Order in the court! The Apple TV+ series Presumed Innocent, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga, will arrive on the streaming platform earlier than anticipated. Previously scheduled for its premiere on June 14, the courtroom thriller comes to Apple TV+ on June 12. Inspired by the Alan J. Pakula-directed thriller of the same name, the original film starred Harrison Ford, Raul Julia, and Greta Scacchi. The newest version of Presumed Innocent hails from David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams, with Gyllenhaal and Negga commanding the drama.
Presumed Innocent revolves around a vicious murder that sends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office reeling when one of their representatives becomes a suspect in the crime. Kelley’s version is said to investigate themes of obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love as the accused fights to keep aspects of their life from falling apart.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays Rusty Sabich in the new series,...
Presumed Innocent revolves around a vicious murder that sends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office reeling when one of their representatives becomes a suspect in the crime. Kelley’s version is said to investigate themes of obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love as the accused fights to keep aspects of their life from falling apart.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays Rusty Sabich in the new series,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Can you believe that Christmas is less than a week away? Five new horror movies come down the chimney this week in celebration, including the at-home debut of a recent box office hit.
Here’s all the new horror releasing December 19 – December 24, 2023!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
Based on his fake trailer from the Grindhouse Double Feature (2007), Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving hit theaters last month, and it was surprise-released on PVOD at home yesterday.
You can rent the film for $19.99 or purchase it (digitally) for $24.99.
In Thanksgiving, “After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the infamous holiday.”
The cast for the feature length slasher movie includes Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Jalen Thomas Brooks (“Walker”), Milo Manheim (Zombies), Nell Verlaque (“Big Shot”), Gina Gershon (“Chucky”), Tim Dillon and Rick Hoffman (Hostel).
Roth wrote the script with Jeff Rendell.
Here’s all the new horror releasing December 19 – December 24, 2023!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
Based on his fake trailer from the Grindhouse Double Feature (2007), Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving hit theaters last month, and it was surprise-released on PVOD at home yesterday.
You can rent the film for $19.99 or purchase it (digitally) for $24.99.
In Thanksgiving, “After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the infamous holiday.”
The cast for the feature length slasher movie includes Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Jalen Thomas Brooks (“Walker”), Milo Manheim (Zombies), Nell Verlaque (“Big Shot”), Gina Gershon (“Chucky”), Tim Dillon and Rick Hoffman (Hostel).
Roth wrote the script with Jeff Rendell.
- 12/20/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Based on his fake trailer from the Grindhouse Double Feature (2007), Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving served up a heaping helping of gory slasher fun in theaters ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Today, Roth’s holiday slasher carves its way onto PVOD! Bloody Disgusting has an exclusive “Behind the Screams” featurette to celebrate the surprise home release.
Thanksgiving is now available in theaters and to buy or rent on PVOD, offering more ways to enjoy holiday horror this season.
Check out the exclusive featurette below, where Roth and co-writer Jeff Rendell track their friendship and the road to creating the original new slasher.
In Thanksgiving, “After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the infamous holiday.”
The cast for the feature length slasher movie includes Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Jalen Thomas Brooks (“Walker”), Milo Manheim (Zombies), Nell Verlaque (“Big Shot”), Gina Gershon...
Thanksgiving is now available in theaters and to buy or rent on PVOD, offering more ways to enjoy holiday horror this season.
Check out the exclusive featurette below, where Roth and co-writer Jeff Rendell track their friendship and the road to creating the original new slasher.
In Thanksgiving, “After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the infamous holiday.”
The cast for the feature length slasher movie includes Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Jalen Thomas Brooks (“Walker”), Milo Manheim (Zombies), Nell Verlaque (“Big Shot”), Gina Gershon...
- 12/19/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Sixteen years after the film’s trailer premiered as part of the Grindhouse theatrical experience, Eli Roth’s slasher movie Thanksgiving carved its way into theaters over the weekend.
The rated “R” bloodbath was produced for just $15 million, a number that the film is likely to pass in the coming days. Here in the United States, Thanksgiving scared up $10.2 million in its debut weekend, with the film’s worldwide opening bringing the current total to $12.6 million.
