Director Renny Harlin's career is fascinating. The Finnish filmmaker grew up loving Hollywood movies and later managed to insert himself into that very industry, making a slew of successful '80s and '90s movies from "The Long Kiss Goodnight" to "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master." More recently, however, his output has been a little more uneven.
Last year, Harlin's Pierce Brosnan-starring film "The Misfits" made a surprise comeback on Netflix. I say a "surprise" because "The Misfits" did not fare well at the box office when it was first released in 2021, and despite Harlin's efforts to rekindle the magic of his '90s actioners, simply functioned, according to critic Chris Bumbray, as "ad for Abu Dhabi tourism." Thankfully, the man who gave us such classics as "Die Hard 2" and "Cliffhanger" has not simply been reduced to churning out streaming movies that desperately...
Last year, Harlin's Pierce Brosnan-starring film "The Misfits" made a surprise comeback on Netflix. I say a "surprise" because "The Misfits" did not fare well at the box office when it was first released in 2021, and despite Harlin's efforts to rekindle the magic of his '90s actioners, simply functioned, according to critic Chris Bumbray, as "ad for Abu Dhabi tourism." Thankfully, the man who gave us such classics as "Die Hard 2" and "Cliffhanger" has not simply been reduced to churning out streaming movies that desperately...
- 4/18/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Earlier this month, The Bricklayer, the latest action film from Cliffhanger and The Long Kiss Goodnight director Renny Harlin, was given a theatrical, On Demand, and Digital release. We’ve previously shared interviews with the film’s stars Aaron Eckhart and Nina Dobrev, and now JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray has sat down for an interview with Harlin himself! The primary focus of this interview is The Bricklayer, of course, but it also branches out with mentions of other Harlin projects like The Long Kiss Goodnight and Deep Blue Sea. You can check it out in the embed above.
Bumbray really enjoyed The Bricklayer, giving the film a 7/10 review you can read at This Link. If you’d like to watch the movie, you can do so on Amazon.
Based on a bestselling book by former FBI agent Noah Boyd (aka Paul Lindsay), The Bricklayer has the following synopsis: A...
Bumbray really enjoyed The Bricklayer, giving the film a 7/10 review you can read at This Link. If you’d like to watch the movie, you can do so on Amazon.
Based on a bestselling book by former FBI agent Noah Boyd (aka Paul Lindsay), The Bricklayer has the following synopsis: A...
- 1/22/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Published in 2010 by Noah Boyd, aka real life retired FBI agent Paul Lindsay, who would go on to pen a sequel before his death from leukaemia in 2011, The Bricklayer is an espionage thriller which quickly attracted the interest of a number of filmmakers. it eventually fell into the hands on Renny Herlin which is fortunate because although it sticks closely to formula for most of its running time, it is at least delivered with flair. The dialogue is terrible but it has enough energy and spirit to entertain many viewers nonetheless.
It centres on former special agent Steve Vail (Aaron Eckhart), who is known as ‘the Bricklayer’ for the unusually sensible reason that when he’s not jetting around the world unravelling conspiracies and foiling assassins, he earns his crust on building sites. It also seems fitting because Eckhart has a face that looks a bit like a brick and.
It centres on former special agent Steve Vail (Aaron Eckhart), who is known as ‘the Bricklayer’ for the unusually sensible reason that when he’s not jetting around the world unravelling conspiracies and foiling assassins, he earns his crust on building sites. It also seems fitting because Eckhart has a face that looks a bit like a brick and.
- 1/17/2024
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Plot: Steve Vail (Aaron Eckhart), a retired CIA agent who now works as a bricklayer, is called out of retirement to kill a former asset (Clifton Collins Jr) who’s gone rogue.
Review: Never underestimate the appeal of a fun B-action movie. When done right, a fast-paced shoot-em-up can be just the tonic to cleanse the palate after a season of awards fare. Renny Harlin’s movie isn’t going to win any awards, but it’s a slickly assembled action flick that’s well-shot, and offers star Aaron Eckhart one of his best action roles to date.
His character, Steve Vail, is the hero of a series of novels written by the late Paul Lindsay under the name Noah Boyd. If this does well enough on VOD and digital, I could see it turning into a solid series for Eckhart, who’s perfect as the conscience-stricken former CIA agent.
Review: Never underestimate the appeal of a fun B-action movie. When done right, a fast-paced shoot-em-up can be just the tonic to cleanse the palate after a season of awards fare. Renny Harlin’s movie isn’t going to win any awards, but it’s a slickly assembled action flick that’s well-shot, and offers star Aaron Eckhart one of his best action roles to date.
