Currently playing in select theaters and On Demand, I Am Ali comes out on Blu-ray and DVD on November 11 via Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Directed and by Clare Lewins, I Am Ali (PG, 112 minutes) spotlights boxing’s biggest icon through a series of archival footage, audio journals collected by his children, and interviews with Muhammad Ali’s intimates.
During the I Am Ali roundtables, I asked Clare Lewins about the film’s Blu-ray and DVD release. Although she did not confirm that it will be on the disc, she did mention a wonderful interview she had with actor/singer Kris Kristofferson that was left off I Am Ali’s final cut.
Hopefully the Kristofferson footage will be featured on the Blu-ray and DVD release, but nonetheless I Am Ali is a first rate documentary that gives a closer look at the pugilist’s immense love for his family (his daughters Maryum and Hana are among the children interviewed in the doc).
Click on the media bar below to hear Clare Lewins talk about the Kris Kristofferson footage that was left off I Am Ali:
The Profit returns tonight (CNBC, 10 pm et/pt), as Marcus Lemonis brings his business and collaborative savvy to struggling companies. Whether it’s as the CEO of Camping World or rescuing Crumbs Bake Shop out of bankruptcy, Lemonis is a very busy and determined individual.
“Crumbs is a big risk for me,” said Lemonis during an interview at the NBC Television Critics Association Press tour in July. “But if I’m right, then some of the companies that were on our show have a true, legitimate chance to be millionaires. If it works. That’s a gamble that I feel I have to take.”
Personal drive, along with a consistent work ethic are one of the many factors on one’s pathway to success. Riches and luxuries were handed to Lemonis on a silver platter, but instead he learned how to earn his keep thanks to common sense parenting.
In the video below, Marcus Lemons how his work ethic was positively shaped by his family:
One of Whiplash’s strengths rests in the sheer physicality of the performance of actors Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons. The story of a highly ambitious young drummer (Teller) who takes his sanity to the limits while learning from an abusive jazz instructor (J.K. Simmons), Whiplash should be a favorite come awards season time, and the feature also marks the arrival of promising filmmaker Damien Chazelle.
Whiplash maintains its fever pitch throughout its 106 minutes, and the final chapter, which features a showdown between the drummer and his mentor, is a sight to behold. “We don’t think of instruments as physical,” said Chazelle, whose story was inspired by his own experience as part of a high school jazz orchestra. “We think of dance as physical. We think of sports as physical. (With) music, we don’t. But trumpeters screw their lips up, violinists screw their backs up, and drummers screw their hands up.”
Although Terence Fletcher (Simmons) is a teacher who crosses the line with his students, there is a perverse method to his madness. Certain musicians thrive under pressure and may actually flourish under abusive tactics, and it’s an issue that Chazelle addresses in the narrative:
“I had teacher like (Terence Fletcher) and it made me a better drummer. But as a humanist I can’t condone what he does – and I wanted to make the character as monstrous as possible so that it’s hard to condone what he does. It’s undeniable that it’s a big part of jazz and music history – this kind of streak of tyranny leading to great musicianship.”
J.K. Simmons, Damien Chazelle, Miles Teller (Sony Pictures Classics, CR: Daniel McFadden)
Whiplash captures the pulse and rhythm of New York, but most of the production was shot in downtown Los Angeles. During the press conference, Chazelle explains why, even with tax credits available in the Big Apple, he shot Whiplash in the City of Angels.
Whiplash is now playing in New York and Los Angeles.
Esquire magazine has named Oscar winning actress Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) as the “Sexiest Woman Alive.” Cruz, whose film credits include Abre Los Ojos, Vanilla Sky, Volver, and last year’s underrated drama The Counselor, is featured on the November issue of Esquire, which hits newsstands October 21.
In her Esquire interview, Penelope Cruz talked about her willingness to explore the dark corners of humanity in various roles:
“I’ve played a lot of tricks on myself. I’ve made it hard for me sometimes, especially in my teens and twenties. I had an attraction to drama. Most of us have that, especially if you are an artist— you feel like you are tempted to explore the darkness. I could not be less interested now. For me, the most attractive, charming, cool, fun, interesting thing—how could I call it? A plan.”
