If you are a fan of the television series “Downton Abbey” you are going to absolutely love this opportunity to spend a couple of hours with the Crawleys of Downton Abbey and their staff. If you have never watched “Downton Abbey” on television you can still enjoy the elegant writing of Julian Fellowes.
The movie stands alone but like the television show the story is chuck full of twists, turns and tension when it is announced that the King and Queen of England plan to visit Downton Abbey.
There is only one word that describes the cinematography, sets and costumes: majestic. Everything about this movie is regal; especially the acting. Even though the television program saw all the characters going their own ways, Fellowes found a way to bring them all back flawlessly.
Michelle Dockery who plays Lady Mary Crawley looked terrific with her new bob hairdo and she seemed a little kinder than before. Lady Edith, (Laura Carmichael), has never looked better. Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern returned as Lord and Lady Crawley.
The downstairs staff is back with the Crawleys. Mrs., Pattimore, (Lesley Nicol) and the irrepressible Daisy, (Sophie McShera), are in the kitchen. The retired Carson, (Jim Carter), is brought back by Lady Mary. Mrs. Hughes, (Phyllis Logan) is still head housekeeper. Anna (Joanne Froggatt) and Bates, (Brendan Coyle) have a son. Anna saves the day when the royal staff come to Downton to replace the staff.
Imelda Staunton plays Maud Bagshaw, a cousin of Violet. In real life she is Jim Carter’s wife. You will recognize her from the Harry Potter series.
The banter between Violet Crawley, (Maggie Smith), And Isobel Merton, (Penelope Wilton), was the highlight of the film for me and provided some of the funniest moments.
I am a fan of the “Downton Abbey” television show and I loved the movie. I went to two screenings it was so good and I plan to purchase the film because this is a movie that you will want to see over and over; it will stand the test of time. However, the best way to see the film for the first time is on the big screen. “Downton Abbey” needs to be seen on the big screen to do justice to the splendor of the production.
WRITTEN BY: Susanne Bier, Bart Freundlich and Anders Thomas Jensen
STARRING: Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Billy Crudup, Abby Quinn, Will Chase and Azhy Robertson
Let’s venture across the world to an orphanage in India, where Isabel (Michelle Williams) lives out her days, bringing joy to all those around her. As the orphanage struggles to stay afloat, it seems a certain benefactor has stepped forward to help keep them afloat. But, this “anonymous source”, located in New York City, is adamite that Isabel venture back to the states to get everything in place, before she will relinquish any of the funds. And as Isabel soon finds, nothing is ever quite as it seems, when she meets business mogul Theresa (Julianne Moore), who is wrapped up in her own life, to be totally engaged with Isabel once she arrives, thus suggesting that everything they need to discuss wait until after her daughter Grace’s (Abby Quinn) wedding…
Anxious to return to India as fast as she can, as she longs for her life among the children that she can’t live without, Isabel soon finds that Theresa’s intensions, although not forthright in the beginning, are truly pure and above reproach in the end, thus bringing Isabel to rethink he own life’s journey along the way too…
I give AFTER THE WEDDING a rating of MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN: Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams are both absolutely brilliant in this beautifully written, and even more beautifully portrayed film. After the Wedding manages to poetically pay tribute to the passion of life, the passion of motherhood, and the sacrifices that every woman in this world will make for those they love. After the Wedding is truly one of those rare films that draws you in more and more, with each passing frame, and doesn’t let go. Maybe it’s the fact that many parts of my own life seemed to be flashing before my eyes on screen. Maybe it’s because I feel that both Moore and Williams should be getting nods for their exceptional performances throughout every inch of this fabulous film. Or maybe it’s just because there are few films made these days that truly touch on the essence of women, like this film does. All I know is that when you combine the work of Moore and Williams, with the additional exceptional performances by Billy Cudrup, and Abby Quinn, you end up with one incredibly moving film. And please make sure to bring along some tissues too when you head out to the theater, as if you are a mother, a wife, a lover or a friend, After the Wedding is going to touch you in a way, that few films have done before…
Blumhouse, the leading brand in horror, recently took Halloween to that franchise’s highest performance and now returns to another genre classic with an upgrade engineered for today: Black Christmas.
Hawthorne College is quieting down for the holidays. One by one, sorority girls on campus are being killed by an unknown stalker. But the killer is about to discover that this generation’s young women aren’t willing to become hapless victims as they mount a fight to the finish.
This December, on Friday the 13th, ring in the holidays by dreaming of a Black Christmas.
From director Sophia Takal (Always Shine) from the script she wrote with April Wolfe (Widower), comes a bold new take on the 1974 horror classic starring Imogen Poots (Green Room, The Art of Defense), Aleyse Shannon (Charmed), Brittany O’Grady (Star), Lily Donoghue (The Goldbergs, Jane the Virgin) and Caleb Eberhardt (Broadway’s Choir Boy).
