“The Blacklist” star Amir Arison’s series “The Reel Ones with Amir Arison” will be co-produced with and distributed by streaming television network ReachTV.
According to the press release, the series “highlights filmmakers and the subjects of their short film documentaries.” Arison serves as executive producer, host and co-creator on the show. Other executive producers include Stephanie Sharis, Lynnwood Bibbens, Anthony Samadani, George Sealey, Walter Procek, Parker Williams and co-creator and showrunner Jesse Scolaro. Lightbeam and ReachTV co-produce.
“‘The Reel Ones with Amir Arison’ takes viewers on an intimate journey to uncover the origins and motivations that drive storytellers and their creative projects. From the initial spark of an idea, each episode will provide an in depth look behind the screen, shedding light on the personal stories, passions, and perspectives of both the filmmaker and the subject who inspired the film,” reads the series description. “The Reel One with Amir...
According to the press release, the series “highlights filmmakers and the subjects of their short film documentaries.” Arison serves as executive producer, host and co-creator on the show. Other executive producers include Stephanie Sharis, Lynnwood Bibbens, Anthony Samadani, George Sealey, Walter Procek, Parker Williams and co-creator and showrunner Jesse Scolaro. Lightbeam and ReachTV co-produce.
“‘The Reel Ones with Amir Arison’ takes viewers on an intimate journey to uncover the origins and motivations that drive storytellers and their creative projects. From the initial spark of an idea, each episode will provide an in depth look behind the screen, shedding light on the personal stories, passions, and perspectives of both the filmmaker and the subject who inspired the film,” reads the series description. “The Reel One with Amir...
- 12/11/2023
- by Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Dita Von Teese is getting the documentary treatment.
Filming for a feature doc about the Queen of Burlesque is underway with director Tiffany Bartok (Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story) at the helm and a team that includes producers Jayce Bartok and Jesse Scolaro and executive producers Matthew Felker, Ryan Kampe and Stephen Fitzgibbon.
The plan is to cover her humble beginnings, born as Heather Sweet in West Branch, Michigan, to becoming pop culture’s most famous striptease artist. Von Teese is participating and will accompany filmmakers to her hometown where they will sit down with members of her family, many of whom will be seen for the first time. They’ll also have access to her inner circle, an entire archive of rare, never-before-seen footage as well and her upcoming Glamonatrix Tour.
The news comes as the 50-year-old performer is having a moment,...
Dita Von Teese is getting the documentary treatment.
Filming for a feature doc about the Queen of Burlesque is underway with director Tiffany Bartok (Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story) at the helm and a team that includes producers Jayce Bartok and Jesse Scolaro and executive producers Matthew Felker, Ryan Kampe and Stephen Fitzgibbon.
The plan is to cover her humble beginnings, born as Heather Sweet in West Branch, Michigan, to becoming pop culture’s most famous striptease artist. Von Teese is participating and will accompany filmmakers to her hometown where they will sit down with members of her family, many of whom will be seen for the first time. They’ll also have access to her inner circle, an entire archive of rare, never-before-seen footage as well and her upcoming Glamonatrix Tour.
The news comes as the 50-year-old performer is having a moment,...
- 11/10/2022
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ray Liotta, Justin Chon (Twilight), and Harry Shum, Jr. (Glee) star in the 1990s NYC-set action crime drama that’s executive produced by Martin Scorsese and set to debut next month at the Toronto Film Festival. Revenge of the Green Dragons is helmed by Andrew Lau & Andrew Loo and was inspired by Frederick Dannen’s New Yorker article chronicling Asian-American gang life in Queens, NY. It’s a reunion of sorts for Lau and Scorsese after the latter remade Lau’s Hong Kong crime pic Infernal Affairs into his own Oscar-winning 2006 film The Departed. Pic tracks immigrant siblings Sonny (Chon) and Steven (Kevin Wu) who join Chinatown’s Green Dragons in pursuit of their own American Dream, only to find themselves at odds when Sonny turns against his brother and the organization.
Shuya Chang, Geoff Pierson, Billy Magnussen, and Eugenia Yuan also star. Michael Dijiacomo and Loo co-wrote the script...
