A lot of things helped make this past Oscars ceremony an infamous affair—the most innocuous being the addition of two online popularity contests seemingly devoid of any real checks and balances to prevent them from becoming a ballot-stuffing battle royale between fandoms. The Zack Snyder contingent (unsurprisingly) proved victorious with both, but there was an intriguing dark horse by way of the Johnny Depp-starring and -produced Minamata. Was it genuine? Who knows? Its third-place finish could have been as much about Depp stans seeking redemption for their beloved yet problematic celebrity post-Grindelwald firing as trolls looking to force the Academy into putting his name back onto their lips despite the film having an almost non-existent release. Either way, it’s become a circus attraction.
Director Andrew Levitas’ biopic had its festival premiere at Berlinale 2020 just as Covid was ramping up to shut down the world. From there came theatrical delays,...
Director Andrew Levitas’ biopic had its festival premiere at Berlinale 2020 just as Covid was ramping up to shut down the world. From there came theatrical delays,...
- 4/6/2022
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Minamata Trailer — Andrew Levitas‘ Minamata (2020) movie trailer has been released by Samuel Goldwyn Films. The Minamata trailer stars Johnny Depp, Bill Nighy, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Minami, Tadanobu Asano, Katherine Jenkins, and Akiko Iwase. Crew David Kessler, Stephen Deuters, Andrew Levitas, and Jason Forman wrote the screenplay for Minamata. Ryuichi Sakamoto [...]
Continue reading: Minamata (2020) U.S. Movie Trailer: War Photographer Johnny Depp documents the Mercury Poisoning of a Japanese Town...
Continue reading: Minamata (2020) U.S. Movie Trailer: War Photographer Johnny Depp documents the Mercury Poisoning of a Japanese Town...
- 12/12/2021
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
"We need global attention." "With you, we have a better chance." Goldwyn Films has released an official US trailer for the film Minamata, made by filmmaker / artist Andrew Levitas. This originally premiered at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival last year, and has taken all this time to get released. The film tells the story of the final days and final work of famed war photographer W. Eugene Smith, played by Johnny Depp. Smith travels to Japan in the 70s where he embeds himself in a small town and documents the devastating effects of mercury poisoning in communities due to a greedy corporation dumping toxic chemicals and denying it. A powerful story about the impact of photojournalism. Also with Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Katherine Jenkins, Jun Kunimura, Lily Robinson, Ryo Kase, Akiko Iwase, Minami, plus Bill Nighy. I watched this at Berlinale and loved it, writing in my review: "there's something wondrous and yet compellingly authentic.
- 12/10/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Johnny Depp movie Minamata is finally getting a U.S. release, we can reveal, but not from MGM which had previously acquired the film.
Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment (Ilbe) are now teaming up with Samuel Goldwyn Films to give the movie a North American release in theaters beginning December 15. The platformed release is due to extend across U.S. and Canada into 2022 and the team are looking to position it for awards consideration.
This update comes after the film’s director, Andrew Levitas, complained earlier this year that MGM was “burying” Minamata due to Depp’s well publicized off-screen issues. You can read the filmmaker’s impassioned letter to the studio here. Depp also decried the non-release in an interview in August in which he said the film deserved to be seen but was shelved because he was being “boycotted” by Hollywood.
Minamata charts the true story of...
Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment (Ilbe) are now teaming up with Samuel Goldwyn Films to give the movie a North American release in theaters beginning December 15. The platformed release is due to extend across U.S. and Canada into 2022 and the team are looking to position it for awards consideration.
This update comes after the film’s director, Andrew Levitas, complained earlier this year that MGM was “burying” Minamata due to Depp’s well publicized off-screen issues. You can read the filmmaker’s impassioned letter to the studio here. Depp also decried the non-release in an interview in August in which he said the film deserved to be seen but was shelved because he was being “boycotted” by Hollywood.
Minamata charts the true story of...
