Disney+ Asia Slate Takes Shape
Disney+ has set an Aug. 9 upload date for Korean series “Moving” from webtoon pioneer Kang Full.
The previously announced title forms part of a 20-component slate of films and series from East Asia that will release on the Disney-backed streaming platform in the second half of 2023 and through 2024.
Also from Korea is “The Worst of Evil,” a detective series in which a rural policemen is brought to the big city to bring down a DJ dealing in a potent new drug. It stars Ji Changwook, “Squid Game” actor Wi Hajun and Lim Semi.
Highlights from Japan include “Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku Arc,” the latest instalments of a popular anime franchise, and the previously announced “Dragons of Wonderhatch,” a hybrid story set in both the “real world” and an anime land where dragons and humans coexist. The multi-dimensional story stars Nakajima Sena, Okudaira Daiken and Mackenyu.
The...
Disney+ has set an Aug. 9 upload date for Korean series “Moving” from webtoon pioneer Kang Full.
The previously announced title forms part of a 20-component slate of films and series from East Asia that will release on the Disney-backed streaming platform in the second half of 2023 and through 2024.
Also from Korea is “The Worst of Evil,” a detective series in which a rural policemen is brought to the big city to bring down a DJ dealing in a potent new drug. It stars Ji Changwook, “Squid Game” actor Wi Hajun and Lim Semi.
Highlights from Japan include “Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku Arc,” the latest instalments of a popular anime franchise, and the previously announced “Dragons of Wonderhatch,” a hybrid story set in both the “real world” and an anime land where dragons and humans coexist. The multi-dimensional story stars Nakajima Sena, Okudaira Daiken and Mackenyu.
The...
- 7/10/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Former Hopscotch Films and eOne colleagues Troy Lum and Jason Hernandez have partnered to launch a new distribution company, Kismet, with a stated commitment to local films and an international slate that includes Palme d’Or winner Titane.
Joining Julia Ducournau’s horror-thriller are other acquisitions from Cannes like Mamoru Hosoda’s sci-fi anime Belle and Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet’s debut feature, French romance Anaïs in Love.
Kismet titles also include Zach Braff’s A Good Person, starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman; Nick Cassavettes’ Cus and Mike; Queen Bees, featuring Ellen Burstyn, Ann-Margret and Christopher Lloyd; Flore Vasseur’s Bigger Than Us, produced by Marion Cotillard; Jean-Albert Lievre’s Whale Nation and Emma Seligman’s Shiva Baby, released last weekend.
Lum is the founder of Hopscotch Films and Hopscotch Features, and former managing director of eOne Asia Pacific, while Hernandez is eOne’s former head of theatrical sales Anz.
Joining...
Joining Julia Ducournau’s horror-thriller are other acquisitions from Cannes like Mamoru Hosoda’s sci-fi anime Belle and Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet’s debut feature, French romance Anaïs in Love.
Kismet titles also include Zach Braff’s A Good Person, starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman; Nick Cassavettes’ Cus and Mike; Queen Bees, featuring Ellen Burstyn, Ann-Margret and Christopher Lloyd; Flore Vasseur’s Bigger Than Us, produced by Marion Cotillard; Jean-Albert Lievre’s Whale Nation and Emma Seligman’s Shiva Baby, released last weekend.
Lum is the founder of Hopscotch Films and Hopscotch Features, and former managing director of eOne Asia Pacific, while Hernandez is eOne’s former head of theatrical sales Anz.
Joining...
- 8/5/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: Former eOne Asia Pacific boss Troy Lum is officially launching new Australia-New Zealand distributor Kismet, with a slate of projects including Cannes hits and pre-sale titles.
Kismet is headed by Lum, founder of local indie Hopscotch, and Jason Hernandez, former Head of Theatrical Distribution at eOne Australia and New Zealand.
As previously noted out of Cannes, the company have acquired Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winning horror-thriller Titane (pictured), Japanese animator Mamoru Hosoda’s eye-catching fairytale Belle, and Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet’s debut feature, the French romance Anaïs In Love. Titane will be the company’s first release in November.
In addition to its festival acquisitions, Kismet’s lineup also includes Zach Braff’s A Good Person, starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman; Nick Cassavettes’ Cus And Mike, which tells the story of Mike Tyson’s legendary trainer and manager Cus D’Amato; Kate Dennis’ All That I Am, based...
Kismet is headed by Lum, founder of local indie Hopscotch, and Jason Hernandez, former Head of Theatrical Distribution at eOne Australia and New Zealand.
As previously noted out of Cannes, the company have acquired Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winning horror-thriller Titane (pictured), Japanese animator Mamoru Hosoda’s eye-catching fairytale Belle, and Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet’s debut feature, the French romance Anaïs In Love. Titane will be the company’s first release in November.
In addition to its festival acquisitions, Kismet’s lineup also includes Zach Braff’s A Good Person, starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman; Nick Cassavettes’ Cus And Mike, which tells the story of Mike Tyson’s legendary trainer and manager Cus D’Amato; Kate Dennis’ All That I Am, based...
- 8/4/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Asian Ways
It feels like 100 years ago that I read, and loved, Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, a book by Jung Chang about a Chinese family (her own!) that spans a century and focuses on the endeavors of three female generations. First published in 1991, the novel contains the biographies of the author’s grandmother and mother; and her very own autobiography. This novel, which won the Ncr Book Award in 1992 and the British Book of the Year in 1993, has amazingly been translated into 37 languages and has sold over 13 million copies.
Spanning the generations
The appeal? Discipline and endurance, two principles that are great for learning. Did your grandmother manage a life with bound feet in which she was married off alarmingly young so as to be the concubine of a high-status warlord? Did your mother, age 18 and pregnant, endure a strenuous six-month journey over five mountain passes during the 1949 war against Kuomintang?...
It feels like 100 years ago that I read, and loved, Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, a book by Jung Chang about a Chinese family (her own!) that spans a century and focuses on the endeavors of three female generations. First published in 1991, the novel contains the biographies of the author’s grandmother and mother; and her very own autobiography. This novel, which won the Ncr Book Award in 1992 and the British Book of the Year in 1993, has amazingly been translated into 37 languages and has sold over 13 million copies.
Spanning the generations
The appeal? Discipline and endurance, two principles that are great for learning. Did your grandmother manage a life with bound feet in which she was married off alarmingly young so as to be the concubine of a high-status warlord? Did your mother, age 18 and pregnant, endure a strenuous six-month journey over five mountain passes during the 1949 war against Kuomintang?...
- 2/25/2021
- by AMP Training
- AsianMoviePulse
Robyn Nevin in ‘Relic’.
Former Australian Writers’ Guild president Jan Sardi and actor Robyn Nevin were among the screen professionals to receive Queen’s Birthday Honours over the long weekend.
Sardi, Oscar-nominated for Shine and whose credits also include Mao’s Last Dancer and Love’s Brother, was named an Officer to the Order of Australia (Ao) for distinguished service to the film and television industries as a screenwriter and director, and to professional guilds.
Co-collaborator Mac Gudgeon, who worked with Sardi on projects like Ground Zero and The Secret River, said: “It’s a richly deserved honour. Not only because Jan’s a bloody good writer, but because it’s recognition of his selfless service, generosity of spirit, and courage and persistence in fighting for performance writers’ creative rights and remuneration for over 40 years.