Shuya Chang, Geoff Pierson, Billy Magnussen, and Eugenia Yuan also star. Michael Dijiacomo and Loo co-wrote the script...
- 8/13/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
At the beginning of every month, Ioncinema.com's "Tracking Shot" features a handful of projects that are moments away from lensing and that we feel are worth signaling out. This June, we are keeping tabs on nine projects including the untitled, aka The Master from master filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson. A View from the Bridge Director: Robert Connolly - Screenwriter: Andrew Bovell Producer(s): Anthony Lapaglia, Marion Pilowsky, Natalie Stevenson Cast: Vera Farmiga, Mia Wasikowska, Sam Neill, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Lapaglia Filming in New York and Melbourne, Australia Comments: Aussie-born actor Anthony Lapaglia wears the producer hat, returns to a character that is familiar to him: the jealousy husband/father in a 1950's New York borough. The helmer behind the Tiff selected Balibo directs this Arthur Miller play which was the basis for Kazan's On the Waterfront. Farmiga will look great in the eras' garb. Ray Lawrence was originally attached to direct.
- 6/2/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
7-57 Releasing and partner Markedia Worldwide have picked up U.S. distribution and world sales rights to Josh Crook's action thriller "La Soga."
Written by Manny Perez, the film stars Perez and Denise Quinones in the Domican Republic-set tale about a cop seeking justice.
It was produced by Perez, Josh Crook and Jeff Crook. Exec producers are Patrick Pope, Jose Miguel Bonetti, Henry Mu, Celines Toribio, Jesse Scolaro, Allen Bain, Patrick R. Morris, Kate White Morris, Robert G. Morris and Michael Bassick.
A platform theatrical release in the top ten U.S. markets is set for August, along with its rollout in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
Antena Latina Films will be handling distribution in the Dominican Republic with Cynthia Wiesner of Wiesner Distribution handling Puerto Rico.
Steven Raphael of Required Viewing and Mj Peckos of Mitropoulos Films will consult on all marketing and distribution elements for the North American theatrical release.
Written by Manny Perez, the film stars Perez and Denise Quinones in the Domican Republic-set tale about a cop seeking justice.
It was produced by Perez, Josh Crook and Jeff Crook. Exec producers are Patrick Pope, Jose Miguel Bonetti, Henry Mu, Celines Toribio, Jesse Scolaro, Allen Bain, Patrick R. Morris, Kate White Morris, Robert G. Morris and Michael Bassick.
A platform theatrical release in the top ten U.S. markets is set for August, along with its rollout in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
Antena Latina Films will be handling distribution in the Dominican Republic with Cynthia Wiesner of Wiesner Distribution handling Puerto Rico.
Steven Raphael of Required Viewing and Mj Peckos of Mitropoulos Films will consult on all marketing and distribution elements for the North American theatrical release.
- 6/28/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The team behind this year's Sundance film entry "Holy Rollers" are aiming to reunite for another feature - the crime thriller "Kings Highway" says The Hollywood Reporter.
Director Kevin Asch, writer Antonio Macia and actor-producer Danny A. Abeckaser will all serve in the same capacity in this mid-1980's set story of a disgraced former Mossad agent now living in New York City who becomes involved in a growing Israeli crime syndicate.
Abeckaser, Allen Bain and Jesse Scolaro will produce through 7th Floor and 2B Productions. Shooting will kick off on location in New York.
Director Kevin Asch, writer Antonio Macia and actor-producer Danny A. Abeckaser will all serve in the same capacity in this mid-1980's set story of a disgraced former Mossad agent now living in New York City who becomes involved in a growing Israeli crime syndicate.
Abeckaser, Allen Bain and Jesse Scolaro will produce through 7th Floor and 2B Productions. Shooting will kick off on location in New York.
- 5/21/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
"Holy Rollers" director Kevin Asch, writer Antonio Macia and producer/actor Danny A. Abeckaser will assume the same duties in "Kings Highway." The crime thriller will shoot on location in New York and Allen Bain and Jesse Scolaro of 7th Floor produce alongside Abeckaser and his 2B Productions. Story tells of a disgraced former Mossad agent who moves to New York during the mid-1980s and falls in line with a burgeoning Israeli crime syndicate. "Holy Rollers" was nominated for the Sundance Jury Prize. Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha and Q-Tip star in the First Independent Pictures release.