While not exactly a massive opening weekend for Roth’s return to horror – factoring in marketing costs and other factors, Thanksgiving likely needs to hit $30 million before it starts making a profit – it’s just great to see a bloody-as-hell, old school slasher carving out a piece of the box office pie here in 2023. And most importantly, fans and critics alike are raving about the back-to-basics slasher, which currently has an 83% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The rated “R” bloodbath was produced for just $15 million, a number that the film is likely to pass in the coming days. Here in the United States, Thanksgiving scared up $10.2 million in its debut weekend, with the film’s worldwide opening bringing the current total to $12.6 million.
While not exactly a massive opening weekend for Roth’s return to horror – factoring in marketing costs and other factors, Thanksgiving likely needs to hit $30 million before it starts making a profit – it’s just great to see a bloody-as-hell, old school slasher carving out a piece of the box office pie here in 2023. And most importantly, fans and critics alike are raving about the back-to-basics slasher, which currently has an 83% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
- 11/20/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Based on his fake trailer from the Grindhouse Double Feature (2007), Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving hits theaters on November 17, and a new poster has arrived tonight.
Roth writes on Instagram, “Final Poster! A tribute to those classic 90’s slashers!”
Find the art below. Tickets for Thanksgiving are available now.
The film, an expansion of Roth’s faux trailer seen in Grindhouse (2007), will be released in theaters worldwide by TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group (Scream).
In Thanksgiving, “After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the infamous holiday.”
The cast for the feature length slasher movie includes Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Jalen Thomas Brooks (“Walker”), Milo Manheim (Zombies), Nell Verlaque (“Big Shot”), Gina Gershon (“Chucky”), Tim Dillon and Rick Hoffman (Hostel).
Roth wrote the script with Jeff Rendell. Roger Birnbaum and Eli Roth are producing.
The post Final Poster for Eli...
Roth writes on Instagram, “Final Poster! A tribute to those classic 90’s slashers!”
Find the art below. Tickets for Thanksgiving are available now.
The film, an expansion of Roth’s faux trailer seen in Grindhouse (2007), will be released in theaters worldwide by TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group (Scream).
In Thanksgiving, “After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the infamous holiday.”
The cast for the feature length slasher movie includes Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Jalen Thomas Brooks (“Walker”), Milo Manheim (Zombies), Nell Verlaque (“Big Shot”), Gina Gershon (“Chucky”), Tim Dillon and Rick Hoffman (Hostel).
Roth wrote the script with Jeff Rendell. Roger Birnbaum and Eli Roth are producing.
The post Final Poster for Eli...
- 11/10/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
The killer in director Eli Roth‘s long-awaited slasher movie Thanksgiving, which is set to reach theatres on November 17th (that being the Friday before Thanksgiving this year), wears a mask inspired by John Carver, the first governor of the Plymouth colony. In a newly released trailer, Roth and cast members Nell Verlaque (Big Shot) and Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy) build up the legend of this new John Carver in quick interview snippets that are intercut with new footage from the film. You can check it out in the embed above.
Thanksgiving is a feature expansion of the faux trailer Roth made for the Robert Rodriguez / Quentin Tarantino double feature Grindhouse sixteen years ago. Roth has been wanting to make a feature version of Thanksgiving ever since he made the faux trailer, and even wrote the screenplay with Jeff Rendell (who played the homicidal pilgrim in the trailer) a dozen years ago.
Thanksgiving is a feature expansion of the faux trailer Roth made for the Robert Rodriguez / Quentin Tarantino double feature Grindhouse sixteen years ago. Roth has been wanting to make a feature version of Thanksgiving ever since he made the faux trailer, and even wrote the screenplay with Jeff Rendell (who played the homicidal pilgrim in the trailer) a dozen years ago.
- 10/31/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Filming is now underway on Eli Roth’s slasher movie Thanksgiving, and Roth has taken to social media this week to share some behind the scenes photos from the set.
The photos give us our first look at the cast of Thanksgiving, which includes Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Jalen Thomas Brooks (“Walker”), Milo Manheim (Zombies), Nell Verlaque (“Big Shot”), Gina Gershon (“Chucky”), Tim Dillon and Rick Hoffman (Hostel).
Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving slashes into theaters on November 17, 2023.
The film, an expansion of Roth’s faux trailer seen in Grindhouse (2007), will be released in theaters worldwide by TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group (Scream).
Roth wrote the script with Jeff Rendell.
Roger Birnbaum and Eli Roth are producing.
Deadline reminds, “The Thanksgiving trailer presented the gory teaser about a pseudo movie in which a slasher makes his own carving board out of the inhabitants of a Massachusetts town that makes a...
