Taken star Liam Neeson continues to ply his trade as Hollywood’s go-to aged action hero, and the Oscar nominee will continue to cement his legacy in the upcoming action thriller The Mongoose...which has now added several fan-favorite action stars to the ensemble. Coming courtesy of Deadline, it has now been revealed that Mission: Impossible star Ving Rhames and The Shield and Fantastic Four actor Michael Chiklis have joined Neeson in The Mongoose, with MCU star and Oscar-winner Marisa Tomei also set to star.
The Mongoose, which will follow Neeson as veteran and war hero Ryan “Fang” Flanagan, who finds himself at the center of an explosive car chase after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit, is currently filming in Australia. Details of the new cast of characters have also been unveiled, with Tomei playing Neeson’s ex-wife, who asks him “for help when she finds herself in trouble.
The Mongoose, which will follow Neeson as veteran and war hero Ryan “Fang” Flanagan, who finds himself at the center of an explosive car chase after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit, is currently filming in Australia. Details of the new cast of characters have also been unveiled, with Tomei playing Neeson’s ex-wife, who asks him “for help when she finds herself in trouble.
- 2/12/2025
- by Jonathan Fuge
- MovieWeb
Exclusive: Liam Neeson action chase film The Mongoose is underway in Australia with Oscar winner Marisa Tomei, Mission Impossible star Ving Rhames, and Emmy winner Michael Chiklis (The Shield) joining the cast.
Oscar nominee Neeson (Schindler’s List) will star as Ryan “Fang” Flanagan, a war hero who, accused of a crime he didn’t commit and with nothing to lose, leads police on an epic televised cross-country car chase.
Tomei will play Tara, Fang’s ex-wife, who asks Fang for help when she finds herself in trouble. Rhames will play Tanker, Fang’s loyal right hand who was the second-in-command of Fang’s Special Forces squad when they were captured in Afghanistan. Chiklis will play Pope, the violent and reckless head of the Texas Highway Patrol who is convinced of Fang’s guilt.
Pic will be directed by Mark Vanselow, whose career as an action sequence director, action designer,...
Oscar nominee Neeson (Schindler’s List) will star as Ryan “Fang” Flanagan, a war hero who, accused of a crime he didn’t commit and with nothing to lose, leads police on an epic televised cross-country car chase.
Tomei will play Tara, Fang’s ex-wife, who asks Fang for help when she finds herself in trouble. Rhames will play Tanker, Fang’s loyal right hand who was the second-in-command of Fang’s Special Forces squad when they were captured in Afghanistan. Chiklis will play Pope, the violent and reckless head of the Texas Highway Patrol who is convinced of Fang’s guilt.
Pic will be directed by Mark Vanselow, whose career as an action sequence director, action designer,...
- 2/11/2025
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Dynasty premiered on ABC on January 12, 1981. The show ranked #28 in its first season. By Season Two, it had broken into the top 10, and by Season Five, it had hit number one. So when should you start watching the show, even though all nine seasons are currently streaming on Amazon Prime? And should you even bother with Season One? Here’s why you should…and why you shouldn’t…below.
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Why You Should Watch Season One
The first season of Dynasty was a much more down-to-earth show than the jewelry, fur, big shoulder pads, bigger hair, and camp-fest it eventually became. Krystal (Linda Evans) was but a humble secretary who felt out of place in her new husband Blake’s (John Forsythe) mansion. The servants, including snooty Joseph (Lee Bergere), made it clear that, no, she wasn’t imagining things; she really didn’t.
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Why You Should Watch Season One
The first season of Dynasty was a much more down-to-earth show than the jewelry, fur, big shoulder pads, bigger hair, and camp-fest it eventually became. Krystal (Linda Evans) was but a humble secretary who felt out of place in her new husband Blake’s (John Forsythe) mansion. The servants, including snooty Joseph (Lee Bergere), made it clear that, no, she wasn’t imagining things; she really didn’t.
- 12/11/2024
- by Alina Adams
- Soap Hub
Mark Withers, the actor known for roles in Dynasty, Stranger Things and more, has died. He was 77.
The actor’s daughter Jessie Withers announced on Friday that her father died on Nov. 22 after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to his craft, creating a legacy of warmth, humor, and dedication, along with his remarkable ability to make every role unforgettable,” said Jesse in a statement to Variety. “Mark’s enduring talent and commitment to the industry will be fondly remembered by colleagues, friends, and fans alike.”
In 1981, Mark had a six-episode arc on the first season of Dynasty as Steve Carrington’s (Al Corley) lover Ted Dinard, who meets an untimely demise that nearly breaks the Carrington family apart.
His other TV credits include episodes of Wonder Woman, Magnum P.I., The Dukes of Hazzard, Remington Steele, Hill Street Blues,...
The actor’s daughter Jessie Withers announced on Friday that her father died on Nov. 22 after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to his craft, creating a legacy of warmth, humor, and dedication, along with his remarkable ability to make every role unforgettable,” said Jesse in a statement to Variety. “Mark’s enduring talent and commitment to the industry will be fondly remembered by colleagues, friends, and fans alike.”
In 1981, Mark had a six-episode arc on the first season of Dynasty as Steve Carrington’s (Al Corley) lover Ted Dinard, who meets an untimely demise that nearly breaks the Carrington family apart.
His other TV credits include episodes of Wonder Woman, Magnum P.I., The Dukes of Hazzard, Remington Steele, Hill Street Blues,...
- 12/7/2024
- by Glenn Garner
- Deadline Film + TV
Liam Neeson set to star in action thriller Mongoose for Amazon Prime Video. Neeson to reunite with Ice Road producers for Mongoose, excited to make another big action blockbuster with talented team. Alongside his action fare, Neeson will also star in reboot of The Naked Gun.
Aged action star Liam Neeson has lined up his next action thriller, with the Taken star set to lead Mongoose for Amazon Prime Video. The studio has picked up the project at Cannes market, pre-buying (most of) the international distribution rights in a deal that closed this week at around $20M, according to Deadline.
Mongoose will see Neeson back in the action movie driving seat as a war hero who, after being accused of a crime he did not commit, leads police on a cross-country car chase. You can check out the synopsis for Mongoose below.
[Mongoose] follows Ryan Fang Flanagan, a war hero who,...
Aged action star Liam Neeson has lined up his next action thriller, with the Taken star set to lead Mongoose for Amazon Prime Video. The studio has picked up the project at Cannes market, pre-buying (most of) the international distribution rights in a deal that closed this week at around $20M, according to Deadline.
Mongoose will see Neeson back in the action movie driving seat as a war hero who, after being accused of a crime he did not commit, leads police on a cross-country car chase. You can check out the synopsis for Mongoose below.
[Mongoose] follows Ryan Fang Flanagan, a war hero who,...
- 5/23/2024
- by Jonathan Fuge
- MovieWeb
Liam Neeson is to star in the car chase thriller 'Mongoose'.The 71-year-old actor is to play a war hero who is being pursued by the police in a picture that was acquired by Amazon Prime Video at the Cannes market.Liam will play Ryan 'Fang' Flanagan, a war veteran who, accused of a crime he did not commit, leads the police on an epic cross-country chase that is seen on TV.He is assisted by members of his former Special Forces Army battalion and watched by a fascinated public who are rooting for his safe escape.The film is being directed by the experienced stunt professional Mark Vanselow – who has previously worked on movies including 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' and 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'.He has also been Neeson's stunt double in over 20 movies, including throughout the 'Taken' franchise.
- 5/23/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Everyone knows the mongoose is one of nature’s slipperiest animals. Not only can they run at 20 mph, but they’re also resistant to snake venom! If honey badgers and mongooses ever teamed up, we’d be in big trouble. Why all this talk about fast-moving mammals? One of Hollywood’s most devious action stars, Liam Neeson, will star in a cross-country car chase movie, Mongoose, for Amazon. See, it all makes sense.