Black Christmas is produced by Jason Blum (Halloween, Split) for his Blumhouse Productions, by Ben Cosgrove (The Good German, Rumor Has It) and by Adam Hendricks (Cam, Bloodline, Lucky) for Divide/Conquer. Hendricks’ partners in Divide/Conquer, Greg Gilreath (Cam, Bloodline) and Zac Locke (Adopt-A-Highway, Bloodline), will executive produce.
“BLACK PANTHER” IS KING WITH BEST 1ST DAY PRESALES FOR ANY MCU MOVIE IN FANDANGO HISTORY
Marvel’s Black Panther is the new leader as Fandango’s best-selling Marvel Cinematic Universe movie in the first 24 hours of pre-sales, beating out the previous record-holder, Captain America: Civil War. Fans are buying their advance tickets to Black Panther on Fandango before the film hits theaters on February 16.
As an added bonus, with every purchase of Black Panther movie tickets, fans will receive a complimentary movie poster exclusively from Fandango FanShop, Fandango’s online movie merchandise marketplace. (An image of FanShop’s exclusive Black Panther poster by artist Jon Moody is enclosed.)
“Black Panther is riding an incredible wave of momentum right now,” says Fandango Editor Erik Davis. “It’s one of the biggest and most anticipated movies to ever open in the month of February, and its trailers have electrified the Internet. Tickets have been going fast ever since presales started on Fandango late Monday.”
Davis’ exclusive interview with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler on his James Bond influences and that Kendrick Lamar album can be found here.
For a limited time, Black Panther ticket buyers will also receive 10% off all Black Panther film-inspired merchandise from Fandango FanShop, including Funko POP! vinyl figures and plushies, as well as apparel, accessories and much more. Fans can check out Fandango FanShop’s full collection of Black Panther merchandise available here.
According to a Fandango survey of more than 8,000 moviegoers, Marvel’s Black Panther was voted as one of the year’s top two most anticipated movies, ranking second only to Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War (which includes many of the Black Panther characters). Panther’s Chadwick Boseman was also voted by the fans as the most anticipated comic book hero in a standalone movie, while co-stars Danai Gurira & Winston Duke were picked among the rising stars of 2018, and Michael B. Jordan as one of 2018’s most anticipated screen villains.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, MOLLY’S GAME, THE DISASTER ARTIST & VICTORIA & ABDUL
Now, if you don’t agree, or totally think I’m off base, please share your thoughts below in the reply section – I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on which films you thought were YOUR FAVS in 2017!
“THE SHAPE OF WATER” AND “FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN” LEAD NOMINATIONS
FOR THE 23rd ANNUAL CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS
“THE SHAPE OF WATER” TOPS FILM NOMINEES WITH 14 POSSIBLE AWARDS
“FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN” COULD TAKE HOME SIX AWARDS
NETFLIX LEADS NETWORKS WITH 20 NOMINATIONS
GALA EVENT WILL AIR LIVE ON THE CW NETWORK THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018
FROM THE BARKER HANGAR IN SANTA MONICA
(Los Angeles, CA – December 6, 2017) – The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) announced today the nominees for the 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards. The winners will be revealed live at the star-studded Critics’ Choice Awards gala on Thursday, January 11, 2018. The awards show will return to The CW Network and will be broadcast LIVE that night from 8:00 – 10:00pm ET/PT.
“The Shape of Water” leads all films this year with 14 nominations includingBest Picture, Sally Hawkins for Best Actress, Richard Jenkins for Best Supporting Actor, Octavia Spencer for Best Supporting Actress, Guillermo del Toro for both Best Director and Best Original Screenplay alongside Vanessa Taylor, Dan Laustsen for Best Cinematography, Paul Denham Austerberry, Shane Vieau, and Jeff Melvin for Best Production Design, Sidney Wolinsky for Best Editing, Luis Sequeira for Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Visual Effects, Best Sci-Fi or Horror Movie, and Alexandre Desplat for Best Score.
“Call Me By Your Name,” “Dunkirk,” “Lady Bird,” and “The Post” impressed with eight nominations each, and are all in the running for Best Picture and Best Director, among others. “Blade Runner 2049” earned seven nominations, followed by “The Big Sick” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” each with six, and “Get Out” and “I, Tonya” with five.
There are a number of multiple award nominees, led by Kumail Nanjiani with three, who, with his work on both “The Big Sick” and “Silicon Valley” is eligible for both Film and Television honors this year. He is up for Best Original Screenplay alongside wife Emily V. Gordon, and Best Actor in a Comedy for “The Big Sick” as well as Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for “Silicon Valley.” With many of the nominated films’ creators taking on multiple roles, Greta Gerwig, Martin McDonagh, Jordan Peele, and Guillermo del Toro are all nominated for both Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. James Franco is nominated for Best Actor and Best Actor in a Comedy for his work in “The Disaster Artist,” while breakout star Tiffany Haddish is up for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress in a Comedy for her role in “Girls Trip.” Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan will compete against each other in two categories – Best Actress and Best Actress in a Comedy – for their roles in “I, Tonya” and “Lady Bird,” respectively.
