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Production designers had their hands full the past year, recreating everything from an 18th century palace large enough for indoor badminton games to retro kitchens that looked like they were straight out of the 1970s. To achieve their period-accurate sets, they consulted books, photos and guild archives.
For the third season of “The Great,” production designer Francesca Di Mottola a built a “gigantic games room where anything could happen and served many different purposes,” horse breeding among them. The production designer began scouting locations in the U.K., where the black comedy about Catherine the Great is filmed, but none quite fit what she was looking for, so she built the room on a soundstage.
The room, which first appeared in episode 3 of the Hulu series, had high ceilings and paneled walls with timber all around. It needed to be large enough for parties in addition to badminton games and horse breeding.
For the third season of “The Great,” production designer Francesca Di Mottola a built a “gigantic games room where anything could happen and served many different purposes,” horse breeding among them. The production designer began scouting locations in the U.K., where the black comedy about Catherine the Great is filmed, but none quite fit what she was looking for, so she built the room on a soundstage.
The room, which first appeared in episode 3 of the Hulu series, had high ceilings and paneled walls with timber all around. It needed to be large enough for parties in addition to badminton games and horse breeding.
- 6/5/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
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“I did some globe trotting on that show,” declares production designer Cary White about his work on “1923.” The Paramount + series serves as a prequel to the hugely successful drama “Yellowstone.” White is no stranger to the “Yellowstone” universe, having served in the same capacity on both “Yellowstone” and the previous prequel series “1883.” However according to White, “1923” had its own unique set of challenges. Check out more of our exclusive video chat with White above.
White had been retired for a number of years when “Yellowstone” and “1923” creator and writer Taylor Sheridan invited White to work on the franchise’s flagship series. As it turns out, White had worked on one of Sheridan’s favorite television projects– the 1989 television miniseries adaptation of Larry McMurtry‘s “Lonesome Dove.” “Taylor got on the phone. I was living in Mexico at the time and was retired,” recalls White. “[Sheridan] said, ‘Well, how retired are you?...
White had been retired for a number of years when “Yellowstone” and “1923” creator and writer Taylor Sheridan invited White to work on the franchise’s flagship series. As it turns out, White had worked on one of Sheridan’s favorite television projects– the 1989 television miniseries adaptation of Larry McMurtry‘s “Lonesome Dove.” “Taylor got on the phone. I was living in Mexico at the time and was retired,” recalls White. “[Sheridan] said, ‘Well, how retired are you?...
- 5/30/2023
- by Tony Ruiz
- Gold Derby
![Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, Aminah Nieves, Darren Mann, and Michelle Randolph in 1923 (2022)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZWZhNGJjMGUtYmVhZi00NDFiLWE2NWMtYjE1OGZmNGMxNDk4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjkwOTAyMDU@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, Aminah Nieves, Darren Mann, and Michelle Randolph in 1923 (2022)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZWZhNGJjMGUtYmVhZi00NDFiLWE2NWMtYjE1OGZmNGMxNDk4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjkwOTAyMDU@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,0,140,207_.jpg)
Earlier this week TheWrap hosted a screening of the first episode of “1923,” with stars Helen Mirren, Brandon Sklenar and Aminah Nieves, along with editor Chad Galster, production designer Cary White and assistant costume designer Samantha Pavlat.
It was a fascinating chat (you can watch the whole thing above), but what was particularly intriguing was when the topic of joining a beloved franchise like “Yellowstone” was brought up.
“I don’t see it as a franchise,” Mirren said. “I don’t see it like that.”
But if it isn’t a franchise to Mirren, then what is it?
Also Read:
‘1923’ Star Helen Mirren Jokes She Was ‘So Excited’ to Get Into Bed with Harrison Ford: ‘I Had to Pretend to Be Cool’ (Video)
“I know this is going to sound super pretentious, but I see it more as an examination of the history of America, in the way...
It was a fascinating chat (you can watch the whole thing above), but what was particularly intriguing was when the topic of joining a beloved franchise like “Yellowstone” was brought up.
“I don’t see it as a franchise,” Mirren said. “I don’t see it like that.”
But if it isn’t a franchise to Mirren, then what is it?
Also Read:
‘1923’ Star Helen Mirren Jokes She Was ‘So Excited’ to Get Into Bed with Harrison Ford: ‘I Had to Pretend to Be Cool’ (Video)
“I know this is going to sound super pretentious, but I see it more as an examination of the history of America, in the way...
- 4/23/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
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Following last night’s screening of “1923,” the cast of the Paramount+ “Yellowstone” prequel series were joined by members of the show’s crafts team for a discussion with TheWrap. They gathered for the event (which is part of our 2023 Awards Season Screening Series) and shared stories about the making of the first season, working with creator Taylor Sheridan and the complexities of a historical drama that stretches across three storylines.
They also contemplated what could be in store for the show’s second season, which is currently in the works. As it turns out, they couldn’t speculate much because nobody has seen a script and Sheridan isn’t letting anything slip. But they’re all very excited to return. Sklenar joked that he is ready to (finally) be back on the ranch and share some scenes with Ford.
Helen Mirren, Brandon Sklenar and Aminah Nieves (Ted Soqui) Also...
They also contemplated what could be in store for the show’s second season, which is currently in the works. As it turns out, they couldn’t speculate much because nobody has seen a script and Sheridan isn’t letting anything slip. But they’re all very excited to return. Sklenar joked that he is ready to (finally) be back on the ranch and share some scenes with Ford.
Helen Mirren, Brandon Sklenar and Aminah Nieves (Ted Soqui) Also...
- 4/18/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
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Now up for pre-order, Vinegar Syndrome is bringing Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 to 4K Ultra HD later this month, the film newly scanned and restored in 4K!
Pre-orders ship on or around the ship date of October 25, and you can grab the Standard Edition or the Limited Slipcase Edition from Vinegar Syndrome’s website right now.
The special limited edition hard case + slipcover (designed by Tony Stella) is limited to 10,000 units and is only available at VinegarSyndrome.com.
Special Features for the release include…
4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray Set 4K Uhd presented in High-Dynamic-Range Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative Presented with it’s original 2.0 stereo theatrical mix Brand new audio commentary with film critic Patrick Bromley Audio commentary with director Tobe Hooper Audio commentary with actors Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams and special effects makeup creator Tom Savini Audio commentary...
Pre-orders ship on or around the ship date of October 25, and you can grab the Standard Edition or the Limited Slipcase Edition from Vinegar Syndrome’s website right now.
The special limited edition hard case + slipcover (designed by Tony Stella) is limited to 10,000 units and is only available at VinegarSyndrome.com.
Special Features for the release include…
4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray Set 4K Uhd presented in High-Dynamic-Range Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative Presented with it’s original 2.0 stereo theatrical mix Brand new audio commentary with film critic Patrick Bromley Audio commentary with director Tobe Hooper Audio commentary with actors Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams and special effects makeup creator Tom Savini Audio commentary...
