One of the most successful plays in Broadway history is coming to the silver screen, again.
Directed by Tom Hooper, (The Kings Speech) Les Miserables just from the look of the trailer seems like it’ll have a strong presence at the award show, from the costumes to the cinematography to the music.
Les Misérables stars Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean), Russell Crowe (Javert), Amanda Seyfried(Cosette), Eddie Redmayne (Marius), Sacha Baron Cohen(Thénardier), and Helena Bonham Carter (Madame Thénardier).
Synopsis:
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption–a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.
Amanda Seyfried, fresh off a solid performance with In Time, is starring in a interesting movie here called Gone.
From the looks of the trailer I get a weird Saw vibe, maybe it was the music and camera cuts, but that’s just what I feel even though there was no torture scenes.
Along with Seyfried, Emily Wickersham, Wes Bentley, Jennifer Carpenter and Erin Carufel are all in the film as well.
Synopsis:
Jill Parrish comes home from working the night shift to discover that her sister Molly has disappeared. Jill is convinced that Molly has been abducted by the same serial killer from whom Jill escaped the year before and that by sundown Molly will be dead. The police think Jill is crazy, so she sets out alone to rescue her. Is Jill mentally ill, merely chasing shadows, or will she find Molly before it’s too late?
Time puts things into perspective for us all, where does it go, what will you do with more of it, how do you take advantage of the amount you have currently? It’s a dangerous cycle.
In Time struck me from the moment I heard about the film, and won me over when the trailer came out many moons ago. The premise was original, time = currency, fascinating.
Shades of Capitalism vs. Communism present itself, it’s sort of a futuristic Robin Hood mentality that Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried embrace.
Yet with such an original premise, and an acclaimed director in Andrew Niccol, the amount of plot holes and things left unexplained was very annoying.
Furthermore, nothing bothers me more than casting a high profile actor or actress, someone people want to see and not use them to their fullest potential. The case presented itself here with Olivia Wilde who plays Will’s (Timberlake) mother. She’s in the film for no more than five or six minutes, very frustrating.
With In Time things seem force fed to the audience especially early on, instead of letting the viewer infer the details themselves, seemed to be dumbed down a bit.
So thing unfold where Will stumbles upon an enormous amount of time and ends up traveling to the rich area of town, a place where only the timeless can reside. There he falls for Sylvia (Seyfried) seemingly instantly, and when things get dicey they end up running away and getting onto a whole heap of trouble.
They become a futuristic Bonnie and Clyde at their very core.
Running away from the tough nosed cop, played very well by Cillian Murphy, stealing time and giving it to those who need it the most.
But I always seem to go back to the things that aren’t explained. Like why does the aging gene stop at 25, what caused that, and why is your “clock” only active for one more year till 26 unless you manage to get more time? (These aren’t spoilers we saw this in the trailer)
Slyvia’s intentions in the film are rather strange, I won’t get into it, but if you see the film you have to sit back and wonder, why the hell would you do the things you’re doing, can’t simply be to rebel, can it?
I know it seems like there is a ton of negativity, and while there is are major holes in the plot, the film is shot really well, and Timberlake plays a fairly solid role.
Now he isn’t an action star, or even close, but he is getting better with every role he takes. The transition from pop star, to movie star has been gradual, but he is taking some good parts.
Amanda Seyfried, is very talented, and while her hair may be criticized, she is very formidable here. As I mentioned Murphy stands out, even Mad Men’s Vincent Kartheiser plays his role well as the father to Sylvia, and billionaire of time.
The fact is this film is entertaining, it’ll make you think, and the concept is fresh, and these days getting all three rolled into one film is very tough.
The biggest thing I had an issue with was the ending, it comes out of no where. Not to say it was a surprise ending in what happens to close the film, but it just sneaks up on you, I wasn’t expecting the film to end anytime soon and then boom, it’s over.
It could have been much better, the execution was off, and the amount of inconsistencies couldn’t be over looked. An enjoyable experience that leaves you wanting more, but not in a good way.
Last week we got a long trailer for In Time, which stars Justin Timberlake, now we get the theatrical trailer, which some can see before Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
This really is one of the films I’m looking forward to towards the end of the year. I love the concept, and the cast.
Amanda Seyfried stars as Timberlake’s girlfriend, along with Olivia Wilde, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew Bomer, and Cillian Murphy.
