“FENCES” is directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay by August Wilson, adapted from Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The film stars Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Jovan Adepo, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, and Saniyya Sidney. The film is produced by Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington and Todd Black.
Tom Cruise headlines a spectacular, all-new cinematic version of the legend that has fascinated cultures all over the world since the dawn of civilization: The Mummy.
Thought safely entombed in a tomb deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess (Sofia Boutella of Kingsman: The Secret Service and Star Trek Beyond) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.
From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.
Cruise is joined by a cast including Annabelle Wallis (upcoming King Arthur, television’s Peaky Blinders), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World), Courtney B. Vance (TV’s American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson) and Oscar® winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator).
The creative team on this action-adventure event is led by director/producer Alex Kurtzman and producer Chris Morgan, who have been instrumental in growing some of the most successful franchises of the past several years—with Kurtzman writing or producing entries in the Transformers, Star Trek and Mission: Impossible series, and Morgan being the narrative engineer of the Fast & Furious saga as it has experienced explosive growth from its third chapter on. Sean Daniel, who produced the most recent Mummy trilogy, produces alongside Kurtzman and Morgan.
Paramount Pictures will re-release the critically-acclaimed crowd-pleaser FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS starring Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg, and directed by Stephen Frears, in select theaters December 2.
The film’s stars have been praised for their performances from critics and awards groups alike – Streep will receive the prestigious Cecil B. Demille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at the 2017 Golden Globes, Grant recently won the Hollywood Supporting Actor award at the Hollywood Film Awards, and Helberg will receive the Virtuosos Award from the Santa Barbara Film Festival recognizing his outstanding breakout performance in the film.
The movie will play in Boston at the Boston Commons and AMC Methuen 20; in Chicago at the AMC River East 21 and the AMC Dine-In Theatres Yorktown; in Dallas at the AMC Grapevine Mills 30 and the AMC Stonebriar 24; in Los Angeles at the AMC Burbank Town Center 8, AMC Orange 30, and the AMC Loews Broadway; in New York at the AMC Empire 25 and the AMC Loews Stony Brook 17; in Philadelphia at the AMC Neshaminy 24 and the AMC Hamilton 24; in San Francisco at the AMC Van Ness 14 and AMC Mercado 20; in Seattle at the AMC Loews Alderwood Mall 16 and the AMC Southcenter 16; and in Washington, D.C. at the AMC Hoffman Center 22 and AMC Loews Rio Cinemas 18.
Based on an incredible true story, FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINSstars 3-time Academy Award-winner Meryl Streep as the legendary heiress and socialite who obsessively pursued her dream of becoming a great singer. The voice she heard in head was beautiful, but to everyone else it was hilariously awful. Her “husband” and manager, St. Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant), an aristocratic English actor, was determined to protect his beloved Florence from the truth. But when Florence decided to give a public concert at Carnegie Hall, St. Clair knew he faced his greatest challenge.
Originally released to rave reviews in August, the film has grossed $27 million to date and will be released on DVD December 13. Paramount Pictures, Pathé and BBC Films present with the participation of Canal+ and Ciné a Qwerty Films production. FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINSwas directed by Stephen Frears and written by Nicholas Martin. The producers are Michael Kuhn and Tracey Seaward and executive producers are Cameron McCracken, Christine Langan and Malcolm Ritchie.
WHAT: Launch of the “Real Talent, From Real Life” contest in support of Illumination
Entertainment and Universal Pictures’ SING. Contestants to record themselves singing, clapping or dancing to at least 30 seconds of the event film’s original song “Faith,” from the legendary Stevie Wonder featuring Ariana Grande. From submissions, YouTube creator Mike Tompkins will create an edited video of “Faith” that will play on the YouTube homepage.
Throughout their daylong journey, three lucky winners will get to interface with some of today’s hottest YouTube influencers, as well as hear from top professionals behind the scenes (Universal Music execs, YouTube creative + music teams, YouTube + Google product specialists, and more) on how to create a successful channel on the platform.
WHO: Fans with vocal talent, energy, passion and charisma; YouTube creator Mike Tompkins
WHERE: www.RealTalentFromRealLife.com and YouTube Space Los Angeles
December 5: Submissions reviewed and three individuals selected to visit YouTube Space L.A. and attend a bespoke creator workshop, courtesy of Universal Pictures.
December 14: Travel to Los Angeles.
December 15: Three winners participate in a “Next Rising Star” digital development workshop at YouTube Space L.A., designed by YouTube and Universal specifically for this initiative.
December 16: Edited “Faith” video plays on the YouTube masthead on the homepage.
In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!
Arizona State University’s Film Spark program announced last night that “CAR DOGS”, a dramatic comedy starring Patrick J. Adams, George Lopez, Nia Vardalos, Octavia Spencer, Josh Hopkins, and Dash Mihok, will be released in theaters across the Valley on Friday, January 27, 2017.
The production gave 85 ASU students and 15 recent alums the chance to learn filmmaking on an actual film set from an Oscar winning, Hollywood cast and crew. ASU Film Spark, an unprecedented program at the intersection of the entertainment industry and academia, helps ASU students and alumni in their entertainment careers while creating a better film industry, culture and society.