Netflix leads the television honors with 20 nominations, followed by HBO with 15, FX with 13, and ABC with 12. Topping the list of nominated series is Feud: Bette and Joan (FX) with six. Big Little Lies (HBO) and Fargo (FX) follow closely behind with five each, as does Glow (Netflix) with four nominations. American Gods (Starz), Black-ish (ABC), Game of Thrones (HBO), Godless (Netflix), The Good Fight (CBS All Access),The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon), This Is Us (NBC), and The Wizard of Lies (HBO) each earned three nominations. Other multi-nominated series include America’s Got Talent (NBC), American Crime (ABC), American Vandal (Netflix), Better Call Saul (AMC), The Big Bang Theory (CBS), Billions (Showtime), Chopped (Food Network), The Crown (Netflix), Dancing with the Stars (ABC),Fixer Upper (HGTV), Fresh Off The Boat (ABC), The Good Place (NBC), I Am Elizabeth Smart (Lifetime), Master of None (Netflix), Modern Family (ABC), RuPaul’s Drag Race (LOGOtv), Silicon Valley (HBO), The Sinner (USA), Stranger Things (Netflix), and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix), each with two nominations.
“2017 has proved to be an incredibly exciting year in movies – and one of the most wide-open in terms of awards possibilities,” said BFCA President Joey Berlin. “The mix of legendary filmmakers and performers along with vibrant new voices representing fresh and varied styles and perspectives has entertained and challenged critics and audiences alike. It’s been a joy to experience these films and we can’t wait to celebrate them all on January 11th.”
“Choosing a handful of outstanding programs or personalities to nominate in any category is a daunting task given the sheer volume of high quality options today on broadcast and cable television and streaming services,” said BTJA President Ed Martin. “But after much careful consideration and thoughtful debate I believe we have filled all of our categories with the most deserving nominees.”
“The Critics’ Choice Awards” are bestowed annually by the BFCA and BTJA to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. The BFCA is the largest film critics’ organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 300 television, radio and online critics. BFCA members are the primary source of information for today’s film-going public. BTJA is the collective voice of journalists who regularly cover television for TV viewers, radio listeners and online audiences. Historically, the “Critics’ Choice Awards” are the most accurate predictor of the Academy Award nominations.
The 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards show will be produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment. The BFCA and BTJA are represented by Dan Black of Greenberg Traurig and WME.
About BFCA/BTJA
The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) is the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 300 television, radio and online critics. The Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) is a partner organization to the BFCA and includes TV, radio and Internet journalists who cover television on a regular basis. For more information, visit: www.CriticsChoice.com.
About The CW:
THE CW TELEVISION NETWORK launched in 2006 as America’s fifth broadcast network, with programming targeting younger viewers, a demographic highly sought after by advertisers. The CW, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation, broadcasts a five-night, 10-hour primetime lineup, Monday through Friday. The CW’s primetime programming is also available to stream for free, without authentication, on the ad-supported cwtv.com and The CW app, now available on every major OTT platform. In daytime, The CW broadcasts a Monday through Friday afternoon block, and a five-hour Saturday morning kids block. The CW’s digital network, CW Seed, launched in 2013, and offers original short-form digital content as well as past seasons of fan-favorite television series. For more information about the network and its programming, visit www.cwtvpr.com.
Follow the 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards on Twitter and Instagram @CriticsChoice and on Facebook/CriticsChoiceAwards.
FANDANGO’S WEEKEND SALES AND FANTICIPATION MOVIE BUZZ INDEX
LOS ANGELES – MARCH 30, 2017 – DreamWorks Animation’s “The Boss Baby” is taking over at the top of Fandango weekend ticket sales, scoring 86 out of 100 points on Fandango’s movie buzz indicator, Fanticipation, with “Beauty and the Beast” (in its third weekend of release) following close behind with 85 points.
“Families are always looking for something new at the movies, so in addition to repeat viewings of ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ Alec Baldwin as an animated baby is proving to be irresistible for moviegoers this weekend,” says Fandango Managing Editor Erik Davis. “With its strong advance ticket sales, ‘The Boss Baby’ looks to continue a great streak for family movies to start off the year.”