- 10/3/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
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The number 1 show on TV is “Yellowstone,” as the Paramount Network blockbuster keeps breaking records and shattering hearts. And while the neo-Western’s superb fourth season still basks in widespread praise, cast and crew have already assembled, back in production for its highly anticipated fifth season which will debut on November 13.
To celebrate the acclaimed fourth season, watch our special 40-minute “Making of” roundtable discussion with five key behind-the-scenes crafts artistans — costume designer Johnetta Boone, Emmy-nominated set decorator Carla Curry, editor Gary D. Roach, A.C.E., stunt coordinator Jason Rodriguez and Emmy-winning production designer Cary White. Together they are joined by Gold Derby senior editor Rob Licuria for a memorable Q&a. Watch our exclusive video interview above.
“Yellowstone” was created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan (“Hell or High Water”), about a powerful Montana ranching family under constant threat by politicians, developers and the neighboring Native American reservation. Oscar,...
To celebrate the acclaimed fourth season, watch our special 40-minute “Making of” roundtable discussion with five key behind-the-scenes crafts artistans — costume designer Johnetta Boone, Emmy-nominated set decorator Carla Curry, editor Gary D. Roach, A.C.E., stunt coordinator Jason Rodriguez and Emmy-winning production designer Cary White. Together they are joined by Gold Derby senior editor Rob Licuria for a memorable Q&a. Watch our exclusive video interview above.
“Yellowstone” was created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan (“Hell or High Water”), about a powerful Montana ranching family under constant threat by politicians, developers and the neighboring Native American reservation. Oscar,...
- 6/2/2022
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
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Mark my words. 2022 is the year of “Yellowstone.” Yes, in this age of Peak TV, with an abundance of breathtaking award-worthy drama series vying for attention, like “Succession,” “Squid Game,” “The Good Fight,” “Evil” and “This Is Us,” Paramount Network’s blockbuster neo-Western keeps breaking ratings records and is finally an awards player after its superb fourth season has been met with widespread praise worldwide. And now it’s been picked up for Season 5.
If you have been living under a rock and have not seen or even heard of “Yellowstone,” it was created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan (“Hell or High Water”), centering on a powerful Montana ranching family under constant threat by politicians, developers and the neighboring Native American reservation.
See Exclusive Video Interview: Kevin Costner (‘Yellowstone’)
Oscar, Emmy and SAG Award winner Kevin Costner stars as family patriarch John Dutton, a tough-as-nails father keeping his family’s...
If you have been living under a rock and have not seen or even heard of “Yellowstone,” it was created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan (“Hell or High Water”), centering on a powerful Montana ranching family under constant threat by politicians, developers and the neighboring Native American reservation.
See Exclusive Video Interview: Kevin Costner (‘Yellowstone’)
Oscar, Emmy and SAG Award winner Kevin Costner stars as family patriarch John Dutton, a tough-as-nails father keeping his family’s...
- 2/7/2022
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
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The Art Directors Guild has announced nominations for the 26th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards in theatrical motion pictures, television, commercials, music videos and animation features, with nominees in the top categories including Licorice Pizza, Cruella, Dune, In The Heights, The White Lotus and Encanto.
Winners will be announced at the Adg Awards ceremony, which returns to a live-in person event at the InterContinental Hotel Los Angeles Downtown Hotel on Saturday, March 5. Today’s announcement was made by Adg President Nelson Coates, Adg, and Awards Producer Michael Allen Glover, Adg.
As previously announced, director Denis Villeneuve (Dune) will receive the William Cameron Menzies Award. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog) will receive the Cinematic Imagery Award. The Adg Awards honor excellence in Production Design in theatrical motion pictures, television, commercials, music videos and animated feature films.
The producer of the 2022 Adg Awards is Art Director Michael Allen Glover,...
Winners will be announced at the Adg Awards ceremony, which returns to a live-in person event at the InterContinental Hotel Los Angeles Downtown Hotel on Saturday, March 5. Today’s announcement was made by Adg President Nelson Coates, Adg, and Awards Producer Michael Allen Glover, Adg.
As previously announced, director Denis Villeneuve (Dune) will receive the William Cameron Menzies Award. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog) will receive the Cinematic Imagery Award. The Adg Awards honor excellence in Production Design in theatrical motion pictures, television, commercials, music videos and animated feature films.
The producer of the 2022 Adg Awards is Art Director Michael Allen Glover,...
- 1/24/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
![Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Liev Schreiber, Bob Balaban, Benicio Del Toro, Edward Norton, Henry Winkler, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, Mathieu Amalric, Steve Park, Lois Smith, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, Wallace Wolodarsky, Jeffrey Wright, Jarvis Cocker, Mohamed Belhadjine, Saoirse Ronan, Tony Revolori, Timothée Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri, and Krishna Bagadiya in The French Dispatch (2021)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNmQxZTNiODYtNzBhYy00MzVlLWJlN2UtNTc4YWZjMDIwMmEzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Liev Schreiber, Bob Balaban, Benicio Del Toro, Edward Norton, Henry Winkler, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, Mathieu Amalric, Steve Park, Lois Smith, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, Wallace Wolodarsky, Jeffrey Wright, Jarvis Cocker, Mohamed Belhadjine, Saoirse Ronan, Tony Revolori, Timothée Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri, and Krishna Bagadiya in The French Dispatch (2021)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNmQxZTNiODYtNzBhYy00MzVlLWJlN2UtNTc4YWZjMDIwMmEzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,0,140,207_.jpg)
“The French Dispatch,” “Nightmare Alley,” “West Side Story,” “Dune,” “The Green Knight” and “Don’t Look Up” are among the feature-film nominees for the 26th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards, which are given out by the Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800).
Kicking off a four-day period in which 10 different Hollywood guilds and societies will announce their nominations, the Adg honorees were announced by guild president Nelson Coates and Adg Awards producer Michael Allen Glover.
In the period-film category, the Adg category that most closely matches the Oscar for Best Production Design, the nominees were “The French Dispatch,” “Licorice Pizza,” “Nightmare Alley,” “The Tragedy of Macbeth” and “West Side Story.”
In the fantasy category, nominations went to “Cruella,” “Dune,” “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “The Green Knight” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”
And in the contemporary category, the nominees were “Candyman,” “Don’t Look Up,” “In the Heights,” “The Lost Daughter” and “No Time to Die.
Kicking off a four-day period in which 10 different Hollywood guilds and societies will announce their nominations, the Adg honorees were announced by guild president Nelson Coates and Adg Awards producer Michael Allen Glover.
In the period-film category, the Adg category that most closely matches the Oscar for Best Production Design, the nominees were “The French Dispatch,” “Licorice Pizza,” “Nightmare Alley,” “The Tragedy of Macbeth” and “West Side Story.”
In the fantasy category, nominations went to “Cruella,” “Dune,” “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “The Green Knight” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”
And in the contemporary category, the nominees were “Candyman,” “Don’t Look Up,” “In the Heights,” “The Lost Daughter” and “No Time to Die.
- 1/24/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
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Aside from the Paramount Network drama Yellowstone completing a third season as cable TV’s most watched show, the drama received its first Emmy nomination, for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program.
