
(Reporting By Zorianna Kit in Los Angeles; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Leslie Gevirtz)
This article is brought to you by BUY COMPUTERS.
Vin Diesel in talks for "The Last Witch Hunter"
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Lionsgate-Summit is in negotiations with Vin Diesel to star in 'The Last Witch Hunter,' an individual familiar with the talks told TheWrap.
Emmett/Furla Films is attached to produce the film with Breck Eisner ('The Crazies') directing.
Cory Goodman wrote the story, which follows one of the last remaining witch hunters, who is charged with discouraging a group of witches and warlocks from reproducing.
When Summit purchased Goodman's pitch in 2010, 'Wanted' director Timur Bekmambetov was attached to direct and produce the film, with Adam Goldworm ('Lore' 'Masters of Horror') executive producing. Goldworm remains the executive producer.
Lionsgate and its Grindstone Entertainment Group have a ten-picture deal with Emmett/Furla, which was renewed this summer.
The joint venture has lead to a number of films, including 'Set Up' with Bruce Willis, the crime drama 'Freelancers' with Robert DeNiro, 'Fire With Fire,' and 'The Frozen Ground.'
The next film slated for release through the partnership is 'Empire State' with Dwayne ('The Rock') Johnson. Vin Diesel upcoming films include 'The Fast and The Furious 6' and an untitled 'Chronicles of Riddick' sequel.
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Emmett/Furla Films is attached to produce the film with Breck Eisner ('The Crazies') directing.
Cory Goodman wrote the story, which follows one of the last remaining witch hunters, who is charged with discouraging a group of witches and warlocks from reproducing.
When Summit purchased Goodman's pitch in 2010, 'Wanted' director Timur Bekmambetov was attached to direct and produce the film, with Adam Goldworm ('Lore' 'Masters of Horror') executive producing. Goldworm remains the executive producer.
Lionsgate and its Grindstone Entertainment Group have a ten-picture deal with Emmett/Furla, which was renewed this summer.
The joint venture has lead to a number of films, including 'Set Up' with Bruce Willis, the crime drama 'Freelancers' with Robert DeNiro, 'Fire With Fire,' and 'The Frozen Ground.'
The next film slated for release through the partnership is 'Empire State' with Dwayne ('The Rock') Johnson. Vin Diesel upcoming films include 'The Fast and The Furious 6' and an untitled 'Chronicles of Riddick' sequel.
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Renee Zellweger to make directorial debut in "4 1/2 Minutes"
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Renée Zellweger will star alongside Johnny Knoxville in '4 ½ Minutes,' a comedy that will mark the directorial debut for the actress, K5 International and PalmStar Media Capital announced Thursday.
Set in New York City's stand-up comedy world, Knoxville will play Jimmy Bennett, a commitment-phobic comedian whose life is falling apart when he takes a job looking after the genius son of single mom P.J. Andersen, played by Zellweger.
The film is written by Anthony Tambakis, and is based on the life and comedy of real-life stand-up Dov Davidoff, with whom Tambakis created the story. The film will be produced by PalmStar's Kevin Frakes, and Zellweger and Tambakis through their All Together Now banner.
K5 International will begin introducing the project to buyers at Toronto. CAA is handling North American rights.
The project marks the third collaboration for the actress and writer, who recently received a pilot order for their original series 'Cinnamon Girl.'
Zellweger will also star in the upcoming Broadway adaptation of 'The Hustler,' written by Tambakis and to be directed by Gavin O'Connor. 'It´s great to be working with Renée as a partner on this project,' say K5's co-founders Oliver Simon and Daniel Baur. 'It's a wonderful opportunity to support her as she moves into her first directing role.'
Raj Brinder Singh will executive produce '4 1/2 Minutes.' PalmStar Media Capital will finance the film, which is scheduled to begin production in New York City in February 2013.
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE GOSSIP NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Set in New York City's stand-up comedy world, Knoxville will play Jimmy Bennett, a commitment-phobic comedian whose life is falling apart when he takes a job looking after the genius son of single mom P.J. Andersen, played by Zellweger.
The film is written by Anthony Tambakis, and is based on the life and comedy of real-life stand-up Dov Davidoff, with whom Tambakis created the story. The film will be produced by PalmStar's Kevin Frakes, and Zellweger and Tambakis through their All Together Now banner.
K5 International will begin introducing the project to buyers at Toronto. CAA is handling North American rights.
The project marks the third collaboration for the actress and writer, who recently received a pilot order for their original series 'Cinnamon Girl.'
Zellweger will also star in the upcoming Broadway adaptation of 'The Hustler,' written by Tambakis and to be directed by Gavin O'Connor. 'It´s great to be working with Renée as a partner on this project,' say K5's co-founders Oliver Simon and Daniel Baur. 'It's a wonderful opportunity to support her as she moves into her first directing role.'
Raj Brinder Singh will executive produce '4 1/2 Minutes.' PalmStar Media Capital will finance the film, which is scheduled to begin production in New York City in February 2013.
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE GOSSIP NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Redford acts in, directs thriller about ex-radical
VENICE (Reuters) - In 'All the President's Men', Robert Redford famously played a reporter hunting clues that led to President Richard Nixon's downfall. In 'The Company You Keep', the Oscar winner is the one who is hunted by a journalist, this time played by Shia LaBeouf.
Unlike the 1976 account of the Watergate scandal, The Company You Keep is a fictional thriller based on a 2003 novel by Neil Gordon, and follows a former leftwing American militant whose past comes back to haunt him.