- 12/1/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
“Minamata” director Andrew Levitas has sent a letter to MGM (via Deadline) condemning the studio for allegedly burying his historical drama because it stars Johnny Depp. The film was picked up by MGM’s relaunched American International Pictures last fall after world premiering in February 2020 at the Berlin International Film Festival. MGM told Deadline the film is not buried and is just waiting for a release date. Deadline reports the film initially had a day-and-date push set for February 2021 but did not get released.
Johnny Depp stars in “Minamata” as photojournalist Eugene Smith, who takes an assignment from Life magazine to expose “decades of gross negligence by the Chisso Corporation.” Bill Nighy and Hiroyuki Sanada co-star in the movie alongside Ryo Kase, Tadanobu Asano, and Akiko Iwase. Depp’s star has fallen in recent months after he lost a libel case against The Sun, which referred to Depp as a...
Johnny Depp stars in “Minamata” as photojournalist Eugene Smith, who takes an assignment from Life magazine to expose “decades of gross negligence by the Chisso Corporation.” Bill Nighy and Hiroyuki Sanada co-star in the movie alongside Ryo Kase, Tadanobu Asano, and Akiko Iwase. Depp’s star has fallen in recent months after he lost a libel case against The Sun, which referred to Depp as a...
- 7/26/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Director Andrew Levitas has sent a letter of complaint to MGM and others to protest what he claims is a decision to “bury” the film Minamata because of the personal baggage of its star, Johnny Depp. The film lays bare the scandalous neglect that the Chisso Corporation displayed in the Japanese coastal city where locals were ravaged by mercury poisoning from chemicals dumped into the waters by a factory, which spread to local population through the ingestion of fish. It was exposed in the 1950s.
In the film, Depp plays Eugene Smith, a famed photojournalist who has disconnected from the world but takes a final assignment from his Life magazine editor (Bill Nighy). He is accompanied by a Japanese translator (Minami) and encouraged by a local villager (Hiroyuki Sanada) as he helps expose decades of gross negligence by the Chisso Corporation. Minamata also stars Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Tadanobu Asano and Akiko Iwase.
In the film, Depp plays Eugene Smith, a famed photojournalist who has disconnected from the world but takes a final assignment from his Life magazine editor (Bill Nighy). He is accompanied by a Japanese translator (Minami) and encouraged by a local villager (Hiroyuki Sanada) as he helps expose decades of gross negligence by the Chisso Corporation. Minamata also stars Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Tadanobu Asano and Akiko Iwase.
- 7/26/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
MGM has bought the Johnny Depp drama “Minamata” and has set an awards-season release of Feb. 5, 2021, through its revived American International Pictures label.
MGM also acquired all rights to “Minamata” in Canada, Germany and Switzerland. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February.
Set in 1971, Depp portrays photojournalist Eugene Smith, who’s become a recluse and disconnected from the world he once shot. After receiving one final assignment from Life Magazine editor Robert Hayes (played by Bill Nighy), he must travel to the Japanese coastal city of Minamata, which has been ravaged by mercury poisoning. Assisted by an impassioned Japanese translator and encouraged by local villagers, his powerful images expose decades of gross negligence by the country’s Chisso Corporation.
“Minamata” also stars Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Tadanobu Asano and Akiko Iwase. Andrew Levitas directed the film from a screenplay by Levitas, David K. Kessler, Stephen Deuters and Jason Forman.
MGM also acquired all rights to “Minamata” in Canada, Germany and Switzerland. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February.
Set in 1971, Depp portrays photojournalist Eugene Smith, who’s become a recluse and disconnected from the world he once shot. After receiving one final assignment from Life Magazine editor Robert Hayes (played by Bill Nighy), he must travel to the Japanese coastal city of Minamata, which has been ravaged by mercury poisoning. Assisted by an impassioned Japanese translator and encouraged by local villagers, his powerful images expose decades of gross negligence by the country’s Chisso Corporation.
“Minamata” also stars Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Tadanobu Asano and Akiko Iwase. Andrew Levitas directed the film from a screenplay by Levitas, David K. Kessler, Stephen Deuters and Jason Forman.