The MTV Entertainment Studios-produced series stars Kevin Costner and is written by Taylor Sheridan and has the benefit of spectacular outdoor vistas in Montana. But the responsibility to create the look of the sets falls to production designer Cary White, set decorator Carly Curry and art director Yvonne Boudreaux, who all joined the series’ panel at Deadline’s Contenders Television: The Nominees awards-season event.
“Shooting in Montana and the backdrop, we couldn’t be in a better location,” said Boudreaux. “The show is about the struggle for land, and having this enormous ranch and holding onto it, and we are lucky to be in one of the most beautiful places in Montana…being able to...
The MTV Entertainment Studios-produced series stars Kevin Costner and is written by Taylor Sheridan and has the benefit of spectacular outdoor vistas in Montana. But the responsibility to create the look of the sets falls to production designer Cary White, set decorator Carly Curry and art director Yvonne Boudreaux, who all joined the series’ panel at Deadline’s Contenders Television: The Nominees awards-season event.
“Shooting in Montana and the backdrop, we couldn’t be in a better location,” said Boudreaux. “The show is about the struggle for land, and having this enormous ranch and holding onto it, and we are lucky to be in one of the most beautiful places in Montana…being able to...
- 8/15/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
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Deadline’s two-day Contenders Television: The Nominees continues Sunday morning, with the second half of our award-season gala presentations that total 34 shows and 117 speakers from 16 networks and studios. The panels highlighting this year’s Emmy-nominated shows launched Saturday with a focus on comedies, documentaries, reality and specials (read our print coverage here). Today, the lineup pivots to spotlight dramas, limited series and movies, with things getting underway at 9 a.m. Pt.
To watch today’s Contenders livestream, click here.
Yes, our well-established event is virtual again due to the ongoing pandemic, but the range of the participants and projects is a powerful testament to the breadth and depth of the best of TV in 2021.
In fact, Emmy history has already been made this year. Mj Rodriguez’s nomination for Pose marks the first lead acting nod for a trans performer. Bowen Yang has become the first Chinese-American man to be...
To watch today’s Contenders livestream, click here.
Yes, our well-established event is virtual again due to the ongoing pandemic, but the range of the participants and projects is a powerful testament to the breadth and depth of the best of TV in 2021.
In fact, Emmy history has already been made this year. Mj Rodriguez’s nomination for Pose marks the first lead acting nod for a trans performer. Bowen Yang has become the first Chinese-American man to be...
- 8/15/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
![Idris Elba, Wood Harris, Sonja Sohn, and Dominic West in The Wire (2002)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZmY5ZDMxODEtNWIwOS00NjdkLTkyMjktNWRjMDhmYjJjN2RmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTA4NzY1MzY@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
![Idris Elba, Wood Harris, Sonja Sohn, and Dominic West in The Wire (2002)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZmY5ZDMxODEtNWIwOS00NjdkLTkyMjktNWRjMDhmYjJjN2RmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTA4NzY1MzY@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
An unfortunate statistic among many acclaimed dramas with rabid fans is they often get snubbed for awards on TV’s biggest night. So, when Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone,” 2020’s highest-rated cable series, finally nabbed a nomination in its third season, its many, many fans breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’s a thrill and I’m very happy ‘cause it’s a great show, and it deserves a little love,” says Cary White, who is the production designer carrying the Emmy banner for the Western-flavored series. “It’s kind of like a Lifetime Achievement sort of thing because I’ve been doing it for a long time. It’s been, like, 25 years since I had the last nomination.”
That last nomination was for 1995’s Anjelica Huston-starrer “Buffalo Girls”, which is a strong indicator that White feels very comfortable in the Western genre. And though “Yellowstone” is frequently about how modernity is encroaching on legacy,...
“It’s a thrill and I’m very happy ‘cause it’s a great show, and it deserves a little love,” says Cary White, who is the production designer carrying the Emmy banner for the Western-flavored series. “It’s kind of like a Lifetime Achievement sort of thing because I’ve been doing it for a long time. It’s been, like, 25 years since I had the last nomination.”
That last nomination was for 1995’s Anjelica Huston-starrer “Buffalo Girls”, which is a strong indicator that White feels very comfortable in the Western genre. And though “Yellowstone” is frequently about how modernity is encroaching on legacy,...
- 8/13/2021
- by Jason Clark
- The Wrap
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“I was sitting here minding my own business and the art director sitting next to me said, ‘you will never guess what happened! We’ve just been nominated for an Emmy!’ I was like, ‘come on, that’s not right,'” an incredulous Cary White jokes about his surprise production design bid for “Yellowstone.”
It’s the first ever nomination for the hit show and his third career nom, decades after his first two, for “Buffalo Girls” in 1995 and “Lonesome Dove” in 1989. “You know, I think it may be a lifetime achievement sort of deal they’re doing here, I’m not sure,” he smiles. Watch our exclusive video interview with White above.
See Ignore the ‘Yellowstone’ rumors! Kevin Costner isn’t going anywhere and remains the star of the hit Western
Paramount Network’s hit neo-Western, created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan (“Hell or High Water”), centers on a...
It’s the first ever nomination for the hit show and his third career nom, decades after his first two, for “Buffalo Girls” in 1995 and “Lonesome Dove” in 1989. “You know, I think it may be a lifetime achievement sort of deal they’re doing here, I’m not sure,” he smiles. Watch our exclusive video interview with White above.
See Ignore the ‘Yellowstone’ rumors! Kevin Costner isn’t going anywhere and remains the star of the hit Western
Paramount Network’s hit neo-Western, created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan (“Hell or High Water”), centers on a...
- 8/11/2021
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
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Architecture and real-life period influences were infused into many Emmy-nominated series’ sets. Here a few that stood out.
“The Oscars” (ABC)
Nominated For Variety Special (Live) Production Design
Production designer David Rockwell turned to previous Oscar ceremonies for inspiration for the 93rd annual event last April. He took cues from Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel, site of the first Oscars, to create the aesthetic for this year’s setting, Union Station.
“We conceived a room within a room that made circulation intuitive and completely enveloped the audience,” he says. “These early ceremonies were all formal seated dinners for a very select group of people: the nominees and their guests. This year, given how the pandemic has impacted our ability to gather, we tried to recapture that same sense of intimacy and community.” His main challenge was the building itself. “Nothing could be affixed or installed inside the train station, given its landmark status.
“The Oscars” (ABC)
Nominated For Variety Special (Live) Production Design
Production designer David Rockwell turned to previous Oscar ceremonies for inspiration for the 93rd annual event last April. He took cues from Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel, site of the first Oscars, to create the aesthetic for this year’s setting, Union Station.
“We conceived a room within a room that made circulation intuitive and completely enveloped the audience,” he says. “These early ceremonies were all formal seated dinners for a very select group of people: the nominees and their guests. This year, given how the pandemic has impacted our ability to gather, we tried to recapture that same sense of intimacy and community.” His main challenge was the building itself. “Nothing could be affixed or installed inside the train station, given its landmark status.