Mongoose quietly made the rounds at Cannes, with Amazon Prime Video pre-purchasing most of the international rights in a deal nearing $20M.According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, Liam Neeson plays Ryan “Fang” Flanagan in Mongoose, “a war hero who, accused of a crime he didn’t commit and with nothing to lose, leads police on an epic televised cross-country car chase, helped by members of his former Special Forces Army battalion and closely monitored by a...
Mongoose quietly made the rounds at Cannes, with Amazon Prime Video pre-purchasing most of the international rights in a deal nearing $20M.According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, Liam Neeson plays Ryan “Fang” Flanagan in Mongoose, “a war hero who, accused of a crime he didn’t commit and with nothing to lose, leads police on an epic televised cross-country car chase, helped by members of his former Special Forces Army battalion and closely monitored by a...
- 5/22/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Liam Neeson To Star In Cross-Country Car Chase Movie ‘Mongoose’, Amazon Seals Big Cannes Market Deal
Exclusive: Liam Neeson is set to lead police on an epic televised cross-country car chase in action-thriller Mongoose, which was an under-the-radar project at the Cannes market.
Amazon Prime Video has pre-bought most of international on the movie in a deal we understand closed this week at around $20M (with all of international pegged in the mid-20s).
Taken and Non-Stop star Neeson, who is currently in production on Naked Gun, will topline as Ryan “Fang” Flanagan, a war hero who, accused of a crime he didn’t commit and with nothing to lose, leads police on an epic televised cross-country car chase, helped by members of his former Special Forces Army battalion and closely monitored by a fascinated public rooting for his safe getaway.
The movie reunites Neeson with producers Code Entertainment who were behind both Ice Road movies. Production is set to start in January 2025 in Australia. Additional casting is ongoing.
Amazon Prime Video has pre-bought most of international on the movie in a deal we understand closed this week at around $20M (with all of international pegged in the mid-20s).
Taken and Non-Stop star Neeson, who is currently in production on Naked Gun, will topline as Ryan “Fang” Flanagan, a war hero who, accused of a crime he didn’t commit and with nothing to lose, leads police on an epic televised cross-country car chase, helped by members of his former Special Forces Army battalion and closely monitored by a fascinated public rooting for his safe getaway.
The movie reunites Neeson with producers Code Entertainment who were behind both Ice Road movies. Production is set to start in January 2025 in Australia. Additional casting is ongoing.
- 5/22/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Chinese megastar Fan Bingbing (The 355) has been tapped to star opposite Liam Neeson in Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky, the sequel to Jonathan Hensleigh’s 2021 actioner The Ice Road.
Currently in production, the film sees Neeson returns as ‘big-rig’ ice road driver Mike McCann who, honoring his late brother’s last wish, travels to Nepal to scatter his ashes on Mt. Everest. While on a packed tour bus traversing the deadly 12,000 ft. terrain of the infamous Road to the Sky, McCann and his mountain guide encounter a group of Nepalese mercenaries and must fight not only to save themselves and the busload of innocent travelers, but also the local villagers’ homeland.
Fan portrays Dhani, a veteran Mt. Everest guide with multiple ascents whose indigenous knowledge and extraordinary yet unlikely fighting skills add a unique bend to Mike’s survival and unexpected quest for justice.
Following the original film’s sale,...
Currently in production, the film sees Neeson returns as ‘big-rig’ ice road driver Mike McCann who, honoring his late brother’s last wish, travels to Nepal to scatter his ashes on Mt. Everest. While on a packed tour bus traversing the deadly 12,000 ft. terrain of the infamous Road to the Sky, McCann and his mountain guide encounter a group of Nepalese mercenaries and must fight not only to save themselves and the busload of innocent travelers, but also the local villagers’ homeland.
Fan portrays Dhani, a veteran Mt. Everest guide with multiple ascents whose indigenous knowledge and extraordinary yet unlikely fighting skills add a unique bend to Mike’s survival and unexpected quest for justice.
Following the original film’s sale,...
- 2/7/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Liam Neeson is to reprise his role as a truck driver turned rescue worker from 2021 indie hit “The Ice Road.”
With director Jonathan Hensleigh again on board, “The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky” relocates its story from Canada in the original to Nepal in the sequel. Film production is set to shift from North America to Australia’s Victoria State.
Filming will begin this month using Gippsland town of Walhalla as the backdrop for some of the picture’s action scenes. It will also shoot in and around Melbourne and make use of virtual production, volume screens and technology at NantStudios @ Docklands Studios Melbourne.
“The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky” is a Code Entertainment, ShivHans Pictures, Ema production. Its producers are Code’s Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt and Eugene Musso, along with Shivani Rawat of ShivHans and Hensleigh, as well as Lee Nelson and David Tish...
With director Jonathan Hensleigh again on board, “The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky” relocates its story from Canada in the original to Nepal in the sequel. Film production is set to shift from North America to Australia’s Victoria State.
Filming will begin this month using Gippsland town of Walhalla as the backdrop for some of the picture’s action scenes. It will also shoot in and around Melbourne and make use of virtual production, volume screens and technology at NantStudios @ Docklands Studios Melbourne.
“The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky” is a Code Entertainment, ShivHans Pictures, Ema production. Its producers are Code’s Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt and Eugene Musso, along with Shivani Rawat of ShivHans and Hensleigh, as well as Lee Nelson and David Tish...
- 1/16/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Liam Neeson isn’t done with the action game just yet. The star who found a second career in his twilight years as a man with particular sets of skills is getting the most out of his time while his body allows him. Neeson recently starred in the Netflix action film, The Ice Road, from the writer of Die Hard with a Vengeance and writer/director of Thomas Jane’s 2004 Marvel adaptation, The Punisher, Jonathan Hensleigh. The Ice Road saw Neeson and Laurence Fishburne trekking across a frozen highway in semi-trucks as the ice perpetually cracks below them. There are now reports that a sequel is on the way and heading to Amazon thanks to a huge deal made at this year’s Cannes market. According to Deadline, the “biggest deal thrashed out so far at this year’s Cannes market is nearing completion with Amazon Prime Video set to...
- 5/24/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: The biggest deal thrashed out so far at this year’s Cannes market is nearing completion with Amazon Prime Video set to pre-buy international rights — excluding Germany — to Liam Neeson action sequel Ice Road 2: Road To The Sky in a pact pegged around $17M.
Deal isn’t done but is heading that way, we understand from market sources. Germany has sold in a separate multi-million dollar pact to a different buyer.
The project will see the evergreen Neeson headed back to treacherous and frozen terrain, this time swapping out The Ice Road‘s harsh climbs of Northern Canada for the similarly inhospitable mountains of Nepal.
The Solution Entertainment Group is handling international sales. CAA Media Finance is repping U.S. rights. The Solution, CAA and Amazon all declined to comment.
In the sequel Neeson returns as ‘big-rig’ ice road driver Mike McCann who, honoring his late brother’s last wish,...
Deal isn’t done but is heading that way, we understand from market sources. Germany has sold in a separate multi-million dollar pact to a different buyer.
The project will see the evergreen Neeson headed back to treacherous and frozen terrain, this time swapping out The Ice Road‘s harsh climbs of Northern Canada for the similarly inhospitable mountains of Nepal.
The Solution Entertainment Group is handling international sales. CAA Media Finance is repping U.S. rights. The Solution, CAA and Amazon all declined to comment.
In the sequel Neeson returns as ‘big-rig’ ice road driver Mike McCann who, honoring his late brother’s last wish,...
- 5/24/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The Ice Road and The Grey star Liam Neeson is headed back to treacherous and frozen terrain in action sequel Ice Road 2: Road To The Sky.
This time, the evergreen action man will swap out The Ice Road‘s harsh climbs of Northern Canada for the similarly inhospitable mountains of Nepal.
