Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for April 2016, including "Taken", "Rocky Horror Picture Show", "XXX 3" and a whole lot more:
American Gods
TV Series
Fremantle /Starz Network
Exec. Prod.: Bryan Fuller,
Michael Green, Neil Gaiman
Mar. 14 – Sep 30 /16
American Gothic
TV Series
Amblin /CBS Studios
Prods.: Frank Siracusa, John Weber
Feb 29 - Jul 1/16
Cardinal
Mini Series
Sienna Films Inc.
Prod: Jessica Daniel
Exec. Prod.: Jennifer Kawaja,
Julia Sereny
Co Producers: Elise Cousineau, Andrea Glinski
Feb 11 - Apr 21/16
Dark Matter Season 2
TV Series
Prod: Norman Denver
Exec. Prod.: Jay Firestone,
Vanessa Piazza, Joseph Mallozzi
Dec 9/15 - May 9/16
Designated Survivor
TV Pilot
Designated 1 Ltd.
Prod.: Amy Harris, David Guggenheim
Exec. Prod.: Amy Harris, David Guggenheim
Mar. 7 - Oct. 21/16
Downsizing
Feature
Paramount /
Mega Omaha Films Inc.
Prods.: Mark Johnson, James Burk, James Taylor
Exec. Prod.: Diana Pokorny
Apr. 12 - Jul 11/16
Eyewitness...
American Gods
TV Series
Fremantle /Starz Network
Exec. Prod.: Bryan Fuller,
Michael Green, Neil Gaiman
Mar. 14 – Sep 30 /16
American Gothic
TV Series
Amblin /CBS Studios
Prods.: Frank Siracusa, John Weber
Feb 29 - Jul 1/16
Cardinal
Mini Series
Sienna Films Inc.
Prod: Jessica Daniel
Exec. Prod.: Jennifer Kawaja,
Julia Sereny
Co Producers: Elise Cousineau, Andrea Glinski
Feb 11 - Apr 21/16
Dark Matter Season 2
TV Series
Prod: Norman Denver
Exec. Prod.: Jay Firestone,
Vanessa Piazza, Joseph Mallozzi
Dec 9/15 - May 9/16
Designated Survivor
TV Pilot
Designated 1 Ltd.
Prod.: Amy Harris, David Guggenheim
Exec. Prod.: Amy Harris, David Guggenheim
Mar. 7 - Oct. 21/16
Downsizing
Feature
Paramount /
Mega Omaha Films Inc.
Prods.: Mark Johnson, James Burk, James Taylor
Exec. Prod.: Diana Pokorny
Apr. 12 - Jul 11/16
Eyewitness...
- 3/25/2016
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Exclusive: Deadline revealed exclusively Friday that longtime UTA Production Department co-head Wayne Fitterman had left that agency and was in talks to land at Wme. I have confirmed that he has now officially joined Wme as a partner and that he will head Wme’s Production Department. As I wrote, Fitterman had expected to bring three of his cohorts along with him. UTA staved off that coup, but Fitterman brings 46 clients with him so far, with a lot more hanging in the balance. This is an unsung part of the business, covering cinematographers, editors, line producers, production designers, costume designers, and visual effects supervisors. But it’s important. Aside from making piles of money, the department is a breeding ground for first-time directors. Among the clients Fitterman has brought with him are Jenny Beavan (The King’s Speech), Mark Bridges (The Artist), Bruno Delbonnel (Inside Llewyn Davis), Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood...
- 11/11/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
11. Zama – Dir. Lucretia Martel
Why This Makes Top 10: At number eleven we have Argentinean filmmaker Lucretia Martel’s latest film, her first since 2008’s The Headless Woman (a film that critics were slow to warm to, but ended up being on many a best end of year list in 2008/2009). Previous titles include her stunning debut, 2001’s La Cienega, along with 2004’s The Holy Girl. Her latest is a period piece based on the novel by Antonio de Benedetto and will be produced by Lita Stantic, El Deseo (the Almodovar Bros’ company), as well as a still to be named French producer. Martel is one of the most prolific names to come out the New Argentinean Wave and this looks to be a massively mounted period piece we’re eager to get a look at.
The Gist: Written in 1956, Zama is an existential novel about Don Diego de Zama, a...