Cruz is Esquire magazine’s 11th “Sexiest Woman Alive,” as she follows two time winner Scarlett Johansson (the pair worked together on Vicky Cristina Barcelona).
Premiering tomorrow night, Marry Me centers on Annie (Casey Wilson) and Jake (Ken Marino), a couple who’ve been together for six years but still haven’t made the trip down the aisle. Annie believes Jake just doesn’t want to commit, but unfortunately Jake’s recent marriage proposal ended up in disaster.
Will Jake finally get down on one knee and pop the question, and will any kind of proposal satisfy Annie’s expectations? Writer David Caspe (who’s married to Wilson and worked with her on Happy Endings), director Seth Gordon (The Goldbergs) and producer Jamie Tarses (Men at Work) have all played a part in nurturing the project, whose success will partly hinge on the chemistry between Wilson and Marino.
“It’s going to be more of a show about a couple and their friends and parents versus a show about a wedding,” said Wilson, who also co-penned the 2009 Anne Hathaway/Kate Hudson comedy Bride Wars. “It’s not super girly – it’s kind of about a relationship that I think everyone can hopefully relate to.”
In the video clip below, Casey Wilson talks about how a portion of Marry Me is inspired by her union with Caspe (he also penned the 2012 Adam Sandler comedy That’s My Boy).
Marry Me, co-starring Tim Meadows, John Gemberling, and Sarah Wright Olsen, premieres Tuesday, October 14 (9 pm et/pt) on NBC.
http://youtu.be/3BCTZFGygz0
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You’re in for a wild (yet adorable) ride! #MarryMe
If you’ve seen Brokeback Mountain, End of Watch or last year’s Prisoners, Jake Gyllenhaal’s acting skills may be something you appreciate. Part of that his skill set, at times, requires a full immersion in the role, and it’s an experience he had shooting his latest film Nightcrawler.
The actor is also on board as a producer in Nightcrawler, the story of Lou Bloom (Gyllenhaal), a hard working opportunist who’s in desperate need of a job. After witnessing a freeway car accident that is taped by freelance camera man (Bill Paxton), he realizes that selling video footage to news stations may signal a new career.
Armed with a police scanner, tons of moxie and sociopathic tendencies, Lou skirts the Los Angeles streets for “if it bleeds, it leads” stories. Even if his methods are unscrupulous and manipulative, Lou understands that juicy news footage can only help his flourishing career.
Gyllenhaal has starred in two visionary takes on a different side of Los Angeles with End of Watch and Nightcrawler, and during a recent interview I asked him which city (New York or Los Angeles), is the best place to nurture one’s acting life.
“What nurtures my acting life is – my life,” said the actor, who grew up in the Los Angeles suburbs Hancock Park. “My life and my family happens to be in New York. A majority of my family is there. That’s my connection to something that feels the most real and grounded – (and) that’s the thing that’s made my work, I think, more interesting to me.”
Click on the media bar to hear Jake Gyllenhaal explain why he really didn’t have much of a life during the production of Nightcrawler:
Co-starring Rene Russo and directed by Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler opens nationwide October 31.
Gone Girl shook off three new films to retain the top spot at the box-office, as it made $26.8 million. The closest challenger to the film was Dracula Untold, which made $23.5 million. Robert Downey Jr.’ s star power couldn’t life The Judge from a mediocre opening weekend, as it limped into fifth place.
This weekend’s box-office top 10:
Gone Girl – $26.8 million
Dracula Untold – Takes a substantial box office bite with a $23.5 million debut.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good Very Bad Day – Family film checks in $19.1 million. If you want to see a great film with Alexander co-star Logan Lerman, check out Fury when it comes out October 17.
Annabelle – $16.4 million
The Judge – Disappoints with a $13.3 million.
The Equalizer – Denzel Washington flick turns in $9.7 million.
Dead Snow 2: Red Vs. Dead is director Tommy Wirkola’s follow up to beloved film Dead Snow. Initiates to the universe should be intimidated, however, as the first several minutes of the sequel gives an adrenaline fueled recap of the storyline.
All you’ll need to know is that Martin (Vegar Hoel) continues his battle with Colonel Herzog and his Nazi Zombies, but this time out he’s blessed (and cursed) with an invincible Zombie arm that kills everything in its path.