In the future people stop aging at 25 and must work to buy themselves more time, but when a young man finds himself with more time than he can imagine he must run from the corrupt police force to save his life.
Here is an interesting Sci-Fi film that has some major buzz.
Lots of footage debuted at Comic Con, and a long trailer also went public.
Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, and Olivia Wilde star in “In Time” a thriller set in the future, where people stop aging at 25 and must work to buy themselves more time.
When a young man finds himself with more time than he can imagine he must run from the corrupt police force to save his life.
A couple weeks ago I posted that a dark wedding comedy called Gently Down the Stream was in production.
At that time Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl and Amanda Seyfried were all inline to star.
Time to make room.
Robin Williams has joined the cast, along with Topher Grace, and Susan Sarandon.
De Niro and Keaton play “a long-divorced couple who, for the sake of their adopted son’s wedding and his biological mother, pretend they are still married. They quickly learn that acting the part isn’t easy, especially when their past, present and future unravel for all to see.”
Grace and Seyfried will play the married couple to be, while Heigl will play Grace’s sister and Williams will oversee the wedding as Father Monaghan.
Robert De Niro, Diane Deaton, Katherine Heigl and Amanda Seyfried have all signed on to star in “Gently Down the Stream” a broken family comedy.
The film is being written by Justin Zackham who wrote “The Bucket List” so expect a more mature type of comedy.
De Niro and Keaton play “a long-divorced couple who, for the sake of their adopted son’s wedding and his biological mother, pretend they are still married. They quickly learn that acting the part isn’t easy, especially when their past, present and future unravel for all to see.”
Zackham had this to say about the project getting off the ground…
“I’m excited to be able to continue what we started with on The Bucket List – iconic actors in a funny, adult, character-driven story, albeit with a little more sex and bad behavior on everyone’s part. I’m honored to have such an amazing cast.”
The four leads are strong and with an edgy, adult comedy script this has a good feel to it.
De Niro and Keaton have acted together twice before and have done well, I expect the same here.
I’ve said it many times already, but January and February have been brutal in terms of the quality of films that have been released.
March hopefully brings much better cinema, so I wanted to take this time to post some movies to expect along with some trailers to get you hyped.
– The Adjustment Bureau, comes out March 4th, starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt.
Plot – A rising politician falls for a ballerina, only to be stymied by mysterious forces keeping the would-be lovers apart.
Reason to Watch – It’s the matrix, with a bit of The Bourne Identity, + a love story wrapped in one. Looks awesome.
– Take Me Home Tonight, Also comes out March 4th, starring Topher Grace and Anna Faris.
Plot – Set over Labor Day Weekend in 1988, normally sheepish Matt Franklin bluffs his way into a huge party, looking to impress his high-school crush.
Reason to Watch –Looks like a fun film. Set in the year I was born, and Grace has a knack for playing characters from previous decades (That 70’s Show)
– Red Riding Hood, Comes out March 11, Starring Amanda Seyfried and Gary Oldman
Plot – Set in a medieval village that is haunted by a werewolf, a young girl falls for an orphaned woodcutter, much to her family’s displeasure.
Reason to Watch – It’s a take on the old fairytale, Amanda Seyfried is very talented and its a mix of thriller/drama and horror.
– Limitless, Comes out March 18, Starring Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper.
Plot – A copywriter discovers a top-secret drug, MDT-48, that enhances intellect and other abilities. As his usage begins to change his life, he begins to consider the drug’s shadowy origins; meanwhile, a group of killers trail his every move.
Reason to Watch – A new idea for a film in Hollywood, Cooper in a non comedic role and of course Robert De Niro.
– The Lincoln Lawyer, Also comes out March 18, Starring Mathew McConaughey
Plot – In Los Angeles, Mickey Haller is a criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car. And while his latest case could be his most high-paying in years, it also brings him close to unexpected evil.
Reason to Watch – Bad ass movie, trailer sold me. Role seems tailor-made for McConaughey.
– Win, Win, Also comes out (limited) March 18, Starring Paul Giamatti.
Plot – In order to support his family, attorney Mike Flaherty moonlights as a high school wrestling coach and assumes the guardianship on an elderly client. Flaherty’s fortunes begin to shine when the man’s runaway grandson materializes, until the boy’s mother appears, fresh from rehab, flat broke, and looking for an opportunity.
Reason to Watch – Seems like an instant cult classic. Not only is Giamatti always stellar, but the topic seem like it’s a very Giamatti-esque picture.
Theater of The Mind 