About Fanticipation
Known for having its finger on the pulse of moviegoers, Fandango’s movie buzz indicator, Fanticipation, provides statistical insight into the movies fans are planning to see in a given weekend. Fanticipation scores (based on a 1 to 100-point scale) are calculated via an algorithm of Fandango’s advance ticket sales, website and mobile traffic, and social media engagement. Fanticipation is not intended as a forecast of the weekend box office; it is a snapshot of movie fan sentiment. Fandango is the ultimate digital network for all things movies, reaching more than 60 million unique visitors per month across its portfolio of digital properties, according to comScore.
FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES ACQUIRES DIRECTOR AMANDA LIPITZ’S SUNDANCE SENSATION “STEP”
Specialty Arm Acquires Worldwide Distribution and Remake Rights
Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula announced today that the company has acquired worldwide distribution and remake rights to director and producer Amanda Lipitz’s inspiring documentary STEP, featuring Blessin Giraldo, Cori Grainger, Tayla Solomon, Gari McIntyre and Paula Dofat. The film is a Stick Figure, Impact Partners, Vulcan and Scott Rudin production and produced by Lipitz and Steven Cantor with Dan Cogan, Geralyn Dreyfous, Jenny Raskin, Scott Rudin, Paul G. Allen, Carole Tomko, Micheal Flaherty, Valerie McGowan, Barbara Dobkin, Regina K. Scully, Debra McLeod, Jay Sears, Ann Tisch and Andrew Tisch serving as executive producers. STEP will be released in 2017.
“STEP immerses us into the world of a group of young women whom we come to love and admire. Amanda Lipitz shows us their humor, heart, tenacity and joie de vivre through our own laughter and tears. We are excited to share this inspiring experience around the world,” said Gilula and Utley.
“This film was made as a tribute to the bravery and conviction of the young women in the film and to the courage they demonstrated in their willingness to share their story. We are thrilled to partner with Fox Searchlight on the release of the film throughout the world and are very grateful for their enthusiasm and passion. We hope that the heroes of STEP will inspire girls everywhere to do what they have done, which is to prove that nothing is impossible when you surround yourself with a group of powerful women,” said director and producer Amanda Lipitz.
STEP documents the senior year of a girls’ high-school step dance team against the background of inner-city Baltimore. As each one tries to become the first in their families to attend college, the girls strive to make their dancing a success against the backdrop of social unrest in the troubled city.
The production also received generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Baltimore Ravens. The film world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to sold out screenings with show-stopping performances by the team, who were greatly supported by the local Park City community.
The deal was brokered by Fox Searchlight’s Executive Vice President of Business Affairs Megan O’Brien and Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Co-Productions Ray Strache, with WME Global on behalf of the filmmakers.
Fox Searchlight Pictures is a specialty film company that both finances and acquires motion pictures. It has its own marketing and distribution operations, and its films are distributed internationally by Twentieth Century Fox. Fox Searchlight Pictures is a unit of 21st Century Fox.
A24 bashes down your door with the world premiere trailer for the highly anticipated thriller GREEN ROOM from writer/director Jeremy Saulnier.
Saulnier’s follow up to the critically-acclaimed revenge thriller BLUE RUIN is a white-knuckle siege film, set in one of the scariest environments imaginable with Patrick Stewart in an instantly iconic role as a cooly terrifying villain.
GREEN ROOM opens in NY/LA on April 15 and nationwide on April 29.
GREEN ROOM Trailer:
ABOUT GREEN ROOM
Studio: A24
Genre: Thriller
Directed by: Jeremy Saulnier
Written by: Jeremy Saulnier
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, Callum Turner, Mark Webber, Eric Edelstein, Macon Blair, Kai Lennox
Synopsis: GREEN ROOM is a brilliantly crafted and wickedly fun horror-thriller starring Patrick Stewart as a diabolical club owner who squares off against an unsuspecting but resilient young punk band. Down on their luck punk rockers The Ain’t Rights are finishing up a long and unsuccessful tour, and are about to call it quits when they get an unexpected booking at an isolated, run-down club deep in the backwoods of Oregon. What seems merely to be a third-rate gig escalates into something much more sinister when they witness an act of violence backstage that they weren’t meant to see. Now trapped backstage, they must face off against the club’s depraved owner, Darcy Banker (Stewart), a man who will do anything to protect the secrets of his nefarious enterprise. But while Darcy and his henchmen think the band will be easy to get rid of, The Ain’t Rights prove themselves much more cunning and capable than anyone expected, turning the tables on their unsuspecting captors and setting the stage for the ultimate life-or-death showdown. Intense, emotional, and ingeniously twisted, Green Room is genre filmmaking at its best and most original. Saulnier continues to build his reputation as one of the most exciting and distinctive directors working today, with a movie that’s completely different from his previous, highly acclaimed Blue Ruin, but which is just as risk-taking and even more full of twists. The entire cast deliver first-rate performances, but Patrick Stewart gives a transformative and brilliantly devious turn as Darcy-elegant yet lethal, droll yet terrifying, Stewart makes the film simply unforgettable.
