Last night, the 17th annual Visual Effects Society Awards were held. The gala represented a moment to honor some of the types of films that don’t usually get cited during the precursor season. Mostly, it’s an opportunity to see which movie or movies are the frontrunners in the Best Visual Effects category at the Oscars. Even beyond the Academy Awards, it’s just a perfect time to honor the craftsmen and craftswomen who do the sort of work that’s too often overlooked. So, even though the Academy voters are looking at this for one specific reason, there’s multiple reasons to take interest in the Ves results from yesterday. Below you can see all of the Ves victors, though leading the way was Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, with four wins each. The former actually took the top honor of the night, which is...
- 2/6/2019
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Ves Awards 2019: ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Win Top VFX Prizes
Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War” was the big VFX winner at the 17th annual Ves Awards Tuesday at the Beverly Hilton, grabbing four prizes, including photoreal feature. And Sony’s animated Oscar favorite, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” also scored four awards, including animated feature.
While it’s a significant momentum builder for “Infinity War” in its quest to be the first VFX Oscar winner for the McU (and first superhero winner since 2004’s “Spider-Man 2”), there still remains competition from Damien Chazelle’s “First Man,” which won the Ves supporting prize. However, “Infinity War” boasts the stronger CG wow factor in the form of the brilliantly animated Thanos (peformance-captured by Josh Brolin) from Digital Domain and Weta Digital.
“Infinity War” also took home honors for animated character (Thanos), simulations (Titan), and compositing (Titan). “Spider-Verse” additionally snagged animated character (Miles Morales), environment (Graphic New York City), and simulations.
On the TV side,...
While it’s a significant momentum builder for “Infinity War” in its quest to be the first VFX Oscar winner for the McU (and first superhero winner since 2004’s “Spider-Man 2”), there still remains competition from Damien Chazelle’s “First Man,” which won the Ves supporting prize. However, “Infinity War” boasts the stronger CG wow factor in the form of the brilliantly animated Thanos (peformance-captured by Josh Brolin) from Digital Domain and Weta Digital.
“Infinity War” also took home honors for animated character (Thanos), simulations (Titan), and compositing (Titan). “Spider-Verse” additionally snagged animated character (Miles Morales), environment (Graphic New York City), and simulations.
On the TV side,...
- 2/6/2019
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
It was a great night for Marvel at the 17th annual Visual Effects Society Awards on Tuesday night. The comic book publisher’s wares led the film fields, with “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” nabbing four wins apiece.
“Spider-Verse,” a dominant animated feature on the awards circuit this year, swept each of its categories. “Avengers” nearly did the same, dropping just one to Universal’s “Mortal Engines.”
“Ready Player One” received two prizes, while “First Man” picked up one. They join “Avengers: Infinity War,” along with “Christopher Robin” and “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” in the Academy’s Oscar lineup of visual effects nominees this year.
On the television side, Netflix’s “Lost in Space” dominated with four wins as well.
“Westworld” co-creator Jonathan Nolan received the Visual Effects Society’s Visionary Award, while “Game of Thrones” creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss accepted the organization’s...
“Spider-Verse,” a dominant animated feature on the awards circuit this year, swept each of its categories. “Avengers” nearly did the same, dropping just one to Universal’s “Mortal Engines.”
“Ready Player One” received two prizes, while “First Man” picked up one. They join “Avengers: Infinity War,” along with “Christopher Robin” and “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” in the Academy’s Oscar lineup of visual effects nominees this year.
On the television side, Netflix’s “Lost in Space” dominated with four wins as well.
“Westworld” co-creator Jonathan Nolan received the Visual Effects Society’s Visionary Award, while “Game of Thrones” creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss accepted the organization’s...
- 2/6/2019
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Variety Film + TV
The 17th annual Ves Awards are being handed out tonight at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, and Deadline will be live-blogging the affair and updating the winners list live. Patton Oswalt is hosting the Visual Effects Society’s gala, which celebrates the best VFX artistry and innovation in film, animation, TV, commercials and video games across 24 categories.