“And the timing couldn’t be more ironic given Jan’s passionate advocacy for what’s unique about Australian culture,...
Former Australian Writers’ Guild president Jan Sardi and actor Robyn Nevin were among the screen professionals to receive Queen’s Birthday Honours over the long weekend.
Sardi, Oscar-nominated for Shine and whose credits also include Mao’s Last Dancer and Love’s Brother, was named an Officer to the Order of Australia (Ao) for distinguished service to the film and television industries as a screenwriter and director, and to professional guilds.
Co-collaborator Mac Gudgeon, who worked with Sardi on projects like Ground Zero and The Secret River, said: “It’s a richly deserved honour. Not only because Jan’s a bloody good writer, but because it’s recognition of his selfless service, generosity of spirit, and courage and persistence in fighting for performance writers’ creative rights and remuneration for over 40 years.
“And the timing couldn’t be more ironic given Jan’s passionate advocacy for what’s unique about Australian culture,...
- 6/9/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
"You're a clever girl - that's the most wonderful thing in all creation." Sony Australia has debuted the first official trailer for an ensemble comedy titled Ladies in Black, adapted from the popular book The Women in Black by Madeleine St John. The film is the latest directed by award-winning Aussie filmmaker Bruce Beresford, and it's an "alluring and tender-hearted comedy drama about the lives of a group of department store employees in 1959 Sydney." The film's cast includes Julia Ormond, Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor, Ryan Corr, Vincent Perez, Alison McGirr, Susie Porter, Shane Jacobson, and Noni Hazlehurst. This looks like a spunky, entertaining film about Australian women learning to stand up for themselves and be strong & independent. Watch out. Here's the first Australian trailer (+ poster) for Bruce Beresford's Ladies in Black, direct from YouTube: Ladies in Black is set in Sydney, Australia in the summer of 1959, against the backdrop...
- 6/17/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
A kidnapper gets more than he bargained for in Pet. Starring Dominic Monaghan, Ksenia Solo, and Jennette McCurdy, the psychological horror film has been acquired by Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films, with Us theatrical, VOD, and DVD release dates slated for December.
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA (October 4, 2016) – Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films announced today that they have acquired the psychological thriller Pet, directed by Carles Torrens and written by Jeremy Slater. The film stars Dominic Monaghan (Lost, The Lord Of The Rings Series), Ksenia Solo (Black Swan, Lost Girl), and Jennette McCurdy (iCarly, Sam & Cat). Pet had its World Premiere at the 2016 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin. Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the film in U.S. theaters and on demand on December 2, 2016, and it will be available on DVD on December 27.
In the vein of Hard Candy and Gone Girl, Pet...
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA (October 4, 2016) – Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films announced today that they have acquired the psychological thriller Pet, directed by Carles Torrens and written by Jeremy Slater. The film stars Dominic Monaghan (Lost, The Lord Of The Rings Series), Ksenia Solo (Black Swan, Lost Girl), and Jennette McCurdy (iCarly, Sam & Cat). Pet had its World Premiere at the 2016 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin. Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the film in U.S. theaters and on demand on December 2, 2016, and it will be available on DVD on December 27.
In the vein of Hard Candy and Gone Girl, Pet...
- 10/4/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The Bleeding Steel team.
Film production spend in Sydney was worth around $50 million in the last year, according to the City of Sydney.
In 2015—16, the City of Sydney.s film liaison team approved more than 1,300 film and photo shoots across Sydney, including 31 major TV drama series and feature films..
City of Sydney CEO, Monica Barone, said the city has streamlined the application process, making filming in the city easier and cementing Sydney.s lead over other Australian cities as a top film location.
.With China set to overtake the Us as the biggest movie market, we can expect an increase in the number of Asian film productions in Sydney. This puts the spotlight on the best our city has to offer, attracting interest, tourists and investment that supports jobs and the local economy," said Barone.
.Our dedicated film liaison officer provides valuable assistance to producers in scouting and securing filming locations,...
Film production spend in Sydney was worth around $50 million in the last year, according to the City of Sydney.
In 2015—16, the City of Sydney.s film liaison team approved more than 1,300 film and photo shoots across Sydney, including 31 major TV drama series and feature films..
City of Sydney CEO, Monica Barone, said the city has streamlined the application process, making filming in the city easier and cementing Sydney.s lead over other Australian cities as a top film location.
.With China set to overtake the Us as the biggest movie market, we can expect an increase in the number of Asian film productions in Sydney. This puts the spotlight on the best our city has to offer, attracting interest, tourists and investment that supports jobs and the local economy," said Barone.
.Our dedicated film liaison officer provides valuable assistance to producers in scouting and securing filming locations,...
- 8/31/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Four Australians and three Kiwis have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
A record 322 screen practitioners from the Us and around the world have been invited to join the organisation. The previous high was 276 in 2013.
The Down Under contingent comprises visual effects wizards Tim Crosbie and Daniel Barrett, producers Bruna Papandrea and Rebecca Yeldham, sound mixers David Lee and Jason Canovas and writer-director Niki Caro.
Despite the Academy.s efforts to diversify its membership, out of the 25 actors invited to join only seven are women.
Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said, .It.s gratifying to acknowledge the extraordinary range of talent in our industry. This year, our branches have recognized a more diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before, and we look forward to adding their creativity, ideas and experience to our organization..
This year Crosbie was nominated for an...
A record 322 screen practitioners from the Us and around the world have been invited to join the organisation. The previous high was 276 in 2013.
The Down Under contingent comprises visual effects wizards Tim Crosbie and Daniel Barrett, producers Bruna Papandrea and Rebecca Yeldham, sound mixers David Lee and Jason Canovas and writer-director Niki Caro.
Despite the Academy.s efforts to diversify its membership, out of the 25 actors invited to join only seven are women.
Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said, .It.s gratifying to acknowledge the extraordinary range of talent in our industry. This year, our branches have recognized a more diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before, and we look forward to adding their creativity, ideas and experience to our organization..
This year Crosbie was nominated for an...
- 6/30/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
So this is happening, and I guess you better just just deal with it. The story of "Bonnie & Clyde," immortalized in Arthur Penn's iconic 1967 film, is now being told again by Bruce Beresford ("Peace, Love & Misunderstanding," "Mao's Last Dancer" and "The Contract") with Emile Hirsch and Holliday Grainger as the outlaws. The results? Well, see for yourself below. A two-part, miniseries production between A&E, Lifetime and History, the budget looks certainly small screen—HBO this isn't. And really, it doesn't make much of a case for standing on its own outside of the movie we already know. That being said, we like the leads, and with Holly Hunter and William Hurt in support, we suppose this might get a watch out of morbid curiosity from our end. "Bonnie & Clyde" arrives on your TV on Sunday, December 8th and Monday, December 9th at 9 Pm. Watch below. [Deadline]...
- 9/23/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Screen Australia has committed almost $360,000 in funding to assist 15 filmmaking teams and three new internships.
The announcement, made earlier today, confirmed eight new projects will receive Screen Australia support while another seven teams will benefit from continued funding..
The new projects to receive support include I Am Jack, Confessions of a Super Man, Long Tan, Mulan, Common Foe, and Soundtrack..
Three internships, developed through Screen Australia.s Talent Escalator Project, will send Australian filmmakers overseas to further develop their chosen crafts..
