GÖTEBORG, Sweden – Jan Troell, the 91-year-old Swedish director and 1972 Oscar nominee for “The Emigrants,” is giving interviews in a Göteborg hotel, his leg propped on a chair, a walking stick, his daughter, Johanna, and wife, Agneta, both collaborators on his films, by his side.
The director, who turned down a ten-year Warner Bros. contract to return to Sweden, has been awarded the 2023 Goteborg Festival’s Nordic Honorary Dragon Award. The prize reflects a life-long connection to still-and-moving images that began when his mother brought him home from the hospital and his dad began filming.
Some of that footage, as well as excerpts from his films, will be combined with new dramatic scenes, for a new film project “Dyning” which is a memoir.
“I’m enjoying editing ‘Dyning’,” said Troell, adding. “I don’t totally identify with my age. I do physically but I still have the same lust for making pictures and images,...
The director, who turned down a ten-year Warner Bros. contract to return to Sweden, has been awarded the 2023 Goteborg Festival’s Nordic Honorary Dragon Award. The prize reflects a life-long connection to still-and-moving images that began when his mother brought him home from the hospital and his dad began filming.
Some of that footage, as well as excerpts from his films, will be combined with new dramatic scenes, for a new film project “Dyning” which is a memoir.
“I’m enjoying editing ‘Dyning’,” said Troell, adding. “I don’t totally identify with my age. I do physically but I still have the same lust for making pictures and images,...
- 1/30/2023
- by Liza Foreman
- Variety Film + TV
REinvent International Sales has inked a raft of deals across its slate of high-concept series, including “Transport” (pictured) and “Enemy of the People,” rolling off of MipTV.
The company has sold both “Transport,” which is penned by Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), and the Icelandic comedy series “Ordinary People” to AMC Networks Southern Europe for Spain and Portugal.
“Transport” is an eight-part TV show following a young journalist investigating a chip found in baby food. She crosses paths with an insurance investigator and a bank manager who are both connected to the case. The series stars Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), Maria Heiskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Pirkko Hämäläinen (“Devil’s Bride”) and Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”). Miia Haavisto (“Tom of Finland”) and Tia Talli (“Nurses”) at Tekele are producing “Transport.”
“Ordinary People,” which is produced by Glassriver, follows the ups and downs of a friendship between two young women entering adulthood and...
The company has sold both “Transport,” which is penned by Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), and the Icelandic comedy series “Ordinary People” to AMC Networks Southern Europe for Spain and Portugal.
“Transport” is an eight-part TV show following a young journalist investigating a chip found in baby food. She crosses paths with an insurance investigator and a bank manager who are both connected to the case. The series stars Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), Maria Heiskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Pirkko Hämäläinen (“Devil’s Bride”) and Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”). Miia Haavisto (“Tom of Finland”) and Tia Talli (“Nurses”) at Tekele are producing “Transport.”
“Ordinary People,” which is produced by Glassriver, follows the ups and downs of a friendship between two young women entering adulthood and...
- 4/6/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
“You’re a horse person?” a Belgian stable owner asks Johanna, a young Finnish journalist delving into the discovery of a microchip in a baby’s meat patty at a Helsinki daycare center. Only creator-director Auli Mantila’s own horse affiliations as a qualified farrier may explain in part one of the most singular of entries at this year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize: “Transport.”
This is Scandinavian crime drama, but “ordi-noir,” Mantila told the Nordisk Film & TV Fond newsletter, in that it “happens in broad daylight, involves people with no special talent or trauma, and takes place in locations anyone could just walk in.”
It also addresses a massive but little explored subject, turning on pan-European food fraud which embroils three women: Marianne, a by-the-book bank loans exec forced to money launder earnings of a sinister food import company; an insurance investigator checking the disappearance of a...
This is Scandinavian crime drama, but “ordi-noir,” Mantila told the Nordisk Film & TV Fond newsletter, in that it “happens in broad daylight, involves people with no special talent or trauma, and takes place in locations anyone could just walk in.”
It also addresses a massive but little explored subject, turning on pan-European food fraud which embroils three women: Marianne, a by-the-book bank loans exec forced to money launder earnings of a sinister food import company; an insurance investigator checking the disappearance of a...
- 1/31/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Helsinki-based Tekele has unveiled the international trailer of its first premium crime drama “Transport”, which is in the running for this year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize for best Nordic TV screenplay. The prestigious award will be handed out Feb. 2 during Göteborg’s two-day TV Drama Vision confab.
Created and directed by Prix Europa winner Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), “Transport” is repped by REIvent International.
The eight-part series delves into the criminal activity of horsemeat trafficking and money laundering in Europe. It’s about ordinary people, under pressure, who somehow get involved, while a young journalist investigates the case of a microchip found in baby food. Toplining the show are Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), Maria Heskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Ville Virtanen (“Bordertown”) and Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”).
“Transport” is the first major European premium TV show produced by fast-expanding Tekele, founded by seasoned producer Miia Haavisto. Speaking about her Belgium co-production partners Jonnydepony,...
Created and directed by Prix Europa winner Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), “Transport” is repped by REIvent International.
The eight-part series delves into the criminal activity of horsemeat trafficking and money laundering in Europe. It’s about ordinary people, under pressure, who somehow get involved, while a young journalist investigates the case of a microchip found in baby food. Toplining the show are Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), Maria Heskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Ville Virtanen (“Bordertown”) and Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”).
“Transport” is the first major European premium TV show produced by fast-expanding Tekele, founded by seasoned producer Miia Haavisto. Speaking about her Belgium co-production partners Jonnydepony,...
- 1/24/2022
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
The Berlin Festival’s Finnish Shooting Star 2015 Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), seasoned actor Maria Heiskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Pirkko Hämäläinen (“Devil’s Bride”) and Belgian actor Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”) are headlining the eight-part TV show “Transport.” Prix Europa winner Auli Mantila will serve as its showrunner.
Lensing the show is veteran DoP J-p Passi, multi-awarded for the film “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olly Mäki” and second unit DoP on “Chernobyl.”
Veteran producer Miia Haavisto (“Tom of Finland”) and Tia Talli (“Nurses”) of Tekele are producing for Finnish pubcaster Yle. Belgium’s Philippe de Schepper (“Black-Out”) and Jonnydepony’S Helen Perquy, an executive producer on “Tabula Rasa,” are co-producing. Nordic global distributor REinvent Studios picked up the show in February.
Producer Haavisto said “Transport” stands out as a crime drama set in the food trade. “It’s the tale of ordinary people under immense pressure, all of...
Lensing the show is veteran DoP J-p Passi, multi-awarded for the film “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olly Mäki” and second unit DoP on “Chernobyl.”
Veteran producer Miia Haavisto (“Tom of Finland”) and Tia Talli (“Nurses”) of Tekele are producing for Finnish pubcaster Yle. Belgium’s Philippe de Schepper (“Black-Out”) and Jonnydepony’S Helen Perquy, an executive producer on “Tabula Rasa,” are co-producing. Nordic global distributor REinvent Studios picked up the show in February.
Producer Haavisto said “Transport” stands out as a crime drama set in the food trade. “It’s the tale of ordinary people under immense pressure, all of...
- 10/10/2020
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Allied (Robert Zemeckis)
That thing we can’t take for granted: a film whose many parts – period piece, war picture, blood-spattered actioner, deception-fueled espionage thriller, sexy romance, and, at certain turns, comedy – can gracefully move in conjunction and separate from each other, just as its labyrinthine-but-not-quite plot jumps from one setpiece to the next with little trouble in maintaining a consistency of overall pleasure. Another late-career triumph for Robert Zemeckis,...
