Trailer: Flight

Here is the first trailer for Robert Zemeckis’ Flight, starring Denzel Washington.

Pretty interesting looking trailer, and clearly a complex story about a plane crash and the pilot who saved the passengers lives on it.

This is the first live-action film Zemeckis has done in over 10 years, and the second film by Zemeckis that involves a plane crash, the first being Cast Away.

The film follows an airline pilot (Washington) who saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling about how the events unfolded. Don Cheadle, John Goodman, James Badge Dale, Melissa Leo all star alongside Washington.

Flight hits theaters on November 2nd, 2012.

Synopsis:

In this action-packed mystery thriller, Academy Award winner Denzel Washington stars as Whip Whitaker, a seasoned airline pilot who miraculously crash-lands his plane after a mid-air catastrophe, saving nearly every soul on board. After the crash, Whip is hailed as a hero, but as more is learned, more questions than answers arise as to who or what was really at fault, and what really happened on that plane?

Review: Safe House

The safe house, isn’t exactly safe.

But you already knew that.

What do you get when you put together two Hollywood superstars, tons of guns and a trailer featuring a popular rap song? A lazy movie we’ve seen a ton of times that’s what.

Or in this case, we get Safe House.

Ryan Reynolds is Matt Weston, a CIA operative 12 months on the job, whose main responsibility is to keep a vacant safe house secure. When one of the worlds most wanted criminals, Tobin Frost, played by Denzel Washington, is brought in, all hell breaks loose.

Let’s just go down the line shall we…

Safe House has been marketed, and featured as a film where bad guy Tobin Frost, breaks out of a CIA safe house and he needs to be caught.

Denzel Washington is portraying another bad guy, oh just like Alonzo Harris in Training Day, right? WRONG!

Here’s my major pet peeve, Hollywood, directors, producers, STOP BEING LAZY. If you’re going to create a bad guy image, don’t half ass it. Don’t be wishy-washy. Either he’s a good guy or a bad guy, stop their in between ballet.

Tobin Frost is introduced to the audience as a former CIA operative who went rouge and ended up selling information to enemies of the USA. Named armed and dangerous, and unable to be captured.

So then why during the entire film, is he almost as likable as Reynolds’ character? There was never a point in the film where you wanted the “evil bad man” to die. Never once were you rooting against him? Why?

Were the directors and screenwriters to scared to make Denzel a hated man in the movie? No, they were just lazy.

Perhaps the poor script had something to do with it as well, just a very bland screen play, that tried to cover up it’s massive mistakes with lots of flipped over cars, bullets and fight scenes.

I mentioned that we’ve seen this film before, and we have, many, many times. The one thing I hate in films is not being surprised, the lack of originality shines all the time, because of the plethora of film footage that is out there.

Safe House is so predictable from the word go, that at ever “major moment” you can practically stand up and yell what’s about to happen. Where is the element of surprise? This is suppose to be an action-thriller-drama type film, stop holding back.

Other key roles in this film are held by Vera Farmiga who plays Catherine Linklater, a head CIA official and Brendan Gleeson who plays David Barlow the CIA agent who once took Weston under his wing.

The story unfolds as CIA is chasing Frost throughout South Africa, while Frost is on a mission of his own for revenge, and freedom.

Unfortunately Safe House becomes so easy to decipher that it leaves nothing to be desired. The film certainly packs a punch and delivers plenty of action scenes, explosions and gunfire will be oozing out of your ears. Too bad that still doesn’t make up for the hollow characters we see all throughout the film.

My one bright spot to note, as surprising as this may sound, belongs to Ryan Reynolds. Much like Bradley Cooper last year in Limitless, when put in front of the camera…and not in a stupid CGI green suit, Reynolds can actually act. He puts together a solid role here, and isn’t out-shined by Washington, I know, shocking. Reynolds is believable as the “wet behind the ears” operative who has the mission of a lifetime dropped in his lap. Clearly not ready to handle such a high profile detail, Reynolds as Weston portrays a brash yet overwhelmed student of the game, trying to make it.

While Reynolds is no Jason Statham, Matt Damon or Jeremy Renner in the fighting department, if he drops the cheesy chick flicks, he could be pretty viable in these types of films.

Look, Denzel Washington is great, but he needs to stop with these lay-ups. How about a challenge? On the ride home after the film I was dumbfounded that Washington read this script and said, SURE, LETS DO IT!!

Why? He gives us nothing new, nothing to hang our hats on, and we won’t be citing this as a good performance by him a few years down the line when we recap his title roles.

It seems to me that Washington read the character bio of Frost and said, “oh it’s like another bad guy role, I haven’t done that in a while, lets give a whirl.”