- 5/20/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
As "Holy Rollers," their 2010 Sundance Film Festival entry, rolls out in theaters Friday, the pic's filmmakers have reunited for a follow-up feature, "Kings Highway."
"Rollers" director Kevin Asch, writer Antonio Macia and actor-producer Danny A. Abeckaser are taking on those same duties for "Kings." The crime thriller will shoot on location in New York.
Allen Bain and Jesse Scolaro of New York-based the 7th Floor are producing with Abeckaser and his 2B Prods.
The project centers on a disgraced former Mossad agent who moves to New York during the mid-1980s and falls in line with a burgeoning Israeli crime syndicate.
"After reading dozens of formulaic thrillers, I read the first 20 pages of 'Kings Highway,' and I was hooked," Asch said.
Added Abeckaser, "I am excited to bring this new and never-before-seen New York story to the big screen."
Macia calls the trio's reunion "a dream collaboration," adding that...
"Rollers" director Kevin Asch, writer Antonio Macia and actor-producer Danny A. Abeckaser are taking on those same duties for "Kings." The crime thriller will shoot on location in New York.
Allen Bain and Jesse Scolaro of New York-based the 7th Floor are producing with Abeckaser and his 2B Prods.
The project centers on a disgraced former Mossad agent who moves to New York during the mid-1980s and falls in line with a burgeoning Israeli crime syndicate.
"After reading dozens of formulaic thrillers, I read the first 20 pages of 'Kings Highway,' and I was hooked," Asch said.
Added Abeckaser, "I am excited to bring this new and never-before-seen New York story to the big screen."
Macia calls the trio's reunion "a dream collaboration," adding that...
- 5/19/2010
- by By Zorianna Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Cannes -- Strand Releasing has acquired all U.S. distribution rights for Noah Buschel's "The Missing Person," a mystery tale starring Michael Shannon as a private detective hired to trail a man who is presumed dead.
The film, which also stars Amy Ryan, had its world premiere at this year's Sundance Film Festival and will be released theatrically later this year.
"Missing" was produced by 7th Floor partners Jesse Scolaro and Allen Bain, with Lois Drabkin of Apropos Films.
The deal was negotiated between Ryan Kampe of Visit Films, the New York-based production/sales company, on behalf of the
filmmakers, and Strand's Jon Gerrans.
The film has also sold to Australia (Palace), Turkey (Erman) and the Middle East (Front Row).
Visit is repping such other films in the Marche as the Directors' Fortnight titles "Carcasses" and "Here."...
The film, which also stars Amy Ryan, had its world premiere at this year's Sundance Film Festival and will be released theatrically later this year.
"Missing" was produced by 7th Floor partners Jesse Scolaro and Allen Bain, with Lois Drabkin of Apropos Films.
The deal was negotiated between Ryan Kampe of Visit Films, the New York-based production/sales company, on behalf of the
filmmakers, and Strand's Jon Gerrans.
The film has also sold to Australia (Palace), Turkey (Erman) and the Middle East (Front Row).
Visit is repping such other films in the Marche as the Directors' Fortnight titles "Carcasses" and "Here."...
- 5/15/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Writer-producers Brandon Camp and Mike Thompson are following up their Jennifer Aniston Universal drama "Traveling" with some killer thrills.
Camp and Thompson are producing their screenplay "Choose" along with Allen Bain and Jesse Scolaro's shingle the 7th Floor. It will mark the feature directing debut of Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Robert Legato.
Katheryn Winnick stars as a journalism grad student who attempts to track down a vengeful killer (Nicholas Tucci) with the help of her detective father (Kevin Pollak) and a shrink (Bruce Dern). Talia Balsam, Cady Huffman and Richard Short are among the cast now filming in New York.
The executive producer is Michael Bassick of Markedia Worldwide, which is financing the project with the 7th Floor (Mary Stuart Masterson's "Cake Eaters").
The UTA/Mark Schumacher Management-repped Winnick is set to have her breakout lead role in New Line's upcoming "Amusement," then star opposite Paul Giamatti in "Cold Souls.