His character, Steve Vail, is the hero of a series of novels written by the late Paul Lindsay under the name Noah Boyd. If this does well enough on VOD and digital, I could see it turning into a solid series for Eckhart, who’s perfect as the conscience-stricken former CIA agent.
- 1/9/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: The Renny Harlin action thriller The Bricklayer, starring Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) and Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries), has been picked up by Vertical for a day-and-date release in the U.S. early next year.
An adaptation of the same-name novel by former FBI agent Paul Lindsay — who used the pen name Noah Boyd — the film also stars Clifton Collins Jr. (Westworld), Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), and Ilfenesh Hadera (Billions). The story is that of a rogue insurgent blackmailing the CIA by assassinating foreign journalists and making it appear the agency is responsible. As other nations begin turning against the U.S., the CIA must lure Steve Vail (Eckhart) — their most brilliant and rebellious operative — out of retirement. With an elite and deadly skill set, Vail is tasked with helping clear the agency’s name, forcing him to confront his checkered past while unraveling an international conspiracy.
An adaptation of the same-name novel by former FBI agent Paul Lindsay — who used the pen name Noah Boyd — the film also stars Clifton Collins Jr. (Westworld), Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), and Ilfenesh Hadera (Billions). The story is that of a rogue insurgent blackmailing the CIA by assassinating foreign journalists and making it appear the agency is responsible. As other nations begin turning against the U.S., the CIA must lure Steve Vail (Eckhart) — their most brilliant and rebellious operative — out of retirement. With an elite and deadly skill set, Vail is tasked with helping clear the agency’s name, forcing him to confront his checkered past while unraveling an international conspiracy.
- 10/25/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Paul Lindsay was a former FBI agent and Vietnam veteran who sought to utilize his investigative and military expertise in creating a series of espionage novels, published under the pseudonym Noah Boyd. Unfortunately, that effort only got as far as a second volume before Lindsay died of leukemia in 2011. The first one has been in feature development since that year, initially as a vehicle for Gerard Butler. It’s Aaron Eckhart instead who assumes the mantle of Jack Reacher-like hero Steve Vail in “The Bricklayer,” a screen translation that appears to take considerable liberties with the source material, likely to take advantage of locations and resources afforded by its multinational funding.
The result, largely set in Greece, is an entertaining thriller that constitutes one of globe-trotting director Renny Harlin’s better recent joints, alongside Chinese productions “Bodies at Rest” and “Skiptrace.” Handled in his best slick, colorful, fast-paced fashion, it...
The result, largely set in Greece, is an entertaining thriller that constitutes one of globe-trotting director Renny Harlin’s better recent joints, alongside Chinese productions “Bodies at Rest” and “Skiptrace.” Handled in his best slick, colorful, fast-paced fashion, it...
- 1/3/2023
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
These next several weeks are going to be absolutely loaded with brand new horror, and this week alone brings 11 new movies to the table as we make our way into the month of October.
This week’s new releases include brand new theatrical horror as well as the sequel to a beloved Halloween favorite and even a new take on a classic TV series from an unlikely source.
Here’s all the new horror arriving September 27-October 2, 2022!
First up, Rob Zombie‘s The Munsters comes to Blu-ray, VOD and Netflix on Tuesday, September 27, a fresh – and colorful – new take on the classic black & white television series.
Jeff Daniel Phillips is playing Herman Munster and Sheri Moon Zombie is playing Lily Munster in Zombie’s movie, with Daniel Roebuck co-starring as Grandpa Munster.
In the brand new movie, “Herman and Lily’s crazy courtship takes The Munsters on a hauntingly hilarious...
This week’s new releases include brand new theatrical horror as well as the sequel to a beloved Halloween favorite and even a new take on a classic TV series from an unlikely source.
Here’s all the new horror arriving September 27-October 2, 2022!
First up, Rob Zombie‘s The Munsters comes to Blu-ray, VOD and Netflix on Tuesday, September 27, a fresh – and colorful – new take on the classic black & white television series.
Jeff Daniel Phillips is playing Herman Munster and Sheri Moon Zombie is playing Lily Munster in Zombie’s movie, with Daniel Roebuck co-starring as Grandpa Munster.
In the brand new movie, “Herman and Lily’s crazy courtship takes The Munsters on a hauntingly hilarious...
- 9/26/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Fund-raising Wonder Woman screenings to benefit families of those affected.
More than a dozen cinema sites in the Greater Manchester region are banding together to raise funds for the victims of last week’s terror attack in the city.
The attack, which claimed the lives of 22 people, took place at Manchester Arena during a pop concert.
Companies including Odeon, Cineworld, Vue, Showcase, Empire, The Light, Reel and AMC Cinemas will all hold fund-raising screenings of the latest DC comic book film Wonder Woman on June 5.