Writer/director Alex Murawski will work alongside Bruce Beresford in Los Angeles for three months on Beresford.s latest production Bonnie and Clyde.
Natalie Lindwall will gain six months experience in the UK working with Ecosse Flims as a development producer, and producer Raquelle David will spend six months in Toronto working with Niv Fichman at Rhombus Media..
Also through the Talent Escalator Program, Screen Australia will assist directors Cris Jones,...
The announcement, made earlier today, confirmed eight new projects will receive Screen Australia support while another seven teams will benefit from continued funding..
The new projects to receive support include I Am Jack, Confessions of a Super Man, Long Tan, Mulan, Common Foe, and Soundtrack..
Three internships, developed through Screen Australia.s Talent Escalator Project, will send Australian filmmakers overseas to further develop their chosen crafts..
Writer/director Alex Murawski will work alongside Bruce Beresford in Los Angeles for three months on Beresford.s latest production Bonnie and Clyde.
Natalie Lindwall will gain six months experience in the UK working with Ecosse Flims as a development producer, and producer Raquelle David will spend six months in Toronto working with Niv Fichman at Rhombus Media..
Also through the Talent Escalator Program, Screen Australia will assist directors Cris Jones,...
- 5/20/2013
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Actor Penne Hackforth-Jones, a pillar of Australian films and TV for more than 40 years, died in Melbourne on Friday from lung cancer, aged 63.
Her illness was diagnosed in 2012 but she wished to keep the diagnosis private while her father was still alive. She relocated to Melbourne in 2011 to be close to and care for her elderly parents both of whom died recently.
.Penne responded to her own terminal diagnosis with great courage and grace,. said her sisters Jos Hackforth-Jones, Simary Hackforth-Jones and Olivia McNally. .Her health deteriorated in April, but she was able to remain at home because of the wonderful support from her Gp, Mercy and Alfred Palliative care units and friends. Her last weeks were peaceful and happy. She died surrounded by flowers and cards from those closest to her and cared for by family and close friends. She was dearly loved by relations and friends and much...
Her illness was diagnosed in 2012 but she wished to keep the diagnosis private while her father was still alive. She relocated to Melbourne in 2011 to be close to and care for her elderly parents both of whom died recently.
.Penne responded to her own terminal diagnosis with great courage and grace,. said her sisters Jos Hackforth-Jones, Simary Hackforth-Jones and Olivia McNally. .Her health deteriorated in April, but she was able to remain at home because of the wonderful support from her Gp, Mercy and Alfred Palliative care units and friends. Her last weeks were peaceful and happy. She died surrounded by flowers and cards from those closest to her and cared for by family and close friends. She was dearly loved by relations and friends and much...
- 5/20/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The Australian Writers. Guild (Awg) released their first line-up announcement for the biennial National Screenwriters Conference, which will take place at Mornington Peninsula in Victoria from 20-22 February 2013. Shameless creator Paul Abbott, announced as international headliner last month, will be joined by a host of industry elite including John Collee (Happy Feet, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World), Craig Pearce (The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet, Strictly Ballroom), Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Easy Virtue), Jacquelin Perske (Spirited, Love My Way, Little Fish, The Secret Life of Us), Keith Thompson & Tony Briggs (The Sapphires), Ian Simmons (Good News World, Good News Week, The Sideshow) and Peter Moon (Fast Forward, Full Frontal). "We bring together an unrivalled number of preeminent writers at the top of their game for the Nsc, which is a not-for-profit event. The retreat-like setting creates a hothouse of ideas,...
- 10/26/2012
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
It's a good news/bad news sort of thing with Lifetime's brewing remake/retelling/whatever of "Bonnie & Clyde." So let's just get it into it... Remember how Miley Cyrus was in talks for the role of Bonnie? Well, you can axe that notion (phew). There's no word on what caused negotiations to break down, but maybe her fiance Liam Hemsworth showed her Arthur Penn's original movie and she realized stepping into the role made famous by Faye Dunaway in a schlocky cable version of the story probably wasn't the best idea. Speaking of schlock, the project does have a director now in Bruce Beresford. He's the guy who has directed movies your parents like over the last couple of decades, like "Mao's Last Dancer," "Driving Miss Daisy," "Double Jeopardy," and "Peace Love & Misunderstanding." An odd choice of helmer for this gritty crime tale, but he's likely pretty affordable. The project is.
- 10/11/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Feel-good indigenous film The Sapphires has passed 2010 teen hit Tomorrow When the War Began at the box office and now ranks as Australia's fourteenth most successful local film of all time.
The Hopscotch-distributed film, which has been in cinemas for eight weeks, has grossed more than $13.5 million at cinemas and ranks just behind 2009 drama Mao's Last Dancer (which Hopscotch also released in conjunction with Roadshow).
.The Sapphires is the gift that keeps on giving," Hopscotch Films/Entertainment One managing director Troy Lum said in a statement. "It.s such a pleasure to be involved in this film that keeps breaking records and giving people so much joy. Long may it continue..
The film has outperformed early expectations as strong word-of-mouth has continued to attract audiences. The Sapphires is set in the late-60s and follows four singers (played by Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell) from a remote Aboriginal mission,...
The Hopscotch-distributed film, which has been in cinemas for eight weeks, has grossed more than $13.5 million at cinemas and ranks just behind 2009 drama Mao's Last Dancer (which Hopscotch also released in conjunction with Roadshow).
.The Sapphires is the gift that keeps on giving," Hopscotch Films/Entertainment One managing director Troy Lum said in a statement. "It.s such a pleasure to be involved in this film that keeps breaking records and giving people so much joy. Long may it continue..
The film has outperformed early expectations as strong word-of-mouth has continued to attract audiences. The Sapphires is set in the late-60s and follows four singers (played by Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell) from a remote Aboriginal mission,...
- 10/4/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Musical Australian film The Sapphires has crept to $3.63 million after one week at the local box office.
The film, set during the Vietnam War when four talented singers from an Aboriginal mission in Victoria were discovered by an unlikely talent scout, is showing on 279 screens, giving it a strong screen average of $12,031.
Screen Australia noted that The Sapphires had now joined a number of other local films to break the $3 million mark in its opening week including: Happy Feet 2, Tomorrow When the War Began, Mao's Last Dancer and Australia. Upcoming local films slated for wide release on more than 200 screens include Kath and Kimderella (September 6), Bait 3D (September 20) and Mental (October 4).
"This is the first time in many years that Australian films will be so eagerly anticipated by audiences in cities and regional centres across the country," Screen Australia chief executive Ruth Harley said in a statement. "Screen Australia is...
The film, set during the Vietnam War when four talented singers from an Aboriginal mission in Victoria were discovered by an unlikely talent scout, is showing on 279 screens, giving it a strong screen average of $12,031.
Screen Australia noted that The Sapphires had now joined a number of other local films to break the $3 million mark in its opening week including: Happy Feet 2, Tomorrow When the War Began, Mao's Last Dancer and Australia. Upcoming local films slated for wide release on more than 200 screens include Kath and Kimderella (September 6), Bait 3D (September 20) and Mental (October 4).
"This is the first time in many years that Australian films will be so eagerly anticipated by audiences in cities and regional centres across the country," Screen Australia chief executive Ruth Harley said in a statement. "Screen Australia is...