The winner of the Ves Award for Photoreal Feature has gone on to win the Visual Effects Oscar 10 of the 16 times it has been presented, but it hasn’t been much of a harbinger for the past half-decade or so. Last year the Ves Award went to War for the Planet of the Apes, while the Academy Award was claimed by Blade Runner 2049, as Roger Deakins won for the first time in his 14th nominations. The Jungle Book won both in 2017, but Ves and Oscar failed to match up in either of the previous two years.
The winner of the Ves Award for Photoreal Feature has gone on to win the Visual Effects Oscar 10 of the 16 times it has been presented, but it hasn’t been much of a harbinger for the past half-decade or so. Last year the Ves Award went to War for the Planet of the Apes, while the Academy Award was claimed by Blade Runner 2049, as Roger Deakins won for the first time in his 14th nominations. The Jungle Book won both in 2017, but Ves and Oscar failed to match up in either of the previous two years.
- 2/6/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Last night, the Visual Effects Society handed out their awards at their annual gathering. It was mainly a good night for The Jungle Book, which took the top prize, known as Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature. It beat back Doctor Strange, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, while at the Academy Awards, it’ll be up against Deepwater Horizon, Doctor Strange, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It was an expected win, but one that was eagerly awaited to try and figure out the Oscar category of Best Visual Effects. The Jungle Book ended up with five prizes in total, easily besting the rest of the bunch. As mentioned above, this top award ties directly into the Visual Effects category at the Oscars. Nine out of the...
- 2/8/2017
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
“The Jungle Book” is on its way to VFX Oscar gold after getting five Ves nods Tuesday night at the Beverly Hilton. “Rogue One,” the “Star Wars” standalone, however, came away empty-handed after receiving seven nominations.
Innovative Disney hybrid “The Jungle Book” won for outstanding feature, King Louie’s animated performance, virtual cinematography, effects simulations, and compositing.
Laika’s Oscar-nominated “Kubo and the Two Strings” earned VFX animation props, “Deepwater Horizon” took supporting VFX and model work for Industrial Light & Magic, and “Game of Thrones: Battle of the Bastards” continued its TV dominance.
Disney’s “Moana” grabbed two animation awards (created environment and simulations), Pixar won for Hank’s animated performance, and Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” won for its New York City environment
The Ves Visionary Award went to Victoria Alonso, producer and Marvel Studios Evp of physical production. Five-time Oscar winner Ken Ralston (“Return of the Jedi” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?...
Innovative Disney hybrid “The Jungle Book” won for outstanding feature, King Louie’s animated performance, virtual cinematography, effects simulations, and compositing.
Laika’s Oscar-nominated “Kubo and the Two Strings” earned VFX animation props, “Deepwater Horizon” took supporting VFX and model work for Industrial Light & Magic, and “Game of Thrones: Battle of the Bastards” continued its TV dominance.
Disney’s “Moana” grabbed two animation awards (created environment and simulations), Pixar won for Hank’s animated performance, and Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” won for its New York City environment
The Ves Visionary Award went to Victoria Alonso, producer and Marvel Studios Evp of physical production. Five-time Oscar winner Ken Ralston (“Return of the Jedi” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?...
- 2/8/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Where the Gilmore girls lead, we will follow.
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life; Winter reunited us with three generations of Gilmore women, each at their own crossroads in life, and each struggling with the gaping hole that has been left in their family with the passing of Richard Gilmore.
Did it meet our expectations? Did we love Paul? Who could we have used more time with?
Below, TV Fanatics Amanda Steinmetz, Allison Nichols and Ashley Bissette-Sumerel are joined by Elizabeth from the Gilmore Girls podcast Under the Floorboards and Tamar from The Shipping Room Podcast to discuss some of the the revival's best and worst moments!