Camp and Thompson are producing their screenplay "Choose" along with Allen Bain and Jesse Scolaro's shingle the 7th Floor. It will mark the feature directing debut of Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Robert Legato.
Katheryn Winnick stars as a journalism grad student who attempts to track down a vengeful killer (Nicholas Tucci) with the help of her detective father (Kevin Pollak) and a shrink (Bruce Dern). Talia Balsam, Cady Huffman and Richard Short are among the cast now filming in New York.
The executive producer is Michael Bassick of Markedia Worldwide, which is financing the project with the 7th Floor (Mary Stuart Masterson's "Cake Eaters").
The UTA/Mark Schumacher Management-repped Winnick is set to have her breakout lead role in New Line's upcoming "Amusement," then star opposite Paul Giamatti in "Cold Souls.
- 11/17/2008
- by By Gregg Goldstein
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Berlinale Competition
PARIS -- Erick Zonca, the acclaimed director of "The Dreamlife of Angels" and "The Little Thief", spent seven years on this American project, "Julia", an homage to John Cassavetes' "Gloria" as well as a nod to the late director's "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie."
Although directed, written and photographed by French filmmakers, this is an American movie, shot in California and Mexico with American and British actors. The commercial prospects are therefore those of a U.S. indie film. The presence of Tilda Swinton, following her Oscar nomination, could further attract a significant number of viewers. The film opens in France on March 12.
The opening sequences focus on Julia's nightlife: repeated drinking, occasional sex with strangers, quarrels. What starts out as a portrait of an alcoholic suddenly takes a turn with the intrusion of another woman. At an AA meeting, Julia (Swinton) meets Elena (Kate Del Castillo), who seeks her help. She claims she has been separated from her son, who lives with his grandfather. She asks Julia to help kidnap the boy and offers to split the ransom from the grandfather, a millionaire.
"Julia" naturally turns into a thriller, full of suspense, which will bring Julia and the boy to the California desert and all the way to Mexico. Getting involved in a kidnapping and having to face Mexican criminals allow Julia to better understand herself. So in 140 minutes, which move faster than many 90-minute movies, Zonca manages to change genres, change styles and make his character evolve.
Visually, the film evokes the American cinema of the 1970s. The immersion in Julia's drunk life is deliberately filmed in a Cassavetes style: short shots, close focal distance, blurred colors, dialogues that seem improvised. The thriller is first a road movie that uses the immensity of the desert as a narrative resource. Then the sequences in Tijuana pivot around the most vehement cliches Americans have on this border town.
As Julia, Swinton belongs to that league of great cinematic alcoholics such as Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick in "Days of Wine and Roses" and Ray Milland in "The Lost Weekend". As an action character, she naturally evokes Gena Rowlands without ever trying to resemble her. She doesn't hesitate to show her imperfect body -- some cellulite, a little potbelly. The braveness to take on such an unsexy behavior is not common. Opposite her, in some of the film's most compelling sequences, Saul Rubinek shows again that he is the essence of the supporting actor.
JULIA
Les Productions Bagheera, Le Bureau, StudioCanal, the 7th Floor, Saga Film
Credits:
Director: Erick Zonca
Screenwriters: Aude Py, Erick Zonca
Artistic collaborator: Camille Natta
Producers: Francois Marquis, Bertrand Faivre
Co-producers: Allen Bain, Jesse Scolaro, Hubert Toint, Jean-Jacques Neira
Director of photography: Yorick Le Saux
Production designer: Francois-Renaud Labarthe
Costume designer: April Napier
Editor: Philippe Kotlarski
Cast:
Julia: Tilda Swinton
Mitch: Saul Rubinek
Elena: Kate del Castillo
Tom: Aidan Gould
Nick: Jude Cicolella
Diego: Bruno Bichir
Santos: Horacio Garcia Rojas
Miguel: Gaston Peterson
Running time -- 140 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARIS -- Erick Zonca, the acclaimed director of "The Dreamlife of Angels" and "The Little Thief", spent seven years on this American project, "Julia", an homage to John Cassavetes' "Gloria" as well as a nod to the late director's "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie."