Why This Makes Top 10: At number eleven we have Argentinean filmmaker Lucretia Martel’s latest film, her first since 2008’s The Headless Woman (a film that critics were slow to warm to, but ended up being on many a best end of year list in 2008/2009). Previous titles include her stunning debut, 2001’s La Cienega, along with 2004’s The Holy Girl. Her latest is a period piece based on the novel by Antonio de Benedetto and will be produced by Lita Stantic, El Deseo (the Almodovar Bros’ company), as well as a still to be named French producer. Martel is one of the most prolific names to come out the New Argentinean Wave and this looks to be a massively mounted period piece we’re eager to get a look at.
The Gist: Written in 1956, Zama is an existential novel about Don Diego de Zama, a...
- 1/8/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
If you missed this year's Total Recall remake when it hit theatres you have a chance to make up for it because the flick is getting ready to make its home video debut. Read on for all the details.
From the Press Release
From Len Wiseman, director of the Underworld saga, and Neal H. Moritz, the producer of The Fast and the Furious series, comes the visionary, new action thriller Total Recall, available December 18th as a 3-Disc Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack, 2-Disc Blu-ray, and DVD, all with UltraViolet™ from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Colin Farrell (Horrible Bosses), Kate Beckinsale (Underworld series) and Jessica Biel (The A-Team) star in this action-packed thrill ride. The film co-stars three-time Emmy Award® winner Bryan Cranston (TV’s “Breaking Bad”) and Golden Globe® winner Bill Nighy (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1), and is based on a short story by Philip K. Dick,...
From the Press Release
From Len Wiseman, director of the Underworld saga, and Neal H. Moritz, the producer of The Fast and the Furious series, comes the visionary, new action thriller Total Recall, available December 18th as a 3-Disc Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack, 2-Disc Blu-ray, and DVD, all with UltraViolet™ from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Colin Farrell (Horrible Bosses), Kate Beckinsale (Underworld series) and Jessica Biel (The A-Team) star in this action-packed thrill ride. The film co-stars three-time Emmy Award® winner Bryan Cranston (TV’s “Breaking Bad”) and Golden Globe® winner Bill Nighy (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1), and is based on a short story by Philip K. Dick,...
- 10/9/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Total Recall is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story .We Can Remember It For You Wholesale. by Philip K. Dick. Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he.s got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life . real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police . controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the leader of the free world . Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop Cohaagen. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and...
- 7/24/2012
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Sony Pictures has offered Kate Beckinsale the role of Lori in their remake of Total Recall which already has Colin Farrell and Bryan Cranston attached to star. This is the first news we’ve heard of Beckinsale possibly being attached to the film, but it comes as no surprise seeing that she’s married to Len Wiseman, the film’s director. The two have worked together in two of the Underworld films.
Earlier reports have said Diane Kruger, Jessica Biel and Kate Bosworth each read for the part of Lori. If Beckinsale decides to take the role of Lori, she will be playing opposite Farrell, who would be her husband in the film. Deadline also reports Eva Mendes and Rosario Dawson are “serious contenders” for the role of Melina, a Martian freedom fighter.
The original film from 1990 was based on the Phillip K. Dick short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,...
Earlier reports have said Diane Kruger, Jessica Biel and Kate Bosworth each read for the part of Lori. If Beckinsale decides to take the role of Lori, she will be playing opposite Farrell, who would be her husband in the film. Deadline also reports Eva Mendes and Rosario Dawson are “serious contenders” for the role of Melina, a Martian freedom fighter.
The original film from 1990 was based on the Phillip K. Dick short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,...
- 4/21/2011
- by Ryan Laster
- If It's Movies
Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston is in negotiations to play the lead villain in the Total Recall remake coming from Universal. The original film from 1990 was based on the Phillip K. Dick short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale which followed the story of Douglas Quaid, a man who is constantly haunted by a recurring dream of journeying to Mars where he buys a literal “dream vacation” from a company called Rekall Inc. Quaid starts to believe he is a secret agent fighting against the evil Mars administrator Cohaagen.
In this remake from director Len Wiseman, the story is essentially the same, but revolves around two nations, Euromerica and New Shanghai, as they are about to enter into a war together. The Hollywood Reporter says Cranston would play Vilos Cohaagen, the leader of Euromerica, who is planning on invading New Shanghai while pretending to be protecting his people of Euromerica.