Allied (Robert Zemeckis)
That thing we can’t take for granted: a film whose many parts – period piece, war picture, blood-spattered actioner, deception-fueled espionage thriller, sexy romance, and, at certain turns, comedy – can gracefully move in conjunction and separate from each other, just as its labyrinthine-but-not-quite plot jumps from one setpiece to the next with little trouble in maintaining a consistency of overall pleasure. Another late-career triumph for Robert Zemeckis,...
- 11/17/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Following last summer’s restoration of Swedish auteur Jan Troell’s directorial debut Here is Your Life (1966), Criterion presents the director’s most notable accomplishment from his most prolific period, the one-two punch of The Emigrants (1971) and The New Land (1972). Though technically released as two distinct features, they are more of a conjoined saga detailing the travails of America’s Scandinavian ancestors. Richly attenuated, they’re adapted from the celebrated series of four novels by Vilhelm Moberg, Upon a Good Land, hailed as cornerstones of Swedish literature. Until now, these, along with most of Troell’s 1970s titles, (who is known best for his 2008 masterpiece, Everlasting Moments) have been largely unavailable, a pity considering the level of achievement and a handful of Academy Award nominations (including a Best Picture nod) between both features. It’s difficult to imagine a more authentic depiction of the early immigration experience, narratives which have...
- 3/1/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Criterion brings Jan Troell’s masterful debut feature Here is Your Life into their fold. It’s the Swedish auteur’s second film to join the collection, following his beautiful 2008 film, Everlasting Moments, the title many contemporary audiences may recognize. Though his narrative features are rather few and far between, generally based on expansive novels or real life events (his last work to date is 2012’s The Last Sentence documenting a journalist’s quest to inform the Swedish public on Fascism in the 1930s), his expressive debut would launch his career as a notable European auteur in the 1970s, with his Oscar nominated epic The Emigrants (currently slated to be remade by Daniel Espinosa) leading a pack of titles finding Troell working continually with Max Von Sydow and Liv Ullmann, while crossing over internationally with films starring Gene Hackman and Mia Farrow.
Regarded as a masterpiece in Sweden, Troell based...
Regarded as a masterpiece in Sweden, Troell based...
- 7/14/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Criterion has announced their July 2015 line-up of releases and it's a rather impressive one with the most notable title being a brand new release of the Alain Resnais' classic Hiroshima mon amour (July 14), a film I have never seen and there's a small bit of shame in that fact considering its influence on so many filmmakers and its importance in establishing what is now referred to as the French New Wave. The release is not without new features as Criterion gives it the Blu-ray upgrade: New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray Audio commentary by film historian Peter Cowie Interviews with director Alain Resnais from 1961 and 1980 Interviews with actor Emmanuelle Riva from 1959 and 2003 New interview with film scholar Fran?ois Thomas, author of L'atelier d'Alain Resnais New interview with music scholar Tim Page about the film's score Revoir Hiroshima . . . , a 2013 program about the film's restoration...
- 4/15/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
New study reveals links between film and television productions and tourism through social media.
New insight into the links between film and television productions and tourism has been revealed at an international screen tourism conference today by Film London, the lead partner for major European project EuroScreen.
The study demonstrates how social media commentary generated by films and TV shows can help generate millions of pounds worth of free online advertising for the locations and destinations they feature on screen.
The research claimed that Richard Curtis romantic comedy Notting Hill generated the equivalent of £19.5m ($30.7m) in online ad spend for London, while the Harry Potter series netted £10.4m ($16.3m) and TV series Wallander yielded £17.9m ($28.2m) for Ystad in Sweden.
Screen tourism also resulted in other boosts. Game of Thrones, for example, generated £1m ($1.5m) for Malta despite the series being more closely affiliated with its ‘home’ in Northern Ireland, while productions...
New insight into the links between film and television productions and tourism has been revealed at an international screen tourism conference today by Film London, the lead partner for major European project EuroScreen.
The study demonstrates how social media commentary generated by films and TV shows can help generate millions of pounds worth of free online advertising for the locations and destinations they feature on screen.
The research claimed that Richard Curtis romantic comedy Notting Hill generated the equivalent of £19.5m ($30.7m) in online ad spend for London, while the Harry Potter series netted £10.4m ($16.3m) and TV series Wallander yielded £17.9m ($28.2m) for Ystad in Sweden.
Screen tourism also resulted in other boosts. Game of Thrones, for example, generated £1m ($1.5m) for Malta despite the series being more closely affiliated with its ‘home’ in Northern Ireland, while productions...
- 11/13/2014
- ScreenDaily
Scenes From a Marriage: Troell’s Latest an Engrossing Character Study
Swedish auteur Jan Troell, at 81, is thankfully still making films, and his latest, The Last Sentence, is a period piece centered on a somewhat obscure historical figure, more in the vein of Hamsun (1996) than the immigrant or social change narratives that Troell is perhaps most famed for, such as his last effort, a 2008 masterpiece, Everlasting Moments. Beginning his directorial career in the mid 60’s, Troell was not only a contemporary of Ingmar Bergman but has often showcased many of Bergman’s troupe, like Max Von Sydow and Liv Ullman (Sydow was purportedly first choice for this latest as well). Here, he assembles a distinct cast and digital black and white cinematography to offset this from his larger body of work, and the pay off his decidedly worthwhile.
Featuring the announcement of Hitler as Germany’s Chancellor in 1932 via newsreel,...
Swedish auteur Jan Troell, at 81, is thankfully still making films, and his latest, The Last Sentence, is a period piece centered on a somewhat obscure historical figure, more in the vein of Hamsun (1996) than the immigrant or social change narratives that Troell is perhaps most famed for, such as his last effort, a 2008 masterpiece, Everlasting Moments. Beginning his directorial career in the mid 60’s, Troell was not only a contemporary of Ingmar Bergman but has often showcased many of Bergman’s troupe, like Max Von Sydow and Liv Ullman (Sydow was purportedly first choice for this latest as well). Here, he assembles a distinct cast and digital black and white cinematography to offset this from his larger body of work, and the pay off his decidedly worthwhile.
Featuring the announcement of Hitler as Germany’s Chancellor in 1932 via newsreel,...
- 6/22/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Sparsely seen on the Us festival circuit, Jan Troell's "The Last Sentence" is finally making its way to stateside theaters after premiering nearly two years ago in Sweden. Music Box Films will bring this WWII-era drama about a crusading journalist to select cities on June 20th. Watch the new trailer below. Troell has been kicking around the arthouse since the 1960s. He famously directed Swedish screen giants Max Von Sydow and Liv Ullman in 1971's "The Emigrants," nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture. Now, he's most famous for "Everlasting Moments" (2008), a superbly crafted portrait of marriage among the upper-crust bourgeoisie in early 20th-century Europe. Starring seasoned Danish actor Jesper Christensen, "Last Sentence" is Troell's first narrative feature since "Everlasting Moments." It centers on Torgny Segerstedt, a crusading journalist who fought Nazism and his country's policy of appeasement to Hitler. Here's the official synopsis:With Sweden...
- 5/16/2014
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Exclusive: Keanu Reeves has been approached to star in Antti J. Jokinen’s thriller The Criminal about organised crime in Finland and Russia.
Pitching the project at the first edition of the Northern Seas Film Forum (Nsff) in St Petersburg at the weekend, producer Markus Selin of Solar Films Inc. Oy and director Jokinen said that they are speaking to the Matrix star about headlining the crime thriller which is set to shoot next year.
The Criminal is based on interviews conducted with Russian and Finnish felons over the past four years and has the Organised Crime Unit of the Finnish Police now serving as an advisor on the screenplay.