- 8/16/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Feel-good Australian film The Sapphires has made an impressive debut at the local box office, opening with $2.34 million.
It is the biggest opening weekend by an Australian film this year and even ranks slightly ahead of Happy Feet Two's $2.21 million last December. That film had a far larger budget and screen count, although its performance ultimately proved disappointing for distributor Roadshow.
The Sapphires, set during the Vietnam War when four talented singers from an Aboriginal mission in Victoria were discovered by an unlikely talent scout, was shown across 279 screens, giving it a strong screen average of $8387. Including previews, the film has grossed almost $2.6 million in total. It was the second biggest film over the weekend behind The Dark Knight Rises, which grossed $2.74 million across 501 screens in its fourth weekend.
The Sapphires' opening weekend box office performance is just below Hopscotch's biggest ever local hit, 2009 drama Mao's Last Dancer (which...
It is the biggest opening weekend by an Australian film this year and even ranks slightly ahead of Happy Feet Two's $2.21 million last December. That film had a far larger budget and screen count, although its performance ultimately proved disappointing for distributor Roadshow.
The Sapphires, set during the Vietnam War when four talented singers from an Aboriginal mission in Victoria were discovered by an unlikely talent scout, was shown across 279 screens, giving it a strong screen average of $8387. Including previews, the film has grossed almost $2.6 million in total. It was the second biggest film over the weekend behind The Dark Knight Rises, which grossed $2.74 million across 501 screens in its fourth weekend.
The Sapphires' opening weekend box office performance is just below Hopscotch's biggest ever local hit, 2009 drama Mao's Last Dancer (which...
- 8/13/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Acclaimed playwright Stephen Sewell hopes to make his directorial debut with an adaptation of his 2011 novel Babylon.
Production company Jaggi.Shute is currently in the process of financing the $3.5 million film.
Producer Liz Shute told If that she hopes the film will be funded through private equity, state agencies and an La-based sales agent: "We're not going down the usual Screen Australia route."
Babylon tells the story of an English backpacker who gets more than he bargained for when he hitches a ride with an enigmatic man named Dan. Jaggi.Shute first purchased the rights to the novel after Sewell came on board as consultant on another film.
Bruce Beresford (Mao's Last Dancer) and Janine Pearce (The Reef) will act as executive producers, with Beresford hoping to mentor Sewell through the directing process. Casting will be completed by Maura Fay Casting.
Shute says the plan is to begin filming later...
Production company Jaggi.Shute is currently in the process of financing the $3.5 million film.
Producer Liz Shute told If that she hopes the film will be funded through private equity, state agencies and an La-based sales agent: "We're not going down the usual Screen Australia route."
Babylon tells the story of an English backpacker who gets more than he bargained for when he hitches a ride with an enigmatic man named Dan. Jaggi.Shute first purchased the rights to the novel after Sewell came on board as consultant on another film.
Bruce Beresford (Mao's Last Dancer) and Janine Pearce (The Reef) will act as executive producers, with Beresford hoping to mentor Sewell through the directing process. Casting will be completed by Maura Fay Casting.
Shute says the plan is to begin filming later...
- 4/23/2012
- by Amanda Diaz
- IF.com.au
The compulsion to see movies you have already been warned to avoid is the central wiring defect in the male moviegoer's psyche
My son and I always go to see action movies together, usually on the night they come out. This is partly because of a psychological imperative known as the Scarface Protocol, a powerful directive governing the relationship between fathers and sons, stipulating that all action movies must be seen, even if they star Jake Gyllenhaal. But it is also because there are never very many movies worth seeing in the first place, and even the worst action movie is going to be more entertaining than watching Adam Sandler.
Last week, my son was out of town with some friends who wanted to see a new action movie. I will not disclose the name of the film, because I do not want to spoil things for everyone else. I...
My son and I always go to see action movies together, usually on the night they come out. This is partly because of a psychological imperative known as the Scarface Protocol, a powerful directive governing the relationship between fathers and sons, stipulating that all action movies must be seen, even if they star Jake Gyllenhaal. But it is also because there are never very many movies worth seeing in the first place, and even the worst action movie is going to be more entertaining than watching Adam Sandler.
Last week, my son was out of town with some friends who wanted to see a new action movie. I will not disclose the name of the film, because I do not want to spoil things for everyone else. I...
- 12/23/2011
- by Joe Queenan
- The Guardian - Film News
Veteran Aussie filmmaker Bruce Beresford ("Driving Miss Daisy," "Mao's Last Dancer") has signed on to direct "Taliesin", a biopic about fabled American architect Frank Lloyd Wright says The Hollywood Reporter.
The title refers to the architect’s former home and studio in rural Spring Green, Wisconsin. The rambling hillside compound was the focus of scandal as Wright built it for himself and his married mistress Martha "Mamah" Cheney.
In 1914, while Wright was away, a domestic worker murdered Cheney, her two children and four others by locking them inside and setting fire to the building. Beresford says the story only covers a section of Wright's life and "doesn’t whitewash him into some sort of saint."
Nicholas Meyer penned the script while J. Todd Harris and Ed Bachrach are producing. Beresford has recently been scouting locations in and around Chicago.
The title refers to the architect’s former home and studio in rural Spring Green, Wisconsin. The rambling hillside compound was the focus of scandal as Wright built it for himself and his married mistress Martha "Mamah" Cheney.
In 1914, while Wright was away, a domestic worker murdered Cheney, her two children and four others by locking them inside and setting fire to the building. Beresford says the story only covers a section of Wright's life and "doesn’t whitewash him into some sort of saint."
Nicholas Meyer penned the script while J. Todd Harris and Ed Bachrach are producing. Beresford has recently been scouting locations in and around Chicago.
- 12/6/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Australians have been lapping up a homegrown film adaptation of Louis de Bernières's dog tale. But, like Muriel's Wedding, can Red Dog succeed abroad?
"Love, and a bit with a dog. That's what they want." That, in Shakespeare in Love's eyes, was the infallible formula for popular success, as Australia has recently been finding out. A kelpie/cattle-dog cross has made big eyes at everyone and become the star of 2011's homegrown box-office sensation, Red Dog. Based on the Louis de Bernières novella and chronicling the real-life travels of a much-loved pooch through western Australia's Pilbara region in the 1970s, the film opened strongly on 11 August and continued building an audience on successive weekends. A four-legged fable has become a four-quadrant phenomenon: at the time of writing, it's taken A$13.7m ($14.4m), and was on the scent of the top 10 highest-grossing Australian films ever.
No one likes to kick a dog,...
"Love, and a bit with a dog. That's what they want." That, in Shakespeare in Love's eyes, was the infallible formula for popular success, as Australia has recently been finding out. A kelpie/cattle-dog cross has made big eyes at everyone and become the star of 2011's homegrown box-office sensation, Red Dog. Based on the Louis de Bernières novella and chronicling the real-life travels of a much-loved pooch through western Australia's Pilbara region in the 1970s, the film opened strongly on 11 August and continued building an audience on successive weekends. A four-legged fable has become a four-quadrant phenomenon: at the time of writing, it's taken A$13.7m ($14.4m), and was on the scent of the top 10 highest-grossing Australian films ever.
No one likes to kick a dog,...