The sequel will see Neeson return as ‘big-rig’ ice road driver Mike McCann who, honoring his late brother’s last wish, travels to Nepal to scatter his ashes on Mt. Everest. While on a packed tour bus traversing the deadly 12,000 ft. terrain of the infamous Road to the Sky, Mike and his mountain guide encounter a group of Nepalese mercenaries and must fight not only to save themselves and the busload of innocent travelers, but also the local villagers’ homeland.
Writer-director Jonathan Hensleigh, writer of Die Hard with a Vengeance, Armageddon and Jumanji, is also back in the saddle with Code Entertainment,...
This time, the evergreen action man will swap out The Ice Road‘s harsh climbs of Northern Canada for the similarly inhospitable mountains of Nepal.
The sequel will see Neeson return as ‘big-rig’ ice road driver Mike McCann who, honoring his late brother’s last wish, travels to Nepal to scatter his ashes on Mt. Everest. While on a packed tour bus traversing the deadly 12,000 ft. terrain of the infamous Road to the Sky, Mike and his mountain guide encounter a group of Nepalese mercenaries and must fight not only to save themselves and the busload of innocent travelers, but also the local villagers’ homeland.
Writer-director Jonathan Hensleigh, writer of Die Hard with a Vengeance, Armageddon and Jumanji, is also back in the saddle with Code Entertainment,...
- 4/27/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Gay characters have come a long way since Steven Carrington (Al Corley) kept sleeping with women on the Og version of Dynasty. Case in point: 9-1-1: Lone Star celebrated same-sex couple Tyler “Tk” Strand (Ronen Rubenstein) and Carlos Reyes (Rafael Silva) getting engaged when the paramedic proposed to the policeman in the Season 3 finale. Needless to say, fans can’t wait for the action drama to return midseason 2023 on Fox. TV Insider recently caught up with Silva and Rubenstein at the second annual queer television festival The OutFronts in Hollywood to chat with the actors about Tarlos’ engagement and when viewers can expect to hear literal wedding bells. For starters, Rubenstein says the whole reason “Tarlos” even exists is because of series creator Ryan Murphy. “He had a major transgender story on Nip/Tuck nearly 20 years ago,” the actor says, referring to Famke Janssen’s trans character Ava Moore.
- 6/10/2022
- TV Insider
Exclusive: In what we hear is a mid six-figure deal, Code Entertainment has acquired the spec script The Vampire Asset by Jonathan Stokes, which they’ll fast track toward production.
Vampire Asset is a franchise action story about a reluctant vampire recruited by the CIA to hunt down his former lover, the woman who turned him into an immortal killer, before she unleashes a global catastrophe.
Code’s most recent release The Ice Road, written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, starring Liam Neeson and Lawrence Fishburne, ranked No. 1 on Netflix during its debut day of June 25.
Code’s Al Corley and Bart Rosenblatt will produce. Scott Carr, Jonathan Stokes, and Jonathan Dana will executive produce with Code Management’s Rich Freeman.
“Jonathan Stokes has created marvelous characters and a highly commercial tale, in the vein of Deadpool meets John Wick. We think the story will resonate worldwide and we look...
Vampire Asset is a franchise action story about a reluctant vampire recruited by the CIA to hunt down his former lover, the woman who turned him into an immortal killer, before she unleashes a global catastrophe.
Code’s most recent release The Ice Road, written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, starring Liam Neeson and Lawrence Fishburne, ranked No. 1 on Netflix during its debut day of June 25.
Code’s Al Corley and Bart Rosenblatt will produce. Scott Carr, Jonathan Stokes, and Jonathan Dana will executive produce with Code Management’s Rich Freeman.
“Jonathan Stokes has created marvelous characters and a highly commercial tale, in the vein of Deadpool meets John Wick. We think the story will resonate worldwide and we look...
- 7/12/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Laurence Fishburne is set to join Liam Neeson to star in the upcoming action adventure film The Ice Road, which Jonathan Hensleigh will direct from his screenplay. Shivani Rawat’s ShivHans Pictures is boarding the action film as producer and co-financier alongside producer/financier Code Entertainment. Pic is underway in Winnipeg, Canada.
Starring with Fishburne and Neeson will be Ray McKinnon (Ford V Ferrari) Marcus Thomas (The Forger), Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), and Amber Midthunder (Hell Or High Water).
The film tells the story of a rescue mission over a frozen ocean to save trapped miners in a collapsed diamond mine in the far northern regions of Canada. Fishburne will plays Goldenrod, the trucking company owner who hires driver Mike (Neeson), and accompanies him on the dangerous mission.
Hensleigh’s credits as a writer include Die Hard with A Vengeance, Armageddon and Jumanji, and he directed The Punisher and Kill The Irishman.
Starring with Fishburne and Neeson will be Ray McKinnon (Ford V Ferrari) Marcus Thomas (The Forger), Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), and Amber Midthunder (Hell Or High Water).
The film tells the story of a rescue mission over a frozen ocean to save trapped miners in a collapsed diamond mine in the far northern regions of Canada. Fishburne will plays Goldenrod, the trucking company owner who hires driver Mike (Neeson), and accompanies him on the dangerous mission.
Hensleigh’s credits as a writer include Die Hard with A Vengeance, Armageddon and Jumanji, and he directed The Punisher and Kill The Irishman.
- 2/11/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Principal photography set to commence in Winnipeg, Canada, on January 27, 2020.
The Solution Entertainment Group has reported brisk pre-sales business at Afm on Code Entertainment’s Liam Neeson thriller Ice Road.
Rights have gone in France (Metropolitan), German-speaking Europe ,and Italy (Wild Bunch), Spain (Key 2 Media), Japan (Gaga), Latin America (California Filmes), Scandinavia and Iceland (Scanbox), and South Korea (JoynCinema).
Deals also closed in Middle East (Eagle), Taiwan (Applause), Greece, India and Turkey (Tanweer), Indonesia (P.T. Prima), Israel (Forum), Philippines (Pioneer), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), South Africa (Empire Entertainment), Thailand (Sahamongkol), Vietnam (Noori), West Indies (Atm), Benelux (Dfw), China (EStars), Cis...
The Solution Entertainment Group has reported brisk pre-sales business at Afm on Code Entertainment’s Liam Neeson thriller Ice Road.
Rights have gone in France (Metropolitan), German-speaking Europe ,and Italy (Wild Bunch), Spain (Key 2 Media), Japan (Gaga), Latin America (California Filmes), Scandinavia and Iceland (Scanbox), and South Korea (JoynCinema).
Deals also closed in Middle East (Eagle), Taiwan (Applause), Greece, India and Turkey (Tanweer), Indonesia (P.T. Prima), Israel (Forum), Philippines (Pioneer), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), South Africa (Empire Entertainment), Thailand (Sahamongkol), Vietnam (Noori), West Indies (Atm), Benelux (Dfw), China (EStars), Cis...
- 11/9/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Liam Neeson has joined another action adventure film! This one is called The Ice Road, which is being written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh.
Neeson will play “a ‘big-rig’ ice road driver who, after a remote diamond mine collapses in the far northern regions of Canada, must lead an impossible rescue mission over a frozen ocean to save the trapped miners. Contending with thawing waters and a massive storm, they discover the real threat is one they never saw coming.”
Yep, that sure sounds like the kind of movie Liam Neeson would sign up for! Producers Al Corley and Bart Rosenblatt had this to say in a statement:
“We are thrilled and fortunate to be working with the extraordinary talents of Liam Neeson and Jonathan Hensleigh and the outstanding creative team they have assembled on this breathtaking adventure story.”
Hensleigh added:
“I’ve never been able to shake Clouzot’s...
Neeson will play “a ‘big-rig’ ice road driver who, after a remote diamond mine collapses in the far northern regions of Canada, must lead an impossible rescue mission over a frozen ocean to save the trapped miners. Contending with thawing waters and a massive storm, they discover the real threat is one they never saw coming.”