Selin revealed that Ireland’s Subotica Films is already onboard as a co-producer and he is now looking for a Russian company to join the production.
The $16m (€12m) production would shoot in Helsinki, Dublin and St Petersburg in Russian and Finnish with the English actors speaking...
Pitching the project at the first edition of the Northern Seas Film Forum (Nsff) in St Petersburg at the weekend, producer Markus Selin of Solar Films Inc. Oy and director Jokinen said that they are speaking to the Matrix star about headlining the crime thriller which is set to shoot next year.
The Criminal is based on interviews conducted with Russian and Finnish felons over the past four years and has the Organised Crime Unit of the Finnish Police now serving as an advisor on the screenplay.
Selin revealed that Ireland’s Subotica Films is already onboard as a co-producer and he is now looking for a Russian company to join the production.
The $16m (€12m) production would shoot in Helsinki, Dublin and St Petersburg in Russian and Finnish with the English actors speaking...
- 9/16/2013
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Weirdness In the Woods: Johnsen’s Latest an Intriguing, Complicated Love Triangle
Norwegian filmmaker Sara Johnsen’s latest film, All That Matters Is Past is a curiously maddening film about star crossed lovers mixed with a light incestuous streak. While this is mostly an engaging scenario, the serpentine plotting often makes it feel as if it was necessary to fill the slim central conflict with a lot of extra flourishes. That said, Johnsen’s film is more often than not an exquisite examination of an earthy, natural world, one dictated by attraction and decomposition.
Mysteriously, a pair of ragtag forest dwellers in some remote Norwegian woodland quickly construct a trap for something or someone. The man, William (Kristoffer Joner) climbs a tree while his female partner, Janne (Maria Bonnevie) throws him a large rock. Quickly, we learn they mean to use this as a weapon to maim or kill a...
Norwegian filmmaker Sara Johnsen’s latest film, All That Matters Is Past is a curiously maddening film about star crossed lovers mixed with a light incestuous streak. While this is mostly an engaging scenario, the serpentine plotting often makes it feel as if it was necessary to fill the slim central conflict with a lot of extra flourishes. That said, Johnsen’s film is more often than not an exquisite examination of an earthy, natural world, one dictated by attraction and decomposition.
Mysteriously, a pair of ragtag forest dwellers in some remote Norwegian woodland quickly construct a trap for something or someone. The man, William (Kristoffer Joner) climbs a tree while his female partner, Janne (Maria Bonnevie) throws him a large rock. Quickly, we learn they mean to use this as a weapon to maim or kill a...
- 9/14/2012
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Chicago – Susanne Bier’s “In a Better World” has stuck with me. After seeing it in theaters five months ago, I was a little hard on the film due to the fact that it beat out so many great ones for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, including “Dogtooth,” “Incendies,” and the film that most people thought would win, “Biutiful.” I still question that decision, but this is a stronger film than I first gave it credit for — a bit more shallow and cut-and-dry than it should have been but a dramatically satisfying rental, now available on Blu-ray and DVD.
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
Bier is a talented director (I would argue that her underrated “Things We Lost in the Fire” and spectacular “Brothers” are superior films to this one) with a gift for performance — drawing complex, interesting performances from her cast. She does so again here with excellent work...
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
Bier is a talented director (I would argue that her underrated “Things We Lost in the Fire” and spectacular “Brothers” are superior films to this one) with a gift for performance — drawing complex, interesting performances from her cast. She does so again here with excellent work...
- 9/11/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Hot off an Oscar win in February for In a Better World, Denmark has announced their follow up contender ...or at least their intention to announce it. The land of my ancestors has narrowed down the past year in Dansk film to three tre: SuperClásico, Martin Zandvliet's Dirch (A Funny Man) and Pernille Fischer Christensen's En familie (A Family).
En Familie, which my Danish informant Thomas (tak!) predicts will be the selection is a drama about a wealthy family with a dying patriarch. Jesper Christensen stars. You might recognize him from the Daniel Craig Bond films (he plays Mr White) or from the popular Swedish flick Everlasting Moments. He's also in Melancholia this year though I don't know how large his role is there.
SuperClásico is a divorce comedy which actually takes place in Buenos Aires. No word yet on whether that naked bum on the poster is...
En Familie, which my Danish informant Thomas (tak!) predicts will be the selection is a drama about a wealthy family with a dying patriarch. Jesper Christensen stars. You might recognize him from the Daniel Craig Bond films (he plays Mr White) or from the popular Swedish flick Everlasting Moments. He's also in Melancholia this year though I don't know how large his role is there.
SuperClásico is a divorce comedy which actually takes place in Buenos Aires. No word yet on whether that naked bum on the poster is...
- 8/12/2011
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Chicago – The Criterion deal with IFC Films has led to some very interesting additions to their collection including some controversial choices. The universally-acclaimed and upcoming “Carlos” may be understandable but do “Everlasting Moments” and “Revanche” deserve the standing that comes with the Criterion label? I’m torn and no more so than with the release of “Life During Wartime,” a decent and interesting flick that nonetheless would be Far down the list of movies I would choose for induction into the most important club in DVD history.
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
Let’s play pros & cons. On one hand, it’s a simple fact that arthouses are in dire straits with fewer and fewer people driving past the multiplex to see indie fare even in major cities. And they often get just as buried at home, especially as independent video stores disappear. In other words, anything that brings a great company like...
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
Let’s play pros & cons. On one hand, it’s a simple fact that arthouses are in dire straits with fewer and fewer people driving past the multiplex to see indie fare even in major cities. And they often get just as buried at home, especially as independent video stores disappear. In other words, anything that brings a great company like...
- 8/1/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Best known for films like Susanne Bier’s In A Better World or, more poignantly, Everlasting Moments, actor Mikael Persbrandt has found himself on the tip of tongues around Hollywood.
Now, Bloody Disgusting is reporting that the actor has found a brand new gig to call his own. The outlet is reporting that he’ll star in Lasse Hallstrom’s (My Life As A Dog) upcoming take on the Lars Kepler novel, The Hypnotist. The actor, who will next be seen as Beorn in The Hobbit, will take on the role of Detective Joona Linna, a man who must look into a triple homicide, by having a survivor hypnotized.
The film will shoot this winter following The Hobbit, and could very well be the start of a Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-like franchise. Personally, while I’ve never read the book, I do really like Persbrandt as a thespian, and in this type of film,...
Now, Bloody Disgusting is reporting that the actor has found a brand new gig to call his own. The outlet is reporting that he’ll star in Lasse Hallstrom’s (My Life As A Dog) upcoming take on the Lars Kepler novel, The Hypnotist. The actor, who will next be seen as Beorn in The Hobbit, will take on the role of Detective Joona Linna, a man who must look into a triple homicide, by having a survivor hypnotized.
The film will shoot this winter following The Hobbit, and could very well be the start of a Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-like franchise. Personally, while I’ve never read the book, I do really like Persbrandt as a thespian, and in this type of film,...
- 7/13/2011
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
Arthouse fans maybe recognize him recently from the excellent “Everlasting Moments” or for his turn in Susanne Bier‘s Oscar winning “In a Better World,” but Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt is poised for global recognition as the shape-shifting Beorn in Peter Jackson's forthcoming "The Hobbit" films. But he won't stray too far from his bread and butter just yet as he's lined up a role in director Lasse Hallström's first Swedish film in 24 years. Bloody Disgusting reports that the actor is taking the lead role in the adaptation of Lars Kepler's "The Hypnotist." The film is the first in a…...