Is Denzel convincing in the role? Sure, but that doesn’t make up for the lack of creativity, or originality that’s presented on screen.

I’m sorry, but I won’t conform to the public that see Denzel, Reynolds, a Jay-Z and Kanye West song, some guns and loud noises and think this is a great movie.

It’s far from it, a large disappointment, and an overall lazy effort from everyone involved.

At the end of the day, all you’ll remember about this film is a name.

When the most redeeming quality of a film is a character’s name, you know you have failed. But hey, I guess we can put Tobin Frost up there with Hannibal Lecter, Bill “The Butcher” Cutting, and Norman Bates.

Rating: 4/10

Trailer: Safe House

Denzel is back, and he’s assuming another bad guy role, with a wrinkle.

The movie is about a young CIA agent running a safe house who takes on a smart criminal, but must escort him out when the location comes under heavy attack.

Denzel Washington plays Tobin Frost, the prisoner, while Ryan Reynolds plays the young agent.

The supporting cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Vera Farmiga, and Robert Patrick.

You can catch Safe House on February 12th, 2012.

More Stars Join Robert Zemeckis’ Flight With Denzel Washington

A film I’ve been following for a while now as it’s been in limbo to get off the ground, looks like the green light is on.

Robert Zemeckis’ Flight is being anticipated already because it’s a live action film, fans will flock.

Denzel Washington will star as a pilot who helps avert a deadly crash, only to face scrutiny when it comes into question whether he was under the influence of illegal substances at the time of the flight.

Alongside Washington, Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood and Brian Geraghty are on for supporting roles.

Now we have learned that John Goodman has joined the cast as well and will play Washington’s close friend and support system through the trying times.

Also being rumored for the lead female role is Kelly Reilly.

With an interesting plot, solid supporting cast, and an A-Lister leading the helm, this should be pretty great as it takes shape later next year.

Denzel to Star in Robert Zemeckis’ Flight?

Acclaimed director Robert Zemeckis is making his return to live action films.

The film, called “Flight” is about  a pilot named Whip Whitaker, who saves his plane that’s about to crash. However, his heroism is called into question when an investigation reveals that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol – this obviously means that the issues were partly his fault. This is kept secret by certain authorities, because there are “high stakes involved.”

Denzel Washington has been rumored to play the lead, but things need to be ironed out.

It sure would be an amazing and different role for Denzel, who some people have started to get tired seeing him as a detective or cop.

Washington remains one of Hollywood’s elite and this would certainly seem to add another quality project to his resume.

Sources say shooting begins in the Fall.

Vera Farmiga Joins Safe House

Add another big name to “Safe House” the film about a group of villains who destroy a CIA-operated safe house.

The facility’s young house-sitter then must work to move the criminal who’s being hidden there to another secure location.

Vera Farmiga who recently has become a big household name, starring in films like “Source Code,” “The Departed,” and many more is joining Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in “Safe House”.

Washington will play Tobin Frost the bad guy in the film, Reynolds will be playing a young agent and Farmiga will play a CIA operative who supervises Reynolds, much like she did with Jake Gyllenhaal in her most recent effort in “Source Code.”

Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges), Liam Cunningham (Clash of the Titans), Robert Patrick (Walk the Line) and Sam Shepard (Black Hawk Down) all having roles in the film as well.

“Safe House” seems like it’s going to be a solid thriller with a great core cast.

Warner Brothers Remaking Uptown Saturday Night

With two names that don’t make much sense to me.

Denzel Washington and Will Smith.

Really?

Washington as a comedy actor? How is that going to work?

Smith fine, he will just be funny Will as Fresh Prince and “Hitch,” but the guy who played Alonzo in “Training Day” to be funny? I’m not buying it.

It’s believed that Warner Bros. has been trying to get this made for almost 10 years, and now “Wedding Crashers” director David Dobkin is attached.

The original story follows two estranged friends who have their wallets stolen at a nightclub. The next morning, they learn that one contained a winning lottery ticket, and together, they set out to find it.

The new film I guess will take that story and make it a tad more modern.

Here is the trailer from the original, featuring Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier.

First Look at Denzel as Tobin Frost

Denzel Washington won an Oscar for playing a “bad guy” in a movie with “Training Day.” He played another menace in “American Gangster” as Frank Lucas.

Well he is about to do it again.

The film is called “Safe House” and along side Denzel Washington is also stars Ryan Reynolds.

The plot revolves around a group of villains who destroy a CIA-operated safe house. The facility’s young house-sitter then must work to move the criminal who’s being hidden there to another secure location.