- 8/4/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Here you have another Scream Factory title, which will be judged a little harsher than usual. MGM recently released its own Blu-ray version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and for the most part, it was just fine. In addition to the MGM Region A release, there was also an Arrow Video-released Region B Blu-ray, which most fans have considered the “definitive edition” until now. I have nothing but respect for Arrow Video. They are basically the Criterion of B-movies right now. But I think this new TCM Blu-ray may just trump their excellent release, at least ever-so-slightly in the Pq department. As for the movie itself, I’m a big fan, always have been. I know it’s a divisive title among fans because it abandoned the relentlessly terrifying tone of the first movie, and opted for a more humorous approach, but it’s utterly fascinating. That opening scene is...
- 4/23/2016
- by Shawn Savage
- The Liberal Dead
Recognizing that it’s more than likely an unpopular opinion, I need to come clean and confess that I prefer Tobe Hooper’s 1986 sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2, to its predecessor, which I’m also quick to point out is an unparalleled masterpiece of the genre. This has everything to do with personal taste. Tobe Hooper is one of my favorite filmmakers of all-time, and while I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen his 1974 classic, I probably revisit Part 2 every year. It’s one of my very favorite horror movies.
The third film in a trilogy Hooper made for Cannon Films in the 1980s (the other two being the brilliantly bonkers Lifeforce and Hooper’s remake of Invaders From Mars, released just a couple of months before TCM2 in ’86), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 was the movie the director had to...
The third film in a trilogy Hooper made for Cannon Films in the 1980s (the other two being the brilliantly bonkers Lifeforce and Hooper’s remake of Invaders From Mars, released just a couple of months before TCM2 in ’86), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 was the movie the director had to...
- 4/21/2016
- by Patrick Bromley
- DailyDead
This third week of April has some exciting home entertainment offerings for us genre fans, including the special edition releases of two cult classics I adore, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and The Stuff. An indie film I’ve been hearing about for a while now, Grimewave, also makes its way to DVD this Tuesday and while it may not be traditional horror, Oscar-winner The Revenant certainly has enough badassery contained within its cinematic frames to be worthy of mentioning this week, and it arrives on both Blu-ray and DVD on April 19th.
Other notable releases this week include Smothered (which features a ton of horror icons and was directed by John Schneider of Smallville and Dukes of Hazzard fame), 15 Till Midnight, Classroom 6, Ip Man 3, German Angst and She Wolf Rising.
Grimewave (Wild Eye Raw, DVD)
When the legendary, unstoppable serial killer Cfk stumbles upon a drug deal, he accidentally...
Other notable releases this week include Smothered (which features a ton of horror icons and was directed by John Schneider of Smallville and Dukes of Hazzard fame), 15 Till Midnight, Classroom 6, Ip Man 3, German Angst and She Wolf Rising.
Grimewave (Wild Eye Raw, DVD)
When the legendary, unstoppable serial killer Cfk stumbles upon a drug deal, he accidentally...
- 4/19/2016
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Scream Factory pays tribute to the Sawyer family on April 19th with their Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and we’ve been provided with three copies to give away to Daily Dead readers.
————
Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Collector’s Edition Blu-ray copy of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
How to Enter: For a chance to win, email [email protected] with the subject “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on April 22nd. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.
————
From the Press Release: “The buzzz is back! On April 19, 2016, Scream Factory will release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 [Collector’s Edition] in a comprehensive 2-disc...
————
Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Collector’s Edition Blu-ray copy of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
How to Enter: For a chance to win, email [email protected] with the subject “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on April 22nd. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.
————
From the Press Release: “The buzzz is back! On April 19, 2016, Scream Factory will release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 [Collector’s Edition] in a comprehensive 2-disc...
- 4/16/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Scream Factory celebrates the upcoming 30th anniversary of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 in style on Tuesday with their Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release of the beloved sequel, and we have a clip and a trailer that tease the film’s high-def makeover, as well as a look at the new episode of Horror’s Hallowed Grounds that is included in the bonus features.
From the Press Release: “The buzzz is back! On April 19, 2016, Scream Factory will release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 [Collector’s Edition] in a comprehensive 2-disc set with 10 hours of bonus features, including nearly 5 hours of exclusive content.
In 1974, horror fans rejoiced upon the release of Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The movie raised the stakes of in-your-face filmmaking and changed the face of horror. Twelve years later, Hooper and the Sawyer clan are back with this deviously entertaining sequel, starring Dennis Hopper in one of...
From the Press Release: “The buzzz is back! On April 19, 2016, Scream Factory will release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 [Collector’s Edition] in a comprehensive 2-disc set with 10 hours of bonus features, including nearly 5 hours of exclusive content.
In 1974, horror fans rejoiced upon the release of Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The movie raised the stakes of in-your-face filmmaking and changed the face of horror. Twelve years later, Hooper and the Sawyer clan are back with this deviously entertaining sequel, starring Dennis Hopper in one of...
- 4/16/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and to celebrate, Scream Factory revealed the release details for their upcoming Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of the sequel, which includes nearly five hours of new bonus features content:
Press Release: The buzzz is back! On April 19, 2016, Scream Factory will release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 [Collector’s Edition] in a comprehensive 2-disc set with 10 hours of bonus features, including nearly 5 hours of exclusive content.
In 1974, horror fans rejoiced upon the release of Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The movie raised the stakes of in-your-face filmmaking and changed the face of horror. Twelve years later, Hooper and the Sawyer clan are back with this deviously entertaining sequel, starring Dennis Hopper in one of the most deliciously crazed performances of his career.
For a decade, Texas Ranger Lefty Enright (Hopper) has sought to avenge the brutal...
Press Release: The buzzz is back! On April 19, 2016, Scream Factory will release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 [Collector’s Edition] in a comprehensive 2-disc set with 10 hours of bonus features, including nearly 5 hours of exclusive content.
In 1974, horror fans rejoiced upon the release of Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The movie raised the stakes of in-your-face filmmaking and changed the face of horror. Twelve years later, Hooper and the Sawyer clan are back with this deviously entertaining sequel, starring Dennis Hopper in one of the most deliciously crazed performances of his career.
For a decade, Texas Ranger Lefty Enright (Hopper) has sought to avenge the brutal...
- 3/10/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Arrow Video has announced that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 will be released on Blu-ray in the UK as a limited edition 3-Disc Set.
The set also includes a collection of director Tobe Hooper’s early short films on Blu-ray and DVD for the first time. There are plenty of exclusives, such as limited edition packaging, a 100 page book featuring new insights into The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series and a certificate to show the number of your set out of the 10,000 released. Not forgetting audio commentaries, deleted scenes and more.
Here is the official announcement from Arrow Video:
“After A Decade Of Silence… The Buzzz Is Back!
In 1974, Tobe Hooper quite literally changed the face of horror with his landmark film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Although the hulking Leatherface and his trusty power tool left an indelible mark upon the cinematic landscape, it wouldn’t be until 1986 that the buzz came back…...