We haven't seen Rory and Lorelai in nine years. Was A Year in the Life worth the wait? Did it meet your expectations?
Amanda: I think it was definitely worth the wait. I loved going back to Stars Hollow, a town mostly...
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life; Winter reunited us with three generations of Gilmore women, each at their own crossroads in life, and each struggling with the gaping hole that has been left in their family with the passing of Richard Gilmore.
Did it meet our expectations? Did we love Paul? Who could we have used more time with?
Below, TV Fanatics Amanda Steinmetz, Allison Nichols and Ashley Bissette-Sumerel are joined by Elizabeth from the Gilmore Girls podcast Under the Floorboards and Tamar from The Shipping Room Podcast to discuss some of the the revival's best and worst moments!
We haven't seen Rory and Lorelai in nine years. Was A Year in the Life worth the wait? Did it meet your expectations?
Amanda: I think it was definitely worth the wait. I loved going back to Stars Hollow, a town mostly...
- 11/30/2016
- by Christine Laskodi
- TVfanatic
From BAFTA to DGA, the Latest Winners this Awards Season
With the Oscars upon us, the awards season is almost over! But the last trek to the Academy Awards include many guild awards and of course, BAFTA! So here.s the latest congratulatory awards list of the winners from BAFTA to DGA, from Annie to Ace and everything in between!
Your full BAFTA winners (winners are highlighted):
Best Film
Birdman Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole
Boyhood Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland
The Grand Budapest Hotel Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson
The Imitation Game Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman
The Theory Of Everything Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten
Director
Birdman Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Boyhood Richard Linklater
The Grand Budapest Hotel Wes Anderson
The Theory Of Everything James Marsh
Whiplash Damien Chazelle
Leading Actor
Benedict Cumberbatch The Imitation Game
Eddie Redmayne The Theory of Everything...
With the Oscars upon us, the awards season is almost over! But the last trek to the Academy Awards include many guild awards and of course, BAFTA! So here.s the latest congratulatory awards list of the winners from BAFTA to DGA, from Annie to Ace and everything in between!
Your full BAFTA winners (winners are highlighted):
Best Film
Birdman Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole
Boyhood Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland
The Grand Budapest Hotel Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson
The Imitation Game Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman
The Theory Of Everything Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten
Director
Birdman Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Boyhood Richard Linklater
The Grand Budapest Hotel Wes Anderson
The Theory Of Everything James Marsh
Whiplash Damien Chazelle
Leading Actor
Benedict Cumberbatch The Imitation Game
Eddie Redmayne The Theory of Everything...
- 2/9/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Visual Effects Society has announced the winners of the 13th Annual Ves Awards.
Comedian Patton Oswalt served as host to the more than 1000 guests gathered at the Beverly Hilton to celebrate VFX talent in 23 awards categories.
Big Hero 6 was the big winner of the evening garnering five awards. The teams from Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (feature film), Game of Thrones (broadcast) and Sse (commercial) led the wins in their respective categories, taking home three awards each.
Zoe Saldana made a crowd-pleasing presentation to her Star Trek: Into Darkness director, award-winning writer-director-producer J.J. Abrams, recipient of the Ves Visionary Award.
Winners of the 13th Annual Ves Awards are as follows:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Joe Letteri
Ryan Stafford
Matt Kutcher
Dan Lemmon
Hannah Bianchini
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects...
Comedian Patton Oswalt served as host to the more than 1000 guests gathered at the Beverly Hilton to celebrate VFX talent in 23 awards categories.
Big Hero 6 was the big winner of the evening garnering five awards. The teams from Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (feature film), Game of Thrones (broadcast) and Sse (commercial) led the wins in their respective categories, taking home three awards each.
Zoe Saldana made a crowd-pleasing presentation to her Star Trek: Into Darkness director, award-winning writer-director-producer J.J. Abrams, recipient of the Ves Visionary Award.
Winners of the 13th Annual Ves Awards are as follows:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Joe Letteri
Ryan Stafford
Matt Kutcher
Dan Lemmon
Hannah Bianchini
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects...
