Exclusive: Ed Speleers, Ed Westwick, and Dichen Lachman have signed on to star in dark thriller Unholy Night. Grandave International will launch the pic at the upcoming European Film Market.
Directed by Derek Presley and written by Crystal Diane Stevens and Presley, the film follows the story of newly ordained priest Father Paul O’Neill, who is reunited with his ex-con older brother, Luke. When Paul discovers that his ex, Donna, had his child almost eight years ago, he endeavors to rescue his daughter and Donna from her abusive husband, Tony. However, chaos ensues as Tony vows revenge and hires a hitman to eliminate Paul.
The production is helmed by producers Stephen Endelman and Ajay Nayyar, with casting by Kerry Barden, editing by David Leonard, and music composed by Stephen Endelman. Principal photography as well as post-production will take place at Twickenham Studios in London.
Directed by Derek Presley and written by Crystal Diane Stevens and Presley, the film follows the story of newly ordained priest Father Paul O’Neill, who is reunited with his ex-con older brother, Luke. When Paul discovers that his ex, Donna, had his child almost eight years ago, he endeavors to rescue his daughter and Donna from her abusive husband, Tony. However, chaos ensues as Tony vows revenge and hires a hitman to eliminate Paul.
The production is helmed by producers Stephen Endelman and Ajay Nayyar, with casting by Kerry Barden, editing by David Leonard, and music composed by Stephen Endelman. Principal photography as well as post-production will take place at Twickenham Studios in London.
- 2/8/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Dichen Lachman (Severance), Willa Fitzgerald (Reacher), Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley) and Harvey Keitel will topline Steven Brand’s noir feature, Joe Baby, which has wrapped production in Mississippi.
The film based on Drew Fine’s novel centers on Lachman’s character of the same name—a “collector” for a private investigator, searching for a way out of her unfulfilling and sometimes violent life. When Joe takes on a case to help the savvy daughter of a real estate mogul recover money she was conned out of, she is also approached by an unorthodox FBI Agent who is looking into the cold case murder of Joe’s hit-man father. When Joe discovers the two cases may be related, she is soon caught up in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game in which she must face her violent past in order to live another day.
Joe Baby will also star Kelly Hu (The Orville...
The film based on Drew Fine’s novel centers on Lachman’s character of the same name—a “collector” for a private investigator, searching for a way out of her unfulfilling and sometimes violent life. When Joe takes on a case to help the savvy daughter of a real estate mogul recover money she was conned out of, she is also approached by an unorthodox FBI Agent who is looking into the cold case murder of Joe’s hit-man father. When Joe discovers the two cases may be related, she is soon caught up in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game in which she must face her violent past in order to live another day.
Joe Baby will also star Kelly Hu (The Orville...
- 6/27/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Boon’ is a sequel to 2021 thriller ‘Red Stone’
Los Angeles-based Sublimity Entertainment has boarded international rights for EFM to Boon a stand-alone sequel to the 2021 thriller Red Stone, starrinig Neal McDonough.
McDonough reprises his role as Nick Boon, the mercenary trying to atone for his life as an enforcer for a merciless syndicate.
Rounding out the key cast are Tommy Flanagan, Christiane Seidel, Jason Scott Lee, Demetrius Grosse, Christina Ochoa, Gabrielle Carteris, Jake Melrose, McDonough’s Band Of Brothers co-star James Madio and singer-songwriter Pat Monahan.
McDonough co-wrote Boon with returning director Derek Presley and produced the feature alongside Jason Starne,...
Los Angeles-based Sublimity Entertainment has boarded international rights for EFM to Boon a stand-alone sequel to the 2021 thriller Red Stone, starrinig Neal McDonough.
McDonough reprises his role as Nick Boon, the mercenary trying to atone for his life as an enforcer for a merciless syndicate.
Rounding out the key cast are Tommy Flanagan, Christiane Seidel, Jason Scott Lee, Demetrius Grosse, Christina Ochoa, Gabrielle Carteris, Jake Melrose, McDonough’s Band Of Brothers co-star James Madio and singer-songwriter Pat Monahan.
McDonough co-wrote Boon with returning director Derek Presley and produced the feature alongside Jason Starne,...
