QUASI Official Trailer

Searchlight Pictures’ gives us “Quasi,” the new film from Broken Lizard of “Super Troopers” fame.

 

Directed by: Kevin Heffernan
Written by: Steve Lemme, Kevin Heffernan, Jay Chandrasekhar
Starring: Steve Lemme, Kevin Heffernan, Paul Soter, Adrianne Palicki, Jay Chandrasekhar and Erik Stolhanske

Rated: R
Genres: Comedy, Drama

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Gigi & Nate Movie Review

“Gigi & Nate” starts with a not-so-surprising accident that leaves its protagonist in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. No spoilers here. You get this information from the trailer. After we see a cute little capuchin monkey (played by Allie) being saved from an unsafe environment, writer David Hudgins shows us a well-mannered, happy Nate, spending the fourth of July with his family. With an extraordinary life thus far and a bright future ahead, Nate has the time of his life.

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Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Movie Review

First, let me get this off my chest. Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown are outstanding in this movie! The rest of the cast hold their own, as well, but I can’t say enough about these two. Writer/Director Adamma Ebo creates a farce around their characters who are in the middle of a sex scandal. With the behavior of the pastor and his wife in this movie, we see the hypocrisy of big churches (southern Baptist types) and their preachers, who do not practice what they preach.

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Avengers: Infinity War -“LEGACY” Featurette Now Available!!

Watch the new “Legacy” featurette, as Kevin Feige joins other filmmakers and the cast of Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR to chronicle the growth and success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from its auspicious beginning with “Iron Man” in 2008 to the upcoming tour de force “Avengers: Infinity War.”

An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. The Avengers and their Super Hero allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

Anthony and Joe Russo direct the film, which is produced by Kevin Feige. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Trinh Tran, Jon Favreau, James Gunn and Stan Lee are the executive producers. Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely wrote the screenplay. “Avengers: Infinity War” releases in U.S. theaters on April 27, 2018.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

MARVEL STUDIOS

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Interview with Alex Roe from Forever My Girl

Alex Roe Interview

 

I got a chance to sit down with Alex Roe, born Michael Roe-Brown, a handsome English actor who has been in films such as 2000’s horror/thriller, ‘The Calling,’ the action/sci-fi film ‘The 5th Wave’ in 2016.  In 2017, he was in both the horror film ‘Rings’ and the drama ‘Hot Summer Nights,’ which also starred Timothée Chalamet.  Now this year comes the romance and his biggest part yet in ‘Forever My Girl,’ for which he not only played a country singer but did the actual singing on two songs in the film.  By the way, not only is he good with his accent, he sounds like an authentic country singer from the south when he belts out the tune, ‘Don’t Water Down My Whiskey.’

He’s just fantastic and has a big career ahead of him.  Born on June 18th, he shares a birthday with another famous Brit, Paul McCartney, he’s much younger, of course.  Born in 1990, he’ll be turning twenty-eight this June.  He was really nice to talk to and was charming and genuine.  Alex sings when he knows no one is around to hear him, yet gets himself in a movie where he’s a big country singing sensation.  He’s not a bit shy but has such a gentle personality that he comes across that way.  He definitely leaves an impression on those who meet him, as he does in the film.  I hope you enjoy the interview.

We start and as I turn on my H5 Zoom Recorder he looks at it with concern.

AR: It looks like it could survive a nuclear attack, this thing.

SKG: It probably could, actually.

He eyes me suspiciously.

AR: You know something I don’t, don’t you?  All of your equipment is nuclear proof.

SKG: I know I can count on it to get a good interview.

He puts his hand to his head.

AR: Radio to sound dude.  And…

Alex pauses a moment before saying, ‘Speeding!’  Which is what is said when sound is ready to go and start to record.  I said, ‘Exactly!’  Actually, I wanted to tell him I could use his talents on set as a sound engineer the next time I shoot a short film but decided to get on with why I was actually there as time was of the essence… nor would I dare say such a thing.  Anyway, I had to know about his singing.

SKG: Did you pick this role because you know you have a good voice and wanted to show off that talent?

AR: I picked this role because… uh… because I thought it would be a really interesting challenge.  To have a go at playing a country singer.

SKG: You were already prepared then?

AR: I had sung at home and stuff and I had sung, like, in the shower and like when people were out so, I knew I could carry a tune and if they were ready to take the risk on me, that I would be able to work hard enough to hopefully make something work. But, umm… yes, I definitely took it partly because of the challenge of that.

In case you missed that… he sings in the shower.  One can only imagine.  Okay, on to the film.

SKG: Forgiveness played a large role in the film, as well.

AR: I thought the story of forgiveness and family and home and all of that kind of stuff was… nice.  It was different than the stuff I’d been doing.

SKG: The strongest message in the film, I thought, was to forgive and move on with your life.  Do you find that an easy thing to do?