- 2/5/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The 42nd Annual Annie Awards were handed out on a busy Saturday night in the awards world and "How To Train Your Dragon 2" was the big winner. The DreamWorks Animation blockbuster (it's true) took home six Annies including Best Animated Feature and Directing (Dean DeBlois). While the entire Academy votes on the Best Animated Feature category, this endorsement from the animation community can't hurt in a very competitive year. Other big winners included "The Simpsons," Amazon's "Tumble Leaf" and Oscar frontrunner "Feast" for the Best Animated Short Subject honor. "The Boxtrolls'" Sir Ben Kingsley took home the award for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production and Phil Lord and Christoper Miller won for Writing in an Animated Feature for "The Lego Movie." A complete list of this year's honorees is as follows: Best Animated Feature "How to Train Your Dragon 2," DreamWorks Animation Directing in an Animated Feature Production Dean DeBlois,...
- 2/1/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
The Visual Effects Society has announced the nominations for the 13th Annual Ves awards "the prestigious yearly celebration that recognizes outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in film, animation, television, commercials and video games and the VFX supervisors, VFX producers and hands-on-the-keys artists who bring this work to life."
Ves members selected the nominees and Laika's "The Boxtrolls," Disney's "Big Hero 6," and Fox's "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" topped the nominations receiving 5 nods each.
The Visual Effects Society (Ves) is a global professional honorary society and the entertainment industry's only organization representing the full breadth of visual effects practitioners including artists, technologists, model makers, educators, studio executives, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers. Ves. almost 3,000 members in 33 countries worldwide contribute to all areas of entertainment . film, television, commercials, animation, music videos, games and new media. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Ves has member Sections in Australia, Bay Area (CA), London,...
Ves members selected the nominees and Laika's "The Boxtrolls," Disney's "Big Hero 6," and Fox's "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" topped the nominations receiving 5 nods each.
The Visual Effects Society (Ves) is a global professional honorary society and the entertainment industry's only organization representing the full breadth of visual effects practitioners including artists, technologists, model makers, educators, studio executives, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers. Ves. almost 3,000 members in 33 countries worldwide contribute to all areas of entertainment . film, television, commercials, animation, music videos, games and new media. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Ves has member Sections in Australia, Bay Area (CA), London,...
- 1/14/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Visual Effects Society has announced the nominees for its 13th Annual Ves Awards, which recognize outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in film, animation, television, commercials and video games. Among the nominees — Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, Guardians of the Galaxy, Interstellar, Maleficent, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies and X-Men: Days Of Future Past – for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture. The awards will be held February 4 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. See the complete list below.
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Joe Letteri
Ryan Stafford
Matt Kutcher
Dan Lemmon
Hannah Blanchini
Guardians of the Galaxy
Stephane Ceretti
Susan Pickett
Jonathan Fawkner
Nicolas Aithadi
Paul Corbould
Interstellar
Paul Franklin
Kevin Elam
Ann Podlozny
Andrew Lockley
Scott Fisher
Maleficent
Carey Villegas...
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Joe Letteri
Ryan Stafford
Matt Kutcher
Dan Lemmon
Hannah Blanchini
Guardians of the Galaxy
Stephane Ceretti
Susan Pickett
Jonathan Fawkner
Nicolas Aithadi
Paul Corbould
Interstellar
Paul Franklin
Kevin Elam
Ann Podlozny
Andrew Lockley
Scott Fisher
Maleficent
Carey Villegas...
- 1/13/2015
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
Yay! One of my favorite animated films of 2014 topped the recently announced 2014 Annie Awards honoring excellence in the field of animation. Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi's "The Boxtrolls" received 12 nominations including Best Animated Feature. The winners will be announced at a black tie ceremony on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at UCLA.s Royce Hall. For more information on the Annie Awards, click here.