- 2/13/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Cinedigm has acquired North American rights to Boon—the sequel to the Neal McDonough thriller Red Stone, which it released in theaters and on VOD in December. The company will release the new title, starring McDonough, Tommy Flanagan and Christiane Seidel, in theaters and on VOD this spring.
In the action-thriller from returning director Derek Presley, McDonough reprises his role as Nick Boon, the mercenary trying to atone for his life as an enforcer for a merciless syndicate. Running from his past, Boon moves to a remote area in the Pacific Northwest where he meets a struggling widow (Seidel) and her son. He finds the pair living in fear of a criminal kingpin (Flanagan) who has taken up residence on their land. Knowing that their lives are in danger, Boon has no choice but to act as the pair race to defend everything they hold dear.
In the action-thriller from returning director Derek Presley, McDonough reprises his role as Nick Boon, the mercenary trying to atone for his life as an enforcer for a merciless syndicate. Running from his past, Boon moves to a remote area in the Pacific Northwest where he meets a struggling widow (Seidel) and her son. He finds the pair living in fear of a criminal kingpin (Flanagan) who has taken up residence on their land. Knowing that their lives are in danger, Boon has no choice but to act as the pair race to defend everything they hold dear.
- 1/5/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Animal Kingdom actress Christina Ochoa will star in Boon, the upcoming western sequel pic from Yellowstone‘s Neal McDonough.
Boon is a spiritual sequel to the movie Red Stone that takes place in the distant future and picks up with henchman Nick Boon (McDonough) trying to get on with his life. At the same time we learn, our Preacher, the widowed Catherine, played by Christiane Seidel, is busy trying to protect herself and her son from a local criminal organization that is using her land for some unusual activities. When Boon and Catherine’s lives cross paths they find themselves leaning on each other to protect everything they stand for.
Derek Presley, who directed the first installment, Red Stone, returns to helm Boon and is co-writing. Red Stone producer Jason Starne also returns for the sequel.
In addition to Ochoa, the film features Jake Melrose, James Madio, and John Patrick Jordan.
Boon is a spiritual sequel to the movie Red Stone that takes place in the distant future and picks up with henchman Nick Boon (McDonough) trying to get on with his life. At the same time we learn, our Preacher, the widowed Catherine, played by Christiane Seidel, is busy trying to protect herself and her son from a local criminal organization that is using her land for some unusual activities. When Boon and Catherine’s lives cross paths they find themselves leaning on each other to protect everything they stand for.
Derek Presley, who directed the first installment, Red Stone, returns to helm Boon and is co-writing. Red Stone producer Jason Starne also returns for the sequel.
In addition to Ochoa, the film features Jake Melrose, James Madio, and John Patrick Jordan.
- 2/16/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Rotterdam Winners
This year’s virtual International Film Festival Rotterdam has crowned the winners from its film program. Southern India-set Pebbles by Vinothraj P.S won the Tiger Award, while I Comete – A Corsican Summer by French filmmaker Pascal Tagnati and Looking for Venera by Norika Sefa from Kosovo both won Special Jury Awards. The Vpro Big Screen Award went to El perro que no calla by Ana Katz from Argentina and Quo Vadis, Aida? by Bosnian filmmaker Jasmila Žbanić won the BankGiro Loterij Audience Award. The festival named its industry winners last week. “In these most challenging of times, we are incredibly proud to have brought an outstanding selection of titles in our reimagined festival format,” said festival director Vanja Kaludjercic.
Goteborg Fest Awards
Tigers, directed by Ronnie Sandahl, won the 2021 Dragon Award Best Nordic Film as this year’s Goteborg Film Festival came to a close over the weekend.
This year’s virtual International Film Festival Rotterdam has crowned the winners from its film program. Southern India-set Pebbles by Vinothraj P.S won the Tiger Award, while I Comete – A Corsican Summer by French filmmaker Pascal Tagnati and Looking for Venera by Norika Sefa from Kosovo both won Special Jury Awards. The Vpro Big Screen Award went to El perro que no calla by Ana Katz from Argentina and Quo Vadis, Aida? by Bosnian filmmaker Jasmila Žbanić won the BankGiro Loterij Audience Award. The festival named its industry winners last week. “In these most challenging of times, we are incredibly proud to have brought an outstanding selection of titles in our reimagined festival format,” said festival director Vanja Kaludjercic.