ABOUT “CAR DOGS”
With everything to gain, and even more to lose, Mark (Patrick J. Adams) and his brazen sales team have just eight hours to sell more cars than have ever been sold in a single day. Leading the pack is sales vet, Christian (George Lopez). He’s slick, fast talking, and conniving; able to get customers to both open their wallets and part with their better judgement. Hot on his heels is Sharon (Nia Vardalos). She’s smart and savvy, outmaneuvering the competition with her wit and charm. As the clock ticks down, their outrageous tactics step up, with each salesperson ready to do whatever it takes to be top “car dog.” But for Mark, the stakes are much more than just a paycheck.
ABOUT OF FILM SPARK
In Fall of 2009, ASU film professor Adam Collis, hosted a simple video-conference between his students and the cinematographer of The Hangover films. The students liked it so much, Collis set upon a mission to connect ASU students with the best filmmakers and executives in the world.
Since then Professor Collis has connected ASU with 4 Oscar-winners, 5 Oscar-nominees, 3 studio chiefs, the presidents of the Academy and the Directors Guild, as well as numerous blockbuster producers and award-winning directors. The program also deepens ASU connections with entertainment companies, alumni and prospective students in Southern California.
President Michael Crow and Dean Steve Tepper recognized the value of Collis’ efforts and formally established ASU Film Spark at the ASU California Center in Santa Monica with a staff of five. Turning a professor’s passion for his students into a university strategic initiative is yet another example of why U.S. News & World Report named ASU the “Most Innovative University in the Nation” two years in a row.
“The Edge of 17” is not exactly what it’s sold to you as. By the looks of it, from the title, poster and the trailer, you’d think this was a film for young girls and young girls only. It’s far from that. Yes. It is a tale of teen angst but is so much more in that we see not only Nadine’s (Steinfeld) low opinion of herself from the get go and her fighting or giving up, but we see a story built around that, with characters who are more than willing to indulge her in her self-loathing and the consequences of that decision. Most affected by her parent’s decision to look the other way as Nadine wallowed in self pity is her slightly older brother, Darian (Jenner). At the time of their father’s death, he not only became the man of the house, he had to also become his mother’s friend which turned into a job for him. There are fights between brother and sister which are quite amusing but not what is at the core of issues the family faces.
Being a very difficult person to be around, Nadine has only one true friend and that’s Krista (Richardson). Since they were little they did everything together. Nadine loved her like family; trusted her more than anyone. When her father died, it was with Krista’s help that Nadine survived. Krista, like Nadine is a young woman now with a likable personality, pretty face and hormones that rage… something that doesn’t go unnoticed by one particular individual. Nadine gets incensed and feels betrayed when Krista begins to date Darian. She is no longer her friend and cuts them both out of her life. Being a spoiled brat and getting her way when she throws a fit has worked so far… why not now? To Krista she says, ‘It’s him or me. Pick.’ Nadine the Terrible is surprised at the response.
She does learn some sense. She bothers her teacher, Mr. Brunner (Harrelson) every chance she gets. He’s both a father figure and friend but doesn’t want to be either. In a very Woody Harrelson way he damn near makes this film his own as he listens and responds to her tales of woe. It’s a really fun movie and it feels as if it’s almost an honor to watch this character grow.
I highly recommend this film. The writing is inventive, it gives a chance to female actors to play the characters given to males in a setting such as this and they handle their roles like the professionals they are; job well done, ladies! One other reason to see this that stands out… it’s produced by James L. Brooks, writer of “Terms of Endearment,” “As Good As It Gets” and “The Simpsons”. It’s hard to see through a keener eye than his when it comes to a hybrid of heart and hilarity. Be ready for the rollercoaster. This is heavy on the emotion sprinkled with laughs but then… so is life.
Plays Nadine’s best friend, Krista
Haley Lu Richardson, who played Nadine’s best friend, Krista, and I had a chance to chat. She was very bubbly and sweet and talked with her hands, often pounding the table to stress a point. Here is some of that conversation:
Q. How much input did you and you have?
A. We had two weeks of rehearsal time where I literally just spent time with Hailey and we did our scenes and Kelly was super open to improvising in those rehearsals and what happens before the scenes and after not being stuck to the page to really figure out what’s going on in the scene and how people say that. I didn’t do much improving on the day on set but all the work we did in the rehearsal period kind of changed… you could see the scenes change a little bit to how we would naturally do it.
Q. Were you at all intimidate working with this group of people.
A. My character was cast later. Most of the characters were cast already, by the time they had auditioned me which was cool for me because sometimes when you audition for a movie you have no idea who you’re going to be acting opposite but I got to see who was cast and what producers were working on it and I got to see… so yeah, I was like, yeah… I was very intimidated but also equally or more so excited to just get the opportunity to learn from them.
Q. How did you work on establishing this great friendship when you barely had a chance to do it on screen?
A. I think the rehearsal period and Hailey and I got along really well in person. She’s so cool. I think the writing was great… just going with it and being there in the moment. We both know what it’s like going through all that stuff in high school and how important that is and we just wanted to commit and bring it… the justice a friendship like that deserves.