In the first look at Washington, the things that stand out are his hair and beard, both look messy and grey.

He doesn’t look to “scary” in this photo so there may be changes later on.

“Safe House” is set for a 2012 release.

More Oscar Moments

Why stop at 5 moments? Here are more memorable moments and speeches.

1. Forest Whitaker’s speech as he won best leading actor for “The Last King of Scotland”

2. Denzel Washington’s 2nd Oscar of his career, this one for Best Actor in “Training Day”

3. Heath Ledger wins Best Supporting Actor in “The Dark Knight”

4. The great Martin Scorsese wins Best Director for “The Departed”

One on One With Atoki Ileka

Charismatic with a bright smile, his boisterous attitude has driven him down a path many wish to take.

It’s a world that is cut-throat and malicious, and only the strong survive. He intends on being one of the lions in the pack, but knows he has to pay his dues.

22 years-old, a year removed from St. John’s University in New York, Atoki Ileka is an aspiring actor with a big heart, large aspirations and massive dreams.

As we got ready for our interview, Ileka sat at his desk with his tea at 11 in the morning. As I laughed at the fact, knowing Ileka for several years he simply replied, “I’m a classy guy.”

DB: I’ve known you now for over four years, but when we first met I didn’t know you were into movies and acting like you are. So what fueled that drive, and when did it start?

AI: The initial bug hit me right after high school. Like everyone after High School I didn’t know what to do, so I spent the whole month of June just watching movies. I’ve always been a movie fan but now I was watching them differently. I became more open to [movies.] Right before my birthday, I was watching, I think, “Silence of The Lambs” and I saw a guy get killed by Anthony Hopkins, and I said to myself, I can get killed by Anthony Hopkins! That’s something I can do!  I told my mom that I want to try this [acting.] I enrolled in acting classes, talked to scouts and went to John Robert Powers (an acting/modeling agency) took some head shots and just said, I might give this a run.

And so he did, while studying at St. John’s there was this other life he was living, seemingly hidden from his friends he associated with in between classes in the common lounges. While killing time playing cards or arguing about the latest sporting events, Ileka continued his path, with his eyes fixated on his ultimate goal.

DB: What projects have you worked and or starred in so far

AI: The first big project was an indie film called “Purgatory Comics” (Link to IMDB page – http://imdb.to/h2kqVb ) Following that I did a commercial for American Cancer Society, I did three of them. I played the son of a family that was now cancer free. I also did voice over work for the spot, but I still haven’t seen them.

Next I did an Independent film for a friend of a friend, the  director was  Geoffrey Jean-Baptiste is part of a group that make their own scripts and host their own film festivals. So I did a short for them called “Authorized Dealer.” It’s about a drug dealer who is facing charges, and he tries to convince everyone that what he does is as bad as what the large pharmaceutical companies are doing. I play the drug dealers best friend, and as of right now it’s still in production.

Now for what’s ahead.

DB: What are you looking forward to in the future?

AI: Well this is my 5^th month with actual representation, I got a manager in October, so now with actual representation it should be easier to get into a big role. My main objective is to get unionized and the best way to that is to get cast in a union supported project. Also I’d like to land an agent with some type of power. Hopefully get into something important, doing “extra-work” is not as satisfying. I’ve been going to sets to be an extra but my manager says “extra-work” isn’t acting. I want the world to see how talented I am and that I can do it and most of all to look out for me in the future.

Two weeks ago Ileka did something many can only fabricate in their minds, any actors dream would be to showcase his/her talents in front of the greatest, he did just that.

DB: I understand last week you auditioned in front of the legendary Robert De Niro, tell me about that.

AI: It was surreal. Usually its just you, a tripod camera and 2 other people sitting behind a desk writing notes. So As I’m about to audition I see a guy standing up, I say to myself, that cant be him…lets calm down, thank them and walk out. It wasn’t until after that it really hit me. During my audition he gave me some acting tips, say this word more forcefully, say this sentence with more sadness, not many get that luxury. Anyway, it’s for a show called “Rookies,” about young cops. I play a young basketball player who gets injured and becomes a cop. When I left, I was elated, I was just dumbfounded. He [De Niro] looks different in person, hes shorter. Call backs are next week and it starts shooting in June for CBS.

As if that wasn’t good enough, Ileka followed up his audition in front of De Niro with an audition with a big name director, for a film that’s been talked about for over ten years. It’s now coming to fruition and Ileka had the privileged to show off his chops for the lead character and more.

DB: Now you are coming off another big audition this week as well, you’ve kept me in suspense all week, what was this about?

AI: I audition for Antoine Fuqua’s Tupac bio-pic.