The set also includes a collection of director Tobe Hooper’s early short films on Blu-ray and DVD for the first time. There are plenty of exclusives, such as limited edition packaging, a 100 page book featuring new insights into The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series and a certificate to show the number of your set out of the 10,000 released. Not forgetting audio commentaries, deleted scenes and more.
Here is the official announcement from Arrow Video:
“After A Decade Of Silence… The Buzzz Is Back!
In 1974, Tobe Hooper quite literally changed the face of horror with his landmark film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Although the hulking Leatherface and his trusty power tool left an indelible mark upon the cinematic landscape, it wouldn’t be until 1986 that the buzz came back…...
- 7/30/2013
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Chicago – This 29-image slideshow contains the official images from Warner Brothers’ “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Michael Douglas, Emma Stone, Breckin Meyer, Lacey Chabert, Robert Forster, and Anne Archer. The film, directed by Mark Waters, opens on May 1st, 2009.
Synopsis:
“Celebrity photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) loves freedom, fun and women…in that order. A committed bachelor with a no-strings policy, he thinks nothing of breaking up with multiple women on a conference call while prepping his next date.
Connor’s brother Paul is more the romantic type. In fact, he’s about to be married. Unfortunately, on the eve of the big event, Connor’s mockery of romance proves a real buzz-kill for Paul, the wedding party and a houseful of well wishers—including Connor’s childhood friend Jenny (Jennifer Garner), the one woman in his life who has always seemed immune to his considerable charm.
Synopsis:
“Celebrity photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) loves freedom, fun and women…in that order. A committed bachelor with a no-strings policy, he thinks nothing of breaking up with multiple women on a conference call while prepping his next date.
Connor’s brother Paul is more the romantic type. In fact, he’s about to be married. Unfortunately, on the eve of the big event, Connor’s mockery of romance proves a real buzz-kill for Paul, the wedding party and a houseful of well wishers—including Connor’s childhood friend Jenny (Jennifer Garner), the one woman in his life who has always seemed immune to his considerable charm.
- 4/14/2009
- by [email protected] (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
We have new images in from Warner Bros. Pictures' "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Lacey Chabert, Emma Stone, Christina Milian, Noureen DeWolf, Amanda Walsh, Michael Douglas, Breckin Meyer, Robert Forster and Anne Archer. Mark Waters ("The Spiderwick Chronicles," "Mean Girls," "Freaky Friday") directs from the writing by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, the writing duo of "Four Christmases." The film sees release next month on May 1st. See all the images in the gallery! What's "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" about? Celebrity photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) loves freedom, fun and women...in that order. A committed bachelor with a no-strings policy, he thinks nothing of breaking up with multiple women on a conference call while prepping his next date. Connor's brother Paul is more the romantic type. In fact, he's about to be married. Unfortunately, on the eve of the big event, Connor's mockery of...
- 4/7/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Mean Girls
Opens
Friday, April 30
"Mean Girls" wants to have it both ways and, surprisingly, just about manages that trick. The first way, of course, is what Paramount is currently marketing: a teen comedy about high school girls battling for guys and social prestige. The other way is much trickier. Debuting screenwriter Tina Fey, a head writer on "Saturday Night Live" and co-anchor of the show's popular "Weekend Update" segment, lays a serious theme behind the high school high jinks.
Her script is based on Rosalind Wiseman's best seller "Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and Other Realities of Adolescence," a book that explores the power of school cliques and the role of girls within them. This duality results in an edgy comedy, where laughs stem at times from uncomfortable situations. In other words, "Mean Girls" lives up to its title.
All that attitude plus a subtle turn by young star Lindsay Lohan, who successfully reteams here with her "Freaky Friday" director Mark Waters, should help "Mean Girls" draw well from its target audience of teenage females.
Fey fashions her story around the role-playing in high school identified by Wiseman's book: the Queen Bee, her Sidekicks, the Torn Bystander, Messenger and Target, among others. Refreshingly, none of these types turn into stereotypes. The geeks among the Mathletes are allowed a surprisingly cool, unself-conscious hipness. And, sure, the Plastics -- the three girls at the center of all the social climbing and psychological warfare -- are plastic as hell. Yet Fey's screenplay insists on viewing them not as caricatures but as young girls confronting very real issues of image, self-worth and fear of failure.
Lohan plays Cady Heron, a young girl who is a social blank: She joins a Chicago-area high school directly from Africa, where her zoologist parents home-schooled their daughter. This allows Cady -- and the film -- to compare behavior in the animal kingdom and on campus, each a jungle in its own way. In occasional fantasy sequences, the kids' behavior apes -- pun intended -- animal comportment in the bush.
As a lonely newcomer, Cady is initially adopted by the social outcasts Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian Daniel Franzese). These two are into art and treat all cliques with undisguised disdain. However, Cady's smashing looks and unusual innocence soon attract the attention of Queen Bee Regina (Rachel McAdams) and her sycophantic Sidekicks Gretchen (Lacey Chabert) and Karen (Amanda Seyfried).
The outcasts seize Regina's ambivalent flirtation with Cady as an opportunity to dethrone the Queen Bee: They persuade Cady to pretend to like the Plastics and hang out with them until she gathers enough information to use when it is most beneficial. Gradually, Cady gets a little too good at this espionage and, without realizing it, becomes a queen of mean herself.
One of the movie's achievements is persuading the audience to stay firmly in Cady's camp during her odyssey of self-discovery. As she gets savvy about game-playing and much, much meaner, you must still believe that the goodness of her heart has only temporarily been eclipsed. Lohan manages this transition as things unravel comically and the whole school comes apart at the seams over a prank.
The climax is somewhat forced and a little disjointed. All the girls are forced to assemble in the gym for a lecture and group therapy session from teacher Ms. Norbury (Fey). The movie may drive home its message without much subtlety, but the comedy remains sharp, and believability is never sacrificed.
For the second film in a row, Waters achieves striking comic results from a mix of young actors and veterans. The film's polish extends into tech areas from cinematographer Daryn Okada's energetic lensing to the revealing decor in Cary White's bedroom sets. Mary Jane Fort's costumes overemphasize her star's bust line, but that too is not uncommon among social-climbing high school girls.
MEAN GIRLS
Paramount Pictures
A Lorne Michaels production
Credits:
Director: Mark Waters
Screenwriter: Tina Fey
Based on the book by: Rosalind Wiseman
Producer: Lorne Michaels
Executive producer: Jill Messick
Director of photography: Daryn Okada
Production designer: Cary White
Music: Rolfe Kent
Co-producer: Louise Rosner
Costume designer: Mary Jane Fort
Editor: Wendy Greene Bricmont
Cast:
Cady: Lindsay Lohan
Regina: Rachel McAdams
Ms. Norbury: Tina Fey
Mr. Duvall: Tim Meadows
Mrs. George: Amy Poehler
Betsy: Ana Gasteyer
Gretchen: Lacey Chabert
Janis Ian: Lizzy Caplan
Damian: Daniel Franzese
Chip: Neil Flynn
Aaron: Jonathan Bennett
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Friday, April 30
"Mean Girls" wants to have it both ways and, surprisingly, just about manages that trick. The first way, of course, is what Paramount is currently marketing: a teen comedy about high school girls battling for guys and social prestige. The other way is much trickier. Debuting screenwriter Tina Fey, a head writer on "Saturday Night Live" and co-anchor of the show's popular "Weekend Update" segment, lays a serious theme behind the high school high jinks.