Goteborg Fest Awards
Tigers, directed by Ronnie Sandahl, won the 2021 Dragon Award Best Nordic Film as this year’s Goteborg Film Festival came to a close over the weekend.
- 2/8/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Christiane Seidel has joined the indie western sequel Boon which stars, is produced by and co-written by Yellowstone thespian Neal McDonough.
Boon is a spiritual sequel to the movie Red Stone that takes place in the distant future and picks up with henchman Nick Boon (McDonough) trying to get on with his life. At the same time we learn, our Preacher, the widowed Catherine, played by Seidel, is busy trying to protect herself and her son from a local criminal organization that is using her land for some unusual activities. When Boon and Catherine’s lives cross paths they find themselves leaning on each other to protect everything they stand for.
Derek Presley, who directed the first installment, Red Stone, is returning to helm Boon and is co-writing. Red Stone producer Jason Starne is also returning for Boon.
In addition to Seidel, the film stars Jake Melrose, James Madio,...
Boon is a spiritual sequel to the movie Red Stone that takes place in the distant future and picks up with henchman Nick Boon (McDonough) trying to get on with his life. At the same time we learn, our Preacher, the widowed Catherine, played by Seidel, is busy trying to protect herself and her son from a local criminal organization that is using her land for some unusual activities. When Boon and Catherine’s lives cross paths they find themselves leaning on each other to protect everything they stand for.
Derek Presley, who directed the first installment, Red Stone, is returning to helm Boon and is co-writing. Red Stone producer Jason Starne is also returning for Boon.
In addition to Seidel, the film stars Jake Melrose, James Madio,...
- 12/22/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Nicole Ari Parker To Star In Family Music Drama ‘Opus’ From Felicia D. Henderson In the Works At Fox
With Empire coming to an end, Fox is looking to keep co-star Nicole Ari Parker in the fold with a new series. The network has given a script commitment with penalty to Opus, a one-hour family music drama starring and executive produced by Empire‘s Parker, from writer Felicia D. Henderson (Empire), producer Darryl Taja and Empire studio 20th Century Fox TV, where Henderson is under a deal.
Written by Henderson, in Opus, classical and urban music will clash when Willie Mae Gray (Parker), Europe’s most celebrated and only African American conductor, suddenly returns to Baltimore to reinvent her hometown’s crumbling symphony orchestra, while attempting to rebuild the relationship with her teenage son, an underground Mc on the rise.
Parker and Henderson executive produce with Darryl Taja (The Perfect Guy), Stephen Endelman and Kara Feifer. Opus is a co-production of 20th Century Fox TV and Fox Entertainment.
Parker...
Written by Henderson, in Opus, classical and urban music will clash when Willie Mae Gray (Parker), Europe’s most celebrated and only African American conductor, suddenly returns to Baltimore to reinvent her hometown’s crumbling symphony orchestra, while attempting to rebuild the relationship with her teenage son, an underground Mc on the rise.
Parker and Henderson executive produce with Darryl Taja (The Perfect Guy), Stephen Endelman and Kara Feifer. Opus is a co-production of 20th Century Fox TV and Fox Entertainment.
Parker...
- 10/3/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
“Empire” star Nicole Ari Parker could be making the move to a new music drama at Fox.
Variety has learned that Parker is attached to star in and executive produce the one-hour drama “Opus,” which has received a script commitment with a penalty attached at the broadcaster. Parker would play Willie Mae Gray, Europe’s most celebrated and only African American conductor, who suddenly returns to Baltimore to reinvent her hometown’s crumbling symphony orchestra, while attempting to rebuild the relationship with her teenage son, an underground Mc on the rise.
“Empire” writer and consulting producer Felicia D. Henderson is writing and executive producing “Opus,” with Darryl Taja, Stephen Endelman, and Kara Feifer also executive producing. 20th Century Fox Television will co-produce with Fox Entertainment. Henderson is currently under an overall deal at 20th TV.
Parker first joined “Empire” in the show’s fourth season. Her other recent TV credits include shows like “Younger,...