AR: I think everyone finds it really difficult to do but I think it’s really important.  I think you can really, kind of, be set free by forgiveness, you know?

I nod my head in agreement as I believe it, too.  It’s so obvious that holding onto regret and anger will eat you alive.  His character, Liam, has many regrets that even being a mega-rich country singer can’t wash away.  Alex recognizes this.

AR: There’s a real strength in it.  Even with, like, little moments where you could not forgive, and you do, there’s definitely this empowering feeling cuz you’ve made the decision to forgive so therefore you’re in control of it and I like that it’s part of this movie.

SKG: Why, in your opinion, does your character, Liam, leave?

AR: (Takes a deep breath) I… think…yeah, that’s tough.  I think, really deep down, I think that he hadn’t really dealt with the loss of his mum.  (He’s silent for a moment.)  And I think that as he kind of explains and kinda comes to terms with it, I think he was just running away.  Running away from the potential of feeling the pain that he had pushed aside with his mum and the potential of maybe, like, losing Josie and all of these things.  I think fame was this really, really easy, like, gratification for him… that he could run towards and feel good, like, temporarily; because all these people adore him and stuff like that so, it became, kind of, an easy fix for his problems but those easy fixes are, umm, not long lasting.  They’re easy for a reason.  So, when he comes home he, kind of, figures out how to actually deal with this stuff.  That’s coming home and reconnecting to his roots and stuff. 

SKG: Is there at all a possible chance that he didn’t want to end up like his father, even with religion?  His father is a pastor so maybe even speaking to the religious aspect of the film, maybe he didn’t want to be.  And are YOU religious?

AR: I don’t like to talk too much about my beliefs and stuff, really, but I think that… I don’t think he was necessarily running away from the religion.  I think that it was more of a personal thing than a religious reason why he was leaving town.

SKG: You are building quite a resume of characters.  Is there a certain school of acting or method you like or prefer?  Meisner, Adler… Stanislavski?

AR: I kind of like to take little bits from all of those.  I’ve taken classes and intensive courses and stuff and that was my schooling really.  Taking little bits of everything.  And I think you, kind of… when you start working, you don’t necessarily draw on those techniques… you don’t really realize that you’re drawing upon those techniques that you learned but you are.  They’re ingrained there.  So, like, if it’s listening; like the Stella Adler listening and observing, then that’s something that you, that you just naturally do, hopefully.  Or, you notice that, ‘I’m not listening and observing right now and I need to.’  Cuz that’s what acting is; acting and reacting, ultimately. 

SKG: So, nothing specifically?

AR: I don’t know, there’s not one specific school… I think I’m just going to keep learning and keep studying and… yeah… hopefully figure it out at some point.

I certainly don’t think he has much to figure out.  He’s a strong actor who commands the screen when he’s on it and with his parts growing ever larger, he’ll have this thing licked before he knows it.  Now, regarding the movie, and a child actress in it, I had to quote W.C. Fields to him who said, ‘Never work with animals or children.’

SKG: In ‘Forever My Girl’ you worked with this little doll of an actress who plays your daughter.  Her name is Abby Ryder Fortson.  W.C. Fields famously said, ‘Never work with animals or children.’  You didn’t listen and Abby completely stole the scene.

AR:  Every scene!  As she should.  Yeah, I’m glad that you know who it was that said that cuz people have quoted that to me, but I didn’t know that, that was the person who said it.  But yeah… don’t work with kids and don’t work with animals.  I think with children, there’s an attention span that’s a little bit less than adults, definitely understandably, but I couldn’t get more lucky than to work with Abby.  She’s so smart and so, like, brave and she takes direction really well but is also down to improvise which is really amazing.  Half the stuff that made it into the movie was just Abby and I messing around.

SKG: Oh, really?

AR: Yes.  It was us like, ‘Let’s do this in this scene.’ And she’d be so down to have a go at it. 

SKG: Pretty fearless.

AR:  I got really lucky cuz she didn’t seem to have a nervous bone in her body, you know?  She was just having fun and enjoying it.  And it definitely makes you check yourself cuz enjoying it is so important.  Seeing a kid enjoy it that much… it kind of reminds you that, ‘Yeah!  You gotta enjoy this. It’s fun!  

SKG:  At what age did you start?

AR: I did my first movie when I was ten, so I could relate to her as far as, that two-month shoot that I did felt like a lifetime, so I knew that for her this shoot, like, every little moment was gonna feel like a month of experience.  So, that was really cool for me to see someone experience something that I did. 

SKG: You were into it really young.

AR: That was when I did my first movie.  I kind of took a little break from acting and I was playing soccer and, cuz that initial movie I just kind of fell into it… because they did an open audition at my school and I went up to the director and I said, ‘Look, I know that I haven’t done a lot,’ I was ten years old and I was like, ‘I know I haven’t done a lot but I’m good.  I promise.’  I was like really confident.