Her script is based on Rosalind Wiseman's best seller "Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and Other Realities of Adolescence," a book that explores the power of school cliques and the role of girls within them. This duality results in an edgy comedy, where laughs stem at times from uncomfortable situations. In other words, "Mean Girls" lives up to its title.
All that attitude plus a subtle turn by young star Lindsay Lohan, who successfully reteams here with her "Freaky Friday" director Mark Waters, should help "Mean Girls" draw well from its target audience of teenage females.
Fey fashions her story around the role-playing in high school identified by Wiseman's book: the Queen Bee, her Sidekicks, the Torn Bystander, Messenger and Target, among others. Refreshingly, none of these types turn into stereotypes. The geeks among the Mathletes are allowed a surprisingly cool, unself-conscious hipness. And, sure, the Plastics -- the three girls at the center of all the social climbing and psychological warfare -- are plastic as hell. Yet Fey's screenplay insists on viewing them not as caricatures but as young girls confronting very real issues of image, self-worth and fear of failure.
Lohan plays Cady Heron, a young girl who is a social blank: She joins a Chicago-area high school directly from Africa, where her zoologist parents home-schooled their daughter. This allows Cady -- and the film -- to compare behavior in the animal kingdom and on campus, each a jungle in its own way. In occasional fantasy sequences, the kids' behavior apes -- pun intended -- animal comportment in the bush.
As a lonely newcomer, Cady is initially adopted by the social outcasts Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian Daniel Franzese). These two are into art and treat all cliques with undisguised disdain. However, Cady's smashing looks and unusual innocence soon attract the attention of Queen Bee Regina (Rachel McAdams) and her sycophantic Sidekicks Gretchen (Lacey Chabert) and Karen (Amanda Seyfried).
The outcasts seize Regina's ambivalent flirtation with Cady as an opportunity to dethrone the Queen Bee: They persuade Cady to pretend to like the Plastics and hang out with them until she gathers enough information to use when it is most beneficial. Gradually, Cady gets a little too good at this espionage and, without realizing it, becomes a queen of mean herself.
One of the movie's achievements is persuading the audience to stay firmly in Cady's camp during her odyssey of self-discovery. As she gets savvy about game-playing and much, much meaner, you must still believe that the goodness of her heart has only temporarily been eclipsed. Lohan manages this transition as things unravel comically and the whole school comes apart at the seams over a prank.
The climax is somewhat forced and a little disjointed. All the girls are forced to assemble in the gym for a lecture and group therapy session from teacher Ms. Norbury (Fey). The movie may drive home its message without much subtlety, but the comedy remains sharp, and believability is never sacrificed.
For the second film in a row, Waters achieves striking comic results from a mix of young actors and veterans. The film's polish extends into tech areas from cinematographer Daryn Okada's energetic lensing to the revealing decor in Cary White's bedroom sets. Mary Jane Fort's costumes overemphasize her star's bust line, but that too is not uncommon among social-climbing high school girls.
MEAN GIRLS
Paramount Pictures
A Lorne Michaels production
Credits:
Director: Mark Waters
Screenwriter: Tina Fey
Based on the book by: Rosalind Wiseman
Producer: Lorne Michaels
Executive producer: Jill Messick
Director of photography: Daryn Okada
Production designer: Cary White
Music: Rolfe Kent
Co-producer: Louise Rosner
Costume designer: Mary Jane Fort
Editor: Wendy Greene Bricmont
Cast:
Cady: Lindsay Lohan
Regina: Rachel McAdams
Ms. Norbury: Tina Fey
Mr. Duvall: Tim Meadows
Mrs. George: Amy Poehler
Betsy: Ana Gasteyer
Gretchen: Lacey Chabert
Janis Ian: Lizzy Caplan
Damian: Daniel Franzese
Chip: Neil Flynn
Aaron: Jonathan Bennett
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 7/9/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mean Girls
Opens
Friday, April 30
"Mean Girls" wants to have it both ways and, surprisingly, just about manages that trick. The first way, of course, is what Paramount is currently marketing: a teen comedy about high school girls battling for guys and social prestige. The other way is much trickier. Debuting screenwriter Tina Fey, a head writer on "Saturday Night Live" and co-anchor of the show's popular "Weekend Update" segment, lays a serious theme behind the high school high jinks.
Her script is based on Rosalind Wiseman's best seller "Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and Other Realities of Adolescence," a book that explores the power of school cliques and the role of girls within them. This duality results in an edgy comedy, where laughs stem at times from uncomfortable situations. In other words, "Mean Girls" lives up to its title.
All that attitude plus a subtle turn by young star Lindsay Lohan, who successfully reteams here with her "Freaky Friday" director Mark Waters, should help "Mean Girls" draw well from its target audience of teenage females.
Fey fashions her story around the role-playing in high school identified by Wiseman's book: the Queen Bee, her Sidekicks, the Torn Bystander, Messenger and Target, among others. Refreshingly, none of these types turn into stereotypes. The geeks among the Mathletes are allowed a surprisingly cool, unself-conscious hipness. And, sure, the Plastics -- the three girls at the center of all the social climbing and psychological warfare -- are plastic as hell. Yet Fey's screenplay insists on viewing them not as caricatures but as young girls confronting very real issues of image, self-worth and fear of failure.
Lohan plays Cady Heron, a young girl who is a social blank: She joins a Chicago-area high school directly from Africa, where her zoologist parents home-schooled their daughter. This allows Cady -- and the film -- to compare behavior in the animal kingdom and on campus, each a jungle in its own way. In occasional fantasy sequences, the kids' behavior apes -- pun intended -- animal comportment in the bush.
As a lonely newcomer, Cady is initially adopted by the social outcasts Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian Daniel Franzese). These two are into art and treat all cliques with undisguised disdain. However, Cady's smashing looks and unusual innocence soon attract the attention of Queen Bee Regina (Rachel McAdams) and her sycophantic Sidekicks Gretchen (Lacey Chabert) and Karen (Amanda Seyfried).
The outcasts seize Regina's ambivalent flirtation with Cady as an opportunity to dethrone the Queen Bee: They persuade Cady to pretend to like the Plastics and hang out with them until she gathers enough information to use when it is most beneficial. Gradually, Cady gets a little too good at this espionage and, without realizing it, becomes a queen of mean herself.
One of the movie's achievements is persuading the audience to stay firmly in Cady's camp during her odyssey of self-discovery. As she gets savvy about game-playing and much, much meaner, you must still believe that the goodness of her heart has only temporarily been eclipsed. Lohan manages this transition as things unravel comically and the whole school comes apart at the seams over a prank.