Variety has learned that Parker is attached to star in and executive produce the one-hour drama “Opus,” which has received a script commitment with a penalty attached at the broadcaster. Parker would play Willie Mae Gray, Europe’s most celebrated and only African American conductor, who suddenly returns to Baltimore to reinvent her hometown’s crumbling symphony orchestra, while attempting to rebuild the relationship with her teenage son, an underground Mc on the rise.
“Empire” writer and consulting producer Felicia D. Henderson is writing and executive producing “Opus,” with Darryl Taja, Stephen Endelman, and Kara Feifer also executive producing. 20th Century Fox Television will co-produce with Fox Entertainment. Henderson is currently under an overall deal at 20th TV.
Parker first joined “Empire” in the show’s fourth season. Her other recent TV credits include shows like “Younger,...
- 10/3/2019
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
The Newman scoring stage at 20th Century-Fox was overflowing with people – and good will – as Ascap last night celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Film Scoring Workshop with a studio recording session for the 12 lucky young composers chosen to participate.
“This is like a window into the time continuum, where you can look into the future and see those who are going to make a real contribution to film music,” Ascap president and chairman Paul Williams said. “It’s a cultural gift in one sense, but on another level it’s a really smart business investment.”
The performing-rights society sponsors this four-week event for emerging film and TV composers every summer, with Emmy winner Richard Bellis at the helm. Ascap arranges meetings with agents, lawyers, studio executives and experienced composers; this year’s field trips included visits to the studios of Junkie Xl (“Mad Max Fury Road”), Matthew Margeson...
“This is like a window into the time continuum, where you can look into the future and see those who are going to make a real contribution to film music,” Ascap president and chairman Paul Williams said. “It’s a cultural gift in one sense, but on another level it’s a really smart business investment.”
The performing-rights society sponsors this four-week event for emerging film and TV composers every summer, with Emmy winner Richard Bellis at the helm. Ascap arranges meetings with agents, lawyers, studio executives and experienced composers; this year’s field trips included visits to the studios of Junkie Xl (“Mad Max Fury Road”), Matthew Margeson...
- 8/2/2018
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Harvey Keitel takes center stage as a double-crossed crook goes for blood after a major jewel heist turns sour — and bloody. Timothy Hutton and Stephen Dorff are in on the split for one late- ’90s crime caper that’s not a stylistic hijack of Quentin Tarantino. Directed by John Irvin.
City of Industry
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1997 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 97 min. / Street Date October 3, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Stephen Dorff, Timothy Hutton, Famke Janssen, Wade Dominguez, Michael Jai White, Lucy Alexis Liu, Reno Wilson, Dana Barron, Tamara Clatterbuck, Elliott Gould.
Cinematography: Thomas Burstyn
Film Editor: Mark Conte
Special Effects: Joe Lombardi
Original Music: Stephen Endelman
Written by Ken Solarz
Produced by Evzen Kolar, Ken Solarz
Directed by John Irvin
Director John Irvin earned his right to crow early on with TV’s ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and the excellent action film about mercenaries The Dogs of War.
City of Industry
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1997 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 97 min. / Street Date October 3, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Stephen Dorff, Timothy Hutton, Famke Janssen, Wade Dominguez, Michael Jai White, Lucy Alexis Liu, Reno Wilson, Dana Barron, Tamara Clatterbuck, Elliott Gould.
Cinematography: Thomas Burstyn
Film Editor: Mark Conte
Special Effects: Joe Lombardi
Original Music: Stephen Endelman
Written by Ken Solarz
Produced by Evzen Kolar, Ken Solarz
Directed by John Irvin
Director John Irvin earned his right to crow early on with TV’s ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and the excellent action film about mercenaries The Dogs of War.
- 10/21/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Composer Stephen Endelman has acquired the rights to the iconic 1970s ITV drama Upstairs Downstairs. The show, the precursor to Downton Abbey that aired for more than ten years, is being revived as a stage musical.