Although directed, written and photographed by French filmmakers, this is an American movie, shot in California and Mexico with American and British actors. The commercial prospects are therefore those of a U.S. indie film. The presence of Tilda Swinton, following her Oscar nomination, could further attract a significant number of viewers. The film opens in France on March 12.
The opening sequences focus on Julia's nightlife: repeated drinking, occasional sex with strangers, quarrels. What starts out as a portrait of an alcoholic suddenly takes a turn with the intrusion of another woman. At an AA meeting, Julia (Swinton) meets Elena (Kate Del Castillo), who seeks her help. She claims she has been separated from her son, who lives with his grandfather. She asks Julia to help kidnap the boy and offers to split the ransom from the grandfather, a millionaire.
"Julia" naturally turns into a thriller, full of suspense, which will bring Julia and the boy to the California desert and all the way to Mexico. Getting involved in a kidnapping and having to face Mexican criminals allow Julia to better understand herself. So in 140 minutes, which move faster than many 90-minute movies, Zonca manages to change genres, change styles and make his character evolve.
Visually, the film evokes the American cinema of the 1970s. The immersion in Julia's drunk life is deliberately filmed in a Cassavetes style: short shots, close focal distance, blurred colors, dialogues that seem improvised. The thriller is first a road movie that uses the immensity of the desert as a narrative resource. Then the sequences in Tijuana pivot around the most vehement cliches Americans have on this border town.
As Julia, Swinton belongs to that league of great cinematic alcoholics such as Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick in "Days of Wine and Roses" and Ray Milland in "The Lost Weekend". As an action character, she naturally evokes Gena Rowlands without ever trying to resemble her. She doesn't hesitate to show her imperfect body -- some cellulite, a little potbelly. The braveness to take on such an unsexy behavior is not common. Opposite her, in some of the film's most compelling sequences, Saul Rubinek shows again that he is the essence of the supporting actor.
JULIA
Les Productions Bagheera, Le Bureau, StudioCanal, the 7th Floor, Saga Film
Credits:
Director: Erick Zonca
Screenwriters: Aude Py, Erick Zonca
Artistic collaborator: Camille Natta
Producers: Francois Marquis, Bertrand Faivre
Co-producers: Allen Bain, Jesse Scolaro, Hubert Toint, Jean-Jacques Neira
Director of photography: Yorick Le Saux
Production designer: Francois-Renaud Labarthe
Costume designer: April Napier
Editor: Philippe Kotlarski
Cast:
Julia: Tilda Swinton
Mitch: Saul Rubinek
Elena: Kate del Castillo
Tom: Aidan Gould
Nick: Jude Cicolella
Diego: Bruno Bichir
Santos: Horacio Garcia Rojas
Miguel: Gaston Peterson
Running time -- 140 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 2/10/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lukas Haas, Giovanni Ribisi and Erika Christensen have signed on to topline indie The Gardener of Eden for Appian Way. Penned by Adam 'Tex' Davis, the dark comedy centers on a young man who accidentally saves a girl from a neighborhood assault and then decides his calling in life is to become a modern-day hero. Kevin Connolly will make his directorial debut. Appian Way in association with IEG Virtual Studios is producing the film with the 7th Floor. Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Simpson are producing along with 7th Floor's Allen Bain. Graham King and Benjamin Waisbren of IEG Virtual Studios and Jesse Scolaro and Darren Goldberg of the 7th Floor are executive producing.
- 12/15/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- By only his third feature, the misanthropy of director Bruno Dumont is already beginning to get wearisome. This latest effort, a tedious road movie in which a young couple drive around the desert, stopping occasionally to have animalistic sex, is presumably intended to be significant because of its shocker of an ending. That would be all well and good if the filmmaker has something significant to say, but "Twentynine Palms" is ultimately a hollow and pointless exercise. Currently being showcased at the Rendez-Vous With French Cinema 2004 series at New York's Walter Reade Theatre, the film opens commercially later in the spring.
Filmed in California's Joshua Tree Desert -- the widescreen compositions of Georges Lechaptois are quite beautiful -- the film chronicles the seemingly interminable road trip undertaken by David David Wissak), an American, and his Eastern European, French-speaking girlfriend, Katia (Katia Golubeva). Proving the adage about being wary of movies in which the characters' names are the same as the actors, David and Katia are virtual ciphers
indeed, they barely communicate even with each other as neither speaks the other's language.