Q. Do you think a friendship is more important than a potential boyfriend or is all fair in love and war?
A. We didn’t want to make Krista the stereotypical villain that ruins the protagonist’s life, you know? We didn’t’ want to make her that. She had reasons for what she did and also she’s not a bad person and she’s not even doing anything that bad. She’s been such a selfless friend for so long and she realizes she could possibly have this really great connection with this guy and it’s like, you kinda have to do something for yourself at some point… I don’t even view it and maybe this is just biased because I had to get in this headspace to play Krista but I don’t view it where it had to be a choice between a relationship or a friendship. I feel like, in the end, it actually could be a great thing if you’re looking at the big picture because if it does end up working out, we could just all be one big happy family. (laughs) If it’s not something full on crossing a line and disrespectful of a friend, I don’t think there really has to be a choice. I think you can make it work.
Q. When Krista and Nadine have a falling out in the second act, what was Krista thinking? We saw her story but not yours.
A. That was interesting. It sets up a bunch of different challenges when you’re playing a supporting character because you don’t have the pressure of carrying the movie but also you have this different pressure of making your character well rounded even though the audience doesn’t see all of that person’s life… and also I’m kind of bummed, when you do a movie, you film probably about five hours worth of movie and have to cut a bunch of things out and there were a couple scenes with me and Blake who plays Darian that actually show us, cuz he’s not a bad guy either in the movie… you see everything he has to brush aside to take care of the responsibilities he has. There was a scene where we were in his room and giggling and we hear Nadine coming in downstairs and we both stop and look at each other and there’s this moment that sums up where they were… that they both wished it wasn’t happening but had to follow their hearts and do some things for themselves. She initially reached out to Nadine and Nadine didn’t answer but she just knew she needed to give her some space before they could ever come together.
Q. It’s not a teen comedy but this is one of those movies that can define a generation like “Breakfast Club”… what are some of your favorite teen films?
A. People are asking me a lot and I keep saying “She’s the Man” with Amanda Bynes. (She laughs) I know it’s a lame answer but I really love that movie. I cracked up during that movie more than I have ever. Whenever I have a bloody nose I use a tampon and sop it all up. (Laughs) That’s disgusting. (Laughs) Honestly, I love that movie. Obviously, I love Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off but I feel there’s stupid ones I like even more. Mean Girls I really like. So there’s my lame answer.
Q. You’re a dancer… are we going to see some of that talent soon?
A. I feel like you’re seeing dance so much on reality shows, the dance mom things, the step it up movies, there’s ballet movies but I feel like the story of like a training contemporary dancer hasn’t been told yet and I’d love to make that happen somehow.
Q: What about you making it?
A. I know! I’d have to make it before I’m thirty-five before I can’t dance anymore. That’s my goal. I’m still dancing all the time. I have a couple of injuries. I’m twenty-one but my body is like a seventy year old because of all my dance injuries. (laughs) I have feet problems, hip problems and knee surgeries. But that will happen!
She stands up and knocks on wood. I for one believe this dance film will happen.
WHO: Hollywood Invades Tempe hosts the brilliant team of futurists, artists, engineers, ethicists and others who helped envision the world for Steven Spielberg’s science fiction classic, Minority Report.
WHAT: A two-day FREE event showcasing the filmmakers and producers of Minority Report featuring fun interactive events that peer 50 years into the future!
WHEN:
Thursday, November 17 at 12:00 p.m. at Old Main – Dialogue on story with Minority Report producer Walter Parkes.
6:30 p.m. at Harkins Valley Art Theatre – Minority Report screening
9:00 p.m. – Q&A with the creators of the iconic film
Friday, November 18 – Old Main
Session 1: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Session 2: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Old Main
400 E. Tyler Mall
Tempe, AZ 85281
Harkins Valley Art
509 S. Mill Ave
Tempe, AZ 85281
DETAILS: Join ASU’s Hollywood Invades Tempe for a lecture on Narrative Matters – How Stories Reflect, Distort, and Create Our World with Minority Report producer Walter Parkes on November 17 at Old Main. Later that evening, catch a special screening of the film at Harkins Valley Art Theater followed by a Q&A with the minds behind the magic. Finally, on Friday, November 18, come collaborate with the futurists behind the world of Minority Report, ASU leading edge professors, and fellow students for a two-part, day-long “idea summit” and look 50 years into the future!
Come out for this completely free event and dive into the minds of the genius creators behind the futuristic sci-fi, Minority Report.
An Amazonian princess leaves her island home to explore the world and, in doing so, becomes one of the world’s greatest heroes.
Set in the future, Logan and Professor Charles Xavier must cope with the loss of the X-Men when a corporation lead by Nathaniel Essex is destroying the world leaving it to destruction, with Logan’s healing abilities slowly fading away and Xavier’s Alzheimer’s forcing him to forget. Logan must defeat Nathaniel Essex with the help of a young girl named Laura Kinney, a female clone of Wolverine.