- 9/13/2017
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
There are many ways a person can commit suicide, quick and easy or long and slow, but the end result is all the same. One way, for example, would be to deliberately do something to royally piss off the mafia. Yes, that would just about guarantee your own demise. With this in mind, let’s talk about a film, based on a true story…
By its title, Rob The Mob does sound like it should be a comedy about the mafia. In fact, it is actually a very funny film. I’d even say it holds its own against My Cousin Vinny (1992). As appealing as that is on the surface, it gets better. Not only is this a funny, entertaining movie, but it’s also based on a true story. The events in this film, or at least parts of it, actually happened… in real life!
So, why am I...
By its title, Rob The Mob does sound like it should be a comedy about the mafia. In fact, it is actually a very funny film. I’d even say it holds its own against My Cousin Vinny (1992). As appealing as that is on the surface, it gets better. Not only is this a funny, entertaining movie, but it’s also based on a true story. The events in this film, or at least parts of it, actually happened… in real life!
So, why am I...
- 3/25/2014
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Street Fighter: Legend Of Chun-Li soundtrack. Now here’s a funny thing. Street Fighter is a remake of a 1994 Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle, one of the original video-game-to-cinema cross-overs (along with Super Mario Bros, starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo). The original has a dazzlingly bizarre list of co-stars including Raul Julia, Kylie Minogue, Simon Callow (no really) and the wonderfully named Grand L Bush. It was directed by the once-great screenwriter Steven E. De Souza, who never directed a feature again.
The 2009 Street Fighter is headed by Kristen Kreuk and Chris Klein (yes, that’s the so-cute-she’s-quite-annoying one from Smallville and the just-plain-not-very-good one from American Pie), and helmed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, director of Cradle 2 The Grave (don’t get me started) and recent game transfer Doom.
Now, let’s be honest about this. If you were hired as a development executive at a major studio,...
The 2009 Street Fighter is headed by Kristen Kreuk and Chris Klein (yes, that’s the so-cute-she’s-quite-annoying one from Smallville and the just-plain-not-very-good one from American Pie), and helmed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, director of Cradle 2 The Grave (don’t get me started) and recent game transfer Doom.
Now, let’s be honest about this. If you were hired as a development executive at a major studio,...
- 3/3/2009
- by Chris Neilan
- Movie-moron.com
Film review: 'The Proposition'
While the premise sounds ripe -- a privileged '30s-era feminist writer pays a young man to sire her child, with the blessing of her sterile husband -- "The Proposition" (formerly "Shakespeare's Sister") is a ponderous slab of heavy-handed poetic justice dished out by unsympathetic characters in borrowed Merchant-Ivory attire.
Receiving its world premiere at the recent Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the picture will be a doubtful boxoffice proposition for PolyGram despite a high-caliber cast fronted by Kenneth Branagh, Madeleine Stowe and William Hurt.
Stowe is very much in her period element as Eleanor Barrett, the emancipated scribe in question who seeks guidance from the writings of Virginia Woolf as well as a child from her devoted, wealthy husband Arthur (hurt). When it's learned that he can't deliver the goods, the couple hires Roger Martin Neil Patrick Harris), a young, hesitant surrogate, to do the honors.
But when Eleanor becomes pregnant, said stud goes from awkward to arrogant to downright obsessed, threatening to scandalize the staid Beacon Hill establishment by revealing their little business arrangement.
Not wanting to reveal too much more, suffice it to say someone makes sure Martin goes away permanently, while the new Catholic priest (Branagh) mysteriously ducks the couple's repeated dinner invitations.
Screenwriter Rick Ramage lays the intrigue and malice on pretty thick, while director Lesli Linka Glatter ("Now and Then") gives everything the same claustrophobic, purposeful weight. Given the heady subject matter, a little irony would have been most helpful. Add the wrap-around, redundant narration (most likely added after the fact), and the picture goes from merely unsuccessful to quite irritating.
Try as they might to inject some warm-blooded humanity into their mopey, unappealing characters, the cast faces an impossible task. Even Blythe Danner, as the Barretts' dedicated secretary and confidante, can't do much to conceal the fact that her character is virtually a carbon copy of "Rebecca"'s Mrs. Danvers.
The same goes for the technical aspects, which while respectable have a hollow, imitative feel, from Peter Sova's meaningful camerawork to composer Stephen Endelman's string-pulling strings.
