10.16.2008 | By Mack Chico |
Rated: R for language, some violent images, sexual content and some drug material.
Release Date: 2008-10-17
Starring: Art Linson
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Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.whatjusthappenedfilm.com/
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10.15.2008 | By Mack Chico |
Jennifer Lopez wants to appear in the next ‘Sex and the City’ movie.’
‘The Wedding Planner’ star was a huge fan of the hit US TV show, and always wanted a cameo role, but is now hoping to be cast in the movie sequel. She is quoted as saying: “I adore the show and nearly popped up in the TV show, but then did ‘Will and Grace’ instead.”
A source said: “Jennifer has got her heart set on joining Carrie and the girls. The bosses are trying to think of a way of fitting her in without it being cheesy.” If Jennifer gets her wish, she wouldn’t be the first celebrity to appear in ‘Sex and the City’.
Actress Heather Graham and supermodel Heidi Klum both played themselves in past episodes. Former Spice Girls star Geri Halliwell appeared on the show in 2003, while her ex-bandmate Victoria Beckham is rumoured to have been lined up for the next film.
10.14.2008 | By Mack Chico |
Penelope Cruz — who’s appearing in two current films, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Elegy” — will be honored as the outstanding performer of the year at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, which runs Jan. 22-Feb.1. Cruz will be presented with the award at the Arlington Theatre on Jan. 31.
“There are few actresses who can today be described as international movie goddesses, and this year, with her exceptional work in ‘Elegy’ and ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona,’ Penelope Cruz has earned that description,” SBIFF executive director Roger Durling said.
Cruz was first introduced to American audiences in the Spanish films “Jamon, Jamon” and “Belle Epoque.” She frequently works with director Pedro Almodovar, appearing in his films “Live Flesh,” “All About My Mother,” “Volver,” for which she earned a best actress Academy Award nomination, and the upcoming “Los Abrazos Rotos.”
10.13.2008 | By Mack Chico |
Cine Latino, the leading Spanish-language premium film channel in the United States, announces the appointment of cable industry veteran James M. McNamara, former chief executive of Telemundo and founder of Panamax Films, as non-executive Chairman.
Cine Latino, co-owned by MVS Television and InterMedia Partners, offers the biggest and most current Spanish-language blockbusters and critically-acclaimed titles. With more than 3.5 million cable and satellite subscribers, Cine Latino is the leading U.S. Spanish-language movie channel. Cine Latino also has over 2 million subscribers throughout Latin America and Canada.
“We are very excited to have Jim on board,” says Ernesto Vargas, President of MVS Television. “Under Jim’s leadership, Cine Latino is preparing to announce exciting and unprecedented plans to reinforce our position as the leading premium provider of Spanish-language cinema.”
McNamara has extensive Hispanic TV experience, serving as President and CEO of Telemundo from 1999 to 2005, during which time the network sold to General Electric/NBC for $2.7 billion.
In 2005 McNamara left the top position at Telemundo to start Panamax Films, a production house aimed at producing high quality English and Spanish-language films for the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American audiences. Panamax distributes through a distribution agreement with Lion’s Gate Entertainment. In 2006 Panamax distributed La Mujer de Mi Hermano and in 2007 produced and distributed the hit Ladron Que Roba a Ladron. Panamax film Sangre de mi Sangre was the first Spanish-language film to win the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007.
“Jim brings both his unparalleled understanding of Spanish-language television and film and a tremendous vision to Cine Latino,” says Alan Sokol, senior investment partner of InterMedia. “Under Jim’s direction, Cine Latino will become synonymous with the best in Spanish language cinema.”
In his new role as non-executive Chairman, McNamara will be responsible for overseeing programming, distribution, marketing and finance. The current management will remain intact in Mexico. As part of the channel’s effort to grow the management staff in the United States, Cine Latino has appointed Sandra Austin as Chief Financial Officer. Austin formally served as CFO of MGM Networks Latin America. Carolina Bilbao has been named Creative Director after previous creative positions at Telemundo, MTV Networks, and Oxygen. Katie Hamlin joins as Public Relations Director from Edelman, before which she served as Public Relations Manager of Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico.