All ticket proceeds will go towards the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, set up by the Red Cross in the aftermath of last week’s events.
Distributor Warner Bros is also offering up its share of box office income from the screenings.
In addition, the two screen advertising agencies, Dcm and Pearl & Dean, will donate their advertising revenue to the cause.
The idea was instigated by AMC Manchester. That venue’s...
More than a dozen cinema sites in the Greater Manchester region are banding together to raise funds for the victims of last week’s terror attack in the city.
The attack, which claimed the lives of 22 people, took place at Manchester Arena during a pop concert.
Companies including Odeon, Cineworld, Vue, Showcase, Empire, The Light, Reel and AMC Cinemas will all hold fund-raising screenings of the latest DC comic book film Wonder Woman on June 5.
All ticket proceeds will go towards the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, set up by the Red Cross in the aftermath of last week’s events.
Distributor Warner Bros is also offering up its share of box office income from the screenings.
In addition, the two screen advertising agencies, Dcm and Pearl & Dean, will donate their advertising revenue to the cause.
The idea was instigated by AMC Manchester. That venue’s...
- 6/1/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
The Bricklayer – an adaptation of Noah Boyd’s novel of the same name and the first project to be put together by Millennium Films since Mark Gill assumed the role of president – has cast Gerard Butler as its protagonist; he will play an ex-fbi agent named Steve Vail.
Currently working as a bricklayer, Vail is called back into the service when a criminal group starts demanding ever-increasing multi-million dollar ransom payments. Paired with an as-yet-uncast female deputy director, Butler is tasked with tracking down and combating the criminal organisation.
Boyd – a pseudonym used by former FBI agent turned author Paul Lindsay – saw The Bricklayer published last year; the novel is currently being adapted by Enigma’s Hanna Weg, who will also serve as executive producer.
THR broke it.
Currently working as a bricklayer, Vail is called back into the service when a criminal group starts demanding ever-increasing multi-million dollar ransom payments. Paired with an as-yet-uncast female deputy director, Butler is tasked with tracking down and combating the criminal organisation.
Boyd – a pseudonym used by former FBI agent turned author Paul Lindsay – saw The Bricklayer published last year; the novel is currently being adapted by Enigma’s Hanna Weg, who will also serve as executive producer.
THR broke it.
- 8/12/2011
- by Steven Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Gerard Butler is attached to star in Millenium Films' adaptation of Noah Boyd's best-selling novel "The Bricklayer."According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hanna Weg will adapt the screenplay.Noah Boyd is a pseudonym used by former FBI agent Paul Lindsay.Butler, Alan Siegel and Danielle Robinson will produce.The film centers on a former FBI agent named Steve Vail (Butler) working in Chicago as a bricklayer, who is asked by his old bosses to assist in tracking down a criminal organization.No director is attached to the film yet.Butler will be seen in the upcoming films "Coriolanus" and "Machine Gun Preacher."...
- 8/10/2011
- by Adnan Tezer
- Monsters and Critics
We've got a diverse set of projects on which to report in this latest casting break: a political prestige project, a more routine-sounding thriller, and a dark comedy with quite a good pedigree. After the break, you'll find: Brit Marling seems to have settled on Robert Redford's The Company You Keep as her next big role, Gerard Butler will play a rogue former FBI agent in The Bricklayer, and Natasha Lyonne joins Kristen Wiig's passion project, Imogene. Last week we heard that a few different directors have been courting Brit Marling (a new Sundance sensation thanks to Another Earth and Sound of Your Voice) for new films. Looks like the winner might be Robert Redford, as Variety [1] reports that the actress is about to sign on to his new film, The Company You Keep. Scripted by Lem Dobbs based on the Neil Gordon of the same name, The Company You Keep...
- 8/9/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
He’s been a law-abiding citizen, a machine gun preacher, and how he’s about to tackle his hardest part yet — Gerard Butler is … The Bricklayer! Okay, so maybe that title doesn’t actually sound all that fierce, but the plot defies the tame-sounding title, with Butler attached to play one of those “rogue” former FBI agents who is working as a Chicago bricklayer, when he’s called back into service by his old bosses “to help battle a criminal group that is demanding an escalating series of multi-million dollar ransom payments” or else they’ll go around knocking off victims. The bad guys are called Rubaco Pentad; I don’t know what that means, but it sounds kinda cool. The movie, to be produced by Millennium Films, will be based on the book of the same name by real-life former FBI agent Paul Lindsay, writing under the pseudonym Noah Boyd,...