The photos give us our first look at the cast of Thanksgiving, which includes Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Jalen Thomas Brooks (“Walker”), Milo Manheim (Zombies), Nell Verlaque (“Big Shot”), Gina Gershon (“Chucky”), Tim Dillon and Rick Hoffman (Hostel).
Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving slashes into theaters on November 17, 2023.
The film, an expansion of Roth’s faux trailer seen in Grindhouse (2007), will be released in theaters worldwide by TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group (Scream).
Roth wrote the script with Jeff Rendell.
Roger Birnbaum and Eli Roth are producing.
Deadline reminds, “The Thanksgiving trailer presented the gory teaser about a pseudo movie in which a slasher makes his own carving board out of the inhabitants of a Massachusetts town that makes a...
- 4/20/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
David Letterman has called out Tom Cruise for skipping the 2023 Oscars, arguing that the actor “should’ve been there”.
The Top Gun: Maverick star’s absence at the Academy Awards was announced by emcee Jimmy Kimmel during his opening monologue, in which he made a Scientology joke that he later said would’ve been cut had Cruise been there. Cruise is famously a member of the controversial religion.
Speaking to the late-night host about his successful Oscars broadcast on Wednesday (15 March) night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Letterman asked: “Where was Tom Cruise?”
“We don’t know where Tom Cruise was,” Kimmel answered. “We heard production issues.”
“What does that mean?” Letterman asked, calling it “nonsense”.
“Exactly. It’s very non-specific,” Kimmel agreed. “But we have no idea what happened.”
Letterman added: “Cruise should’ve been there celebrating his jet pack Maverick show”.
“Yeah. It seems like he should’ve been there,...
The Top Gun: Maverick star’s absence at the Academy Awards was announced by emcee Jimmy Kimmel during his opening monologue, in which he made a Scientology joke that he later said would’ve been cut had Cruise been there. Cruise is famously a member of the controversial religion.
Speaking to the late-night host about his successful Oscars broadcast on Wednesday (15 March) night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Letterman asked: “Where was Tom Cruise?”
“We don’t know where Tom Cruise was,” Kimmel answered. “We heard production issues.”
“What does that mean?” Letterman asked, calling it “nonsense”.
“Exactly. It’s very non-specific,” Kimmel agreed. “But we have no idea what happened.”
Letterman added: “Cruise should’ve been there celebrating his jet pack Maverick show”.
“Yeah. It seems like he should’ve been there,...
- 3/16/2023
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - TV
Where was Tom Cruise?
That was David Letterman’s burning question for Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel when he made an appearance on last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!
And the former Late Night host wasn’t buying the official excuse.
“We don’t know where Tom Cruise was,” Kimmel said in response to Letterman’s query. “We heard production issues.”
Said Letterman, “What does that mean? That’s nonsense.”
Despite six Oscar nominations for Maverick, Cruise did not attend Sunday’s awards ceremony, begging off due to scheduling conflicts. His absence soon gave rise to rumors that he feared Scientology jokes and/or running into ex-wife Nicole Kidman. (He needn’t have worried about the former – Kimmel’s only reference was a tame reference to a shirtless Cruise being “L. Ron Hubba Hubba”).
Kimmel sided with Letterman on the Risky Business actor’s excuse. “It’s very non-specific,...
That was David Letterman’s burning question for Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel when he made an appearance on last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!
And the former Late Night host wasn’t buying the official excuse.
“We don’t know where Tom Cruise was,” Kimmel said in response to Letterman’s query. “We heard production issues.”
Said Letterman, “What does that mean? That’s nonsense.”
Despite six Oscar nominations for Maverick, Cruise did not attend Sunday’s awards ceremony, begging off due to scheduling conflicts. His absence soon gave rise to rumors that he feared Scientology jokes and/or running into ex-wife Nicole Kidman. (He needn’t have worried about the former – Kimmel’s only reference was a tame reference to a shirtless Cruise being “L. Ron Hubba Hubba”).
Kimmel sided with Letterman on the Risky Business actor’s excuse. “It’s very non-specific,...
- 3/16/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
David Letterman visited “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and had a burning question for the host, who recently earned great reviews for his stint hosting the 2023 Oscars. “Here’s something that’s a little sensitive: Tom Cruise,” Letterman said. “Where was Tom Cruise?”