In this remake from director Len Wiseman, the story is essentially the same, but revolves around two nations, Euromerica and New Shanghai, as they are about to enter into a war together. The Hollywood Reporter says Cranston would play Vilos Cohaagen, the leader of Euromerica, who is planning on invading New Shanghai while pretending to be protecting his people of Euromerica.
- 3/31/2011
- by Ryan Laster
- If It's Movies
Sony Pictures released a few press releases today regarding a few projects they have underway. First, the remake of Total Recall coming from director Len Wiseman and starring Colin Farrell has been scheduled for an August 3, 2012 release date. A new Kevin James film called Here Comes the Boom will be released on July 27, 2012 and a new comedy from Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg titled I Hate You, Dad will be released on June 22, 2012. The Sandler/Samberg and James films had been a possibility for a while now, but nothing had been officially announced until today. You can read more on each of these films after the jump.
Here is the press release on Total Recall:
Total Recall is a new, contemporized reimagining of the science fiction saga. The film will be directed by Len Wiseman and produced by Neal H. Moritz and Toby Jaffe, with Ric Kidney on-board as executive producer.
Here is the press release on Total Recall:
Total Recall is a new, contemporized reimagining of the science fiction saga. The film will be directed by Len Wiseman and produced by Neal H. Moritz and Toby Jaffe, with Ric Kidney on-board as executive producer.
- 2/26/2011
- by Ryan Laster
- If It's Movies
Hey gang! Sony's Columbia Pictures has release there full summer schedule for 2012, and we've got a lot of fun highly anticipated films to look forward to.
Men in Black 3 in 3D (May 25)
The Amazing Spider-Man in 3D (July 3)
I Hate You, Dad (June 27)
Here Comes the Boom (July 27)
Total Recall (August 3rd)
I'd have to say out of all of these, I'm most excited for The Amazing Spider-Man. Check out the full press release below which has a little bit more information on each of the films above.
Culver City, Calif., February 25, 2011 – Summer 2012 is heating up for moviegoers as Columbia Pictures adds three highly anticipated films to its summer slate, it was announced today by Jeff Blake, chairman, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution for Sony Pictures. Joining the strong summer line-up that already includes Men in Black™ 3 in 3D (May 25) and The Amazing Spider-Man™ in 3D (July 3), the studio will release I Hate You,...
Men in Black 3 in 3D (May 25)
The Amazing Spider-Man in 3D (July 3)
I Hate You, Dad (June 27)
Here Comes the Boom (July 27)
Total Recall (August 3rd)
I'd have to say out of all of these, I'm most excited for The Amazing Spider-Man. Check out the full press release below which has a little bit more information on each of the films above.
Culver City, Calif., February 25, 2011 – Summer 2012 is heating up for moviegoers as Columbia Pictures adds three highly anticipated films to its summer slate, it was announced today by Jeff Blake, chairman, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution for Sony Pictures. Joining the strong summer line-up that already includes Men in Black™ 3 in 3D (May 25) and The Amazing Spider-Man™ in 3D (July 3), the studio will release I Hate You,...
- 2/26/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Today Sony/Columbia has announced and/or confirmed three films, complete with release dates. The new version [1] of Total Recall, to be directed by Len Wiseman starring Colin Farrell, will have an August 3, 2012 release. Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg are definitely teaming as father and son for I Hate You, Dad (previously reported [2] as a possibility), which will hit on June 22, 2012. And the Kevin James Mma film we've talked about [3] a couple of times gets a title, Here Comes the Boom, and a release date of July 27, 2012. More info on each film after the break. A press release says of Total Recall, Total Recall is a new, contemporized reimagining of the science fiction saga. The film will be directed by Len Wiseman and produced by Neal H. Moritz and Toby Jaffe, with Ric Kidney on-board as executive producer. The short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick...
- 2/26/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Salt is released on Blu-ray today on DVD and Blu-ray and to celebrate, Sony Home Entertainment have been kind enough to give us three copies of the movie to give away on Blu-ray. Salt stars Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, and Chiwetel Ejiofor and is directed by Phillip Noyce.
Synopsis: Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a trusted and loyal CIA operative who is forced to go on the run when a Russian defector convinces her superiors that she’s a double agent sent to assassinate the President of the United States. As the intense manhunt heats up, Salt uses all of her skills as a covert operative to elude capture as she fights to uncover a secret so explosive it could change the course of world history.