- 7/12/2011
- The Playlist
[From the Editor: I'm publishing this Mother's Day list tonight, before the holiday, so that readers will have the opportunity to head out to their local video store, and get these films before their Sunday viewing. That is assuming, of course, that you still have a local video store. I'll link to the Hulu Plus / Netflix pages under the films. I'm also linking the covers to their corresponding Amazon pages. Don't forget, many of them are still on sale right now!]
Mother’s Day weekend, besides being one of those pleasant harbingers of spring and typically the occasion for a time of family togetherness, can also be a bit of an awkward time for your typical film geek. Sure, some of us have awesome moms and we enjoy the opportunity to let her know just how wonderful and special she is to us. But let’s admit it, parental relationships also create their share of awkwardness and tension. Even though none of us came into this world by any other route than through our mother, things happen along the way in that pivotal mother-child attachment that tend to complicate the situation going forward.
So even though today is an occasion to celebrate all those wonderful characteristics about Mom that we love and appreciate so much, there’s always more to the story. Let’s take a stroll through a few of the many moods of Motherhood,...
Mother’s Day weekend, besides being one of those pleasant harbingers of spring and typically the occasion for a time of family togetherness, can also be a bit of an awkward time for your typical film geek. Sure, some of us have awesome moms and we enjoy the opportunity to let her know just how wonderful and special she is to us. But let’s admit it, parental relationships also create their share of awkwardness and tension. Even though none of us came into this world by any other route than through our mother, things happen along the way in that pivotal mother-child attachment that tend to complicate the situation going forward.
So even though today is an occasion to celebrate all those wonderful characteristics about Mom that we love and appreciate so much, there’s always more to the story. Let’s take a stroll through a few of the many moods of Motherhood,...
- 5/8/2011
- by David Blakeslee
- CriterionCast
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Chicago – Susanne Bier’s “In a Better World” was a surprising winner at the Academy Awards when Best Foreign Language Film was announced, leading many to wonder what could have beaten the critically-acclaimed “Dogtooth” or “Biutiful,” which clearly had a lot of love considering its Best Actor nomination. “In a Better World” must have been pretty great, right? Yes and no. It’s a better film than a few of the Academy’s recent decisions (“Departures” comes to mind), but also nowhere near as complete a film as a number of alternate choices. This category is still a mess, as proven by the win for this interesting but ultimately a bit too shallow examination of revenge and parenthood.
Don’t get me wrong. “In a Better World” is a good film. Bier is a talented director, as proven by the excellent “Brothers” (which was remade with Tobey Maguire and...
Chicago – Susanne Bier’s “In a Better World” was a surprising winner at the Academy Awards when Best Foreign Language Film was announced, leading many to wonder what could have beaten the critically-acclaimed “Dogtooth” or “Biutiful,” which clearly had a lot of love considering its Best Actor nomination. “In a Better World” must have been pretty great, right? Yes and no. It’s a better film than a few of the Academy’s recent decisions (“Departures” comes to mind), but also nowhere near as complete a film as a number of alternate choices. This category is still a mess, as proven by the win for this interesting but ultimately a bit too shallow examination of revenge and parenthood.
Don’t get me wrong. “In a Better World” is a good film. Bier is a talented director, as proven by the excellent “Brothers” (which was remade with Tobey Maguire and...
- 4/15/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Two of the Best Foreign Film nominations for this year's Oscars were still in need of trailers when the announcements were made, but now that problem has been taken care of. Earlier this week we showed you the trailer [1] for Incendies, a “tale of two young adults’ voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love”, and now comes the trailer for In a Better World, an "exploration of masculinity and the perpetuation of violence". The film -- known as Hævnen (or "The Revenge") in Danish -- is the latest directorial effort from Susanne Bier (Things We Lost in the Fire, After the Wedding), who co-wrote the film with Oscar-winner Anders Thomas Jensen. It follows a man who lives two very different lives: as a doctor at an African refugee camp, and as a separated father in a small Danish town, where he raises his two boys.
- 2/3/2011
- by Adam Quigley
- Slash Film
Sony Pictures Classics has debuted the trailer for Susanne Bier's In a Better World, originally known as Hævnen in Danish, which was one of five Best Foreign Language Film nominees at the Oscars this year and winner of the Best Foreign Film Golden Globe. In a Better World stars Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt, a face you may recognize from films like Day and Night or Everlasting Moments, and Danish actress Trine Dyrholm. Here's the synopsis, so you know what's going: The lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. But loneliness, frailty and sorrow also lie in wait. Watch the official Us trailer for Susanne Bier's In a Better World: You can also watch the In a Better World trailer in High Definition on Yahoo In a Better World, aka Hævnen, is directed by acclaimed Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier,...
- 2/3/2011
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Ian McKellen & Andy Serkis will reprise their roles as Gandalf the Grey and Gollum for Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit.' Here is the official press release stating the return of Serkis and Elijah Wood who will reprise his role as Frodo Baggins:
Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis are set to join the cast of Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic “The Hobbit.” The films, which are scheduled to commence principal photography in February 2011, mark Jackson’s return to Middle-earth following his Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The announcement was made jointly today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. and Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Jackson, who directed all three “Lord of the Rings” films, will helm the two films back-to-back, telling the story of “The Hobbit...
Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis are set to join the cast of Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic “The Hobbit.” The films, which are scheduled to commence principal photography in February 2011, mark Jackson’s return to Middle-earth following his Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The announcement was made jointly today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. and Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Jackson, who directed all three “Lord of the Rings” films, will helm the two films back-to-back, telling the story of “The Hobbit...
- 1/11/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Flicks News)
- FlicksNews.net
Seven more names have been locked in for Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic "The Hobbit" in an official press release today. As previously reported, former "Doctor Who" star Sylvester McCoy is now officially locked and is indeed playing the wizard Radagast the Brown. Not unexpected but a highly pleasurable confirmation as well today is that Oscar winner Cate Blanchett will reprise her role of Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien which she portrayed in the "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy. Joining them are Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt ("Everlasting Moments") as the shape-shifter Beorn, veteran British these Ken Stott ("Shallow Grave", "Rebus") as the Dwarf Lord Balin. Two more dwarves have been cast - New Zealanders Jed Brophy ("The Warrior's Way", "District 9")...
- 12/10/2010
- www.ohmygore.com/
Orlando Bloom is in talks to reprise his role of Legolas in director Peter Jackson‘s forthcoming Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit. While Bloom hasn’t yet officially signed on, he is nearing a deal to return as the Elven archer.
Deadline reports that talks with Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis and Hugo Weaving to reprise their roles as Gandalf, Gollum / Smeagol and Elrond respectively, are still underway as well.
In other casting news for The Hobbit… Cate Blanchett is set to return as the lovely Elven Queen, Galadriel and Sylvester McCoy, who portrayed the seventh doctor in the long-running BBC sci-fi series, Doctor Who has joined the cast as well.
Check out the press release below for all the details on their casting, as well as a handful of other actors heading to Middle Earth.
Official Press Release:
Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt Join Cast...
Deadline reports that talks with Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis and Hugo Weaving to reprise their roles as Gandalf, Gollum / Smeagol and Elrond respectively, are still underway as well.
In other casting news for The Hobbit… Cate Blanchett is set to return as the lovely Elven Queen, Galadriel and Sylvester McCoy, who portrayed the seventh doctor in the long-running BBC sci-fi series, Doctor Who has joined the cast as well.
Check out the press release below for all the details on their casting, as well as a handful of other actors heading to Middle Earth.
Official Press Release:
Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt Join Cast...
- 12/9/2010
- by Jason Moore
- ScifiMafia
Here’s some rather fab news for all you fans of The Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit fans. The One Ring has released this press release given to them by New Line Cinemas / MGM which announces that Australian Actress, Cate Blanchett who appeared in the original Lord of the Rings Trilogy as Galadriel will be back for the prequel, The Hobbit which is now thankfully moving forward faster than an ‘Unstoppable’ Tony Scott freight train!