Despite “Top Gun: Maverick” earning six Academy Award nominations and Cruise being a nominee for best picture as one of the film’s producers, the A-list star skipped the 2023 ceremony. Reports surfaced ahead of the show that Cruise was too busy shooting the “Mission: Impossible” sequel in Italy to attend, but the actor popped up in London two days after the Oscars to attend Michael Caine’s 90th birthday party. Cruise also showed up at the Oscars Nominees Luncheon in February.
“We don’t know where Tom Cruise was,” Kimmel answered Letterman. “We heard production issues.”
“What does that mean?” Letterman asked. “That’s nonsense.”
“Exactly. It’s very non-specific,...
Despite “Top Gun: Maverick” earning six Academy Award nominations and Cruise being a nominee for best picture as one of the film’s producers, the A-list star skipped the 2023 ceremony. Reports surfaced ahead of the show that Cruise was too busy shooting the “Mission: Impossible” sequel in Italy to attend, but the actor popped up in London two days after the Oscars to attend Michael Caine’s 90th birthday party. Cruise also showed up at the Oscars Nominees Luncheon in February.
“We don’t know where Tom Cruise was,” Kimmel answered Letterman. “We heard production issues.”
“What does that mean?” Letterman asked. “That’s nonsense.”
“Exactly. It’s very non-specific,...
- 3/16/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Film review: 'Star Trek: Insurrection'
The ninth feature film inspired by the sci-fi adventure series created by Gene Roddenberry, "Star Trek: Insurrection" is one of the franchise's weaker installments, with the "Next Generation" crew of the Enterprise encountering a "fountain of youth" planet that makes the good life look downright boring.
Light on space battles and compelling drama, with tame humor, mild romance and uninspiring villains, "Insurrection" is not without its crowd-pleasing moments and won't seriously displease fans.
Well-positioned to beam up the faithful legions and rough up seasonal competitors in its opening weekend, "Insurrection" is nonetheless a disappointing follow-up to 1996's "First Contact", the first full "Next Generation" film directed by cast member Jonathan Frakes. There's nothing half as wild as Alice Krige's Borg Queen this voyage, and Frakes' direction is fairly routine.
Indeed, pampered but underwhelmed in their role of peacekeepers and Federation representatives, the crew of the Enterprise investigates a survey mission gone awry on an Earthlike planet. In the sluggish opening, we see the android-on-loan Data (Brent Spiner) in an invisibility suit seemingly go haywire as the crew secretly observes a fairly low-tech race of humans on the planet located in a dangerous section of space.
Since Day One in the "Trek" universe, the Prime Directive of non-interference has been upheld by intrepid Federation explorers who stumble upon primitive, pre-warp drive cultures. With a Space Fleet Big Shot (Anthony Zerbe) in cahoots with a disintegrating creep F. Murray Abraham) who gets almost daily sloppy face lifts, Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart) has a right to be suspicious, and it soon comes out that the backwards-appearing Ba'ku are in fact quite advanced.
They even explored the galaxy once upon a time, but the 600 Ba'ku left on the planet in question are refugees from another solar system that went kaboom. The big news is that since this first "forced relocation," the likes of Picard's new flame Anij (Donna Murphy) have lived for hundreds of years, learning, among other things, how to make "a moment last an eternity."
While the characters don't have any personal crises to be dealt with -- unless one counts Worf's outbreak of Klingon acne -- the Federation itself is in danger. Although not much is made of this in this film, it might indicate the direction of future episodes.
Riker (Frakes) and counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis) have a sudsy fling, while Geordi (LeVar Burton) has his eyes restored by the regenerative powers of the planet. Completing the ensemble, Michael Dorn as Worf and Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher are sturdy, as are the special effects, score, makeup and so on.
STAR TREK: INSURRECTION
Paramount Pictures
A Rick Berman production
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Producer: Rick Berman
Screenwriter: Michael Piller
Executive producer: Martin Hornstein
Director of photography: Matthew F. Leonetti
Production designer: Herman Zimmerman
Editor: Peter E. Berger
Costume designer: Sanja Milkovic Hays
Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Casting: June Lowry-Johnson, Ron Surma
Color/stereo
Cast:
Picard: Patrick Stewart
Riker: Jonathan Frakes
Data: Brent Spiner
Geordi: LeVar Burton
Worf: Michael Dorn
Beverly: Gates McFadden
Troi: Marina Sirtis
Ru'afo: F. Murray Abraham
Anij: Donna Murphy
Dougherty: Anthony Zerbe
Running time -- 103 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Light on space battles and compelling drama, with tame humor, mild romance and uninspiring villains, "Insurrection" is not without its crowd-pleasing moments and won't seriously displease fans.