Yep, that sure sounds like the kind of movie Liam Neeson would sign up for! Producers Al Corley and Bart Rosenblatt had this to say in a statement:
“We are thrilled and fortunate to be working with the extraordinary talents of Liam Neeson and Jonathan Hensleigh and the outstanding creative team they have assembled on this breathtaking adventure story.”
Hensleigh added:
“I’ve never been able to shake Clouzot’s...
- 8/23/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Exclusive: Liam Neeson has been set to star in The Ice Road, an action adventure film written and to be directed by Jonathan Hensleigh. Code Entertainment and Envision Media Arts are backing the production.Production is set to start mid-January.
Neeson will play a ‘big-rig’ ice road driver who, after a remote diamond mine collapses in the far northern regions of Canada, must lead an impossible rescue mission over a frozen ocean to save the trapped miners. Contending with thawing waters and a massive storm, they discover the real threat is one they never saw coming.
Hensleigh’s work as a screenwriter includes Die Hard with a Vengeance, Armageddon, and Jumanji, and he previously directed The Punisher and Kill the Irishman.
Code Entertainment will fully finance the movie. Code’s Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt, and Eugene Musso will produce, along with Lee Nelson and David Tish of Envision Media Arts.
Neeson will play a ‘big-rig’ ice road driver who, after a remote diamond mine collapses in the far northern regions of Canada, must lead an impossible rescue mission over a frozen ocean to save the trapped miners. Contending with thawing waters and a massive storm, they discover the real threat is one they never saw coming.
Hensleigh’s work as a screenwriter includes Die Hard with a Vengeance, Armageddon, and Jumanji, and he previously directed The Punisher and Kill the Irishman.
Code Entertainment will fully finance the movie. Code’s Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt, and Eugene Musso will produce, along with Lee Nelson and David Tish of Envision Media Arts.
- 8/22/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Dynasty is returning for Season 2 later this year, but it will be without a key player.
Nathalie Kelley, who plays Cristal Flores Carrington on the soapy drama has confirmed she will not be returning.
"I haven’t read anything for Season 2,” Kelley dished in an interview to E! Online.
“I know that I end up with a gunshot wound and in a fire at the end of Season 1, and I know that I won’t be filming Season 2.”
“I won’t be returning for Season 2,” actress continues.
But there's no telling what might be in store for Cristal who found herself shot in the stomach by Claudia and locked in a burning building on Dynasty Season 1 Episode 22.
Related: CW Sets Fall Premiere Dates for Charmed Riverdale & More!
“Is it a coma? Is it death? … I actually don’t know. But I know that I’m not going to Atlanta in July,...
Nathalie Kelley, who plays Cristal Flores Carrington on the soapy drama has confirmed she will not be returning.
"I haven’t read anything for Season 2,” Kelley dished in an interview to E! Online.
“I know that I end up with a gunshot wound and in a fire at the end of Season 1, and I know that I won’t be filming Season 2.”
“I won’t be returning for Season 2,” actress continues.
But there's no telling what might be in store for Cristal who found herself shot in the stomach by Claudia and locked in a burning building on Dynasty Season 1 Episode 22.
Related: CW Sets Fall Premiere Dates for Charmed Riverdale & More!
“Is it a coma? Is it death? … I actually don’t know. But I know that I’m not going to Atlanta in July,...
- 6/22/2018
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Vera Farmiga will join Jamie Bell in the drama Skin.
Based on the life of Bryon “Pitbull” Widner (Bell), Skin follows a member of a Neo-Nazi gang who faces deadly consequences when he makes the decision to change his life. Farmiga will play the maternal leader of the notorious and violent skinhead gang from which Widner removes himself.
Guy Nattiv is set to direct the drama that also stars Patti Cake$ breakout Danielle Macdonald.
Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt and Eugene Musso are producing for Code Entertainment, along with Oren Moverman, Jaime Ray Newman and Nattiv. Jonathan Dana and Item 7’s Marie-Claude Poulin and Pierre Even will executive produce.
Farmiga,...
Based on the life of Bryon “Pitbull” Widner (Bell), Skin follows a member of a Neo-Nazi gang who faces deadly consequences when he makes the decision to change his life. Farmiga will play the maternal leader of the notorious and violent skinhead gang from which Widner removes himself.
Guy Nattiv is set to direct the drama that also stars Patti Cake$ breakout Danielle Macdonald.
Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt and Eugene Musso are producing for Code Entertainment, along with Oren Moverman, Jaime Ray Newman and Nattiv. Jonathan Dana and Item 7’s Marie-Claude Poulin and Pierre Even will executive produce.
Farmiga,...
- 3/2/2018
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
BAFTA TV Award and Tony Award winning actress Jennifer Ehle (Zero Dark Thirty, Contagion), Anson Mount (AMC’s “Hell on Wheels,” Safe), Abigail Spencer (Sundance Channel’s “Rectify,” Oz The Great And The Powerful) and Marcus Thomas (You Kill Me, Drowning Mona) join the cast of heist film The Forger.
The four will star alongside two-time Academy Award nominee and two-time Golden Globe winner John Travolta, Oscar winner Christopher Plummer (Beginners, The Last Station) and Venice Film Festival Award winner for Best New Young Actor Tye Sheridan (Joe, Mud, The Tree Of Life).
The film started shooting today, October 7th on location in Boston, Massachusetts.
BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning director Philip Martin (BBC’s “Wallander”) is directing from a script by Richard D’Ovidio (The Call).
The Forger tells the story of a former child art prodigy and second generation petty thief, Ray Cutter (Travolta) who arranges to buy his...
The four will star alongside two-time Academy Award nominee and two-time Golden Globe winner John Travolta, Oscar winner Christopher Plummer (Beginners, The Last Station) and Venice Film Festival Award winner for Best New Young Actor Tye Sheridan (Joe, Mud, The Tree Of Life).
The film started shooting today, October 7th on location in Boston, Massachusetts.
BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning director Philip Martin (BBC’s “Wallander”) is directing from a script by Richard D’Ovidio (The Call).
The Forger tells the story of a former child art prodigy and second generation petty thief, Ray Cutter (Travolta) who arranges to buy his...
- 10/7/2013
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
I had the occasion to have lunch with film industry veteran Jonathan Dana at Cannes and he shared some war stories of what it means to be a "producer" in this day and age.
Zc: So Jonathan, what is it that you do?
Jd: Over my 41 years in the business I have done just about everything except own a theater, including being a partner in two of the prominent indie companies of the 80's and 90's (Atlantic Releasing and Triton Pictures), before going back on my own in 1995 as a producer and producer's rep. I was also an initial investor in and, with the founders, supervised the launch of indie film community Withoutabox.com, now an operating division of IMDb.
I do both docs and fiction films and enjoy each. Two of my recent docs as a rep have been 2012 Spirit Award nominee "We Were Here" which has its televison premiere on Independent Lens this week, and "The Invisible War" which won the American Doc Audience Award at this year's Sundance and opens theatrically imminently.
As a producer does that mean you came to Cannes to sell something?
We're always selling something, no?
Did you have specific goals in mind for Cannes? Did you achieve those goals?
Yes, I always have a specific mission in Cannes, whatever it might be in any particular year. One of the art forms, and survival skills, is being able to define your goals in your own mind ahead of time so you can constantly keep steering back to the mission amidst the apparent chaos of the fest and market. And yes, the fest was a success for me, despite its rather unusual wet weather.
This year my mission was to move forward a slate of films I am executive producing with Code Entertainment, the excellent production/finance company run by Al Corley and Bart Rosenblatt with whom I have worked for many years ("You Kill Me", "Kill the Irishman", "Drowning Mona", "Sad Jack", upcoming.)