Something you all need to know, when Ileka and I first met our freshman year of college, all he would ever talk about was his passion for West Coast hip-hop. His favorite thing in the world was the Los Angeles Lakers, Ice Cube and the great Tupac Shakur. There would be HEATED debates amongst our circle that were bordering the lines of friendship-ending about the best rappers and which coast was better. But I digress, this news literally made we say WOW in the middle of his answer.

DB: WOW

AI: I auditioned for the role of Tupac, along with his brother, and various other roles. Although I know I’m too dark, and too tall, to play Pac, I know all his lyrics and I love him.

Then we got into a serious topic that I felt obliged to ask him about because he was newly into this career path and it is a very prominent issue in Tinsel Town.

DB: Being African American, do you find the treatment of actors who are also African American different in Hollywood?

AI: Yes. It’s no lie that its an uphill battle for us. You have to be twice as good as your white counterpart, that’s how it is. The lack of black male actors is also the lack for female black leads. There isn’t a consistent black couple relationship on film or on TV, and America isn’t ready for a black and white (interracial) couple. It’s Going to be tough to break into the A List from the B List because of being black. Roles aren’t being written [specifically] for black actors.

Ileka, very passionate about this subject continued these sentiments and even gave examples of his beliefs…

AI: [Forest] Whitaker won an Oscar less than 5 years ago and now its doing nothing for him, hes forced to do TV (Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior) I’m sure he didn’t choose to do TV, [it’s just] no one is writing leads for him. Denzel [Washington] in “Book of Eli,”  the only reason he got the role I feel, is because the directors were black. Anyone could have played that role. Its not racism its just the market, studios wont take a chance because of how bad the market is. If it was like 1991 you’d see more studios take bigger risks.

So I then followed up that answer by asking if he was skeptical about being able to advance in the film industry because of being African American…

AI: No second guesses from me because of my skin.  I enjoy challenges, it’s self destructive of me. My dad was against me being an actor,  he knows it’s difficult but I truly believe I can make it, I believe I have the talent. I just need the connection,  put me in the room with this guy etc. I’m on a steady road but I am on the road and im getting there slowly.

We went back to the softball, interesting questions…

DB: What’s the ultimate role you would want to play?

AI: You’re going to laugh at me, but If they ever make a  “Batman: Beyond” – I’d like to play Batman. *laughs* OH! and If they ever make an Arthur Ashe bio-pic I’d love to play Ashe.

Now here is where Mr. Ileka threw me a curve ball.

DB: Who is your all-time favorite actor?

AI: James Cagney.  Growing up my dad use to watch to watch AMC,  there was always a black and white movie on the screen. They use to make me fall asleep when I was younger, but now I see; back then it was simple. You were either a good actor or not. It’s very straight forward. Those actors did it in the purist form.

Most people born after 1970 have no idea who Cagney is, but that’s not the case with Ileka.

DB: What’s you all-time favorite movie?

AI: “Casablanca” – [I yell BOOO, typical answer…but he explains] I like it because it’s a guy living his life and then a women shakes his world up. He knew it could jeopardize his life but he instead helped her with the pureness of his heart and love. He helped someone he normally wouldn’t help. People don’t believe in love anymore. It’s a beautiful movie, he helped the girl and didn’t get anything out of it, very rare these days. And my parents liked it. Best love story ever but very sad, with a happy ending.

With the softball stuff out of the way I wanted to wrap up the interview with a sense of realness, and Ileka provided just that. At such a young age, he seems to have a good head on his shoulders, keeping things in perspective.

DB: What do you have to always keep in mind to not get discouraged in this industry?

AI: You have to keep yourself straight,  look in the mirror and see your talent. No one can tell you to stop,  it’s an addiction a desire, you have to gut check yourself. I give myself till [the age] 24 and if by then I’m not paying my bills with my acting checks then I have to go elsewhere. I cant wait till 30 like Samuel L. Jackson to get my break.

Atoki Ileka is like many other young adults in America. He is educated, well versed in everything from politics to pop culture and focused. Finding a passion for something and having enough wherewithal to buckle up your boot straps and go after it shows more than just desire, it shows character.

“I was once told on an audition you’re not acting for the role you’re acting for those in the room,” Ileka told me, and that’s something everyone should abide by not only in Hollywood, but in life. Something we can all learn from this young man’s ambition is the willingness to go after what you want to do and never give up.

“By the summer time I’ll have a lot to be thankful for,” said Ileka. And as we put an end to the interview, he told me thank you a couple times and that was that.

Well then I’ll borrow the line from James Cagney in his Oscar winning role as George M. Cohan in “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and say this, “My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you.”