Well-positioned to beam up the faithful legions and rough up seasonal competitors in its opening weekend, "Insurrection" is nonetheless a disappointing follow-up to 1996's "First Contact", the first full "Next Generation" film directed by cast member Jonathan Frakes. There's nothing half as wild as Alice Krige's Borg Queen this voyage, and Frakes' direction is fairly routine.
Indeed, pampered but underwhelmed in their role of peacekeepers and Federation representatives, the crew of the Enterprise investigates a survey mission gone awry on an Earthlike planet. In the sluggish opening, we see the android-on-loan Data (Brent Spiner) in an invisibility suit seemingly go haywire as the crew secretly observes a fairly low-tech race of humans on the planet located in a dangerous section of space.
Since Day One in the "Trek" universe, the Prime Directive of non-interference has been upheld by intrepid Federation explorers who stumble upon primitive, pre-warp drive cultures. With a Space Fleet Big Shot (Anthony Zerbe) in cahoots with a disintegrating creep F. Murray Abraham) who gets almost daily sloppy face lifts, Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart) has a right to be suspicious, and it soon comes out that the backwards-appearing Ba'ku are in fact quite advanced.
They even explored the galaxy once upon a time, but the 600 Ba'ku left on the planet in question are refugees from another solar system that went kaboom. The big news is that since this first "forced relocation," the likes of Picard's new flame Anij (Donna Murphy) have lived for hundreds of years, learning, among other things, how to make "a moment last an eternity."
While the characters don't have any personal crises to be dealt with -- unless one counts Worf's outbreak of Klingon acne -- the Federation itself is in danger. Although not much is made of this in this film, it might indicate the direction of future episodes.
Riker (Frakes) and counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis) have a sudsy fling, while Geordi (LeVar Burton) has his eyes restored by the regenerative powers of the planet. Completing the ensemble, Michael Dorn as Worf and Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher are sturdy, as are the special effects, score, makeup and so on.
STAR TREK: INSURRECTION
Paramount Pictures
A Rick Berman production
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Producer: Rick Berman
Screenwriter: Michael Piller
Executive producer: Martin Hornstein
Director of photography: Matthew F. Leonetti
Production designer: Herman Zimmerman
Editor: Peter E. Berger
Costume designer: Sanja Milkovic Hays
Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Casting: June Lowry-Johnson, Ron Surma
Color/stereo
Cast:
Picard: Patrick Stewart
Riker: Jonathan Frakes
Data: Brent Spiner
Geordi: LeVar Burton
Worf: Michael Dorn
Beverly: Gates McFadden
Troi: Marina Sirtis
Ru'afo: F. Murray Abraham
Anij: Donna Murphy
Dougherty: Anthony Zerbe
Running time -- 103 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 12/11/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Film review: 'With Friends Like These . . .' Passing the Audition / Santa Barbara fest winner 'With Friends' acts up with entertaining ensemble, cameos
Winner of the audience-selected Best of the Fest Award at the 13th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (where it received its world premiere), "With Friends Like These ..". is a bona fide crowd-tickler.
An entertaining portrait of a quartet of acting buddies whose long friendship is put to the test when each is up for the same role in a Martin Scorsese picture, the comedy occasionally treads on sitcom terrain, but a terrific ensemble and some surprise cameos significantly boost the material.
As yet undistributed, the modestly budgeted "With Friends" should have little problem rectifying that situation based on the initial response.
Representing their profession's working class, Johnny (Robert Costanzo), Steve (Adam Arkin), Dorian (Jon Tenney) and Armand (David Strathairn) manage to make a living out of bit parts with the support of their wives and girlfriends (Amy Madigan, Laura San Giacomo, Elle Macpherson and Lauren Tom, respectively), but none has gotten his proverbial big break.
It potentially arrives when Johnny gets a call from a bulimic casting agent (Beverly D'Angelo) who informs him that Scorsese is going to be doing the definitive version of "Capone" and Johnny fits the character description. Promising to keep the audition hush-hush but unable to contain his excitement over the prospects of finally saying goodbye to playing "goombah hit men," Johnny inevitably reveals the news to each of his fellow thespians, who secretly line up their own auditions.
While the rest of the proceedings follow a fairly predictable course, writer-director Phil Messina keeps the characterizations rich and amusing, and his cast maintains a winning camaraderie.