Here's the full list of nominees for the 2015 Annie Awards
Production Categories
Best Animated Feature
Big Hero 6 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Cheatin' - Plymptoons Studio
How to Train Your Dragon 2 - DreamWorks Animation
Song of the Sea - Gkids/Cartoon Saloon
The Book of Life - Reel FX
The Boxtrolls - Focus Features/Laika
The Lego Movie -Warner Bros. Pictures
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya - Gkids/Studio Ghibli
Best Animated Special Production
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey - Voyager Pictures LLC
Dawn of the...
Here's the full list of nominees for the 2015 Annie Awards
Production Categories
Best Animated Feature
Big Hero 6 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Cheatin' - Plymptoons Studio
How to Train Your Dragon 2 - DreamWorks Animation
Song of the Sea - Gkids/Cartoon Saloon
The Book of Life - Reel FX
The Boxtrolls - Focus Features/Laika
The Lego Movie -Warner Bros. Pictures
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya - Gkids/Studio Ghibli
Best Animated Special Production
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey - Voyager Pictures LLC
Dawn of the...
- 12/1/2014
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Monday morning, the International Animated Film Society, Asifa-Hollywood, announced nominations today for its 42nd Annual Annie Awards, recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. Leading the pack with 13 nominations, including a nod for Best Animated Feature, is Laika Animation's "The Boxtrolls." Dreamworks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon 2" followed with 10 nominations, joining "Boxtrolls" in the Character Animation, Animation Effects, and Best Feature categories. Rounding out the organization's big prize are "Big Hero 6" (seven nominations), "Cheatin'" (three), "Song of the Sea" (seven), "The Book of Life" (five), "The Lego Movie" (six), and "The Tale of Kaguya" (three). The Annie Awards also announced nominations in TV, video game and short subject categories. “We had a steady increase in submissions this year and I am excited to say it’s going to be a great awards ceremony,” remarked Asifa-Hollywood Executive Director, Frank Gladstone. “We added a new category...
- 12/1/2014
- by Matt Patches
- Hitfix
Big Hero 6, Cheatin’, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Song Of The Sea, The Book Of Life, The Boxtrolls, The Lego Movie and The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya have been nominated in the top category for the International Animated Film Society, Asifa-Hollywood’s 42nd annual Annie Awards. The Annies cover 36 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Special Production, Commercials, Short Subjects and Outstanding Individual Achievements. The winners will be announced January 31 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Here’s the full list of noms:
Best Animated Feature
Big Hero 6
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Cheatin’
Plymptoons Studio
How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
Song of the Sea
Gkids/Cartoon Saloon
The Book of Life
Reel FX
The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
The Lego Movie
Warner Bros. Pictures
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Gkids/Studio Ghibli
Best Animated Special Production
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
Voyager...
Best Animated Feature
Big Hero 6
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Cheatin’
Plymptoons Studio
How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
Song of the Sea
Gkids/Cartoon Saloon
The Book of Life
Reel FX
The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
The Lego Movie
Warner Bros. Pictures
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Gkids/Studio Ghibli
Best Animated Special Production
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
Voyager...
- 12/1/2014
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline
If The Following‘s Season 1 finale left you slack-jawed with more than a few burning questions, don’t fret! TVLine was right there with you, and we tracked down the Fox drama’s executive producer Marcos Siega for some answers.
Here, one of the brains behind the series discusses whether or not Joe Carroll truly met his demise, how some dearly departed faces might pop up again next year, what a “very different” Season 2 has in store and much more.
Tvline | Can you definitively say that Joe is dead?
I’ve been getting text messages all morning from friends and family,...
Here, one of the brains behind the series discusses whether or not Joe Carroll truly met his demise, how some dearly departed faces might pop up again next year, what a “very different” Season 2 has in store and much more.
Tvline | Can you definitively say that Joe is dead?
I’ve been getting text messages all morning from friends and family,...