- 9/20/2011
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
The Australian Cinematographers Society opened its photographic exhibit for world-renowned cinematographer Peter James Acs Asc last Friday. James is better known as the cinematographer behind critically-acclaimed and popular films such as as Driving Miss Daisy, Black Robe, Meet the Parents and Mao's Last Dancer..However, he is also a passionate stills photographer: his works have previously been exhibited in Sydney, Toronto and Los Angeles. The current Acs exhibit,.titled Man in the Landscape, includes images from his Lifesaver book, which was published in Australia and the USA, as well as black and white shots from a series also called Man in the Landscape. "This represents 20 years ..this black and white series," James said. "The lifesavers...
- 9/19/2011
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Jan Sardi has been elected president of the Australian Writers' Guild (Awg) following the end of Tim Pye's four-year term. Sardi, the screenwriter behind films such as Mao's Last Dancer and Shine,.has served on numerous Awg committees including recently as chair of its feature film committee and as an organiser of the National Screenwriters Conference. "I'm honoured to have been given this opportunity to represent our nation's storytellers as president of the Australian Writers' Guild, an organisation I've been a proud member of for thirty years," Sardi said in a statement. .Under Tim Pye's presidency, the Guild has grown to become one of our leading industry organisations and I look forward...
- 6/7/2011
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
This Week in DVD & Blu-ray is a column that compiles all the latest info regarding new DVD and Blu-ray releases, sales, and exclusive deals from stores including Target, Best Buy and Fry’s. The Green Hornet (Blu-ray available as single-disc and Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD Combo) The Green Hornet is a complete mess. Michel Gondry may be credited as its director, but it plays far more like a Seth Rogen comedy, with only occasional opportunities afforded to Gondry to inject his off-the-wall visual flourishes. Had Gondry and Rogen shared a more consistent overarching vision, the film might've been something special, but as it stands the story is too clumsy and shapeless to satisfyingly coalesce as a whole. And yet, I greatly enjoyed watching it. For all its faults, Rogen's self-aware spin on the superhero genre overcomes its lack of narrative momentum by never running out of amusing conceits to play...
- 5/5/2011
- by Adam Quigley
- Slash Film
In 1981, ballet dancer Li Cunxin defected to the United States after a lifetime of training in the People’s Republic of China. Twenty-eight years later, his autobiography was adapted by Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy) and became one of the highest-grossing Australian films of all time...too bad it wasn’t a better movie.
Mired by stolid direction and unimaginative filmmaking, Mao’s Last Dancer emotionlessly spells out its themes and plots in such a way that even its occasional dips into melodrama fail to evoke the eye-rolls they deserve. Much of the film unfolds in flashback, detailing Li’s childhood in an unnamed village of northeastern China and his adolescent training in Beijing.
Played as a teenager by Australian Ballet dancer Chengwu Guo and an adult by Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Chi Cao, Li struggles with a lack of talent and must instead develop his skills through sheer...
Mired by stolid direction and unimaginative filmmaking, Mao’s Last Dancer emotionlessly spells out its themes and plots in such a way that even its occasional dips into melodrama fail to evoke the eye-rolls they deserve. Much of the film unfolds in flashback, detailing Li’s childhood in an unnamed village of northeastern China and his adolescent training in Beijing.
Played as a teenager by Australian Ballet dancer Chengwu Guo and an adult by Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Chi Cao, Li struggles with a lack of talent and must instead develop his skills through sheer...
- 5/5/2011
- Shadowlocked
Contest: Win Mao’s Last Dancer DVD
Today we're bringing you another contest, this time we have 3 copies of Mao's Last Dancer on DVD to giveaway. Experience the cultural phenomenon of one of the year’s most talked about independent films as Mao’S Last Dancer arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on May 3rd from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Thanks for reading We Got This Covered...
Today we're bringing you another contest, this time we have 3 copies of Mao's Last Dancer on DVD to giveaway. Experience the cultural phenomenon of one of the year’s most talked about independent films as Mao’S Last Dancer arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on May 3rd from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Thanks for reading We Got This Covered...
- 4/29/2011
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Before the "Step Up" franchise went 3-D, dance shows dominated television and Zoe Saldana was a household name, "Center Stage" was a little movie with only Peter Gallagher's eyebrows as a recognizable feature. That was more than 10 years ago.
Now, of course, movin' and shakin' is becoming a major element of pop culture and Saldana is one of our favorite Hot People Looking Hot. But she's not the only star of that nouveau-cult classic heating up the big screen this summer.
Amanda Schull – yup, Jody Sawyer herself – is starring in "Mao's Last Dancer," a biopic of Chinese dancer Li Cunxin out on DVD this week.
We checked in with the now 32-year-old to find out what she's been up to for the past decade and if she and the erstwhile Eva Rodriguez (Saldana's "Center Stage" character, for the uninitiated) are still pals.
Do people often recognize you or call you Jody Sawyer?...
Now, of course, movin' and shakin' is becoming a major element of pop culture and Saldana is one of our favorite Hot People Looking Hot. But she's not the only star of that nouveau-cult classic heating up the big screen this summer.
Amanda Schull – yup, Jody Sawyer herself – is starring in "Mao's Last Dancer," a biopic of Chinese dancer Li Cunxin out on DVD this week.
We checked in with the now 32-year-old to find out what she's been up to for the past decade and if she and the erstwhile Eva Rodriguez (Saldana's "Center Stage" character, for the uninitiated) are still pals.
Do people often recognize you or call you Jody Sawyer?...
- 3/29/2011
- by Breanne L. Heldman
- NextMovie
The biggest local film at the box office in 2009 . Mao's Last Dancer . has topped the local DVD sales chart in 2010. The film, which is based on the autobiography of Chinese-Australlian ballet dancer Li Cunxin, was the 20th overall best selling DVD in 2010 according to data from GfK Australia. James Cameron.s Avatar topped the overall list, followed by Twilight: New Moon and Up. Mao.s Last Dancer grossed more than $15.4 million at the Australian box office in 2009 and it now stands as the twelfth most successful local film of all time. A spokeswoman for Roadshow, which distributed the DVD, said it had sold more than 100,000 units including Blu-ray and standard DVD releases. .It was our third highest-selling DVD of 2010 (behind Sex and the...
- 3/10/2011
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
My Idiot Brother
Opens: 2011
Cast: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan
Director: Jesse Peretz
Summary: Ned is a well-meaning idealist just released from prison for dealing cannabis. In succession, he disrupts the lives and homes of his three sisters: a career-driven journalist about to get her big break; a bisexual hipster whose lies are disrupting her relationship; and a married mother who hasn't noticed that her marriage is falling apart.
Analysis: Scoring a good response over the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival, this broad light comedy with a sweet heart charmed the pants off The Weinstein Company to the tune of around $6 million for distribution rights. That covers most of its sub-$10 million budget, a number that it could potentially outgross by several factors if the good-natured tone hinted at in the reviews were correct. If anything, the few negatives tended to be because this...
Opens: 2011
Cast: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan
Director: Jesse Peretz
Summary: Ned is a well-meaning idealist just released from prison for dealing cannabis. In succession, he disrupts the lives and homes of his three sisters: a career-driven journalist about to get her big break; a bisexual hipster whose lies are disrupting her relationship; and a married mother who hasn't noticed that her marriage is falling apart.