The climax is somewhat forced and a little disjointed. All the girls are forced to assemble in the gym for a lecture and group therapy session from teacher Ms. Norbury (Fey). The movie may drive home its message without much subtlety, but the comedy remains sharp, and believability is never sacrificed.
For the second film in a row, Waters achieves striking comic results from a mix of young actors and veterans. The film's polish extends into tech areas from cinematographer Daryn Okada's energetic lensing to the revealing decor in Cary White's bedroom sets. Mary Jane Fort's costumes overemphasize her star's bust line, but that too is not uncommon among social-climbing high school girls.
MEAN GIRLS
Paramount Pictures
A Lorne Michaels production
Credits:
Director: Mark Waters
Screenwriter: Tina Fey
Based on the book by: Rosalind Wiseman
Producer: Lorne Michaels
Executive producer: Jill Messick
Director of photography: Daryn Okada
Production designer: Cary White
Music: Rolfe Kent
Co-producer: Louise Rosner
Costume designer: Mary Jane Fort
Editor: Wendy Greene Bricmont
Cast:
Cady: Lindsay Lohan
Regina: Rachel McAdams
Ms. Norbury: Tina Fey
Mr. Duvall: Tim Meadows
Mrs. George: Amy Poehler
Betsy: Ana Gasteyer
Gretchen: Lacey Chabert
Janis Ian: Lizzy Caplan
Damian: Daniel Franzese
Chip: Neil Flynn
Aaron: Jonathan Bennett
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Friday, April 30
"Mean Girls" wants to have it both ways and, surprisingly, just about manages that trick. The first way, of course, is what Paramount is currently marketing: a teen comedy about high school girls battling for guys and social prestige. The other way is much trickier. Debuting screenwriter Tina Fey, a head writer on "Saturday Night Live" and co-anchor of the show's popular "Weekend Update" segment, lays a serious theme behind the high school high jinks.
Her script is based on Rosalind Wiseman's best seller "Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and Other Realities of Adolescence," a book that explores the power of school cliques and the role of girls within them. This duality results in an edgy comedy, where laughs stem at times from uncomfortable situations. In other words, "Mean Girls" lives up to its title.
All that attitude plus a subtle turn by young star Lindsay Lohan, who successfully reteams here with her "Freaky Friday" director Mark Waters, should help "Mean Girls" draw well from its target audience of teenage females.
Fey fashions her story around the role-playing in high school identified by Wiseman's book: the Queen Bee, her Sidekicks, the Torn Bystander, Messenger and Target, among others. Refreshingly, none of these types turn into stereotypes. The geeks among the Mathletes are allowed a surprisingly cool, unself-conscious hipness. And, sure, the Plastics -- the three girls at the center of all the social climbing and psychological warfare -- are plastic as hell. Yet Fey's screenplay insists on viewing them not as caricatures but as young girls confronting very real issues of image, self-worth and fear of failure.
Lohan plays Cady Heron, a young girl who is a social blank: She joins a Chicago-area high school directly from Africa, where her zoologist parents home-schooled their daughter. This allows Cady -- and the film -- to compare behavior in the animal kingdom and on campus, each a jungle in its own way. In occasional fantasy sequences, the kids' behavior apes -- pun intended -- animal comportment in the bush.
As a lonely newcomer, Cady is initially adopted by the social outcasts Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian Daniel Franzese). These two are into art and treat all cliques with undisguised disdain. However, Cady's smashing looks and unusual innocence soon attract the attention of Queen Bee Regina (Rachel McAdams) and her sycophantic Sidekicks Gretchen (Lacey Chabert) and Karen (Amanda Seyfried).
The outcasts seize Regina's ambivalent flirtation with Cady as an opportunity to dethrone the Queen Bee: They persuade Cady to pretend to like the Plastics and hang out with them until she gathers enough information to use when it is most beneficial. Gradually, Cady gets a little too good at this espionage and, without realizing it, becomes a queen of mean herself.
One of the movie's achievements is persuading the audience to stay firmly in Cady's camp during her odyssey of self-discovery. As she gets savvy about game-playing and much, much meaner, you must still believe that the goodness of her heart has only temporarily been eclipsed. Lohan manages this transition as things unravel comically and the whole school comes apart at the seams over a prank.
The climax is somewhat forced and a little disjointed. All the girls are forced to assemble in the gym for a lecture and group therapy session from teacher Ms. Norbury (Fey). The movie may drive home its message without much subtlety, but the comedy remains sharp, and believability is never sacrificed.
For the second film in a row, Waters achieves striking comic results from a mix of young actors and veterans. The film's polish extends into tech areas from cinematographer Daryn Okada's energetic lensing to the revealing decor in Cary White's bedroom sets. Mary Jane Fort's costumes overemphasize her star's bust line, but that too is not uncommon among social-climbing high school girls.
MEAN GIRLS
Paramount Pictures
A Lorne Michaels production
Credits:
Director: Mark Waters
Screenwriter: Tina Fey
Based on the book by: Rosalind Wiseman
Producer: Lorne Michaels
Executive producer: Jill Messick
Director of photography: Daryn Okada
Production designer: Cary White
Music: Rolfe Kent
Co-producer: Louise Rosner
Costume designer: Mary Jane Fort
Editor: Wendy Greene Bricmont
Cast:
Cady: Lindsay Lohan
Regina: Rachel McAdams
Ms. Norbury: Tina Fey
Mr. Duvall: Tim Meadows
Mrs. George: Amy Poehler
Betsy: Ana Gasteyer
Gretchen: Lacey Chabert
Janis Ian: Lizzy Caplan
Damian: Daniel Franzese
Chip: Neil Flynn
Aaron: Jonathan Bennett
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 4/26/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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Film review: 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love'
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If it were a '40s romantic comedy, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" might be titled "Testimony of Three Wives".
A dark, dramatic biopic based on the downsliding life of doo-wopper Frankie Lymon, who rose to fame on the titular song, "Fools" stars Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox and Lela Rochon as the women who were married to Lymon and whose court fight over his royalty "estate" clue us to Lymon's sorry life, a drug-filled saga that had too little "doo" and way too much "wop."
Boasting some great late '50s and early '60s rock sounds, this Warner Bros. film, unfortunately, spins back and forth narratively so much that it has trouble settling into a consistent story rpm and is likely to get only a short play time at the boxoffice despite the excellent lead performances and nostalgic rock 'n' roll sound track.
Frankie Lymon (Larenz Tate) was short, cute and smooth. In the early '60s he was a star, lighting up the roadshow venues with his electric personality and, most popularly, his hit song -- "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". Even by rock star standards, Frankie had a way with the ladies: they adored him and, with his slight frame and boyish looks, he brought out their motherly instincts as well. According to Tina Andrews' fact-based screenplay, Frankie attracted all kinds as we readily see in the three very different women who vie for the royalties he supposedly acquired following his death by overdose. In a court battle, which very much resembles a game show owing to the varied nature of Limon's wives, Widow No. 1 is Zola Taylor (Berry), a former Platters singer and female rock star; Widow No. 2 is Elizabeth (Fox) a streetwise, petty criminal, and Widow No. 3 is Elmira (Rochon), a demure Southern schoolteacher. Frankie had a rather loose regard for bigamy laws, and all three contend that they are the true wife of the late singer. Each has a story and, as you'd expect, they're not exactly airtight.