- 4/30/2013
- by Megan Masters
- TVLine.com
Los Angeles -- Southern California residents worked to stay warm and growers in the Central Valley fought to protect citrus crops from overnight lows as a regional cold snap entered another day Monday.
Alerts predicting freezing temperatures and frost that started late last week were becoming familiar in much of the state, with new high wind warnings in place for the mountains around Los Angeles.
In Hollywood, film fans brought heavy coats and scarves as they waited along the red carpet hoping to catch glimpses of stars arriving for the Golden Globes ceremony Sunday evening. Some of the actors shivered but they weren't complaining.
"I'd rather be nippy than boiling hot," said actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who arrived in a strapless dress. "No, I'm not wearing any leggings or long underwear."
Farmers hoped for another night of successful crop protection, as they ran wind machines and water to shield their fruit.
Alerts predicting freezing temperatures and frost that started late last week were becoming familiar in much of the state, with new high wind warnings in place for the mountains around Los Angeles.
In Hollywood, film fans brought heavy coats and scarves as they waited along the red carpet hoping to catch glimpses of stars arriving for the Golden Globes ceremony Sunday evening. Some of the actors shivered but they weren't complaining.
"I'd rather be nippy than boiling hot," said actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who arrived in a strapless dress. "No, I'm not wearing any leggings or long underwear."
Farmers hoped for another night of successful crop protection, as they ran wind machines and water to shield their fruit.
- 1/14/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Screened
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- If director Ernest Dickerson and writer James Gibson (adapting a story by cult novelist Donald Goines) missed a cliche of the urban gangster genre in "Never Die Alone", it wasn't for lack of effort. Inspiring walkouts at a festival where virtually no one walks out, "Never Die Alone" will do exactly that by its second weekend.
Routinely but unconvincingly directed by Dickerson, the movie possesses not a single character with the brains to get through a day without creating a huge mess. The hopelessly contrived plot has heavy-drinking white writer Paul (David Arquette), living in downtown Los Angeles to "research" his tales from the dark side of life, witness a brutal knife attack outside his favorite bar on a much-hated drug dealer named King David (DMX). For absolutely no reason, Paul climbs into the dying man's car and rushes him to the hospital.
We are next asked to believe the dead man's last act was to bequeath to Paul his car, which contains stacks of drug money and audiotapes of him reciting the sorry story of his crimes and murders. While Paul listens to these tapes -- and we witness David Life's in flashbacks -- hoods ruled by drug kingpin Blue (Antwon Tanner) set out to eliminate not only Mike (Michael Ealy), the knucklehead who finished off David, but also Paul.
As we watch David Life's unfold, we learn that when not selling drugs, he amused himself by enslaving his lovers to drugs by sneaking heroin into their cocaine. If a girlfriend threatened to go to the police, he made certain she went nowhere. The pattern began a decade before on the East Coast with Edna (Keesha Sharp) and continues in Los Angeles, first with TV actress Janet (Jennifer Sky) and then college student Juanita (Reagan Gomez-Preston).
The actors tear into each scene with terrific energy, but these roles are so hollow that it might have been better if at least one or two chilled. Arquette is lost in this nonsensical role, but who could make sense of such an idiot? DMX struts through the movie like the rap star he is. Ealy manages to convey a modicum of introspection, but given what is later revealed about his past, his hotheaded approach to a man he detests seems like very poor judgment.
Matthew Libatique's gritty, kinetic cinematography gamely tries to convince us that "Never Die Alone" lies within the rich tradition of film noir. Alas, this is just film ugly. At the end of the movie, when an editor finally gets a look at Paul Story's about King David, he slams the manuscript shut and says, "I don't believe a word". Amen to that.