“I am thrilled to be leading Cine Latino’s exceptional team,” says McNamara. “The channel is committed to providing the best, most relevant contemporary Spanish-language film titles to all Latinos living in the U.S. I look forward to leveraging my experience in Spanish-language television and film to build upon the channel’s success and strengthen our status as the ultimate Spanish-language film destination.”
McNamara holds a Masters degree from the American Graduate School of International Management. He earned an undergraduate degree in business administration and political science from Rollins College. He was born and raised in the Republic of Panama and currently resides in Miami with his wife and three children.
Cine Latino was founded by MVS Television, a subsidiary of Mexico City’s Grupo MVS. Private equity firm InterMedia Partners recently acquired a 50% interest in Cine Latino. Movie producer and industry veteran McNamara also acquired an equity interest in the channel.
10.12.2008 | By Mack Chico |
This is how far movie stars have fallen in their ability to pull audiences into theaters, at least when the story revolves around Iraq and the messiness of the Middle East: A picture about talking dogs, “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” trampled Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe at the weekend box office.
“Body of Lies,” a terrorism thriller starring Mr. DiCaprio and Mr. Crowe, sold an anemic $13.1 million in tickets at North American theaters, according to the theater tracking company Box Office Mojo. The movie’s stars are considered two of the biggest draws in the business. And the film was directed by Ridley Scott (“Blade Runner,” “American Gangster”), one of the few filmmakers who are household names.
Warner Brothers, the studio behind this serious, expensive movie, blamed the bad timing of an economic crisis. “The result is directly related to the dire mood of Americans,” Dan Fellman, president for domestic theatrical distribution at Warner Brothers, who flatly rejected the industry belief that the film’s megawatt stars should have garnered higher sales regardless.
Still, Warner Brothers had turned “Body of Lies” into a referendum on star power by choosing to market the film squarely on the backs of Mr. DiCaprio and Mr. Crowe, delivering scant information about the plotline in the process. And the marketing was considerable, beginning in force during the Beijing Olympics and continuing with a major billboard and television campaign. (“Body of Lies” cost an estimated $70 million to produce; the average studio film costs an average of nearly $36 million to market.)
The studio worried that selling “Body of Lies” based on its plot would be difficult. Adapted from the best-selling novel by David Ignatius, the movie centers on a C.I.A. operative who is tracking a terrorist leader, and bounces from Iraq to Turkey to the United States to Jordan. In the past few years movies focusing on the Iraq war and the fallout from 9/11 (“Rendition” and “Lions for Lambs,” for example) have generally performed terribly, even with big-name stars like Tom Cruise and Reese Witherspoon.
Escapism definitely ruled the weekend — something that should ring alarm bells for almost all the Hollywood studios as they prepare to flood the market with somber awards-driven pictures. Films like “Changeling,” starring Angelina Jolie as a mother in search of her kidnapped son, and “The Soloist,” featuring Jamie Foxx as a homeless musician, may have an extra hurdle to cross.
“Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” a Walt Disney Pictures release, sold an estimated $17.5 million in tickets over the weekend, according to Box Office Mojo. That was enough for the No. 1 slot for the second week in a row, bringing its cumulative gross to $52.5 million. Second place went to another escapist entry, this time in the horror genre: “Quarantine,” released by Sony/Screen Gems, sold about $14.2 million in tickets, drawing heavily on younger moviegoers.
“Body of Lies” was third. Fourth place went to “Eagle Eye” with $11 million (for a new total of $70.6 million). And “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” was fifth with $6.5 million ($20.8 million).
10.10.2008 | By Mike Pierce |
Rated: R for bloody violent and disturbing content, terror and language.
Release Date: 2008-10-10
Starring: John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle
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Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.containthetruth.com/
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Over the weekend – I went and checked out the movie Quarantine. Ohhh yeah, I get there – – sit down with my bottled water and waited.
Here’s a little plot summary:
Television reporter Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman (Steve Harris) are assigned to spend the night shift with a Los Angeles Fire Station. After a routine 911 call takes them to a small apartment building, they find police officers already on the scene in response to blood curdling screams coming from one of the apartment units. They soon learn that a woman living in the building has been infected by something unknown. After a few of the residents are viciously attacked, they try to escape with the news crew in tow, only to find that the CDC has quarantined the building. Phones, Internet, televisions and cell phone access have been cut-off, and officials are not relaying information to those locked inside. When the quarantine is finally lifted, the only evidence of what took place is the news crew’s videotape.