Directed by Phillip Noyce (Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games), Salt was written by Kurt Wimmer. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Sunil Perkash produced,...
Synopsis: Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a trusted and loyal CIA operative who is forced to go on the run when a Russian defector convinces her superiors that she’s a double agent sent to assassinate the President of the United States. As the intense manhunt heats up, Salt uses all of her skills as a covert operative to elude capture as she fights to uncover a secret so explosive it could change the course of world history.
Directed by Phillip Noyce (Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games), Salt was written by Kurt Wimmer. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Sunil Perkash produced,...
- 12/13/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
HollywoodNews.com:
By Anthony D’Alessandro
The 1970s Virginia Slims cigarette promos boasted the slogan “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby” toward their femme demo and the same prideful adage can be applied to the female action hero who has broken ceilings at the cinema over the last 40 years.
In the wake of the body count left behind by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone in the ’80s and ‘90s, it’s often asked Who is the action hero of now?
As a fresh crop of actors make their mark in the genre, they become too pretentious about fully wearing the crown for fear of being pigeon-holed: Gerard Butler and Vin Diesel prefer to dabble in bullets.
If you’re holding out for a hero, “Salt” reminds us that our cinematic knight in shining armor wears a dress and her name is Angelina Jolie. Jolie doesn’t duck...
By Anthony D’Alessandro
The 1970s Virginia Slims cigarette promos boasted the slogan “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby” toward their femme demo and the same prideful adage can be applied to the female action hero who has broken ceilings at the cinema over the last 40 years.
In the wake of the body count left behind by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone in the ’80s and ‘90s, it’s often asked Who is the action hero of now?
As a fresh crop of actors make their mark in the genre, they become too pretentious about fully wearing the crown for fear of being pigeon-holed: Gerard Butler and Vin Diesel prefer to dabble in bullets.
If you’re holding out for a hero, “Salt” reminds us that our cinematic knight in shining armor wears a dress and her name is Angelina Jolie. Jolie doesn’t duck...
- 7/22/2010
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Hollywoodnews.com
Angelina Jolie replaced Tom Cruise to star in "Salt."
Philip Noyce ("The Quite American," "Catch a Fire") is directing the actress who stars as a CIA officer accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper spy and must elude capture long enough to establish her innocence.
Ooooh drama! And there's certainly drama and intrigue at the new teaser/trailer for "Salt." Oh, and see Jolie go from blonde to brunette in 10 seconds or less :wink
Take a look:
Here's more "Salt" info from Yahoo:
Also Known As:
Edwin A. Salt
Untitled Columbia Pictures/Angelina Jolie Spy Thriller
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama and Thriller
Release Date: July 23rd, 2010 (wide)
Distributors:
Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Co.:
Di Bonaventura Pictures, Inc.
Studios:
Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
Filming Locations:
New York City, New York, USA
Washington, DC, USA
Produced in: United States
Starring: Angelina Jolie,...
Philip Noyce ("The Quite American," "Catch a Fire") is directing the actress who stars as a CIA officer accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper spy and must elude capture long enough to establish her innocence.
Ooooh drama! And there's certainly drama and intrigue at the new teaser/trailer for "Salt." Oh, and see Jolie go from blonde to brunette in 10 seconds or less :wink
Take a look:
Here's more "Salt" info from Yahoo:
Also Known As:
Edwin A. Salt
Untitled Columbia Pictures/Angelina Jolie Spy Thriller
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama and Thriller
Release Date: July 23rd, 2010 (wide)
Distributors:
Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Co.:
Di Bonaventura Pictures, Inc.
Studios:
Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
Filming Locations:
New York City, New York, USA
Washington, DC, USA
Produced in: United States
Starring: Angelina Jolie,...
- 11/5/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Chicago – This 11-image slideshow contains the official images provided by Paramount for their exciting Summer 2009 slate including “Star Trek,” “Dance Flick,” “Imagine That,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” and “The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard”.
“Star Trek” opens May 8th, 2009 and has the following official synopsis: “Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment Present a Bad Robot Production “Star Trek” starring John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Winona Ryder, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana and Leonard Nimoy. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams (“Mission Impossible III,” “Lost,” “Alias”), written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman (“Mi: III,” “Transformers”). Based upon “Star Trek” Created by Gene Roddenberry. The film is produced by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof. The executive producers are Bryan Burk, Jeffrey Chernov, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. This film has been rated PG-13 for sci-fi...