NEVER DIE ALONE
Fox Searchlight
Fox Searchlight and ContentFilm present a Bloodline Films productionin association with White Orchid Films
Credits:
Director: Ernest Dickerson
Screenwriter: James Gibson
Based on the novel by: Donald Goines
Producers: Alessandro Camon, Earl Simmons
Executive producers: Edward R. Pressman, John Schmidt, Angelo A. Ellerbee, Rudy "Kato" Rangel, Marc Gerald, Dion Fearon, Cameron Casey
Director of photography: Matthew Libatique
Production designer: Christiaan Wagener
Music: George Duke
Costume designer: Marie France
Editor: Stephen Lovejoy
Cast:
King David: DMX
Mike: Michael Ealy
Paul: David Arquette
Blue: Antwon Tanner
Edna II: Drew Sidora
Moon: Clifton Powell
Jasper: Luenell Campbell
Janet: Jennifer Sky
Juanita: Reagan Gomez-Preston
Running time -- 89 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- If director Ernest Dickerson and writer James Gibson (adapting a story by cult novelist Donald Goines) missed a cliche of the urban gangster genre in "Never Die Alone", it wasn't for lack of effort. Inspiring walkouts at a festival where virtually no one walks out, "Never Die Alone" will do exactly that by its second weekend.
Routinely but unconvincingly directed by Dickerson, the movie possesses not a single character with the brains to get through a day without creating a huge mess. The hopelessly contrived plot has heavy-drinking white writer Paul (David Arquette), living in downtown Los Angeles to "research" his tales from the dark side of life, witness a brutal knife attack outside his favorite bar on a much-hated drug dealer named King David (DMX). For absolutely no reason, Paul climbs into the dying man's car and rushes him to the hospital.
We are next asked to believe the dead man's last act was to bequeath to Paul his car, which contains stacks of drug money and audiotapes of him reciting the sorry story of his crimes and murders. While Paul listens to these tapes -- and we witness David Life's in flashbacks -- hoods ruled by drug kingpin Blue (Antwon Tanner) set out to eliminate not only Mike (Michael Ealy), the knucklehead who finished off David, but also Paul.
As we watch David Life's unfold, we learn that when not selling drugs, he amused himself by enslaving his lovers to drugs by sneaking heroin into their cocaine. If a girlfriend threatened to go to the police, he made certain she went nowhere. The pattern began a decade before on the East Coast with Edna (Keesha Sharp) and continues in Los Angeles, first with TV actress Janet (Jennifer Sky) and then college student Juanita (Reagan Gomez-Preston).
The actors tear into each scene with terrific energy, but these roles are so hollow that it might have been better if at least one or two chilled. Arquette is lost in this nonsensical role, but who could make sense of such an idiot? DMX struts through the movie like the rap star he is. Ealy manages to convey a modicum of introspection, but given what is later revealed about his past, his hotheaded approach to a man he detests seems like very poor judgment.
Matthew Libatique's gritty, kinetic cinematography gamely tries to convince us that "Never Die Alone" lies within the rich tradition of film noir. Alas, this is just film ugly. At the end of the movie, when an editor finally gets a look at Paul Story's about King David, he slams the manuscript shut and says, "I don't believe a word". Amen to that.
NEVER DIE ALONE
Fox Searchlight
Fox Searchlight and ContentFilm present a Bloodline Films productionin association with White Orchid Films
Credits:
Director: Ernest Dickerson
Screenwriter: James Gibson
Based on the novel by: Donald Goines
Producers: Alessandro Camon, Earl Simmons
Executive producers: Edward R. Pressman, John Schmidt, Angelo A. Ellerbee, Rudy "Kato" Rangel, Marc Gerald, Dion Fearon, Cameron Casey
Director of photography: Matthew Libatique
Production designer: Christiaan Wagener
Music: George Duke
Costume designer: Marie France
Editor: Stephen Lovejoy
Cast:
King David: DMX
Mike: Michael Ealy
Paul: David Arquette
Blue: Antwon Tanner
Edna II: Drew Sidora
Moon: Clifton Powell
Jasper: Luenell Campbell
Janet: Jennifer Sky
Juanita: Reagan Gomez-Preston
Running time -- 89 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 2/18/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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