I also had the pleasure of representing the interests of screenwriter Jose Rivera, Rick Berg's client at Code's management division, who was unable to attend the premiere of his "On the Road". I loved the film, and it was a great 'red carpet' evening, with fine weather to boot!
How important is networking to what a producer does?
It's obviously a big part of the job, especially at a Cannes like this one where so many new sales and financing companies were announced. It is important to stay current, even though it often makes your head hurt. I was proud of myself this year, going totally electronic with my iPhone, both for scheduling and for keeping meeting notes, making the usually horrific task of post-Cannes debriefing entirely tolerable.
Do you have any advice for producers and filmmakers who feel that it's just too expensive to justify the cost of going to Cannes or another major festival?
There are many ways to skin a cat. No one event is irreplaceable. Just keep moving forward with the resources at hand. No one ever failed at the movie business just because they did not go to any particular festival.
Do you have any anecdotes or a particular "Cannes moment" of note?
Having been to Cannes 30 times, I am fortunate to have had numerous Cannes moments, including huge triumphs and failures, as well as the tiny moments that are at least equally memorable, so it is hard to pick one. I do remember standing at the top of the red carpet with Patty Hearst, a lovely woman, after the premiere of her biopic that we made with Paul Schrader, staring out at the crowd, thinking "Wow, there's all kinda ways to get to the top of these stairs."
Previous article on Sydney's Buzz about Jonathan Dana.
Next up. . .The International Sales Agent
Written by Zack Coffman. Follow Zack's film marketing tips and adventures @choppertown on Twitter.
Zc: So Jonathan, what is it that you do?
Jd: Over my 41 years in the business I have done just about everything except own a theater, including being a partner in two of the prominent indie companies of the 80's and 90's (Atlantic Releasing and Triton Pictures), before going back on my own in 1995 as a producer and producer's rep. I was also an initial investor in and, with the founders, supervised the launch of indie film community Withoutabox.com, now an operating division of IMDb.
I do both docs and fiction films and enjoy each. Two of my recent docs as a rep have been 2012 Spirit Award nominee "We Were Here" which has its televison premiere on Independent Lens this week, and "The Invisible War" which won the American Doc Audience Award at this year's Sundance and opens theatrically imminently.
As a producer does that mean you came to Cannes to sell something?
We're always selling something, no?
Did you have specific goals in mind for Cannes? Did you achieve those goals?
Yes, I always have a specific mission in Cannes, whatever it might be in any particular year. One of the art forms, and survival skills, is being able to define your goals in your own mind ahead of time so you can constantly keep steering back to the mission amidst the apparent chaos of the fest and market. And yes, the fest was a success for me, despite its rather unusual wet weather.
This year my mission was to move forward a slate of films I am executive producing with Code Entertainment, the excellent production/finance company run by Al Corley and Bart Rosenblatt with whom I have worked for many years ("You Kill Me", "Kill the Irishman", "Drowning Mona", "Sad Jack", upcoming.)
I also had the pleasure of representing the interests of screenwriter Jose Rivera, Rick Berg's client at Code's management division, who was unable to attend the premiere of his "On the Road". I loved the film, and it was a great 'red carpet' evening, with fine weather to boot!
How important is networking to what a producer does?
It's obviously a big part of the job, especially at a Cannes like this one where so many new sales and financing companies were announced. It is important to stay current, even though it often makes your head hurt. I was proud of myself this year, going totally electronic with my iPhone, both for scheduling and for keeping meeting notes, making the usually horrific task of post-Cannes debriefing entirely tolerable.
Do you have any advice for producers and filmmakers who feel that it's just too expensive to justify the cost of going to Cannes or another major festival?
There are many ways to skin a cat. No one event is irreplaceable. Just keep moving forward with the resources at hand. No one ever failed at the movie business just because they did not go to any particular festival.
Do you have any anecdotes or a particular "Cannes moment" of note?
Having been to Cannes 30 times, I am fortunate to have had numerous Cannes moments, including huge triumphs and failures, as well as the tiny moments that are at least equally memorable, so it is hard to pick one. I do remember standing at the top of the red carpet with Patty Hearst, a lovely woman, after the premiere of her biopic that we made with Paul Schrader, staring out at the crowd, thinking "Wow, there's all kinda ways to get to the top of these stairs."
Previous article on Sydney's Buzz about Jonathan Dana.
Next up. . .The International Sales Agent
Written by Zack Coffman. Follow Zack's film marketing tips and adventures @choppertown on Twitter.
- 6/13/2012
- by Zack Coffman
- Sydney's Buzz
Mitra thinking inside the 'Box'
Rhona Mitra has boarded the indie thriller The Boy in the Box for A2 Entertainment Group and Code Entertainment.
She joins Josh Lucas and Jon Hamm in the film about a small-town police chief (Hamm) determined to discover the truth behind the mummified remains of a boy who was murdered a half-century earlier.
Anders Anderson is directing from a screenplay by Glenn Taranto.
James Van Der Beek (Standing Still), Marcus Thomas (You Kill Me), Jimmy Bennett (Hostage) and Jessica Chastain (Jolene) also have been cast.
Mitra plays the police chief's wife, who is trying to move on after the disappearance of their own son eight years earlier. Lucas plays the father of the murdered boy.
A2's Anderson and Andy Steinman and Code Entertainment's Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt and Eugene Musso are producing.
Mitra next appears in Rogue Pictures' Doomsday and is about to start production in New Zealand on Underworld: Rise of the Lycans for Screen Gems. Her credits include the features The Number 23 and Skinwalkers and FX's Nip/Tuck.
She is repped by CAA, Jason Weinberg and attorney Warren Dern.
She joins Josh Lucas and Jon Hamm in the film about a small-town police chief (Hamm) determined to discover the truth behind the mummified remains of a boy who was murdered a half-century earlier.
Anders Anderson is directing from a screenplay by Glenn Taranto.
James Van Der Beek (Standing Still), Marcus Thomas (You Kill Me), Jimmy Bennett (Hostage) and Jessica Chastain (Jolene) also have been cast.
Mitra plays the police chief's wife, who is trying to move on after the disappearance of their own son eight years earlier. Lucas plays the father of the murdered boy.
A2's Anderson and Andy Steinman and Code Entertainment's Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt and Eugene Musso are producing.
Mitra next appears in Rogue Pictures' Doomsday and is about to start production in New Zealand on Underworld: Rise of the Lycans for Screen Gems. Her credits include the features The Number 23 and Skinwalkers and FX's Nip/Tuck.
She is repped by CAA, Jason Weinberg and attorney Warren Dern.
- 12/18/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
You Kill Me
This review was written for the screening at the Tribeca Film Festival.
NEW YORK -- If you would believe Hollywood movies, hit men are usually lovable figures whose professional lives are hampered by psychological angst that can usually be alleviated by therapy. Or, in the case of "You Kill Me", in which the protagonist has a drinking problem, with a 12-step program. John Dahl's black comedy might not win any points for originality, but its razor-sharp script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and the hilariously deadpan comic performances by Ben Kingsley and Tea Leoni make it a consistent pleasure. Recently showcased at the Tribeca Film Festival, the film is scheduled for a commercial release in the summer by IFC Films.
Kingsley plays Frank, a Polish hit man in Buffalo who has bungled more than a few jobs because of his propensity for getting drunk on the job. When he fumbles the killing of a Greek mobster (Dennis Farina) who is his boss' Philip Baker Hall) chief rival, he's sent to dry out in San Francisco.
There, thanks to the help of his handler (Bill Pullman), he gets a job as an undertaker's assistant and begins attending AA meetings. Although initially resistant, he's taken under the wing of a friendly fellow member (Luke Wilson) and soon begins to open up, confessing to the startled group not only his addiction but also his profession.
He also begins a relationship with the beautiful and acerbic Laurel (Leoni), who seems to have little problem with either Frank's alcoholism or the way he makes his living. Frank's idyllic recovery is eventually interrupted when the mobster he neglected to eliminate begins raising trouble for his employers.