“Star Trek” opens May 8th, 2009 and has the following official synopsis: “Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment Present a Bad Robot Production “Star Trek” starring John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Winona Ryder, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana and Leonard Nimoy. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams (“Mission Impossible III,” “Lost,” “Alias”), written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman (“Mi: III,” “Transformers”). Based upon “Star Trek” Created by Gene Roddenberry. The film is produced by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof. The executive producers are Bryan Burk, Jeffrey Chernov, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. This film has been rated PG-13 for sci-fi...
- 4/8/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Principal photography commences this week on the Columbia Pictures production Salt, an espionage action thriller starring Angelina Jolie
(Wanted, Changeling, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Bone Collector).
{sidebar id=1} Phillip Noyce
(The Bone Collector, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger) directs. The original screenplay is written by Kurt Wimmer
(The Recruit, The Thomas Crown Affair), with a current re-write by Brian Helgeland
(Mystic River, Man On Fire
, The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3). Salt is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura
(Transformers, 1408, G.I. Joe) and Sunil Perkash
(Enchanted). Executive producers are Ric Kidney
and Mark Vahradian
.
In Columbia Pictures' Salt, Angelina Jolie
stars as Evelyn Salt
, a CIA officer who swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. When she is accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper spy, Salt goes on the run to clear her name and ultimately prove she is a patriot. Read more...
(Wanted, Changeling, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Bone Collector).
{sidebar id=1} Phillip Noyce
(The Bone Collector, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger) directs. The original screenplay is written by Kurt Wimmer
(The Recruit, The Thomas Crown Affair), with a current re-write by Brian Helgeland
(Mystic River, Man On Fire
, The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3). Salt is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura
(Transformers, 1408, G.I. Joe) and Sunil Perkash
(Enchanted). Executive producers are Ric Kidney
and Mark Vahradian
.
In Columbia Pictures' Salt, Angelina Jolie
stars as Evelyn Salt
, a CIA officer who swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. When she is accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper spy, Salt goes on the run to clear her name and ultimately prove she is a patriot. Read more...
- 3/3/2009
- by IESB Staff <alyson@iesb.net>
- IESB.net
Principal photography commences this week on the Columbia Pictures production Salt , an espionage action thriller starring Angelina Jolie ( Wanted , Changeling , Mr. & Mrs. Smith , The Bone Collector ). Phillip Noyce ( The Bone Collector , Patriot Games , Clear and Present Danger ) directs. The original screenplay is written by Kurt Wimmer ( The Recruit , The Thomas Crown Affair ), with a current re-write by Brian Helgeland ( Mystic River , Man on Fire , The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 ). Salt is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura ( Transformers , 1408 , G.I. Joe ) and Sunil Perkash ( Enchanted ). Executive producers are Ric Kidney and Mark Vahradian. In Columbia Pictures' Salt , Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer who swore an oath to duty, honor,...
- 3/3/2009
- Comingsoon.net
Rumored to be joining the film earlier this week, the trades have now confirmed Liev Schreiber will star opposite Angelina Jolie in the spy thriller Salt for Columbia Pictures. The story centers on Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer who is fingered as a Russian sleeper spy. She eludes capture by superiors who are convinced she is out to assassinate the president. While trying to reunite with her family, she struggles to prove someone else is the traitor. Schreiber will play Salt's boss and friend on the Russian desk at the CIA. The film was originally developed with Tom Cruise in the lead role, centering on Edwin A. Salt. Phillip Noyce (Catch a Fire, Clear and Present Danger) is directing from a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer (Street Kings, The Recruit). Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Sunil Perkash are producing; Ric Kidney and Mark Vahradian will executive produce. Filming begins next month in New York.
- 2/19/2009
- by James Cook
- TheMovingPicture.net
Variety has confirmed a Moviehole scoop that Liev Schreiber (upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine ) is in talks to star opposite Angelina Jolie in the spy thriller Salt for Columbia Pictures. Moviehole also says that Chiwetel Ejiofor has joined the cast. The story centers on Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer who is fingered as a Russian sleeper spy. She eludes capture by superiors who are convinced she is out to assassinate the president. While trying to reunite with her family, she struggles to prove someone else is the traitor. Schreiber will play Salt's boss and friend on the Russian desk at the CIA. The Phillip Noyce-directed film begins shooting next month in New York. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Sunil Perkash are producing; Ric Kidney and Mark Vahradian executive...