- 8/9/2011
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: Gerard Butler has been making a number of wise choices in terms of upcoming roles. We’re anxious to see him in Marc Forster’s “Machine Gun Preacher” and Ralph Fiennes’ “Coriolanus,” both due out later this year.
Now we’re learning that Butler is attaching himself to “The Bricklayer,” an adaptation of a best-selling novel penned by former FBI agent Paul Lindsay. THR reports that Butler would play “a rogue former agent who’s called in to help battle a criminal group that is demanding an escalating series of multi-million dollar ransom payments.”
The title comes from the fact that the main character has taken a job as a bricklayer in his retirement, but is called back into action when the FBI encounters an adversary they can’t handle. THR says there’s also a role for a female deputy director at the FBI,...
Hollywoodnews.com: Gerard Butler has been making a number of wise choices in terms of upcoming roles. We’re anxious to see him in Marc Forster’s “Machine Gun Preacher” and Ralph Fiennes’ “Coriolanus,” both due out later this year.
Now we’re learning that Butler is attaching himself to “The Bricklayer,” an adaptation of a best-selling novel penned by former FBI agent Paul Lindsay. THR reports that Butler would play “a rogue former agent who’s called in to help battle a criminal group that is demanding an escalating series of multi-million dollar ransom payments.”
The title comes from the fact that the main character has taken a job as a bricklayer in his retirement, but is called back into action when the FBI encounters an adversary they can’t handle. THR says there’s also a role for a female deputy director at the FBI,...
- 8/9/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
Gerard Butler is shelving his role as a rom-com hero, for a little while anyway, to star in a FBI thriller entitled, The Bricklayer.
The 300 actor has signed up to star in the adaptation of Noah Boyd’s novel of the same name.
Boyd is actually a pseudonym used by former FBI agent Paul Lindsay when the book was published early last year.
Butler will be playing a rogue former FBI agent who quit rather than compromise his rigid personal code and is now working as a bricklayer.
When a criminal group starts demanding an escalating series of multi-million dollar ransom payments to save the lives of high-profile victims, he is called upon to help stop the group.
The plot also involves a female deputy director who is assigned to work alongside him – a role that has yet to be cast.
The script is currently being adapted by Enigma writer Hanna Weg,...
The 300 actor has signed up to star in the adaptation of Noah Boyd’s novel of the same name.
Boyd is actually a pseudonym used by former FBI agent Paul Lindsay when the book was published early last year.
Butler will be playing a rogue former FBI agent who quit rather than compromise his rigid personal code and is now working as a bricklayer.
When a criminal group starts demanding an escalating series of multi-million dollar ransom payments to save the lives of high-profile victims, he is called upon to help stop the group.
The plot also involves a female deputy director who is assigned to work alongside him – a role that has yet to be cast.
The script is currently being adapted by Enigma writer Hanna Weg,...
- 8/9/2011
- by editorial@lovefilm.com (Amelia Rosenthal)
- LOVEFiLM
Gerard Butler, last seen chasing Jennifer Aniston in The Bounty Hunter, returned to more serious fare by boarding the FBI thriller The Bricklayer for Millennium Films. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Butler signed on to play former FBI agent Steve Vail, who leaves behind his new job as a Chicago bricklayer to help the FBI capture a criminal gang involved in a deadly extortion scheme. Hanna Weg started work adapting the 2010 Noah Boyd (the pseudonym for former FBI agent Paul Lindsay) novel for the screen with Millennium president Mark Gill and Millennium colleagues Boaz Davidson and John Thompson managing the film.
- 8/9/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Gerard Butler, last seen chasing Jennifer Aniston in The Bounty Hunter, returned to more serious fare by boarding the FBI thriller The Bricklayer for Millennium Films. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Butler signed on to play former FBI agent Steve Vail, who leaves behind his new job as a Chicago bricklayer to help the FBI capture a criminal gang involved in a deadly extortion scheme. Hanna Weg started work adapting the 2010 Noah Boyd (the pseudonym for former FBI agent Paul Lindsay) novel for the screen with Millennium president Mark Gill and Millennium colleagues Boaz Davidson and John Thompson managing the film.
- 8/9/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Gerard Butler, last seen chasing Jennifer Aniston in The Bounty Hunter, returned to more serious fare by boarding the FBI thriller The Bricklayer for Millennium Films. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Butler signed on to play former FBI agent Steve Vail, who leaves behind his new job as a Chicago bricklayer to help the FBI capture a criminal gang involved in a deadly extortion scheme. Hanna Weg started work adapting the 2010 Noah Boyd (the pseudonym for former FBI agent Paul Lindsay) novel for the screen with Millennium president Mark Gill and Millennium colleagues Boaz Davidson and John Thompson managing the film.