NOW…what did I think about it you ask…it was ok. I thought it was going to be better. I mean, the “zombie like people” (I’ll keep it like that so I don’t give away the TRUE story) were dope…but, that’s about it. The whole movie is played back by the camera guy – the camera jerks, moves in all directions! That was pretty annoying. Ladies, you’ll be happy – Jay Hernandez is in the movie. He was cool. Guys, if your looking for a good “date movie in October.” – – go check it out.
I give Quarantine…3 out of 5 Popcorns!
10.10.2008 | By Mack Chico |
Rated: R for violence, pervasive language, drug content and brief sexuality.
Release Date: 2008-10-10
Starring: George Rivera, Ãngel M. Sanjurjo
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Country: Puerto Rico
Official Website: http://www.peliculatalentodebarrio.com/
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10.9.2008 | By Mack Chico |
Gavin O’Connor, an unproven TV director, sets out to create the next “Serpico” with Ed Norton and Colin Farrell. Sounds like fluff to us Gavin. We’re watching the film this weekend and we’ll weigh in on your remarks. Cool thing is he casted some of the better Hispanic actors to play the thugs in this film which include Manny Perez, John Ortiz, Ramon Rodriguez and Rick Gonzalez. We hope it’s at least better than “We Own The Night” with Phoenix and Wahlberg.
This movie revolves around a saga centered on a multi-generational family of New York City Police officers. The family’s moral codes are tested when Ray Tierney (Edward Norton), investigates a case that reveals an incendiary police corruption scandal involving his own brother-in-law (Colin Farrell). For Ray, the truth is revelatory, a Pandora’s Box that threatens to upend not only the Tierney legacy but the entire NYPD.
Pride and Glory is released on October 24th.
10.8.2008 | By Mack Chico |
Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney is in Puerto Rico filming his new movie “Men Who Stare At Goats”.
The executive director of the Corporation of Cinema, Luis Riefkohl, said that the shoot will be extended by three weeks and that he hopes that at some point when the filming stops, press will have some access to the set.
Other actors in the cast are Ewan McGregor and Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, who are also in PR.
“Men Who Stare At Goats”, directed by Grant Heslov, is based on a book by British journalist Jon Ronson about a military unit with paranormal powers fighting the anti-terrorist war.
The script is by Peter Straughan. Heslov and Clooney are partners of the Smoke House Pictures and “Men Who Stare At Goats” is the second production that they collaborate on.
The manager of the Corporation of Cinema, Cristina Caraballo, assured that Clooney wanted to film in the Island because the incentives that the government grants are the most attractive in the world.
After Puerto Rico, the production moves to Albuquerque, and then to New Mexico.
10.8.2008 | By Mack Chico |
Forest Whitaker will direct and star in Louis Armstrong biopic “What a Wonderful World” for Paris-based Legende, the company behind “La Vie en rose.”
Alain Goldman is producing alongside Edward R. Pressman.
Ron Bass, who will pen the original script, is exec producing with Oscar Cohen, executive of the Armstrong estate and the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation.
Film, the first bigscreen project to be authorized by the Armstrong estate, will kick off during the musician’s impoverished early years in New Orleans and primarily chronicle his career as a trumpet virtuoso and improvisational singer.
“Armstrong left a monumental mark on our lives and our culture,” said Whitaker, who portrayed jazz great Charlie Parker in “Bird.” “He lived an amazing life and, through his art, shifted the way music was played and would be heard after him, not just here in the U.S. but all over the world.”
“What a Wonderful World” will begin shooting in the summer in Louisiana.
Cohen, who began working for the musician in the late 40’s as his road manager, is granting the filmmakers exclusive access to his personal accounts as well as to letters and other material in the Armstrong archives.
In addition to his role as a pioneering musician, Armstrong appeared in more than 30 films.
Whitaker, whose most recent directing credit was 20th Century Fox’s “First Daughter,” has a number of acting vehicles in the can, including “Repossession Mambo,” “Hurricane Season” and “Powder Blue.”