- 2/18/2009
- Comingsoon.net
Director John Singleton returns to crime-ridden inner-city streets in Four Brothers, a movie that is part murder mystery and part sociological wish fulfillment. The murder part involves a victim, an angelic older woman, who never met a dead-end kid she wouldn't take into her foster home to turn his life around. The wish fulfillment comes when her four "sons" set out to solve and avenge her murder: Two whites and two blacks, who think, speak and act as blood brothers, go up against Detroit gangsters and cops, where corruption knows no racial divide. A white cop may be bad, and a black gangster might turn out to be a brother.
How willing you are to buy into this multiethnic fantasy might depend on how engrossed you are in the fast action, furious gunfights and the street-hardened characters' unorthodox investigative techniques. The movie possesses energy and a bunch of savvy actors, so it is highly watchable. Yet its increasing implausibility, tipping over into sheer nonsense finally, is likely to mean mixed boxoffice results in markets outside of urban venues.
David Elliot & Paul Lovett's screenplay portrays Detroit as rougher and woollier than Dodge City in a Republic Studios Western. Bad guys and good roam the streets with an arsenal of weaponry. When gunplay breaks out, nary a police officer is in sight.
Indeed, you might not be able to tell them apart except for a helpful expository primer offered by police Lt. Green (Terrence Howard) to his partner, Detective Fowler (Josh Charles), at the burial service of Evelyn Mercer (Fionnula Flanagan). She performed her last good deed on Earth moments before two convenience store robbers murdered her.
The Mercer brothers all show up: Bobby (Mark Wahlberg), a mercurial roughneck just out of stir; Angel Singleton regular Tyrese Gibson), looking to hook up with hot-blooded Sofi (Sofia Vergara); and the youngster Jack Garrett Hedlund), who thinks he's a rock star. The fourth brother, Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin), is the only one with a wife and kids, so he has ambitious business plans.
Green, who once played hockey with the Mercers, advises them to leave police work to the police, which prompts Bobby to sneer. Bobby galvanizes his brothers to kick in doors, knock heads and do whatever it takes to find out who killed Mom. A favorite interviewing technique is to splash gas and threaten to light a match.
The Mercers soon realize their mom's murder was a contract killing. Which brings them up against underworld ruler Victor Sweet (British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor with a thoroughly convincing street manner).
If you take any of this seriously, you are not going to enjoy the movie very much. But as an absurd riff on baadasssss gangsta movies, Four Brothers has an undeniable visceral kick. Here, justice is swift. Bad guy gets popped in moments -- though you realize that with the brothers' interrogation style, a good guy or at least a not-so-bad guy might get popped, too. There's that much room for error.
Actors appear to be having a fine time, which always helps. Wahlberg is a full-bore hothead, a guy comfortable with the notion that a bad temper can be a good thing. Gibson is a commanding presence, as he has been in Baby Boy and 2 Fast 2 Furious. Benjamin, as the one domesticated Mercer, gives his character an appealing complexity. Hedlund has an underwritten part but brings an infectious boyish vigor to the role.
Howard, getting rave reviews for "Hustle & Flow," gives a steadiness to this less flamboyant role until the script makes him do something incredibly foolish. Ejiofor is as thoroughly repellent and unrepentant a villain as you could ask for.
A car chase and a daylight gunbattle are brilliantly executed, both flashbacks to an era when action meant stunts and not CGI. Similarly, the soundtrack is old school, ranging from Jefferson Airplane to Motown classics.
Cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr. and designer Keith Brian Burns give wintertime Detroit an appropriately chilly, inhospitable look with a lot of grays and whites -- and the occasional splash of blood red.
FOUR BROTHERS
Paramount Pictures
A di Bonaventura Pictures production
Credits:
Director: John Singleton
Screenwriters: David Elliot & Paul Lovett
Producer: Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Executive producers: Ric Kidney, Erik Howsam
Director of photography: Peter Menzies Jr.