Analysis: Scoring a good response over the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival, this broad light comedy with a sweet heart charmed the pants off The Weinstein Company to the tune of around $6 million for distribution rights. That covers most of its sub-$10 million budget, a number that it could potentially outgross by several factors if the good-natured tone hinted at in the reviews were correct. If anything, the few negatives tended to be because this...
- 1/28/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
DVD Links: DVD News | Release Dates | New Dvds | Reviews | RSS Feed
Buried Lionsgate is going the "single serve" route with Buried, offering it only in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack as I'm sure all studios are now hoping consumers begin adopting Blu-ray over DVD. I haven't yet rewatched this film, but I did enjoy it in the theater and wonder how it will play at home. I can only assume the best way is to turn the lights off completely and crank up the sound. However, I'm not sure if this is a film I want to return to. After all, who wants to watch a film about a guy trapped in a box multiple times? Animal Kingdom I have been meaning to rewatch this one for a while now. I wasn't as enamored with it my first time around as everyone else, but the more I thought about it...
Buried Lionsgate is going the "single serve" route with Buried, offering it only in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack as I'm sure all studios are now hoping consumers begin adopting Blu-ray over DVD. I haven't yet rewatched this film, but I did enjoy it in the theater and wonder how it will play at home. I can only assume the best way is to turn the lights off completely and crank up the sound. However, I'm not sure if this is a film I want to return to. After all, who wants to watch a film about a guy trapped in a box multiple times? Animal Kingdom I have been meaning to rewatch this one for a while now. I wasn't as enamored with it my first time around as everyone else, but the more I thought about it...
- 1/18/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
We know you were losing sleep over it, so we're happy to be the first to tell you that Furry Vengeance and Yogi Bear are both eligible to be nominated for Best Screenplay Oscars on January 25. Also that Marmaduke score that has been wearing out your iPod? It's eligible too. However, the inclusion of these 2010 masterpieces really isn't that big a surprise. With final nominations just over a month away the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that 241 screenplays - 134 original and 107 adapted - are eligible for a Best Screenplay nomination and that music from 77 films is eligible for Best Original Score (not including Black Swan, The Fighter or The Kids Are All Right [1]). Add those to the 248 films eligible [2] for Best Picture and Oscar voters have a lot of work to do in the coming weeks. Kind of. See the full lists, the favorites and read the rules after the jump.
- 12/30/2010
- by Germain Lussier
- Slash Film
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences have announced that 248 feature films are eligible for best picture at the 2010 Academy Awards. The number is down from previous years -- According to THR [1], 274 films were eligible in 2009, and 281 in 2008. The list of 248 eligible films have been sent with a nominations ballot to all active and life members of the Academy "who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than ten pictures." The ten films receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Best Picture award. The nominations will be announced live on January 25th 2011 at 5:30am psd. The rules for eligibility is as follows: Films must be feature length (defined as over 40 minutes) Publicly exhibited by means of 35mm or 70mm film, or in a 24- or 48-frame progressive scan Digital Cinema format with a minimum projector resolution...
- 12/21/2010
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
Camilla Belle is in negotiations to join "True Blood" star Ryan Kwanten in the forthcoming sure-to-be-inspiring/based-on-at-true-story soccer pic "Zebras." The film will tell the story "of a music producer who discovers talented young soccer players in the ghettos of Soweto, South Africa, and forms them into a successful team dubbed the Zebras, because it brings together black and white players." You can feel the racial harmony already! The film was written by David Williamson ("Gallipoli") and will be helmed by Bruce Beresford who seems to be taking a liking to tepid inspirational fare having just come off "Mao's Last Dancer."…...
- 11/9/2010
- The Playlist
Assuming you aren't already lined up to see Paranormal Activity 2 at West Acres 14 this weekend, your other options are fairly limited. Matt Damon-led, Eastwood directed Hereafter opens at Century 10. Elsewise, the Fargo Theatre gains Mao's Last Dancer, a Chinese ballet drama, and the new Woody Allen film, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger. They'll also feature the original Dawn of the Dead in their Midnight Movie series. Enjoy!
- 10/21/2010
- by Heath Lambert, Fargo Movie Examiner
- Examiner Movies Channel
The nominations have been revealed for the 2010 Inside Film Awards, which celebrates Australian films that were screened at film festivals and in cinemas between September 18, 2009 and September 17, 2010. With the ceremony set to take place in November in Sydney, the critically lauded Animal Kingdom and Australian box office hit Mao's Last Dancer lead the charge with seven nominations each. Nominations are selected via the Inside Film Awards National Ratings Circuit, a poll that enables local audiences to play critic and rate the films they see. Apart from people simply being able to log on to the voting website, throughout the year, audiences across Australia register their scores on score sheets distributed at festivals and screenings.
- 10/13/2010
- FilmInk.com.au
The nominations have been revealed for the 2010 Inside Film Awards, which celebrates Australian films that were screened at film festivals and in cinemas between September 18, 2009 and September 17, 2010. With the ceremony set to take place in November in Sydney, the critically lauded Animal Kingdom and Australian box office hit Mao's Last Dancer lead the charge with seven nominations each. Nominations are selected via the Inside Film Awards National Ratings Circuit, a poll that enables local audiences to play critic and rate the films they see. Apart from people simply being able to log on to the voting website, throughout the year, audiences across Australia register their scores on score sheets distributed at festivals and screenings.
- 10/13/2010
- FilmInk.com.au
While The Social Network opened in first place on the overall weekend chart, the other "Facebook movie," Catfish, topped limited releases for the second weekend in a row. Bollywood movie Anjaana Anjaani had a solid second place debut, and documentary Waiting for Superman expanded and nearly tripled its take from last weekend.Catfish more than doubled its theater count to 136 and was up 30 percent to $590,177. That was good enough for 14th place on the overall weekend chart. While Catfish's per-theater average eased to $4,340, the mysterious documentary seems to have enough momentum to facilitate further expansion to add to its $1.62 million total. Bollywood romantic comedy Anjaana Anjaani finished in 15th place on the overall chart with $517,608 at 91 locations. This was about average for a Bollywood movie though it was slightly off from Dabangg, which debuted to $628,137 at fewer theaters last month. Waiting for Superman expanded to 34 theaters (up from four last...
- 10/5/2010
- by Ray Subers <[email protected]>
- Box Office Mojo
Eleanor Burke and Ron Eyal's feature "Stranger Things" and Jeff Malmberg's doc "Marwencol" took top prizes Saturday evening at the 11th Woodstock Film Festival. Emceed by Oscar-nominated writer/director and Woodstock resident Ron Nyswaner ("Philadelphia"), the Gala Maverick Awards ceremony also honored writer/director Bruce Beresford ("Mao's Last Dancer") with its Honorary Maverick Award, veteran film distributor Bob Berney with the festival's Honorary Trailblazer Award, and actor Keanu Reeves, who received the festival's ...