THE PROPOSITION
PolyGram Films
An Interscope Communications production
A Lesli Linka Glatter film
Director: Lesli Linka Glatter
Producers: Ted Field, Diane Nabatoff, Scott Kroopf
Screenwriter: Rick Ramage
Executive producer: Lata Ryan
Director of photography: Peter Sova
Production designer: David Brisbin
Editor: Jacqueline Cambas
Costume designer: Anna Sheppard
Music: Stephen Endelman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Father Michael McKinnon: Kenneth Branagh
Arthur Barrett: William Hurt
Eleanor Barrett: Madeleine Stowe
Syril Danning: Blythe Danner
Hannibal Thurman: Robert Loggia
Roger Martin: Neil Patrick Harris
Father Dryer: Josef Sommer
Running time -- 114 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Receiving its world premiere at the recent Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the picture will be a doubtful boxoffice proposition for PolyGram despite a high-caliber cast fronted by Kenneth Branagh, Madeleine Stowe and William Hurt.
Stowe is very much in her period element as Eleanor Barrett, the emancipated scribe in question who seeks guidance from the writings of Virginia Woolf as well as a child from her devoted, wealthy husband Arthur (hurt). When it's learned that he can't deliver the goods, the couple hires Roger Martin Neil Patrick Harris), a young, hesitant surrogate, to do the honors.
But when Eleanor becomes pregnant, said stud goes from awkward to arrogant to downright obsessed, threatening to scandalize the staid Beacon Hill establishment by revealing their little business arrangement.
Not wanting to reveal too much more, suffice it to say someone makes sure Martin goes away permanently, while the new Catholic priest (Branagh) mysteriously ducks the couple's repeated dinner invitations.
Screenwriter Rick Ramage lays the intrigue and malice on pretty thick, while director Lesli Linka Glatter ("Now and Then") gives everything the same claustrophobic, purposeful weight. Given the heady subject matter, a little irony would have been most helpful. Add the wrap-around, redundant narration (most likely added after the fact), and the picture goes from merely unsuccessful to quite irritating.
Try as they might to inject some warm-blooded humanity into their mopey, unappealing characters, the cast faces an impossible task. Even Blythe Danner, as the Barretts' dedicated secretary and confidante, can't do much to conceal the fact that her character is virtually a carbon copy of "Rebecca"'s Mrs. Danvers.
The same goes for the technical aspects, which while respectable have a hollow, imitative feel, from Peter Sova's meaningful camerawork to composer Stephen Endelman's string-pulling strings.
THE PROPOSITION
PolyGram Films
An Interscope Communications production
A Lesli Linka Glatter film
Director: Lesli Linka Glatter
Producers: Ted Field, Diane Nabatoff, Scott Kroopf
Screenwriter: Rick Ramage
Executive producer: Lata Ryan
Director of photography: Peter Sova
Production designer: David Brisbin
Editor: Jacqueline Cambas
Costume designer: Anna Sheppard
Music: Stephen Endelman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Father Michael McKinnon: Kenneth Branagh
Arthur Barrett: William Hurt
Eleanor Barrett: Madeleine Stowe
Syril Danning: Blythe Danner
Hannibal Thurman: Robert Loggia
Roger Martin: Neil Patrick Harris
Father Dryer: Josef Sommer
Running time -- 114 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 3/18/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Film review: 'Kicked in the Head'
Other than the presence of Martin Scorsese and longtime associate Barbara De Fina on the production credits, there's nothing very impressive about "Kicked in the Head", the latest in a seemingly endless series of indistinguishable slacker comedies in which the theme of aimlessness carries over to the writing and direction.
Populated by the usual assortment of quirk-laden misfits (this time James Woods, Linda Fiorentino, Michael Rapaport, Lili Taylor and Burt Young), the patience-testing production won't be kicking up much in the way of moviegoing business.
Kevin Corrigan, who also co-wrote the self-indulgent script, stars as the wide-eyed Redmond, an out-of-work, out-of-touch twentysomething New Yorker on a spiritual quest for truth.
His little voyage of self-discovery gets somewhat sidetracked thanks to his Uncle Sam (Woods), a fast-talking petty criminal who talks Redmond into doing a little drug-running errand for him that ends up going seriously awry.