The press release also confirms that former Doctor Who star, Sylvester McCoy, will be appearing along with Mikael Persbrandt, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, William Kircher, Jed Brophy and Ryan Gage.
I’m so pleased about Blanchett coming back. Check out the full press release below and thanks again to Torn.
Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt Join Cast Of Peter Jackson’S “The Hobbit”
Los Angeles, CA—December 7, 2010—Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott,...
The press release also confirms that former Doctor Who star, Sylvester McCoy, will be appearing along with Mikael Persbrandt, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, William Kircher, Jed Brophy and Ryan Gage.
I’m so pleased about Blanchett coming back. Check out the full press release below and thanks again to Torn.
Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt Join Cast Of Peter Jackson’S “The Hobbit”
Los Angeles, CA—December 7, 2010—Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott,...
- 12/8/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Seven more names have been locked in for Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic "The Hobbit" in an official press release today.
As previously reported, former "Doctor Who" star Sylvester McCoy is now officially locked and is indeed playing the wizard Radagast the Brown. Not unexpected but a highly pleasurable confirmation as well today is that Oscar winner Cate Blanchett will reprise her role of Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien which she portrayed in the "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
Joining them are Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt ("Everlasting Moments") as the shape-shifter Beorn, veteran British these Ken Stott ("Shallow Grave," "Rebus") as the Dwarf Lord Balin.
Two more dwarves have been cast - New Zealanders Jed Brophy ("The Warrior's Way," "District 9") and William Kircher ("Out of the Blue," "City Life") will play Nori and Bifur respectively. Finally, Ryan Gage (Outlaw, BBC's "Hamlet") will play Bilbo Baggins' second cousin Drogo.
As previously reported, former "Doctor Who" star Sylvester McCoy is now officially locked and is indeed playing the wizard Radagast the Brown. Not unexpected but a highly pleasurable confirmation as well today is that Oscar winner Cate Blanchett will reprise her role of Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien which she portrayed in the "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
Joining them are Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt ("Everlasting Moments") as the shape-shifter Beorn, veteran British these Ken Stott ("Shallow Grave," "Rebus") as the Dwarf Lord Balin.
Two more dwarves have been cast - New Zealanders Jed Brophy ("The Warrior's Way," "District 9") and William Kircher ("Out of the Blue," "City Life") will play Nori and Bifur respectively. Finally, Ryan Gage (Outlaw, BBC's "Hamlet") will play Bilbo Baggins' second cousin Drogo.
- 12/8/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Cate Blanchett is heading to the Middle Earth once again. The 41-year-old actress is tapped to reprise her "Lord of the Rings" role as Galadriel aka Lady of Lothlorien in "The Hobbit", New Line/Warner Bros has officially announced on December 7.
The press release also confirmed that Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy and Mikael Persbrandt are cast in the film along with Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy and William Kircher. Stott ("Charlie Wilson's War") will play the Dwarf Lord Balin, McCoy ("Doctor Who") will play the wizard Radagast the Brown and Swedish actor Persbrandt ("Everlasting Moments'", "Day and Night") will play the shape-shifter Beorn. British actor Gage ("Outlaw", "Doctors") will play Drogo Baggins; and New Zealand actors Brophy ("Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "District 9") and Kircher ("Out of the Blue", "Legend of the Seeker") will play the dwarves Nori and Bifur respectively.
They all join Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner,...
The press release also confirmed that Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy and Mikael Persbrandt are cast in the film along with Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy and William Kircher. Stott ("Charlie Wilson's War") will play the Dwarf Lord Balin, McCoy ("Doctor Who") will play the wizard Radagast the Brown and Swedish actor Persbrandt ("Everlasting Moments'", "Day and Night") will play the shape-shifter Beorn. British actor Gage ("Outlaw", "Doctors") will play Drogo Baggins; and New Zealand actors Brophy ("Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "District 9") and Kircher ("Out of the Blue", "Legend of the Seeker") will play the dwarves Nori and Bifur respectively.
They all join Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner,...
- 12/8/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Hey gang! There's some more great casting news for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit! New Line/Warner Bros. has officially announced that Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt, Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy and William Kircher have all been cast in the film.
Cate Blanchett will reprise her role from Lord of The Rings trilogy as Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien. Ken Stott (Charlie Wilson's War) will play the Dwarf Lord Balin, Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who) will play the wizard Radagast the Brown and well-known Swedish actor, Mikael Persbrandt (Everlasting Moments) will play the shape-shifter Beorn. British actor Ryan Gage (Outlaw) will play Drogo Baggins, with New Zealand actors Jed Brophy (Lord of The Rings trilogy, District 9) playing the role of the dwarf Nori, and William Kircher (Legend of the Seeker) rounding out the company of Thorin Oakensheild in role of the dwarf Bifur.
I'm happy to see...
Cate Blanchett will reprise her role from Lord of The Rings trilogy as Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien. Ken Stott (Charlie Wilson's War) will play the Dwarf Lord Balin, Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who) will play the wizard Radagast the Brown and well-known Swedish actor, Mikael Persbrandt (Everlasting Moments) will play the shape-shifter Beorn. British actor Ryan Gage (Outlaw) will play Drogo Baggins, with New Zealand actors Jed Brophy (Lord of The Rings trilogy, District 9) playing the role of the dwarf Nori, and William Kircher (Legend of the Seeker) rounding out the company of Thorin Oakensheild in role of the dwarf Bifur.
I'm happy to see...
- 12/8/2010
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Another group of actors has been added to the cast of Peter Jackson's two-part adaptation of The Hobbit, and it includes a familiar face.
It's being reported that Cate Blanchett will return to the role of Galadriel, the Elvin Lady of the Wood she played in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The character never appeared in J.R.R. Tolkien's Hobbit, but as it goes with adaptations, Jackson has decided to use her in some aspect of the story.
Of Blanchett's return, Jackson said "Cate is one of my favorite actors to work with and I couldn't be more thrilled to have her reprise the role she so beautifully brought to life in the earlier films."
Other newly cast actors include Ken Stott (King Arthur, Charlie Wilson's War) as a Dwarven Lord named Balin, Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who [1987-1989]) as a wizard named Radagast the Brown, and Mikael Persbrandt (Day and Night,...
It's being reported that Cate Blanchett will return to the role of Galadriel, the Elvin Lady of the Wood she played in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The character never appeared in J.R.R. Tolkien's Hobbit, but as it goes with adaptations, Jackson has decided to use her in some aspect of the story.
Of Blanchett's return, Jackson said "Cate is one of my favorite actors to work with and I couldn't be more thrilled to have her reprise the role she so beautifully brought to life in the earlier films."
Other newly cast actors include Ken Stott (King Arthur, Charlie Wilson's War) as a Dwarven Lord named Balin, Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who [1987-1989]) as a wizard named Radagast the Brown, and Mikael Persbrandt (Day and Night,...
- 12/8/2010
- by The Movie God
- Geeks of Doom
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: Big casting news on the “Hobbit” front, as Warner/New Line has confirmed that Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy and Mikael Persbrandt will appear in Peter Jackson’s planned film adaptations.
Here’s the release (via ComingSoon.net):
Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy and Mikael Persbrandt have joined the cast of Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic ‘The Hobbit.’ Also joining them are Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy and William Kircher. The films, which are scheduled to commence principal photography in February 2011, mark Jackson’s return to Middle-earth following his Oscar-winning ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. The announcement was made jointly today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. and Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Jackson, who directed all three ‘Lord of the Rings’ films,...
Hollywoodnews.com: Big casting news on the “Hobbit” front, as Warner/New Line has confirmed that Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy and Mikael Persbrandt will appear in Peter Jackson’s planned film adaptations.