In an example of life imitating art, character actor Costanzo (a former regular on "NYPD Blue") is given his Big Shot to shine here (it doesn't hurt that the part was written for him), and he takes full advantage of the opportunity. Likewise, "Chicago Hope"'s Arkin and specifically "Brooklyn South"'s Tenney each get a rare chance to show off their comedy chops and likewise seize the moment successfully.
While he's certainly a fine, versatile actor, Strathairn, meanwhile, doesn't quite cut it as the suspiciously low-key Armand, whose family might actually be members of the Family, as in Mafiosi. The requisite ethnic physicality just isn't there, and it comes down to a casting miscue.
Other roles fit like a glove, with San Giacomo standing out on the distaff side as Arkin's long-suffering wife and the always effective D'Angelo shining as the high-strung casting agent. Popping up here and there are Bill Murray as an obnoxious, food-hording TV producer, Garry Marshall as Strathairn's car-dealing dad, Michael McKean as a proctologist to the stars and, of course, Scorsese as Scorsese. The latter does a particularly convincing job.
WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE ...
E.K. Gaylord II Prods., Winner Communications, Foundry Film Partners
A Robert Greenhut/Parkway/Quadrant production
A Philip F. Messina film
Credits: Director-screenwriter: Philip F. Messina; Producers: Robert Greenhut, Amy Lemisch; Executive producers: E.K. Gaylord II, John Ein, Marty Feinberg; Director of photography: Brian J. Reynolds; Production designer: Beth DeSort; Editor: Claudia Finkle; Costume designers: Mary Kay Stolz, Joanna Dendel; Music: John Powell, Hans Zimmer. Cast: Steve: Adam Arkin; Armand: David Strathairn; Dorian: Jon Tenney; Johnny: Robert Costanzo; Hannah: Amy Madigan; Samantha: Elle Macpherson; Steve's Wife: Laura San Giacomo; Armand's Girlfriend: Lauren Tom; Theresa: Beverly D'Angelo; Armand's Father: Garry Marshall. No MPAA rating. Running time -- 105 minutes. Color/stereo.
An entertaining portrait of a quartet of acting buddies whose long friendship is put to the test when each is up for the same role in a Martin Scorsese picture, the comedy occasionally treads on sitcom terrain, but a terrific ensemble and some surprise cameos significantly boost the material.
As yet undistributed, the modestly budgeted "With Friends" should have little problem rectifying that situation based on the initial response.
Representing their profession's working class, Johnny (Robert Costanzo), Steve (Adam Arkin), Dorian (Jon Tenney) and Armand (David Strathairn) manage to make a living out of bit parts with the support of their wives and girlfriends (Amy Madigan, Laura San Giacomo, Elle Macpherson and Lauren Tom, respectively), but none has gotten his proverbial big break.
It potentially arrives when Johnny gets a call from a bulimic casting agent (Beverly D'Angelo) who informs him that Scorsese is going to be doing the definitive version of "Capone" and Johnny fits the character description. Promising to keep the audition hush-hush but unable to contain his excitement over the prospects of finally saying goodbye to playing "goombah hit men," Johnny inevitably reveals the news to each of his fellow thespians, who secretly line up their own auditions.
While the rest of the proceedings follow a fairly predictable course, writer-director Phil Messina keeps the characterizations rich and amusing, and his cast maintains a winning camaraderie.
In an example of life imitating art, character actor Costanzo (a former regular on "NYPD Blue") is given his Big Shot to shine here (it doesn't hurt that the part was written for him), and he takes full advantage of the opportunity. Likewise, "Chicago Hope"'s Arkin and specifically "Brooklyn South"'s Tenney each get a rare chance to show off their comedy chops and likewise seize the moment successfully.
While he's certainly a fine, versatile actor, Strathairn, meanwhile, doesn't quite cut it as the suspiciously low-key Armand, whose family might actually be members of the Family, as in Mafiosi. The requisite ethnic physicality just isn't there, and it comes down to a casting miscue.
Other roles fit like a glove, with San Giacomo standing out on the distaff side as Arkin's long-suffering wife and the always effective D'Angelo shining as the high-strung casting agent. Popping up here and there are Bill Murray as an obnoxious, food-hording TV producer, Garry Marshall as Strathairn's car-dealing dad, Michael McKean as a proctologist to the stars and, of course, Scorsese as Scorsese. The latter does a particularly convincing job.
WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE ...