While the film attempts a level of absurdity that it doesn't quite successfully bring off -- Laurel's quick acceptance of Frank's lifestyle is never convincing, for instance -- it does mark the most hilarious depiction of a professional killer's angst since "Grosse Pointe Blank". The script's subtle humor is consistently hilarious (Frank points out at the AA meeting that he never knew he had a drinking problem because he lives in Buffalo), and its comic gems are perfectly realized by the terrific performances and the deceptively atmospheric direction by Dahl.
Kingsley, not always known for his restraint, underplays beautifully as Frank, ultimately becoming an unlikely but entirely winning figure. And while Leoni is simply too stunningly gorgeous to render Laurel's romantic desperation convincing, she too finds just the right comic tone. There is also wonderfully funny work by Wilson, Farina, Pullman and a variety of perfectly cast supporting players.
YOU KILL ME
IFC Films
Bipolar Pictures, Carol Baum Prods., Code Entertainment, Echo Lake Prods., Green Tulip Prods.
Credits:
Director: John Dahl
Screenwriters: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Producers: Al Corley, Burt Rosenblatt, Eugene Musso, Carol Baum, Mike Marcus, Zvi Howard Rosenman
Executive producers: Tea Leoni, Jonathan Dana
Director of photography: Jeffrey Jur
Production designer: John Dondertman
Music: Marcelo Zarvos
Co-producer: Kim Olson
Costume designer: Linda Madden
Editor: Scott Chestnut
Cast:
Frank: Ben Kingsley
Laurel: Tea Leoni
Tom: Luke Wilson
Roman: Philip Baker Hall
O'Leary: Dennis Farina
Dave: Bill Pullman
Stef: Marcus Thomas
Doris: Alison Sealy-Smith
Running time -- 92 minutes
No MPAA rating...
NEW YORK -- If you would believe Hollywood movies, hit men are usually lovable figures whose professional lives are hampered by psychological angst that can usually be alleviated by therapy. Or, in the case of "You Kill Me", in which the protagonist has a drinking problem, with a 12-step program. John Dahl's black comedy might not win any points for originality, but its razor-sharp script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and the hilariously deadpan comic performances by Ben Kingsley and Tea Leoni make it a consistent pleasure. Recently showcased at the Tribeca Film Festival, the film is scheduled for a commercial release in the summer by IFC Films.
Kingsley plays Frank, a Polish hit man in Buffalo who has bungled more than a few jobs because of his propensity for getting drunk on the job. When he fumbles the killing of a Greek mobster (Dennis Farina) who is his boss' Philip Baker Hall) chief rival, he's sent to dry out in San Francisco.
There, thanks to the help of his handler (Bill Pullman), he gets a job as an undertaker's assistant and begins attending AA meetings. Although initially resistant, he's taken under the wing of a friendly fellow member (Luke Wilson) and soon begins to open up, confessing to the startled group not only his addiction but also his profession.
He also begins a relationship with the beautiful and acerbic Laurel (Leoni), who seems to have little problem with either Frank's alcoholism or the way he makes his living. Frank's idyllic recovery is eventually interrupted when the mobster he neglected to eliminate begins raising trouble for his employers.
While the film attempts a level of absurdity that it doesn't quite successfully bring off -- Laurel's quick acceptance of Frank's lifestyle is never convincing, for instance -- it does mark the most hilarious depiction of a professional killer's angst since "Grosse Pointe Blank". The script's subtle humor is consistently hilarious (Frank points out at the AA meeting that he never knew he had a drinking problem because he lives in Buffalo), and its comic gems are perfectly realized by the terrific performances and the deceptively atmospheric direction by Dahl.
Kingsley, not always known for his restraint, underplays beautifully as Frank, ultimately becoming an unlikely but entirely winning figure. And while Leoni is simply too stunningly gorgeous to render Laurel's romantic desperation convincing, she too finds just the right comic tone. There is also wonderfully funny work by Wilson, Farina, Pullman and a variety of perfectly cast supporting players.
YOU KILL ME
IFC Films
Bipolar Pictures, Carol Baum Prods., Code Entertainment, Echo Lake Prods., Green Tulip Prods.
Credits:
Director: John Dahl
Screenwriters: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Producers: Al Corley, Burt Rosenblatt, Eugene Musso, Carol Baum, Mike Marcus, Zvi Howard Rosenman
Executive producers: Tea Leoni, Jonathan Dana
Director of photography: Jeffrey Jur
Production designer: John Dondertman
Music: Marcelo Zarvos
Co-producer: Kim Olson
Costume designer: Linda Madden
Editor: Scott Chestnut
Cast:
Frank: Ben Kingsley
Laurel: Tea Leoni
Tom: Luke Wilson
Roman: Philip Baker Hall
O'Leary: Dennis Farina
Dave: Bill Pullman
Stef: Marcus Thomas
Doris: Alison Sealy-Smith
Running time -- 92 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 6/21/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
You Kill Me
This review was written for the screening at the Tribeca Film Festival.
NEW YORK -- If you would believe Hollywood movies, hit men are usually lovable figures whose professional lives are hampered by psychological angst that can usually be alleviated by therapy. Or, in the case of You Kill Me, in which the protagonist has a drinking problem, with a 12-step program. John Dahl's black comedy might not win any points for originality, but its razor-sharp script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and the hilariously deadpan comic performances by Ben Kingsley and Tea Leoni make it a consistent pleasure. Recently showcased at the Tribeca Film Festival, the film is scheduled for a commercial release in the summer by IFC Films.
Kingsley plays Frank, a Polish hit man in Buffalo who has bungled more than a few jobs because of his propensity for getting drunk on the job. When he fumbles the killing of a Greek mobster (Dennis Farina) who is his boss' Philip Baker Hall) chief rival, he's sent to dry out in San Francisco.
There, thanks to the help of his handler (Bill Pullman), he gets a job as an undertaker's assistant and begins attending AA meetings. Although initially resistant, he's taken under the wing of a friendly fellow member (Luke Wilson) and soon begins to open up, confessing to the startled group not only his addiction but also his profession.
He also begins a relationship with the beautiful and acerbic Laurel (Leoni), who seems to have little problem with either Frank's alcoholism or the way he makes his living. Frank's idyllic recovery is eventually interrupted when the mobster he neglected to eliminate begins raising trouble for his employers.
While the film attempts a level of absurdity that it doesn't quite successfully bring off -- Laurel's quick acceptance of Frank's lifestyle is never convincing, for instance -- it does mark the most hilarious depiction of a professional killer's angst since Grosse Pointe Blank. The script's subtle humor is consistently hilarious (Frank points out at the AA meeting that he never knew he had a drinking problem because he lives in Buffalo), and its comic gems are perfectly realized by the terrific performances and the deceptively atmospheric direction by Dahl.
Kingsley, not always known for his restraint, underplays beautifully as Frank, ultimately becoming an unlikely but entirely winning figure. And while Leoni is simply too stunningly gorgeous to render Laurel's romantic desperation convincing, she too finds just the right comic tone. There is also wonderfully funny work by Wilson, Farina, Pullman and a variety of perfectly cast supporting players.
YOU KILL ME
IFC Films
Bipolar Pictures, Carol Baum Prods., Code Entertainment, Echo Lake Prods., Green Tulip Prods.
Credits:
Director: John Dahl
Screenwriters: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Producers: Al Corley, Burt Rosenblatt, Eugene Musso, Carol Baum, Mike Marcus, Zvi Howard Rosenman
Executive producers: Tea Leoni, Jonathan Dana
Director of photography: Jeffrey Jur
Production designer: John Dondertman
Music: Marcelo Zarvos
Co-producer: Kim Olson
Costume designer: Linda Madden
Editor: Scott Chestnut
Cast:
Frank: Ben Kingsley
Laurel: Tea Leoni
Tom: Luke Wilson
Roman: Philip Baker Hall
O'Leary: Dennis Farina
Dave: Bill Pullman
Stef: Marcus Thomas
Doris: Alison Sealy-Smith
Running time -- 92 minutes
No MPAA rating...