- 10/3/2010
- Indiewire
Get Low managed to once again lead all limited releases despite seeing its fortunes fade. Among new releases, Catfish and Never Let Me Go led the way with solid per theater averages, while Jack Goes Boating and Leaves of Grass underwhelmed at just a handful of venues. Down 36 percent, Get Low made $551,494, bringing its total to $7.8 million. This marked the sixth-straight weekend that the Robert Duvall-Bill Murray comedy has topped the specialty list. The last movie to accomplish this feat was The Visitor, which led for six straight weekends from April to May 2008. Dabangg held the second spot for the second weekend in a row, falling 53 percent to $297,229. In ten days, the Bollywood action thriller has earned $1.07 million. The mystery surrounding Catfish seems to have translated to a fair amount of interest on its opening weekend. The social-networking docu-thriller debuted to $257,285 at 12 locations for a per theater average...
- 9/21/2010
- by Ray Subers <[email protected]>
- Box Office Mojo
For the fifth straight weekend, Get Low maintained the top spot among limited releases. Bollywood action thriller Dabangg placed second in its opening with an impressive per theater average, while Flipped finally expanded and had its highest-grossing weekend yet. New releases Legendary and I'm Still Here failed to make much of an impression, while Heartbreaker and The Romantics saw substantial attendance in just a handful of theaters. Get Low dropped 28 percent to $864,834 at 529 locations. It's per theater average of $1,635 was the lowest yet for the Robert Duvall-Bill Murray comedy, and it's not likely to sustain its theater count moving forward. Still, Get Low has earned a good $6.9 million through its seventh weekend, and it has a shot at reaching the $10 million mark before the end of its run. Dabangg opened to $628,137 at 62 locations. Its $10,131 per theater average was the highest for a Bollywood movie since My Name is Khan in February.
- 9/13/2010
- by Ray Subers <[email protected]>
- Box Office Mojo
Get Low claimed the top spot among limited releases for the fourth weekend in a row, which is the year's longest streak. Runner-up Mao's Last Dancer added theaters and received a bump, while We Are Family opened below most recent Bollywood movies. Get Low dipped 27 percent to $1.2 million over the three-day weekend ($1.6 million including Monday) at 560 theaters. This brought its total to $5.8 million, and the movie now appears to be on pace to top The Last Station as distributor Sony Pictures Classics' highest-grossing 2010 release by next weekend. Mao's Last Dancer was up 13 percent to $338,179 at 95 theaters (four-day gross of $444,200). Through Monday, the drama has earned $1.78 million. We Are Family was the weekend's top debut, opening to $296,907 at 78 locations. This trailed other summer Bollywood offerings like Kites, Raajneeti, Raavan, I Hate Luv Storys and Peepli Live. Through Monday, We Are Family has made $366,354. The Girl Who Played with Fire continued its slow decline,...
- 9/8/2010
- by Ray Subers <[email protected]>
- Box Office Mojo
While living in Houston over 20 years ago, I became acquainted with some of the principal and soloist male dancers from the Houston Ballet Dance Company. To me their lives were glamorous and dramatic. Their passion on stage with their pas de deux partners often extended beyond the stage to fiery romances. I also remember one young Chinese dancer who was friendly enough but more restrained than his boisterous British and American counterparts. I had no idea at the time what led to his employment with the Houston Ballet, but the less-than-glamorous circumstances were captured in Li Cunxin's 2003 autobiography adapted by Jan Sardi (Shine, The Notebook) for the screen in the biopic Mao's Last Dancer. Directed by Academy Award nominee Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Tender Mercies), this film captures the politics and drama involved in Cunxin's remarkable journey from rags to international stardom.
Mao's Last Dancer spans several decades through a series of flashbacks.
Mao's Last Dancer spans several decades through a series of flashbacks.
- 9/2/2010
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
After expanding in to a nearly-wide 570 theaters, Get Low easily topped all limited releases for the third straight weekend. Mao's Last Dancer also added a handful of theaters and cruised in to second, while The Girl Who Played with Fire slowed a bit but maintained a solid pace. The top new release this weekend was documentary Nick Saban: Gamechanger, while French gangster movie Mesrine: Killer Instinct also had a fine debut. Get Low was up 130 percent to $1.64 million, making this the biggest weekend for a Sony Pictures Classics release since The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus grossed $1.76 million back in January. It's per theater average of $2,878 didn't inspire much excitement, though, and it's unlikely that Get Low will see any further expansion of consequence. The Robert Duvall-Bill Murray comedy has earned $3.6 million through its fifth weekend. Mao's Last Dancer more than doubled its theater count to 75 and grossed...
- 8/31/2010
- by Ray Subers <[email protected]>
- Box Office Mojo
After nearly tripling its theater count, Get Low had no problem remaining the top draw among limited releases for the second straight weekend. Chart regulars The Girl Who Played with Fire and Winter's Bone showed no signs of fading, while Mao's Last Dancer fared decently in its debut. Get Low added 93 theaters for a total of 146 and was up 89 percent to $713,794. This is the biggest-grossing weekend for a Sony Pictures Classics release since Chloe debuted to $900,688 back in March. While Get Low's $4,889 per theater average was relatively unremarkable, it should be enough to warrant further expansion. Through its fourth weekend, the Robert Duvall-Bill Murray comedy has earned $1.7 million. The Girl Who Played with Fire rose three percent, grossing $375,805 in its seventh weekend. The second part of the Millenium series has thus far made $5.77 million and is still outpacing its predecessor, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by...
- 8/23/2010
- by Ray Subers <[email protected]>
- Box Office Mojo
You know it's late-summer clearance time for film distributors when five wide openers fail to topple a holdover movie from its No. 1 roost and no film fetches more than teen millions in weekend boxoffice.
Fox/New Regency's horror spoof "Vampires Suck" sunk its teeth into $12.2 million to nab second place in its first weekend, with $18.6 million in cumulative domestic coin since bowing Wednesday. But Sylvester Stallone's ensemble actioner "The Expendables" from Lionsgate and Nu Image/Millennium again grabbed the brass ring, as a relatively modest 53% drop from its first frame produced a $16.5 million sophomore session and $64.9 million cume.
Also elbowing their way into theaters:
-- Warner Bros./Alcon's urban comedy "The Lottery" cashed in for an acceptable $11.1 million in fourth place.
-- Dimension Films' horror pic "Piranha 3D" floated to a tame $10 million in sixth place, despite premium pricing in almost 2,200 3D locations.
-- Universal/Working Title's family...
Fox/New Regency's horror spoof "Vampires Suck" sunk its teeth into $12.2 million to nab second place in its first weekend, with $18.6 million in cumulative domestic coin since bowing Wednesday. But Sylvester Stallone's ensemble actioner "The Expendables" from Lionsgate and Nu Image/Millennium again grabbed the brass ring, as a relatively modest 53% drop from its first frame produced a $16.5 million sophomore session and $64.9 million cume.
Also elbowing their way into theaters:
-- Warner Bros./Alcon's urban comedy "The Lottery" cashed in for an acceptable $11.1 million in fourth place.
-- Dimension Films' horror pic "Piranha 3D" floated to a tame $10 million in sixth place, despite premium pricing in almost 2,200 3D locations.
-- Universal/Working Title's family...
- 8/22/2010
- by By Carl DiOrio
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Are you trying to decide whether or not to see Bruce Beresford's latest film, Mao's Last Dancer? Well, the attached video clips that we've been sent by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Ato Pictures might help you make your mind up. You can view them in the Video tabs above.