In essence, Frankie's life and career is refracted through the prism of these three women's viewpoints and, not surprisingly, each paints a startlingly different portrait of the troubled entertainer. With most of the film told in flashback with multiple viewpoints, we're given a textural portrait that is both entertaining and illuminating. Best, this includes some great rock 'n' roll period stuff as well, early Alan Freed shows with such groups as the Shirelles, Little Richard and the Platters performing up and through the mid-'60s on shows including "Hullaballoo". Most of this is engaging, especially owing to the gritty and glossy lead performances, but some of the period evocation is a bit scratchy: '60s protesters come across as variety-show entertainers and the authenticity is muddled by the all-too-obvious studio-lot look of the settings. Like all music bios, we get the feeling that much of the story is grooved according to which music rights were available -- it's odd to see the mid-'60s in rock history with only a one-line mention of the Beatles and a cursory selection of songs that, overall, gives us no "Satisfaction".
The high note of this affectionate production is in the performances, especially Fox as the sultry bad-girl who decides to take on the music-industry practice of producers plastering their name on the writing credits of pop songs for royalties. Fox's don't-mess-with-me demeanor is a powerful pack of facial expressions, body language and attitude. She's reached back for some moves we haven't seen before. High praise also to Berry for her sassy, splashy performance as Frankie's songstress/wife, while Rochon is splendidly credible as Frankie's provincial Southern schoolmarm wife. As the troubled Frankie, Larenz Tate is a perfect blend of charisma and self-destructiveness. Once again, Paul Mazursky is outstanding in a supporting role, hitting all the right slimy notes in his role as a sleazy music producer.
Despite the artificial, studio look of much of the film, light up the applause meter for Cary White's garish, eye-catching, pink-patched production design, perfectly conveying the excess and transience of the characters and the era.
WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE
Warner Bros.
Producers: Paul Hall, Stephen Nemeth
Director: Gregory Nava
Screenwriter: Tina Andrews
Executive producers: Gregory Nava, Mark Allan, Harold Bronson
Director of photography: Edward Lachman
Production designer: Cary White
Editor: Nancy Richardson
Music: Stephen James Taylor
Costume designer: Elisabetta Beraldo
Casting: Reuben Cannon
Sound mixer: Veda Campbell
Color/stereo
Cast:
Zola Taylor: Halle Berry
Elizabeth Waters: Vivica A. Fox
Emira Eagle: Lela Rochon
Frankie Lymon: Larenz Tate
Little Richard: Himself
Morris Levy: Paul Mazursky
Herman Santiago: Alexis Cruz
Sherman: J. August Richards
Running time -- 123 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
A dark, dramatic biopic based on the downsliding life of doo-wopper Frankie Lymon, who rose to fame on the titular song, "Fools" stars Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox and Lela Rochon as the women who were married to Lymon and whose court fight over his royalty "estate" clue us to Lymon's sorry life, a drug-filled saga that had too little "doo" and way too much "wop."
Boasting some great late '50s and early '60s rock sounds, this Warner Bros. film, unfortunately, spins back and forth narratively so much that it has trouble settling into a consistent story rpm and is likely to get only a short play time at the boxoffice despite the excellent lead performances and nostalgic rock 'n' roll sound track.
Frankie Lymon (Larenz Tate) was short, cute and smooth. In the early '60s he was a star, lighting up the roadshow venues with his electric personality and, most popularly, his hit song -- "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". Even by rock star standards, Frankie had a way with the ladies: they adored him and, with his slight frame and boyish looks, he brought out their motherly instincts as well. According to Tina Andrews' fact-based screenplay, Frankie attracted all kinds as we readily see in the three very different women who vie for the royalties he supposedly acquired following his death by overdose. In a court battle, which very much resembles a game show owing to the varied nature of Limon's wives, Widow No. 1 is Zola Taylor (Berry), a former Platters singer and female rock star; Widow No. 2 is Elizabeth (Fox) a streetwise, petty criminal, and Widow No. 3 is Elmira (Rochon), a demure Southern schoolteacher. Frankie had a rather loose regard for bigamy laws, and all three contend that they are the true wife of the late singer. Each has a story and, as you'd expect, they're not exactly airtight.
In essence, Frankie's life and career is refracted through the prism of these three women's viewpoints and, not surprisingly, each paints a startlingly different portrait of the troubled entertainer. With most of the film told in flashback with multiple viewpoints, we're given a textural portrait that is both entertaining and illuminating. Best, this includes some great rock 'n' roll period stuff as well, early Alan Freed shows with such groups as the Shirelles, Little Richard and the Platters performing up and through the mid-'60s on shows including "Hullaballoo". Most of this is engaging, especially owing to the gritty and glossy lead performances, but some of the period evocation is a bit scratchy: '60s protesters come across as variety-show entertainers and the authenticity is muddled by the all-too-obvious studio-lot look of the settings. Like all music bios, we get the feeling that much of the story is grooved according to which music rights were available -- it's odd to see the mid-'60s in rock history with only a one-line mention of the Beatles and a cursory selection of songs that, overall, gives us no "Satisfaction".
The high note of this affectionate production is in the performances, especially Fox as the sultry bad-girl who decides to take on the music-industry practice of producers plastering their name on the writing credits of pop songs for royalties. Fox's don't-mess-with-me demeanor is a powerful pack of facial expressions, body language and attitude. She's reached back for some moves we haven't seen before. High praise also to Berry for her sassy, splashy performance as Frankie's songstress/wife, while Rochon is splendidly credible as Frankie's provincial Southern schoolmarm wife. As the troubled Frankie, Larenz Tate is a perfect blend of charisma and self-destructiveness. Once again, Paul Mazursky is outstanding in a supporting role, hitting all the right slimy notes in his role as a sleazy music producer.
Despite the artificial, studio look of much of the film, light up the applause meter for Cary White's garish, eye-catching, pink-patched production design, perfectly conveying the excess and transience of the characters and the era.
WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE
Warner Bros.
Producers: Paul Hall, Stephen Nemeth
Director: Gregory Nava
Screenwriter: Tina Andrews
Executive producers: Gregory Nava, Mark Allan, Harold Bronson
Director of photography: Edward Lachman
Production designer: Cary White
Editor: Nancy Richardson
Music: Stephen James Taylor
Costume designer: Elisabetta Beraldo
Casting: Reuben Cannon
Sound mixer: Veda Campbell
Color/stereo
Cast:
Zola Taylor: Halle Berry
Elizabeth Waters: Vivica A. Fox
Emira Eagle: Lela Rochon
Frankie Lymon: Larenz Tate
Little Richard: Himself
Morris Levy: Paul Mazursky
Herman Santiago: Alexis Cruz
Sherman: J. August Richards
Running time -- 123 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 8/10/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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