E.K. Gaylord II Prods., Winner Communications, Foundry Film Partners
A Robert Greenhut/Parkway/Quadrant production
A Philip F. Messina film
Credits: Director-screenwriter: Philip F. Messina; Producers: Robert Greenhut, Amy Lemisch; Executive producers: E.K. Gaylord II, John Ein, Marty Feinberg; Director of photography: Brian J. Reynolds; Production designer: Beth DeSort; Editor: Claudia Finkle; Costume designers: Mary Kay Stolz, Joanna Dendel; Music: John Powell, Hans Zimmer. Cast: Steve: Adam Arkin; Armand: David Strathairn; Dorian: Jon Tenney; Johnny: Robert Costanzo; Hannah: Amy Madigan; Samantha: Elle Macpherson; Steve's Wife: Laura San Giacomo; Armand's Girlfriend: Lauren Tom; Theresa: Beverly D'Angelo; Armand's Father: Garry Marshall. No MPAA rating. Running time -- 105 minutes. Color/stereo.
- 3/17/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Film review: 'Thrill Ride'
"Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun," the newest Imax entertainment, purports to tell the history of theme rides, from the first roller coasters to the most modern computerized ride simulators.
Although awkwardly written and lacking in real information value, it does a good job of using the large-screen format to simulate the experience of various rides, minus the physical discomfort.
Now showing at the Sony Theatres Lincoln Square, it should do good business with urban dwellers unwilling to fork out for a car rental to get them to the nearest amusement park. (The film also opened Friday at Edwards Imax Theatres in Irvine and Ontario, Calif.)
Narrated by Harry Shearer, "Thrill Ride" attempts to cram in a lot during its brief 40 minutes, from roller coasters that hang its riders upside down to the Big Shot ride in Las Vegas at the top of one of the tallest buildings in the world. The camera is often used in such a way as to make the viewer feel he is actually on the ride; one can only imagine the effect if the 3-D Imax format had been used.
Much of the film's running time is consumed by the examination of the motion simulator ride, from its beginnings as a training vehicle for pilots and astronauts to its current use for such theme park attractions as Universal Studio's "Back to the Future -- The Ride". There are also samples from such current hot attractions as "Devil's Mine Ride" and "Secrets of the Lost Temple".
"Thrill Ride" is less than effective in terms of informative content, suffering from a jerky narrative and an abrupt, awkward ending. The film's most hackneyed aspect is its use of a truly irritating, demented hillbilly character (played by Paul Harper) as a host for the more scary goings-on.
THRILL RIDE: THE SCIENCE OF FUN
Sony Pictures Classics
Director Ben Stassen
Producer Charlotte Huggins
Writer Kurt Frey
Director of photography Sean Phillips
Production designer Ray Spencer
Composer Michael Stearns
Color/stereo
Running time -- 40 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
Although awkwardly written and lacking in real information value, it does a good job of using the large-screen format to simulate the experience of various rides, minus the physical discomfort.
Now showing at the Sony Theatres Lincoln Square, it should do good business with urban dwellers unwilling to fork out for a car rental to get them to the nearest amusement park. (The film also opened Friday at Edwards Imax Theatres in Irvine and Ontario, Calif.)
Narrated by Harry Shearer, "Thrill Ride" attempts to cram in a lot during its brief 40 minutes, from roller coasters that hang its riders upside down to the Big Shot ride in Las Vegas at the top of one of the tallest buildings in the world. The camera is often used in such a way as to make the viewer feel he is actually on the ride; one can only imagine the effect if the 3-D Imax format had been used.
Much of the film's running time is consumed by the examination of the motion simulator ride, from its beginnings as a training vehicle for pilots and astronauts to its current use for such theme park attractions as Universal Studio's "Back to the Future -- The Ride". There are also samples from such current hot attractions as "Devil's Mine Ride" and "Secrets of the Lost Temple".
"Thrill Ride" is less than effective in terms of informative content, suffering from a jerky narrative and an abrupt, awkward ending. The film's most hackneyed aspect is its use of a truly irritating, demented hillbilly character (played by Paul Harper) as a host for the more scary goings-on.
THRILL RIDE: THE SCIENCE OF FUN
Sony Pictures Classics
Director Ben Stassen
Producer Charlotte Huggins
Writer Kurt Frey
Director of photography Sean Phillips
Production designer Ray Spencer
Composer Michael Stearns
Color/stereo
Running time -- 40 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
- 7/15/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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