Redford plays Jim Grant, a respectable lawyer and widower with a young daughter whose life is thrown into turmoil when his secret identity, as a member of The Weather Underground decades earlier, is revealed by a tenacious reporter.
LaBeouf, one of several up-and-coming stars to feature at this year's Venice film festival where the movie has its world premiere on Thursday, appears as Ben Shepard, an ambitious writer working for a struggling local newspaper.
When an ex-member of The Weather Underground (Susan Sarandon) gives herself up, he uncovers a network of former militants who went into hiding in the 1970s and are still wanted by the FBI for a robbery and murder.
One of those is Grant, who is forced to leave his daughter behind to search out the one person who may be able to save him.
'Fundamentally, the film is pretty much about what a man will do for a child, what a man will do to have the love of his daughter preserved,' Redford told reporters after the movie was screened to the media ahead of its red carpet premiere.
Also starring Julie Christie, the two-hour movie explores the ideals of youth and whether they should be sacrificed for the sake of love and family.
It also touches upon anti-capitalist protests today, which recall rebellion against the Vietnam war that spilled into violence in the form of radical splinter cells.
CAT-AND-MOUSE
The cat-and-mouse nature of Shepard's pursuit of Grant and original news footage give it a similar to feel to All the President's Men, and LaBeouf studied Redford's performance in that movie to research his role.
But the young actor told reporters in Venice that there were major differences between challenges people faced in the 1960s and 1970s and those they must cope with today.
'Bob's generation, they put a gun in your hand and told you to go and run through the jungle and shoot people,' the 26-year-old said. 'You didn't really have a choice.
'My generation is very different. We are not being asked to do the same things, we're just broke. It's easier to deal with being broke than being asked to kill.'
Despite those differences, Redford said his film should resonate with contemporary audiences who may be tempted to rise up and revolt against a political and financial system he said favored the very wealthy.
'Every generation has its moment of rebellion, its moment of discontent and its chance to do something about it,' said Redford, who last directed and starred in a movie in 2007 with 'Lions for Lambs'.
'The conditions might be different, the times might be different, but it always comes and it always will,' added the 76-year-old double Oscar winner.
'It's pretty obvious to anybody who's got half of a brain paying attention in America that the super, super rich are doing just fine and the rest of the country is not ... I don't know if you saw that in America, the Republican convention? It's really about the one percent and it's very clear.'
The Company You Keep has yet to get a North American release date, but the U.S. rights to the movie have been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
It also features Sam Elliott, Brendan Gleeson, Nick Nolte and Terrence Howard.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by GLOBAL WEATHER NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Unlike the 1976 account of the Watergate scandal, The Company You Keep is a fictional thriller based on a 2003 novel by Neil Gordon, and follows a former leftwing American militant whose past comes back to haunt him.
Redford plays Jim Grant, a respectable lawyer and widower with a young daughter whose life is thrown into turmoil when his secret identity, as a member of The Weather Underground decades earlier, is revealed by a tenacious reporter.
LaBeouf, one of several up-and-coming stars to feature at this year's Venice film festival where the movie has its world premiere on Thursday, appears as Ben Shepard, an ambitious writer working for a struggling local newspaper.
When an ex-member of The Weather Underground (Susan Sarandon) gives herself up, he uncovers a network of former militants who went into hiding in the 1970s and are still wanted by the FBI for a robbery and murder.
One of those is Grant, who is forced to leave his daughter behind to search out the one person who may be able to save him.
'Fundamentally, the film is pretty much about what a man will do for a child, what a man will do to have the love of his daughter preserved,' Redford told reporters after the movie was screened to the media ahead of its red carpet premiere.
Also starring Julie Christie, the two-hour movie explores the ideals of youth and whether they should be sacrificed for the sake of love and family.
It also touches upon anti-capitalist protests today, which recall rebellion against the Vietnam war that spilled into violence in the form of radical splinter cells.
CAT-AND-MOUSE
The cat-and-mouse nature of Shepard's pursuit of Grant and original news footage give it a similar to feel to All the President's Men, and LaBeouf studied Redford's performance in that movie to research his role.
But the young actor told reporters in Venice that there were major differences between challenges people faced in the 1960s and 1970s and those they must cope with today.
'Bob's generation, they put a gun in your hand and told you to go and run through the jungle and shoot people,' the 26-year-old said. 'You didn't really have a choice.
'My generation is very different. We are not being asked to do the same things, we're just broke. It's easier to deal with being broke than being asked to kill.'
Despite those differences, Redford said his film should resonate with contemporary audiences who may be tempted to rise up and revolt against a political and financial system he said favored the very wealthy.
'Every generation has its moment of rebellion, its moment of discontent and its chance to do something about it,' said Redford, who last directed and starred in a movie in 2007 with 'Lions for Lambs'.
'The conditions might be different, the times might be different, but it always comes and it always will,' added the 76-year-old double Oscar winner.
'It's pretty obvious to anybody who's got half of a brain paying attention in America that the super, super rich are doing just fine and the rest of the country is not ... I don't know if you saw that in America, the Republican convention? It's really about the one percent and it's very clear.'
The Company You Keep has yet to get a North American release date, but the U.S. rights to the movie have been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
It also features Sam Elliott, Brendan Gleeson, Nick Nolte and Terrence Howard.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by GLOBAL WEATHER NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)