Dead Snow 2: Red Vs. Dead – Well Go USA
With the help of the U.S. based group known as the Zombie Squad (Martin Starr, Jocelyn DeBoer, Ingrid Haas), Martin is on a mission to finally wipe Herzog off the face of the earth. Although he’s Nazi zombie killing is his main priority, Martin still has romantic designs on his skin-rotting, undead girlfriend (he accidentally killed her in the first film).
“It was really hard, because the script was so ambitious – based on the budget,” said Wirkola, who previously directed the feature Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. “We had a lot of fun on set, and it always helps when you enjoy working with the crew. It pushes you even further.”
Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead poster – Well Go USA
In the audio clip below, Wirkola talks about the challenges of shooting in Iceland and why he’s passionate about using practical effects in his movies (Martin Starr can be heard in the background):
Now playing in select theaters, Field of Lost Shoes, is an ambitious Civil War epic that centers on the Battle of New Market, a conflict which had 274 Virginia Military Institute (VMI) cadets squaring off against Union soldiers. Keith David, Tom Skerritt (as Ulysses S. Grant), David Arquette, Lauren Holly, and Jason Isaacs (as Confederate General John C. Breckenridge) are among the go-to veteran actors featured in the film.
Armed with a solid cast, a script polish from screenwriting guru Ronald Bass (Rain Man, The Joy Luck Club) and a nose to the grindstone director (Soul Surfer filmmaker Sean McNamara), Field of Lost Shoes has all the right ingredients for a good film. McNamara, who also worked with Bass for his upcoming project The Moon and the Sun, explains that even with all the right elements, everything starts with the screenplay.
“Can you feel for these boys who gave their life for this cause,” said McNamara, who also directed the family films Raise Your Voice and Bratz. “Personally, I have three boys – they are 5, 6, and 11. The thought of them going off to any war – no matter what, when you’re a boy you’re just going to believe the side you’re on. It doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong – they fight for their families and for what they believe in.”
Zach Roerig as Jack Stanard and Luke Benward as John Wise in the historical drama “FIELD OF LOST SHOES” a Bosch Media release. Photo courtesy of Bosch Media.
Although it wasn’t armed with a $100 million budget, Field of Lost Shoes is blessed with arresting performances from its ensemble (Luke Benward and Max Lloyd-Jones are particularly memorable) and surefooted filmmaking from McNamara.
While scouting locations and visualizing sequences for Field of Lost Shoes, McNamara utilized such devices as his iPhone and the Go Pro Camera to help plan his shots for the feature. A lifelong devotee of film (he’s shot most of his movies on 35mm), McNamara also embraces the reality (and convenience) of the digital age.
Field of Lost Shoes – Bosch Media
“But now, technologically, literally with your iPhone you can shoot things, edit it, and put music to it and come up with a point of view that nobody’s ever seen before,” says McNamara, who shot three movies last year. “Today is the time for the filmmaker because they can prove themselves, and then they can get more expensive stuff to make a studio film. That being said, there’s more opportunities for distribution (with streaming services and VOD). I think there’s more opportunities and production everywhere.”
Speaking of opportunities, Field of Lost Shoes is definitely worth a look on the big screen, as McNamara effectively maximized the film’s relatively modest budget.
The new trailer for Digimon All-Star Rumblefeatures the various playable Digimon and their Digivolved forms in the throes of conflict. Under the game’s Story Mode, players will discover the genesis behind the “Digimon Evolution Tournament” and uncover the secret agenda that has kept its wheels turning.
Digimon All Star Rumble – (Bandai Namco Games)
Each Digmon gets their own sequence under Story Mode, and at the end of each stage players will take on a rival that will try to knock them out of the tournament. The goal is to Digivolve, vanquish your opponents and become a tough as nails Digimon hero. The game is being featured at this year’s New York Comic Con (it runs October 9-12) and a Digimon giveaway is being hosted on Tumblr during the convention. For details, go to: http://bandainamcous.tumblr.com/
Digimon All Star Rumble (Bandai Namco Games)
Digimon All-Star Rumble (Bandai Namco Games, ESRB: E10+, $39.99) is slated for release November 11 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles. To pre-order the game, please go to this link: http://amzn.to/ZcDbwi