Production designer: Keith Brian Burns
Music: David Arnold
Costumes: Ruth Carter
Editors: Bruce Cannon, Billy Fox
Cast:
Bobby: Mark Wahlberg
Angel: Tyrese Gibson
Jeremiah: Andre Benjamin
Jack: Garrett Hedlund
Lt. Green: Terrence Howard
Detective Fowler: Josh Charles
Sofi: Sofia Vergara
Evelyn Mercer: Fionnula Flanagan
Victor Sweet: Chiwetel Ejiofor
MPAA rating R
Running time -- 109 minutes...
How willing you are to buy into this multiethnic fantasy might depend on how engrossed you are in the fast action, furious gunfights and the street-hardened characters' unorthodox investigative techniques. The movie possesses energy and a bunch of savvy actors, so it is highly watchable. Yet its increasing implausibility, tipping over into sheer nonsense finally, is likely to mean mixed boxoffice results in markets outside of urban venues.
David Elliot & Paul Lovett's screenplay portrays Detroit as rougher and woollier than Dodge City in a Republic Studios Western. Bad guys and good roam the streets with an arsenal of weaponry. When gunplay breaks out, nary a police officer is in sight.
Indeed, you might not be able to tell them apart except for a helpful expository primer offered by police Lt. Green (Terrence Howard) to his partner, Detective Fowler (Josh Charles), at the burial service of Evelyn Mercer (Fionnula Flanagan). She performed her last good deed on Earth moments before two convenience store robbers murdered her.
The Mercer brothers all show up: Bobby (Mark Wahlberg), a mercurial roughneck just out of stir; Angel Singleton regular Tyrese Gibson), looking to hook up with hot-blooded Sofi (Sofia Vergara); and the youngster Jack Garrett Hedlund), who thinks he's a rock star. The fourth brother, Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin), is the only one with a wife and kids, so he has ambitious business plans.
Green, who once played hockey with the Mercers, advises them to leave police work to the police, which prompts Bobby to sneer. Bobby galvanizes his brothers to kick in doors, knock heads and do whatever it takes to find out who killed Mom. A favorite interviewing technique is to splash gas and threaten to light a match.
The Mercers soon realize their mom's murder was a contract killing. Which brings them up against underworld ruler Victor Sweet (British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor with a thoroughly convincing street manner).
If you take any of this seriously, you are not going to enjoy the movie very much. But as an absurd riff on baadasssss gangsta movies, Four Brothers has an undeniable visceral kick. Here, justice is swift. Bad guy gets popped in moments -- though you realize that with the brothers' interrogation style, a good guy or at least a not-so-bad guy might get popped, too. There's that much room for error.
Actors appear to be having a fine time, which always helps. Wahlberg is a full-bore hothead, a guy comfortable with the notion that a bad temper can be a good thing. Gibson is a commanding presence, as he has been in Baby Boy and 2 Fast 2 Furious. Benjamin, as the one domesticated Mercer, gives his character an appealing complexity. Hedlund has an underwritten part but brings an infectious boyish vigor to the role.
Howard, getting rave reviews for "Hustle & Flow," gives a steadiness to this less flamboyant role until the script makes him do something incredibly foolish. Ejiofor is as thoroughly repellent and unrepentant a villain as you could ask for.
A car chase and a daylight gunbattle are brilliantly executed, both flashbacks to an era when action meant stunts and not CGI. Similarly, the soundtrack is old school, ranging from Jefferson Airplane to Motown classics.
Cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr. and designer Keith Brian Burns give wintertime Detroit an appropriately chilly, inhospitable look with a lot of grays and whites -- and the occasional splash of blood red.
FOUR BROTHERS
Paramount Pictures
A di Bonaventura Pictures production
Credits:
Director: John Singleton
Screenwriters: David Elliot & Paul Lovett
Producer: Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Executive producers: Ric Kidney, Erik Howsam
Director of photography: Peter Menzies Jr.
Production designer: Keith Brian Burns
Music: David Arnold
Costumes: Ruth Carter
Editors: Bruce Cannon, Billy Fox
Cast:
Bobby: Mark Wahlberg
Angel: Tyrese Gibson
Jeremiah: Andre Benjamin
Jack: Garrett Hedlund
Lt. Green: Terrence Howard
Detective Fowler: Josh Charles
Sofi: Sofia Vergara
Evelyn Mercer: Fionnula Flanagan
Victor Sweet: Chiwetel Ejiofor
MPAA rating R
Running time -- 109 minutes...
- 8/25/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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