Here’s the release (via ComingSoon.net):
Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy and Mikael Persbrandt have joined the cast of Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic ‘The Hobbit.’ Also joining them are Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy and William Kircher. The films, which are scheduled to commence principal photography in February 2011, mark Jackson’s return to Middle-earth following his Oscar-winning ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. The announcement was made jointly today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. and Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Jackson, who directed all three ‘Lord of the Rings’ films,...
- 12/7/2010
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
Winter’s Bone Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer and Inside Job Please Give Toy Story 3 Another Year Mother and Child Vincere Exit Through the Gift Shop...
- 12/6/2010
- by Ryan Adams
- AwardsDaily.com
The first photos are out for Terrence Malick's long-awaited The Tree of Life along with a short review of the trailer. Also out today are the first photos from Kevin Smith's Red State.
Posters for Rabbit Hole, The Resident, Sanctum, The King's Speech and And Everything Is Going Fine,
"Out doing "Rabbit Hole" awards promotion, actor Aaron Eckhart says that Chris Nolan has now directly confirmed to him that he will not be reprising his Harvey Dent/Two-Face role (in any capacity) in "The Dark Knight Rises"..." (full details)
"Guillermo del Toro says he's currently buried in script work on his Lovecraft adaptation "At the Mountains of Madness" and if all goes well "we’ll be shooting by June next year for a 2012 release"..." (full details)
"Despite the project being scuttled by MGM's financial issues, "Black Swan" director Darren Aronofsky says he's "still interested" in doing the "Robocop" reboot.
Posters for Rabbit Hole, The Resident, Sanctum, The King's Speech and And Everything Is Going Fine,
"Out doing "Rabbit Hole" awards promotion, actor Aaron Eckhart says that Chris Nolan has now directly confirmed to him that he will not be reprising his Harvey Dent/Two-Face role (in any capacity) in "The Dark Knight Rises"..." (full details)
"Guillermo del Toro says he's currently buried in script work on his Lovecraft adaptation "At the Mountains of Madness" and if all goes well "we’ll be shooting by June next year for a 2012 release"..." (full details)
"Despite the project being scuttled by MGM's financial issues, "Black Swan" director Darren Aronofsky says he's "still interested" in doing the "Robocop" reboot.
- 12/3/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
The cast of "The Hobbit" continues to grow as it gears up to start shooting in February and it looks like another smaller name has joined a cast of faces that, for the most part, will be making their grand debut on international cinema screens. Swedish paper Nojes Bladet (via TheOneRing) reports that Mikael Persbrandt has joined "The Hobbit." The actor is popular within his native borders, but not so much outside of them, but arthouse fans maybe recognize him from the excellent "Everlasting Moments," and he does star in Susanne Bier's latest, "In A Better World." There's no word…...
- 12/3/2010
- The Playlist
If a bright orange screaming cat has crossed your path in the past few months, you can thank Sam Smith. The Nashville-based artist (who makes art under the pseudonym Sam's Myth when he's not playing drums for Ben Folds) came up with the above image that Janus Films used in their theatrical re-release campaign for Nobuhiko Ôbayashi's 1977 cult film House. In addition to the famous image (which also adorns t-shirts, stickers and more), Smith has been designing posters for IFC Films releases like Carlos and Shoah and did the recent Criterion artwork for House as well as Everlasting Moments and Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times, with more on the way. His home base, however, is the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville, Tennessee and that's where Smith will have his first art exhibit starting Thursday. Sam's Myth - Film Posters is the name of the show which opens from 5-8 p.
- 12/2/2010
- by Germain Lussier
- Slash Film
This past summer at Fantasia Fest, Janus films screened the Kaneto Shindo’s (Onibaba) 1968 horror film, Kuroneko. Because of Janus’ relationship with the Criterion Collection, it’s fairly safe to say that Kuroneko will be receiving a spine number in the near future.
Late last week Janus unveiled a new poster for the upcoming theatrical run of Kuroneko, designed by one of our new favorites among Criterion’s long line of excellent graphic designers: Sam’s Myth. Sam has recently provided the artwork for this summer’s Everlasting Moments, and was the brains behind the Hausu cover and interior art for the upcoming release. He also designed the artwork for Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, which Criterion is set to release this November.
Below I’m including the poster, Sam’s “process” photo, as well as a few stills provided by Janus. I’m also including a trailer from the...
Late last week Janus unveiled a new poster for the upcoming theatrical run of Kuroneko, designed by one of our new favorites among Criterion’s long line of excellent graphic designers: Sam’s Myth. Sam has recently provided the artwork for this summer’s Everlasting Moments, and was the brains behind the Hausu cover and interior art for the upcoming release. He also designed the artwork for Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, which Criterion is set to release this November.
Below I’m including the poster, Sam’s “process” photo, as well as a few stills provided by Janus. I’m also including a trailer from the...
- 9/28/2010
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
Criterion's December release announcement is brief, but sweet. David Cronenberg's Videodrome is coming to Blu-Ray while Guillermo Del Toro's Cronos will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray.
The Videodrome Blu-Ray seems to be sourced from same master as the 2004 Criterion DVD. Extras are largely same. Cronos is newly restored and packed with extras, including a previously unreleased short film called Geometria. Check the links in the calendar for full specifications.
Finally, as mentioned in the last Criterion Column, the DVD release of the America Lost and Found: The Bbs Story comes out on December 14th. The Blu-Ray will be released on November 23rd.
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (January through December 2010, up-to-date as of September 16, 2010)
December 2010
David Cronenberg, Videodrome, Bd, 12/7/2010, Us & Canada
Guillermo del Toro, Cronos, 2-disc DVD & Bd, 12/7/2010, Us & Canada
November 2010
Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times, 2-dsc DVD & Bd, 11/16/10, Us & Canada
Charles Laughton, Night Of The Hunter, 2-disc DVD & 2-disc Bd,...
The Videodrome Blu-Ray seems to be sourced from same master as the 2004 Criterion DVD. Extras are largely same. Cronos is newly restored and packed with extras, including a previously unreleased short film called Geometria. Check the links in the calendar for full specifications.
Finally, as mentioned in the last Criterion Column, the DVD release of the America Lost and Found: The Bbs Story comes out on December 14th. The Blu-Ray will be released on November 23rd.
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (January through December 2010, up-to-date as of September 16, 2010)
December 2010
David Cronenberg, Videodrome, Bd, 12/7/2010, Us & Canada
Guillermo del Toro, Cronos, 2-disc DVD & Bd, 12/7/2010, Us & Canada
November 2010
Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times, 2-dsc DVD & Bd, 11/16/10, Us & Canada
Charles Laughton, Night Of The Hunter, 2-disc DVD & 2-disc Bd,...
- 9/16/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Ulrich Thomsen and William Johnk Nielsen in In a Better World
Photo: Sony Pictures Classics Susanne Bier's In a Better World is a fascinating look at the difference between revenge, pacifism and forgiveness. The lines become blurred in a beautiful exploration of human instincts and our interpretation of knowing what's right and what's wrong.
The story follows two Danish families brought together as a result of the newly formed friendship between Christian (William Johnk Nielsen) and Elias (Markus Rygaard), two ten-year-old boys coping with their own set of problems. Elias is dealing with the recent separation of his parents as well as a school bully that's dubbed him Rat Face. Christian's mother recently lost her battle with cancer and he's returned to Denmark with his father (Ulrich Thomsen) whom he blames for "giving up" on his mother.
These circumstances lead to Christian standing up for Elias, using a bike...