SKG:  You have to have that kind of confidence.

AR:  I think so.  Abby definitely has that in spades.

SKG: Yes she does.

Wanting some sort of scoop, I pushed my luck a little bit.  Okay, it moved away from the film, I guess, but you can definitely check out my review, for more information.

SKG: Tell me something, give me something, that you haven’t told anyone else before.

AR: (Thinks a moment) Something I haven’t told anyone else.  Oh!  This is… umm… wow. 

After a moment.

AR: I’m so open, I tell everyone everything.

SKG: (I point at him) Now that’s not true!  You wouldn’t tell me if you were religious or not.

AR: I know. (Laughs; continues to think) What’s something that I haven’t told anyone?  Oh, I’m sorry.  I can’t think of anything quick enough. 

SKG: Okay… favorite song and favorite movie.  Let’s hear those.

AR: Favorite movie, acting wise, I think ‘Mean Streets.’  Robert De Niro in ‘Mean Streets.’ 

SKG: And Harvey Keitel.

AR: That’s a really great one.  Then, favorite song… I think ‘Jolene’ by Dolly Parton.

SKG: Jolene?  Dolly Parton?  Did you just say that?

AR: Yeah.  

SKG: Amazing.

AR: You like Dolly Parton?

SKG: Oh, of course.  I used to live in Tennessee.

AR: Wow.  Okay. 

Alex smiles.  Dolly Parton.  Wow.  I wouldn’t have seen that coming.  Anyway, check out ‘Forever My Girl’ this weekend for some romance.  I think you’ll agree that Alex Roe has a big future in the genre… or any genre he so chooses, for that matter.  Maybe he’ll record an album someday?  Oh!  I should have asked him that question!  Missed opportunity.

Meghan Trainor Gets Smurfed

MEGHAN TRAINOR WRITES AND PERFORMS

“I’M A LADY”

FOR SONY PICTURES ANIMATION’S “SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE”

CULVER CITY, Calif., December 5, 2016 – “I’m a Lady,” a new song from the multi-platinum reigning Grammy Awards Best New Artist Meghan Trainor, will be featured in Sony Pictures Animation’s Smurfs: The Lost Village.  The song is performed & written by Meghan Trainor and produced by Martin Rene, Monsters & Strangers and Meghan Trainor.

Fans will be able to hear the song in the new year, in advance of the film’s debut in U.S. theaters on April 7, 2017.

Commenting on the announcement, Trainor said, “I love the Smurfs and was honored when they asked me to write a song for this new movie.  I was especially excited – I wrote the whole thing in one evening!”

In this fully animated, fresh 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!  Directed by Kelly Asbury, the film is written by Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon, based on the characters and works of Peyo.  Produced by Jordan Kerner and Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews, the film features the voices of Demi Lovato as Smurfette, Rainn Wilson as Gargamel, Joe Manganiello as Hefty Smurf, Jack McBrayer as Clumsy Smurf, Danny Pudi as Brainy Smurf, with Mandy Patinkin as Papa Smurf.

·         Website: http://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/

·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SONYPicturesAnimation

·         Twitter: http://twitter.com/sonyanimation

 

A Dog’s Purpose – Celebrate National Mutt Day

In celebration of #NationalMuttDay, we invite you to share your dog’s purpose.

Add your furry friend’s picture to the film’s mosaic and tell the world how your dog enriches the lives around you, or create your own movie poster using your dog’s photo!!

Every dog happens for a reason.

Don’t miss #ADogsPurpose in theaters this January!

Based on the beloved bestselling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, A Dog’s Purpose, from director Lasse Hallström (The Cider House Rules, Dear John, The 100-Foot Journey), shares the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love.  The family film told from the dog’s perspective also stars Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, Juilet Rylance, Luke Kirby, John Ortiz and Pooch Hall.

A Dog’s Purpose is produced by Gavin Polone (Zombieland, TV’s Gilmore Girls).  The film from Amblin Entertainment and Walden Media is executive produced by Alan Blomquist and Mark Sourian, and it will be distributed by Universal Pictures.  www.adogspurposemovie.com

Genre: Family
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, Juilet Rylance, Luke Kirby, John Ortiz, Pooch Hall and Josh Gad
Directed by: Lasse Hallström
Screenplay by: W. Bruce Cameron & Cathryn Michon and Audrey Wells and Maya Forbes & Wally Wolodarsky
Based on the Book by: W. Bruce Cameron
Produced by: Gavin Polone
Executive Producers: Alan Blomquist, Mark Sourian

A DOG’S PURPOSE – IN THEATERS JANUARY 27
Facebook l Twitter l Instagram l #ADogsPurpose

 

Florence Foster Jenkins Returns

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.