NEW YORK -- If you would believe Hollywood movies, hit men are usually lovable figures whose professional lives are hampered by psychological angst that can usually be alleviated by therapy. Or, in the case of You Kill Me, in which the protagonist has a drinking problem, with a 12-step program. John Dahl's black comedy might not win any points for originality, but its razor-sharp script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and the hilariously deadpan comic performances by Ben Kingsley and Tea Leoni make it a consistent pleasure. Recently showcased at the Tribeca Film Festival, the film is scheduled for a commercial release in the summer by IFC Films.
Kingsley plays Frank, a Polish hit man in Buffalo who has bungled more than a few jobs because of his propensity for getting drunk on the job. When he fumbles the killing of a Greek mobster (Dennis Farina) who is his boss' Philip Baker Hall) chief rival, he's sent to dry out in San Francisco.
There, thanks to the help of his handler (Bill Pullman), he gets a job as an undertaker's assistant and begins attending AA meetings. Although initially resistant, he's taken under the wing of a friendly fellow member (Luke Wilson) and soon begins to open up, confessing to the startled group not only his addiction but also his profession.
He also begins a relationship with the beautiful and acerbic Laurel (Leoni), who seems to have little problem with either Frank's alcoholism or the way he makes his living. Frank's idyllic recovery is eventually interrupted when the mobster he neglected to eliminate begins raising trouble for his employers.
While the film attempts a level of absurdity that it doesn't quite successfully bring off -- Laurel's quick acceptance of Frank's lifestyle is never convincing, for instance -- it does mark the most hilarious depiction of a professional killer's angst since Grosse Pointe Blank. The script's subtle humor is consistently hilarious (Frank points out at the AA meeting that he never knew he had a drinking problem because he lives in Buffalo), and its comic gems are perfectly realized by the terrific performances and the deceptively atmospheric direction by Dahl.
Kingsley, not always known for his restraint, underplays beautifully as Frank, ultimately becoming an unlikely but entirely winning figure. And while Leoni is simply too stunningly gorgeous to render Laurel's romantic desperation convincing, she too finds just the right comic tone. There is also wonderfully funny work by Wilson, Farina, Pullman and a variety of perfectly cast supporting players.
YOU KILL ME
IFC Films
Bipolar Pictures, Carol Baum Prods., Code Entertainment, Echo Lake Prods., Green Tulip Prods.
Credits:
Director: John Dahl
Screenwriters: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Producers: Al Corley, Burt Rosenblatt, Eugene Musso, Carol Baum, Mike Marcus, Zvi Howard Rosenman
Executive producers: Tea Leoni, Jonathan Dana
Director of photography: Jeffrey Jur
Production designer: John Dondertman
Music: Marcelo Zarvos
Co-producer: Kim Olson
Costume designer: Linda Madden
Editor: Scott Chestnut
Cast:
Frank: Ben Kingsley
Laurel: Tea Leoni
Tom: Luke Wilson
Roman: Philip Baker Hall
O'Leary: Dennis Farina
Dave: Bill Pullman
Stef: Marcus Thomas
Doris: Alison Sealy-Smith
Running time -- 92 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 6/21/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Noel
Screened Toronto International Film Festival
TORONTO -- Chazz Palminteri makes his feature debut in the director's chair with Noel, an achingly maudlin serving of holiday cheer about a group of damaged New York souls whose seemingly disparate lives intersect in unexpected ways.
There's always room for a bit of Christmas-themed spiritual uplifting (2000's Family Man is a good example), but David Hubbard's script is so steeped in sludgy sentimentality that the film's early hints of quirkiness quickly give way to heavy-handed faith healing.
Like many productions before it, Noel is clearly positioning itself as a modern-day It's a Wonderful Life, but even with a supportive cast headed by Susan Sarandon and Penelope Cruz, this Toronto fest Special Presentation would probably be a better fit on the more forgiving small screen.
Set in a frosty Manhattan (played by economically feasible Montreal), the set of interlinking stories is anchored by Sarandon's Rose, a lonely, divorced book editor whose Christmas Eve is spent visiting her Alzheimer's-afflicted mother in the hospital.
Meanwhile, things are a little rocky between Mike (Paul Walker), one of New York's finest, and his spirited fiancee, Nina (Cruz), because of his overbearing possessiveness. To add to the stress, Mike is being pursued by a pining coffee shop waiter (Alan Arkin) who insinuates that the two have had a prior relationship.
Then there's Jules (Marcus Thomas), a street hustler whose happiest holiday memories involved a hospital Christmas party when he was a kid, and he's apparently willing to do just about anything to try to relive them.
They all could use a bit of a miracle in order to turn their lives around, and, in Rose's case, she gets a little assistance from an uncredited Robin Williams as, well, let's just call him a benevolent stranger with a beatific smile.
As an actor, Palminteri knows how to work with a cast, but a lighter, less purposeful directing approach was required to offset the script's slushier tendencies.
Even Sarandon's usual impeccable instincts can only take her character so far before finding it tricky to extricate herself from the mounting stickiness.
Production values are full of glad tidings thanks to Titanic cinematographer Russell Carpenter's warmly lit visuals and composer Alan Menken's lightly "seasoned" piano-driven score.
Noel
Red Rose Prods.
Credits: Director: Chazz Palminteri
Screenwriter: David Hubbard
Producers: Bart Rosenblatt, Al Corley, Eugene Musso, Howard Rosenman
Executive producer: Jonathan Dana
Director of photography: Russell Carpenter
Production designer: Carol Spier
Editor: Susan E. Morse
Costume designer: Renee April
Music: Alan Menken
Cast:
Nina: Penelope Cruz
Rose: Susan Sarandon
Mike: Paul Walker
Artie: Alan Arkin
Jules: Marcus Thomas
Dennis: Sonny Marinelli
Marco: Daniel Sunjata
MPAA rating: PG
Running time -- 96 minutes...
TORONTO -- Chazz Palminteri makes his feature debut in the director's chair with Noel, an achingly maudlin serving of holiday cheer about a group of damaged New York souls whose seemingly disparate lives intersect in unexpected ways.
There's always room for a bit of Christmas-themed spiritual uplifting (2000's Family Man is a good example), but David Hubbard's script is so steeped in sludgy sentimentality that the film's early hints of quirkiness quickly give way to heavy-handed faith healing.
Like many productions before it, Noel is clearly positioning itself as a modern-day It's a Wonderful Life, but even with a supportive cast headed by Susan Sarandon and Penelope Cruz, this Toronto fest Special Presentation would probably be a better fit on the more forgiving small screen.
Set in a frosty Manhattan (played by economically feasible Montreal), the set of interlinking stories is anchored by Sarandon's Rose, a lonely, divorced book editor whose Christmas Eve is spent visiting her Alzheimer's-afflicted mother in the hospital.
Meanwhile, things are a little rocky between Mike (Paul Walker), one of New York's finest, and his spirited fiancee, Nina (Cruz), because of his overbearing possessiveness. To add to the stress, Mike is being pursued by a pining coffee shop waiter (Alan Arkin) who insinuates that the two have had a prior relationship.
Then there's Jules (Marcus Thomas), a street hustler whose happiest holiday memories involved a hospital Christmas party when he was a kid, and he's apparently willing to do just about anything to try to relive them.
They all could use a bit of a miracle in order to turn their lives around, and, in Rose's case, she gets a little assistance from an uncredited Robin Williams as, well, let's just call him a benevolent stranger with a beatific smile.
As an actor, Palminteri knows how to work with a cast, but a lighter, less purposeful directing approach was required to offset the script's slushier tendencies.