Photo: Sony Pictures Classics Susanne Bier's In a Better World is a fascinating look at the difference between revenge, pacifism and forgiveness. The lines become blurred in a beautiful exploration of human instincts and our interpretation of knowing what's right and what's wrong.
The story follows two Danish families brought together as a result of the newly formed friendship between Christian (William Johnk Nielsen) and Elias (Markus Rygaard), two ten-year-old boys coping with their own set of problems. Elias is dealing with the recent separation of his parents as well as a school bully that's dubbed him Rat Face. Christian's mother recently lost her battle with cancer and he's returned to Denmark with his father (Ulrich Thomsen) whom he blames for "giving up" on his mother.
These circumstances lead to Christian standing up for Elias, using a bike...
- 9/14/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
In November, The Criterion Collection is set to release an eclectic mix of American classics with a bit of European transgression thrown in. A newly restored version of Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times is planned for DVD and Blu-Ray. Charles Laughton's stunning black-and-white noir/horror tale Night of the Hunter (1955) is also on the schedule for DVD and Blu-Ray. Lars Von Trier's Antichrist will invade home video players everywhere.
Those are great releases, but highlight of the November list is the America Lost and Found: The Bbs Story box set, which features 6 films from Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider's production company Bbs during the 60s-70s. Titles include: Head, Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Drive He Said, The Last Picture Show, and The King Of Marvin Gardens. Think about the scope of this release for a second. This is six films by Dennis Hopper, Henry Jaglom, Jack Nicholson Bob Rafelson,...
Those are great releases, but highlight of the November list is the America Lost and Found: The Bbs Story box set, which features 6 films from Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider's production company Bbs during the 60s-70s. Titles include: Head, Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Drive He Said, The Last Picture Show, and The King Of Marvin Gardens. Think about the scope of this release for a second. This is six films by Dennis Hopper, Henry Jaglom, Jack Nicholson Bob Rafelson,...
- 8/21/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Courtesy of Icon Films, you could get a pass for the Golden Globe-nominated Swedish film Everlasting Moments.
Based on a true story, it follows the story of Maria (Maria Heiskanen), who is married to an alcoholic and womanizing dockworker (Mikael Persbrandt). Her husband leaves the worries of family responsibilities entirely to Maria. Her situation is desperate until she meets a camera shop owner (Jesper Christensen) who encourages her to start taking and developing photographs. She soon begins to see the world in new ways that threaten her already perilous situation.
To win, email miguel@focalattractions.com.au and tell us, what is the best photo you’ve ever taken?...
Based on a true story, it follows the story of Maria (Maria Heiskanen), who is married to an alcoholic and womanizing dockworker (Mikael Persbrandt). Her husband leaves the worries of family responsibilities entirely to Maria. Her situation is desperate until she meets a camera shop owner (Jesper Christensen) who encourages her to start taking and developing photographs. She soon begins to see the world in new ways that threaten her already perilous situation.
To win, email miguel@focalattractions.com.au and tell us, what is the best photo you’ve ever taken?...
- 8/10/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
The October 2010 batch of Criterion titles brings a few surprises. Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory is hitting DVD and Blu-Ray as is Ingmar Bergman's film The Magician. Criterion continues its relationship with Wes Anderson by releasing The Darjeeling Limited on Blu-Ray and DVD. Ok.
Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai is headed for Blu-Ray with a new restored high-def transfer. If the quality of Criterion's other Kurosawa Blu-Ray discs (e.g. Kagemusha, Sanjuro and Yojimbo) are any indication, it is time to ditch the DVDs. This one should look spectacular.
Finally, Nobuhiko Obayashi's House is making its way to Blu-Ray and DVD just in time for Halloween. There are a few things to note here. First, the fact that Criterion is releasing this on Blu-Ray with a restored transfer and uncompressed mono sound is kind of a surprise. This is a very good thing. The other curious thing is the extras.
Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai is headed for Blu-Ray with a new restored high-def transfer. If the quality of Criterion's other Kurosawa Blu-Ray discs (e.g. Kagemusha, Sanjuro and Yojimbo) are any indication, it is time to ditch the DVDs. This one should look spectacular.
Finally, Nobuhiko Obayashi's House is making its way to Blu-Ray and DVD just in time for Halloween. There are a few things to note here. First, the fact that Criterion is releasing this on Blu-Ray with a restored transfer and uncompressed mono sound is kind of a surprise. This is a very good thing. The other curious thing is the extras.
- 7/17/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Many people talk about the importance of day and date delivery for home media, and the eventual shift towards that model. Over the past few months, we’ve seen several Criterion Collection films available on the day of their DVD/Blu-ray releases, including Paris Texas, Rome Open City, Che, and Summer Hours.
This past Friday, Netflix quietly added three more Criterion Collection films to their Watch Instantly selection, including another film that hasn’t even been released on DVD / Blu-ray yet: Abdellatif Kechiche’s The Secret of the Grain. This is set to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 27th, so get a sneak peak now!
Another recent Criterion / IFC release was also made available last week: Jan Troell‘s Everlasting Moments, which just received a tremendous DVD and Blu-ray debut, with cover and interior art by the graphic designer Sam’s Myth.
Finally, available now to stream...
This past Friday, Netflix quietly added three more Criterion Collection films to their Watch Instantly selection, including another film that hasn’t even been released on DVD / Blu-ray yet: Abdellatif Kechiche’s The Secret of the Grain. This is set to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 27th, so get a sneak peak now!
Another recent Criterion / IFC release was also made available last week: Jan Troell‘s Everlasting Moments, which just received a tremendous DVD and Blu-ray debut, with cover and interior art by the graphic designer Sam’s Myth.
Finally, available now to stream...
- 7/12/2010
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
The September releases of Breathless on Blu-Ray and The Thin Red Line on Blu-Ray and DVD aren't so much of a surprise. A high-def Breathless release was inevitable and the Malick title leaked out a while ago. Also, Charade is the sort of classic Hollywood auterist fare that Criterion often deals in. No, the big surprise here is Oshima's Happy Birthday Mr. Lawrence. Both this release and the recent Oshima DVD box indicate that Criterion is seriously intent to digging deeper into the director's filmography. Finally, it would be a mistake not to mention the Eclipse box set of Allan King films. The Canadian director's documentaries have never been readily available in the U.S. so this box should expose his work to an entirely new audience (including this writer).
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (Covers January through September 2010, up-to-date as of July 7, 2010)
September 2010
Jean-Luc Godard, Breathless, DVD & Bd, 9/14/10, Us...
The Criterion Collection 2010 Release Calendar (Covers January through September 2010, up-to-date as of July 7, 2010)
September 2010
Jean-Luc Godard, Breathless, DVD & Bd, 9/14/10, Us...
- 7/8/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Chicago – Jan Troell’s “Everlasting Moments” is a beautiful film; a perfect fit for Criterion’s Blu-ray line in that it’s the kind of work that both could easily slip under the radar of movie history and not be granted the HD treatment that it deserves. There’s been some controversy over Criterion’s arrangement with IFC Films that has allowed some recent questionable inductions into the most esteemed collection in film preservation but I’m here to defend the inclusion of “Everlasting Moments.”
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0
For me, the Criterion Collection has long been an education in not just the best films from around the world but some of the most underrated. In many cases, Criterion pulled films that time had forgotten into a new spotlight and allowed for a diverse understanding of the film canon. With the state of the arthouse cinema today, great films are being ignored...
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0
For me, the Criterion Collection has long been an education in not just the best films from around the world but some of the most underrated. In many cases, Criterion pulled films that time had forgotten into a new spotlight and allowed for a diverse understanding of the film canon. With the state of the arthouse cinema today, great films are being ignored...