Finding himself in "deep doo-doo" (one of the film's pet expressions), Redmond crashes at the apartment of his buddy Stretch (Rapaport), an upstart beer distributor who has sparked a nasty turf war.
Between dodging various bad guys and writing bad poetry, Redmond attempts to find salvation in the person of Megan (Fiorentino), a jaded flight attendant who'd prefer to be left alone.
With the exception of the always-interesting Fiorentino and a bemused Young as a benevolent thug, the rest of the assembled cast has a weakness for individual shtick that is continually at odds with the picture's intended ensemble spirit.
Director and co-writer Matthew Harrison -- whose "Rhythm Thief" earned him the 1995 Jury Prize for best director at Sundance -- has a jumpy, very New York style that has its moments, particularly during an extended sequence between Corrigan and Fiorentino. But his fondness for long, meaningful pauses only serves to underscore the tediousness of the story line.
There's some fine camerawork from John Thomas ("Metropolitan") and Howard Krupa as well as a suitably anxious score by Stephen Endelman ("Flirting With Disaster"), coupled with the kind of eccentric mix of oldies and alternative cuts that has been a trademark of Scorsese's own films.
KICKED IN THE HEAD
October Films
Director Matthew Harrison
Screenplay Kevin Corrigan, Matthew Harrison
Producer Barbara De Fina
Executive producer Martin Scorsese
Directors of photography John Thomas,
Howard Krupa
Production designer Kevin Thompson
Editor Michael Berenbaum
Costume designer Nina Canter
Music Stephen Endelman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Redmond Kevin Corrigan
Megan Linda Fiorentino
Stretch Michael Rapaport
Uncle Sam James Woods
Jack Burt Young
Happy Lili Taylor
Running time -- 86 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Populated by the usual assortment of quirk-laden misfits (this time James Woods, Linda Fiorentino, Michael Rapaport, Lili Taylor and Burt Young), the patience-testing production won't be kicking up much in the way of moviegoing business.
Kevin Corrigan, who also co-wrote the self-indulgent script, stars as the wide-eyed Redmond, an out-of-work, out-of-touch twentysomething New Yorker on a spiritual quest for truth.
His little voyage of self-discovery gets somewhat sidetracked thanks to his Uncle Sam (Woods), a fast-talking petty criminal who talks Redmond into doing a little drug-running errand for him that ends up going seriously awry.
Finding himself in "deep doo-doo" (one of the film's pet expressions), Redmond crashes at the apartment of his buddy Stretch (Rapaport), an upstart beer distributor who has sparked a nasty turf war.
Between dodging various bad guys and writing bad poetry, Redmond attempts to find salvation in the person of Megan (Fiorentino), a jaded flight attendant who'd prefer to be left alone.
With the exception of the always-interesting Fiorentino and a bemused Young as a benevolent thug, the rest of the assembled cast has a weakness for individual shtick that is continually at odds with the picture's intended ensemble spirit.
Director and co-writer Matthew Harrison -- whose "Rhythm Thief" earned him the 1995 Jury Prize for best director at Sundance -- has a jumpy, very New York style that has its moments, particularly during an extended sequence between Corrigan and Fiorentino. But his fondness for long, meaningful pauses only serves to underscore the tediousness of the story line.
There's some fine camerawork from John Thomas ("Metropolitan") and Howard Krupa as well as a suitably anxious score by Stephen Endelman ("Flirting With Disaster"), coupled with the kind of eccentric mix of oldies and alternative cuts that has been a trademark of Scorsese's own films.
KICKED IN THE HEAD
October Films
Director Matthew Harrison
Screenplay Kevin Corrigan, Matthew Harrison
Producer Barbara De Fina
Executive producer Martin Scorsese
Directors of photography John Thomas,
Howard Krupa
Production designer Kevin Thompson
Editor Michael Berenbaum
Costume designer Nina Canter
Music Stephen Endelman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Redmond Kevin Corrigan
Megan Linda Fiorentino
Stretch Michael Rapaport
Uncle Sam James Woods
Jack Burt Young
Happy Lili Taylor
Running time -- 86 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 9/26/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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