- 8/9/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Gerard Butler is gonna take a bite out of crime as he's signed on to play a retired FBI agent brought back into the field in "The Bricklayer," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"The Bricklayer," based on the novel by Noah Boyd, follows a former G-man now working as a Chicago bricklayer as he's called back into service to help battle a criminal group that's demanding an escalating series of multi-million dollar ransom payments.
"Noah Boyd" is actually a pseudonym for actual retired FBI agent Paul Lindsay, so expect a sense of hard-edged realism with this one. Hanna Weg ("Enigma") will be adapting the screenplay, with Butler set as one of the film's producers as well. No director is attached yet.
Gerard Butler is probably best known for frequently screaming about Sparta in his role as King Leonidas in "300." His career has stumbled a bit since then with some pretty...
"The Bricklayer," based on the novel by Noah Boyd, follows a former G-man now working as a Chicago bricklayer as he's called back into service to help battle a criminal group that's demanding an escalating series of multi-million dollar ransom payments.
"Noah Boyd" is actually a pseudonym for actual retired FBI agent Paul Lindsay, so expect a sense of hard-edged realism with this one. Hanna Weg ("Enigma") will be adapting the screenplay, with Butler set as one of the film's producers as well. No director is attached yet.
Gerard Butler is probably best known for frequently screaming about Sparta in his role as King Leonidas in "300." His career has stumbled a bit since then with some pretty...
- 8/9/2011
- by Bryan Enk
- NextMovie
No, Gerard Butler hasn’t decided that acting in dodgy rom coms is such a gruelling experience that he wants to give up the acting lark and switch to life on a building site: he’s signed on to star in the adaptation of thriller novel The Bricklayer.Written by former FBI agent Paul Lindsay – who publishes under the name Noah Boyd – The Bricklayer features a rogue former bureau-man-turned-construction type who is called him by his ex-colleagues to help stop a criminal group that is demanding increasingly high series of ransom payments. He works alongside a female deputy director of the FBI, and that part will no doubt be handed to some big-name actress. Hopefully not Katherine Heigl or Jennifer Aniston…Millenium Films nabbed the rights to the book, which hit the shelves early last year. Enigma screenwriter Hanna Weg has been hired to pen the adaptation. There’s no...
- 8/9/2011
- EmpireOnline
Where exactly do you place Gerard Butler on the Scale of Badass? Sure the guy has movies like 300 and Rocknrolla under his belt, but romantic comedies like The Bounty Hunter and The Ugly Truth have taken him down a few notches. Butler is the kind of guy you want to see chomping on a cigar and carrying a machine gun through the apocalyptic wasteland, not sitting down in a restaurant making jokes with Jennifer Aniston. Fortunately his newest project sounds more like the former than the latter. According to THR, the Scottish actor is now attached to star in The Bricklayer. Adapted from the book by Noah Boyd (real name Paul Lindsay), the film will see Butler play a retired FBI agent named Steve Vail who is working as a bricklayer in Chicago when he is called back into duty when a gang of criminals begins "demanding an escalating series...
- 8/9/2011
- cinemablend.com
300 star Gerard Butler has been cast in the lead role of a new film adaptation of the Noah Boyd novel The Bricklayer. Millennium Films just acquired the right to the FBI thriller which follows a "rogue former agent who’s called in to help battle a criminal group that is demanding an escalating series of multi-million dollar ransom payments." The author of the book is actually a former FBI agent, Boyd is a pseudonym used by former FBI agent Paul Lindsay. Hanna Weg (Enigma) was hired to adapt the novel for the big screen.
The story follows a character named Steve Vail, a former FBI agent, who is working as a Chicago bricklayer. The agency asks him to help track down and fight against a criminal gang. There's also a female deputy director that is assigned to work with Vail on his new mission.
This is a perfect movie for...
The story follows a character named Steve Vail, a former FBI agent, who is working as a Chicago bricklayer. The agency asks him to help track down and fight against a criminal gang. There's also a female deputy director that is assigned to work with Vail on his new mission.
This is a perfect movie for...
- 8/9/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Seems like it's been a while since we saw Gerard Butler deliver some good beatings, but he's ready to put his prodigious masculinity on display again with some stone slinging. The perpetually scruffy Scotsman is attached to star in a Millennium Films thriller called The Bricklayer, based on a bestselling book by Noah Boyd (aka Paul Lindsay), a former FBI agent. A synopsis: "FBI deputy assistant director Kate Bannon tracks down Steve Vail, a maverick FBI agent who left the bureau for a...
- 8/8/2011
- by Dave Davis
- JoBlo.com
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