Mao's Last Dancer is based on the true story of ballet star Li Cunxin. Hailing from China, Li grew up in a poor, rural part of China before going on to international stardom. The film is based on his autobiography and stars Chi Cao, a dancer and principal at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, in the title role. Appearing alongside Chi are Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, The Sweet Hereafter), Kyle Maclachlan (Sex and the City, Twin Peaks), Joan Chen (Lust, Caution) and Amanda Schull (Center Stage, One Tree Hill).
Bruce Beresford's long directing career has earned him numerous awards and nominations.
Mao's Last Dancer is based on the true story of ballet star Li Cunxin. Hailing from China, Li grew up in a poor, rural part of China before going on to international stardom. The film is based on his autobiography and stars Chi Cao, a dancer and principal at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, in the title role. Appearing alongside Chi are Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, The Sweet Hereafter), Kyle Maclachlan (Sex and the City, Twin Peaks), Joan Chen (Lust, Caution) and Amanda Schull (Center Stage, One Tree Hill).
Bruce Beresford's long directing career has earned him numerous awards and nominations.
- 8/21/2010
- CinemaSpy
On behalf of Samuel Goldwyn Films and Ato Pictures, we are excited to present couple of new clips from
Total Videos: (10)
Total Images: (10)');">Mao's Last Dancer now playing in select theaters!To see if it's playing in a theater near you click on this link. <a href='http://schedule.samuelgoldwynfilms.com/films/mao%27s+last+dancer/' target=_blank>Theater Near You!</a>A drama based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, he fell in love with an American woman. Two years later, he managed to defect and went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and as a principal artist with the Australian Ballet.Hit the Jump to see couple of new clips.<center><embed src="http://cdn.springboard.gorillanation.com/storage/xplayer/yo033.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460" height="300" swliveconnect="true" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" flashvars="file=http://www.filmsnmovies.com/media/sconfig.php?id=17321&width=518&height=457&siteId=329&pid=fsnm002&autostart=false&allowscriptaccess=always&usefullscreen=true"></embed></center><center><embed src="http://cdn.springboard.gorillanation.com/storage/xplayer/yo033.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460" height="300" swliveconnect="true" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" flashvars="file=http://www.filmsnmovies.com/media/sconfig.php?id=17297&width=518&height=457&siteId=329&pid=fsnm002&autostart=false&allowscriptaccess=always&usefullscreen=true"></embed></center>...
Total Videos: (10)
Total Images: (10)');">Mao's Last Dancer now playing in select theaters!To see if it's playing in a theater near you click on this link. <a href='http://schedule.samuelgoldwynfilms.com/films/mao%27s+last+dancer/' target=_blank>Theater Near You!</a>A drama based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, he fell in love with an American woman. Two years later, he managed to defect and went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and as a principal artist with the Australian Ballet.Hit the Jump to see couple of new clips.<center><embed src="http://cdn.springboard.gorillanation.com/storage/xplayer/yo033.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460" height="300" swliveconnect="true" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" flashvars="file=http://www.filmsnmovies.com/media/sconfig.php?id=17321&width=518&height=457&siteId=329&pid=fsnm002&autostart=false&allowscriptaccess=always&usefullscreen=true"></embed></center><center><embed src="http://cdn.springboard.gorillanation.com/storage/xplayer/yo033.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460" height="300" swliveconnect="true" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" flashvars="file=http://www.filmsnmovies.com/media/sconfig.php?id=17297&width=518&height=457&siteId=329&pid=fsnm002&autostart=false&allowscriptaccess=always&usefullscreen=true"></embed></center>...
- 8/21/2010
- Films N Movies
Indie Roundup is your weekly guide to what's new and upcoming in the world of independent film. Pictured above: Chris Messina and Rashida Jones in Monogamy.
Opening / Expanding. A different (?) kind of war doc, a frothy comedy, and a space doc highlight the limited releases opening and/or expanding this weekend.
The Tillman Story. Professional football player volunteers to fight terrorists and is killed by friendly fire. Mao's Last Dancer. Chinese ballet dancer heads to Houston, discovers romance and a burning desire for freedom. Soul Kitchen. From director Fatih Akin (Head On, The Edge of Heaven) comes a light comedy. The Army of Crime. A poet leads a clandestine battle against Nazi occupation. Happythankhyoumoreplease. Josh Radnor's debut comedy: young people, relationships, New York City. Altiplano. Riot in a Andean village brings things to a boil for a married couple. Breathless. Jean-Luc Godard's new wave classic continues; now in 6 theaters.
Opening / Expanding. A different (?) kind of war doc, a frothy comedy, and a space doc highlight the limited releases opening and/or expanding this weekend.
The Tillman Story. Professional football player volunteers to fight terrorists and is killed by friendly fire. Mao's Last Dancer. Chinese ballet dancer heads to Houston, discovers romance and a burning desire for freedom. Soul Kitchen. From director Fatih Akin (Head On, The Edge of Heaven) comes a light comedy. The Army of Crime. A poet leads a clandestine battle against Nazi occupation. Happythankhyoumoreplease. Josh Radnor's debut comedy: young people, relationships, New York City. Altiplano. Riot in a Andean village brings things to a boil for a married couple. Breathless. Jean-Luc Godard's new wave classic continues; now in 6 theaters.
- 8/20/2010
- by Peter Martin
- Cinematical
Amanda Schull, who always had a "secret desire" to act, has started to fulfill her not-so-secret dreams. The ballerina-turned-actor stars in "Mao's Last Dancer," a new movie based on dancer Li Cunxin's bestselling autobiography. The rags-to-riches tale—which was directed by Academy Award nominee Bruce Beresford ("Tender Mercies," "Driving Miss Daisy")—stars Chi Cao (principle dancer with the Birmingham Royal Ballet), Joan Chen ("Lust, Caution), Wang Shuang Bao ("Balzac and the Little Chinese Princess"), Bruce Greenwood ("Star Trek"), and Kyle MacLachlan ("Twin Peaks"). The story follows Li from age 11 when, during Mao's Cultural Revolution, he was selected to study ballet. He leaves his rural village for Beijing, and is eventually selected to be among the first students to study abroad. Schull plays Li's first wife, Elizabeth Mackey. Once a ballerina at the San Francisco Ballet, Schull retired in 2006 and is now actively pursuing an film and television career. On the big screen,...
- 8/20/2010
- backstage.com
The multiplexes are a battleground this weekend with five new movies opening in wide release including Alexandre Aja's Piranha 3D, the Jennifer Aniston / Jason Bateman romantic comedy The Switch, and the Twilight spoof Vampires Suck, plus Lottery Ticket starring Ice Cube and Bow Wow, and Nanny McPhee Returns starring Emma Thompson. Vampires Suck opened early on Wednesday and seems to be doing big business... will Stallone and The Expendables be able to hold the Twihards at bay? Probably not. In limited release we also have a pair of critically acclaimed documentaries in The Tillman Story and A Film Unfinished. What will you be checking out this weekend? Vampires Suck [1] Piranha 3D [2] The Switch [3] Lottery Ticket [4] Nanny McPhee Returns [5] The Tillman Story [6] (limited) A Film Unfinished [7] (limited) Mao's Last Dancer [8] (limited) Soul Kitchen [9] (limited) Down Terrace [10] (limited) [1] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1666186/ [2] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464154/ [3] http://www.
- 8/20/2010
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
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