- 10/30/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
MGM has acquired “Minamata” starring Johnny Depp that will be released by MGM’s American International Pictures (Aip) label on Feb. 5, 2021, according to an individual with knowledge of the project. Additionally, MGM also acquired all rights to “Minamata” in Canada, Germany and Switzerland
The film received its World Premiere as a Berlinale Special Gala as part of the Berlin International Film Festival 2020. Depp received some of the best reviews of his career for portraying photojournalist Eugene Smith.
Per the film’s description, inspired by a true story, Depp plays W. Eugene Smith, a war photographer from World War II, who in 1971, goes up against a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people of Minamata, Japan. With the glory days of World War II far behind him, Smith has become a recluse, disconnected from society and his career. But an old friend and a commission from “Life Magazine” editor Ralph Graves...
The film received its World Premiere as a Berlinale Special Gala as part of the Berlin International Film Festival 2020. Depp received some of the best reviews of his career for portraying photojournalist Eugene Smith.
Per the film’s description, inspired by a true story, Depp plays W. Eugene Smith, a war photographer from World War II, who in 1971, goes up against a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people of Minamata, Japan. With the glory days of World War II far behind him, Smith has become a recluse, disconnected from society and his career. But an old friend and a commission from “Life Magazine” editor Ralph Graves...
- 10/30/2020
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Exclusive: MGM has acquired the Johnny Depp-starrer Minamata, through its American International Pictures label. The Andrew Levitas-directed drama has been set for a February 5 release, dropping into the extended awards season as a theatrical and day and date PVOD release. The film made its world premiere during the Berlin International Film Festival last February. In addition to U.S. rights, MGM acquired Canada, Germany and Switzerland.
While the recent focus on Depp has come for all the wrong reasons in a libel case he pressed against the Rupert Murdoch British tabloid The Sun for calling him a “wife beater” (a court ruling is expected Monday), this is a chance for the focus to swing back to his chameleonic screen work.
In a drama inspired by a true story, Depp plays Eugene Smith, a famed photojournalist who has disconnected from the world but takes a final assignment from his...
While the recent focus on Depp has come for all the wrong reasons in a libel case he pressed against the Rupert Murdoch British tabloid The Sun for calling him a “wife beater” (a court ruling is expected Monday), this is a chance for the focus to swing back to his chameleonic screen work.
In a drama inspired by a true story, Depp plays Eugene Smith, a famed photojournalist who has disconnected from the world but takes a final assignment from his...
- 10/30/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
"You cannot let your emotions run the show." An official international trailer has debuted for the true story drama Minamata, made by American filmmaker / artist Andrew Levitas. This originally premiered at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year, and still doesn't have a US release set yet. The film tells the story of the final days and final work of famed war photographer W. Eugene Smith, played by Johnny Depp. Smith travels back to Japan in the 70s where he embeds himself in a small town and documents the devastating effect of mercury poisoning in coastal communities due to a greedy corporation dumping toxic chemicals and denying it. A powerful story about the impact of photojournalism. Also starring Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Katherine Jenkins, Jun Kunimura, Lily Robinson, Ryo Kase, Akiko Iwase, Minami, plus Bill Nighy. I watched this at Berlinale and loved it, writing in my review: "there's something...
- 10/7/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
"We have something no one else could share... Don't you know that?" Netflix has unveiled the first official trailer for an indie thriller titled Earthquake Bird, which is premiering at the London Film Festival this month. The latest from English filmmaker Wash West, the film is about a young woman living in Tokyo who becomes the prime suspect in a horrific murder when her friend goes missing in the wake of a tumultuous love triangle. Alicia Vikander stars as Lucy Fly, with a cast including Riley Keough, Naoki Kobayashi, Kiki Sukezane, Yoshiko Sakuma, Kazuhiro Muroyama, Ken Yamamura, Crystal Kay, Akiko Iwase, and Jack Huston. This looks like yet another standard peculiar love-triangle murder-mystery psychological thriller, but it doesn't seem the Japanese locale makes much of a difference. I wish this looked better than it does so far, because the idea for it does sound quite appealing. Here's the official trailer...
- 10/9/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
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