Even Sarandon's usual impeccable instincts can only take her character so far before finding it tricky to extricate herself from the mounting stickiness.
Production values are full of glad tidings thanks to Titanic cinematographer Russell Carpenter's warmly lit visuals and composer Alan Menken's lightly "seasoned" piano-driven score.
Noel
Red Rose Prods.
Credits: Director: Chazz Palminteri
Screenwriter: David Hubbard
Producers: Bart Rosenblatt, Al Corley, Eugene Musso, Howard Rosenman
Executive producer: Jonathan Dana
Director of photography: Russell Carpenter
Production designer: Carol Spier
Editor: Susan E. Morse
Costume designer: Renee April
Music: Alan Menken
Cast:
Nina: Penelope Cruz
Rose: Susan Sarandon
Mike: Paul Walker
Artie: Alan Arkin
Jules: Marcus Thomas
Dennis: Sonny Marinelli
Marco: Daniel Sunjata
MPAA rating: PG
Running time -- 96 minutes...
- 9/16/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Film review: 'Palmetto'
A duplicitous blonde, a dumb guy and a lot of money at stake. These things can go a long way, especially if you steam them up in a Florida bedroom town. But "Palmetto" is no "Body Heat", merely a limp reincarnation of a sexy, noir thriller, and is likely to drop fast at the boxoffice for Castle Rock. With a fetching cast -- Woody Harrelson, Elisabeth Shue, Gina Gershon -- it promises some sizzle, but its endless seascape and dreary compositions merely give us drizzle.
In this lust-boiler, Harrelson stars as Harry, a bitter reporter who has served hard time for exposing some graft in his corrupt little town. Harry's a victim and he's bitter about it, wants to get back at the powers that be. Vulnerable and broke, he's an easy mark, especially for a leggy blonde (Shue) with a fetching offer. It's simple enough and illegal -- make a phone call to Rhea's money-bags, terminally ill husband and say their daughter has been kidnapped and to bag up $500 grand. No deep thinker -- in fact, he's so incredibly dumb it's hard to fathom this dunderhead as an investigative reporter -- Harry agrees to do the deed. He's able to carry it off with only minor hitches and, still pissed about his incarceration, he's developed a hard set of situational morals that don't get in the way of his small thought processes.
Unlike his brainier generic predecessors -- most prominently, Fred MacMurray in "Double Indemnity" and William Hurt in "Body Heat" -- this guy does not see the ramifications of his actions, even on a simple crime level. He is such a stooge that any moral or emotional contradictions or misgivings don't even apply here, indicative of E. Max Frye's skimpy screenwriting. Even more woeful, "Palmetto" is riddled with plot contrivances, logical lapses and other inadequacies that turn us off.
Our disbelief, disinterest and ultimate distaste are further aggravated by the casting. As the hapless Harry, Harrelson's slow-moving performance only magnifies the knucklehead dimension of this guy and never taps his cerebral side. Part of the reason the Hurt character was so appealing in "Body Heat" was that his undoing came from personal flaws and cracks that emanated from positive traits in his character. No such richness here -- this guy is merely a shallow bonehead. Who cares? While Harrelson may be a very obvious choice to play such a chap, Shue as the bad blonde and Gershon as the steadfast girlfriend are not the obvious choices, and the against-the-grain casting simply doesn't work. We admit it's very creative, but again, it rattles the sensibilities -- just another goof in this off-kilter calamity. On the positive side, Chloe Sevigny is alluring and aptly unpredictable in a nymphette role.
Further enervating the production is Volker Schlondorff's dour, chilly direction. There is no heat in this stiff cinematic -- no overpowering lusts, no uncontrollable urges. The juices just don't flow on either a philosophical or sexual level, and they are further deadened by the grim technical contributions: cinematographer Thomas Kloss' dull palettes (dim greens, blues and browns) and composer Klaus Doldinger's dreary score make one think we are watching a film about Teutonic depression set in the North Sea, not sex and murder in Florida -- indicative of the film's overall botched chemistry.
PALMETTO
Columbia Pictures
Castle Rock Entertainment
Producers: Matthias Wendlandt, Al Corley
Director: Volker Schlondorff
Screenwriter: E. Max Frye
Based on the novel "Just Another Sucker" by: James Hadley Chase
Executive producers: Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt, Eugene Musso
Director of photography: Thomas Kloss
Editor: Peter Przygodda
Production designer: Claire Bowin
Costume designer: Terry Dresbach
Music: Klaus Doldinger
Color/stereo
Cast:
Harry Barber: Woody Harrelson
Nina: Gina Gershon
Rhea: Elisabeth Shue
Donnelly: Michael Rapaport
Renick: Tom Wright
Odette: Chloe Sevigny
Running time -- 112 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
In this lust-boiler, Harrelson stars as Harry, a bitter reporter who has served hard time for exposing some graft in his corrupt little town. Harry's a victim and he's bitter about it, wants to get back at the powers that be. Vulnerable and broke, he's an easy mark, especially for a leggy blonde (Shue) with a fetching offer. It's simple enough and illegal -- make a phone call to Rhea's money-bags, terminally ill husband and say their daughter has been kidnapped and to bag up $500 grand. No deep thinker -- in fact, he's so incredibly dumb it's hard to fathom this dunderhead as an investigative reporter -- Harry agrees to do the deed. He's able to carry it off with only minor hitches and, still pissed about his incarceration, he's developed a hard set of situational morals that don't get in the way of his small thought processes.
Unlike his brainier generic predecessors -- most prominently, Fred MacMurray in "Double Indemnity" and William Hurt in "Body Heat" -- this guy does not see the ramifications of his actions, even on a simple crime level. He is such a stooge that any moral or emotional contradictions or misgivings don't even apply here, indicative of E. Max Frye's skimpy screenwriting. Even more woeful, "Palmetto" is riddled with plot contrivances, logical lapses and other inadequacies that turn us off.
Our disbelief, disinterest and ultimate distaste are further aggravated by the casting. As the hapless Harry, Harrelson's slow-moving performance only magnifies the knucklehead dimension of this guy and never taps his cerebral side. Part of the reason the Hurt character was so appealing in "Body Heat" was that his undoing came from personal flaws and cracks that emanated from positive traits in his character. No such richness here -- this guy is merely a shallow bonehead. Who cares? While Harrelson may be a very obvious choice to play such a chap, Shue as the bad blonde and Gershon as the steadfast girlfriend are not the obvious choices, and the against-the-grain casting simply doesn't work. We admit it's very creative, but again, it rattles the sensibilities -- just another goof in this off-kilter calamity. On the positive side, Chloe Sevigny is alluring and aptly unpredictable in a nymphette role.
Further enervating the production is Volker Schlondorff's dour, chilly direction. There is no heat in this stiff cinematic -- no overpowering lusts, no uncontrollable urges. The juices just don't flow on either a philosophical or sexual level, and they are further deadened by the grim technical contributions: cinematographer Thomas Kloss' dull palettes (dim greens, blues and browns) and composer Klaus Doldinger's dreary score make one think we are watching a film about Teutonic depression set in the North Sea, not sex and murder in Florida -- indicative of the film's overall botched chemistry.
PALMETTO
Columbia Pictures
Castle Rock Entertainment
Producers: Matthias Wendlandt, Al Corley
Director: Volker Schlondorff
Screenwriter: E. Max Frye
Based on the novel "Just Another Sucker" by: James Hadley Chase
Executive producers: Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt, Eugene Musso
Director of photography: Thomas Kloss
Editor: Peter Przygodda
Production designer: Claire Bowin
Costume designer: Terry Dresbach
Music: Klaus Doldinger
Color/stereo
Cast:
Harry Barber: Woody Harrelson
Nina: Gina Gershon
Rhea: Elisabeth Shue
Donnelly: Michael Rapaport
Renick: Tom Wright
Odette: Chloe Sevigny
Running time -- 112 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 2/13/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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