- 7/5/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Wow! There's not too much coming out on DVD this week but I grabbed a few to highlight for you all. There may only be a few but they are good ones in my opinion.
Hot Tub Time Machine
Fueled by energy drinks, vodka and nostalgia for their younger, wilder days, a group of aging best friends travels back in time to 1987, where they get the chance to relive the best year of their lives. And their time machine? Well, it's a hot tub. John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Crispin Glover and Sebastian Stan co-star in this out-of-the-box comedy that takes time travel to a whole new level.
Starring: John Cusack, Craig Robinson
Director: Steve Pink
This movie is awesome! To be fair I think the older you are the more awesome it becomes. There's so many great flashbacks to the 80's and the soundtrack is amazing!
Hot Tub Time Machine
Fueled by energy drinks, vodka and nostalgia for their younger, wilder days, a group of aging best friends travels back in time to 1987, where they get the chance to relive the best year of their lives. And their time machine? Well, it's a hot tub. John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Crispin Glover and Sebastian Stan co-star in this out-of-the-box comedy that takes time travel to a whole new level.
Starring: John Cusack, Craig Robinson
Director: Steve Pink
This movie is awesome! To be fair I think the older you are the more awesome it becomes. There's so many great flashbacks to the 80's and the soundtrack is amazing!
- 6/29/2010
- by Mars
- GeekTyrant
Not a bad week for new releases on DVD and Blu-ray with Breck Eisner's The Crazies remake hitting stores today along with the '80s time travel comedy Hot Tub Time Machine and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Michael Haneke's Oscar-nominated film The White Ribbon is also finally out, plus Paul Schneider's directorial debut Pretty Bird, Sundance hit Bass Ackwards, and the Rush documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. On Blu-ray we've got Criterion releases of The Leopard and Everlasting Moments, William Lustig's campy horror flick Uncle Sam, and Predator: Ultimate Hunter Edition. Will you be buying or renting anything this week? Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief [1] (+ Blu-ray [2]) The Crazies [3] (+ Blu-ray [4]) Hot Tub Time Machine [5] (+ Blu-ray [4]) The White Ribbon [7] (+ Blu-ray [8]) Creation [9] Pretty Bird [10] The Warlords [11] (+ Blu-ray [12]) Bass Ackwards [13] Stolen [14] (+ Blu-ray [15]) The Eclipse [16] (+ Blu-ray [17]) Suicide Girls Must Die! [18] Don McKay [19] (+ Blu-ray [20]) Everlasting Moments...
- 6/29/2010
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Hot Tub Time Machine
Best title ever? I can't wait to check out Steve Pink's ode to the 80's. Great cast including Crispin Glover!
Extras include:
Deleted ScenesProduction: Acting Like IdiotsChevy Chase: The Nicest Guy in HollywoodTotally Radical Outfits: Dayna PinkCrispin Glover: One Armed Bellhop
The Crazies
Missed it but have heard good things about this Romero remake and I dig Olyphant.
Extras include:
CommentaryThe Romero Template FeaturetteParanormal PandemicsBehind-the-Scenes FeaturetteRob Hall Makeup FeaturetteStill Gallery
The White Ribbon
This Oscar-nominated German WW1 film by Michael Haneke (Funny Games) is supposed to be amazing.
Extras include:
Making of The White RibbonMy LifeCannes Film Festival Premiere[Read More...]
Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage
The history of the legendary Canadian rock trio. Get ready to air drum!
Extras include:
Deleted ScenesLive Performances
When You're Strange
Another rock doc, this one on The Doors. It features unreleased footage and narration by Johnny Depp.
Don McKay
Indie thriller starring Thomas Haden Church,...
Best title ever? I can't wait to check out Steve Pink's ode to the 80's. Great cast including Crispin Glover!
Extras include:
Deleted ScenesProduction: Acting Like IdiotsChevy Chase: The Nicest Guy in HollywoodTotally Radical Outfits: Dayna PinkCrispin Glover: One Armed Bellhop
The Crazies
Missed it but have heard good things about this Romero remake and I dig Olyphant.
Extras include:
CommentaryThe Romero Template FeaturetteParanormal PandemicsBehind-the-Scenes FeaturetteRob Hall Makeup FeaturetteStill Gallery
The White Ribbon
This Oscar-nominated German WW1 film by Michael Haneke (Funny Games) is supposed to be amazing.
Extras include:
Making of The White RibbonMy LifeCannes Film Festival Premiere[Read More...]
Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage
The history of the legendary Canadian rock trio. Get ready to air drum!
Extras include:
Deleted ScenesLive Performances
When You're Strange
Another rock doc, this one on The Doors. It features unreleased footage and narration by Johnny Depp.
Don McKay
Indie thriller starring Thomas Haden Church,...
- 6/29/2010
- by josh@reelartsy.com (Joshua dos Santos)
- Reelartsy
DVD Links: DVD News | Release Dates | New Dvds | Reviews | RSS Feed
The White Ribbon There are some great releases this week from art house to more mainstream features and I am leading the way with Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon (#4 on my top ten of 2009). Sony has put together a rather impressive Blu-ray release that's light on features, but what's there really works that begins with a spectacular transfer showing off the film's beautiful black-and-white cinematography.
The special features were rather impressive as well including a very good making-of featurette that was more than a generic compilation of Epk material and exclusive to the Blu-ray release is an impressive documentary on Haneke himself that is well worth the watch for interested viewers. In my opinion this is a no-brainer addition to my collection, but you may want to read my theatrical review to see if it is one for you.
The White Ribbon There are some great releases this week from art house to more mainstream features and I am leading the way with Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon (#4 on my top ten of 2009). Sony has put together a rather impressive Blu-ray release that's light on features, but what's there really works that begins with a spectacular transfer showing off the film's beautiful black-and-white cinematography.
The special features were rather impressive as well including a very good making-of featurette that was more than a generic compilation of Epk material and exclusive to the Blu-ray release is an impressive documentary on Haneke himself that is well worth the watch for interested viewers. In my opinion this is a no-brainer addition to my collection, but you may want to read my theatrical review to see if it is one for you.
- 6/29/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
DVD Playhouse—June 2010
By
Allen Gardner
The White Ribbon (Sony) On the eve of Ww I, a small village in Germany is struck by a series of tragic, seemingly unconnected events until the townspeople, and the audience, start to connect the dots. Shot in stark, beautiful black & white, director Michael Haneke has fashioned a haunting metaphorical drama that is as coldly chilling as anything made by Ingmar Bergman, and darkly unsettling as anything from the canon of David Lynch. A rich, tough, brilliant cinematic experience you’re not likely to forget. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bd bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; featurettes. Widescreen Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
Alice In Wonderland (Disney) Tim Burton’s take on the Lewis Carroll classic finds young Alice (Mia Wasikowska), a 19th century girl who finds herself in an unhappy engagement to a boorish suitor, tumbling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, where she encounters magical cakes,...
By
Allen Gardner
The White Ribbon (Sony) On the eve of Ww I, a small village in Germany is struck by a series of tragic, seemingly unconnected events until the townspeople, and the audience, start to connect the dots. Shot in stark, beautiful black & white, director Michael Haneke has fashioned a haunting metaphorical drama that is as coldly chilling as anything made by Ingmar Bergman, and darkly unsettling as anything from the canon of David Lynch. A rich, tough, brilliant cinematic experience you’re not likely to forget. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bd bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; featurettes. Widescreen Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
Alice In Wonderland (Disney) Tim Burton’s take on the Lewis Carroll classic finds young Alice (Mia Wasikowska), a 19th century girl who finds herself in an unhappy engagement to a boorish suitor, tumbling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, where she encounters magical cakes,...
- 6/23/2010
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
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