But they do have sex, and quite a lot of it, rendered in highly graphic but ultimately laughable scenes because the onscreen orgasms are so violent and torrential in nature that one fears for the performers' safety. Needless to say, this aspect of the film, with the couplings often taking place outdoors in quite scenic locations, will no doubt figure prominently in the international marketing campaign.
The film's climax, a particularly brutal episode, won't be revealed here, but suffice it to say that memories of "Deliverance" are likely to be stirred. The director has said that he intended "Twentynine Palms" to be a horror film, but the label ill matches the sleep-inducing proceedings on display.
Twentynine Palms
Wellspring
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Bruno Dumont
Producers: Jean Brehat, Rachid Bouchareb
Executive producers: Muriel Merlin in association with the 7th Floor, Allen Bain, Jesse Scolaro, Darren Goldberg
Director of photography: Georges Lechaptois
Editor: Dominique Petrot
Cast:
Katia: Katia Golubeva
David: David Wissak
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 130 minutes...
Filmed in California's Joshua Tree Desert -- the widescreen compositions of Georges Lechaptois are quite beautiful -- the film chronicles the seemingly interminable road trip undertaken by David David Wissak), an American, and his Eastern European, French-speaking girlfriend, Katia (Katia Golubeva). Proving the adage about being wary of movies in which the characters' names are the same as the actors, David and Katia are virtual ciphers
indeed, they barely communicate even with each other as neither speaks the other's language.
But they do have sex, and quite a lot of it, rendered in highly graphic but ultimately laughable scenes because the onscreen orgasms are so violent and torrential in nature that one fears for the performers' safety. Needless to say, this aspect of the film, with the couplings often taking place outdoors in quite scenic locations, will no doubt figure prominently in the international marketing campaign.
The film's climax, a particularly brutal episode, won't be revealed here, but suffice it to say that memories of "Deliverance" are likely to be stirred. The director has said that he intended "Twentynine Palms" to be a horror film, but the label ill matches the sleep-inducing proceedings on display.
Twentynine Palms
Wellspring
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Bruno Dumont
Producers: Jean Brehat, Rachid Bouchareb
Executive producers: Muriel Merlin in association with the 7th Floor, Allen Bain, Jesse Scolaro, Darren Goldberg
Director of photography: Georges Lechaptois
Editor: Dominique Petrot
Cast:
Katia: Katia Golubeva
David: David Wissak
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 130 minutes...
NEW YORK -- By only his third feature, the misanthropy of director Bruno Dumont is already beginning to get wearisome. This latest effort, a tedious road movie in which a young couple drive around the desert, stopping occasionally to have animalistic sex, is presumably intended to be significant because of its shocker of an ending. That would be all well and good if the filmmaker has something significant to say, but "Twentynine Palms" is ultimately a hollow and pointless exercise. Currently being showcased at the Rendez-Vous With French Cinema 2004 series at New York's Walter Reade Theatre, the film opens commercially later in the spring.
Filmed in California's Joshua Tree Desert -- the widescreen compositions of Georges Lechaptois are quite beautiful -- the film chronicles the seemingly interminable road trip undertaken by David David Wissak), an American, and his Eastern European, French-speaking girlfriend, Katia (Katia Golubeva). Proving the adage about being wary of movies in which the characters' names are the same as the actors, David and Katia are virtual ciphers
indeed, they barely communicate even with each other as neither speaks the other's language.
But they do have sex, and quite a lot of it, rendered in highly graphic but ultimately laughable scenes because the onscreen orgasms are so violent and torrential in nature that one fears for the performers' safety. Needless to say, this aspect of the film, with the couplings often taking place outdoors in quite scenic locations, will no doubt figure prominently in the international marketing campaign.
The film's climax, a particularly brutal episode, won't be revealed here, but suffice it to say that memories of "Deliverance" are likely to be stirred. The director has said that he intended "Twentynine Palms" to be a horror film, but the label ill matches the sleep-inducing proceedings on display.
Twentynine Palms
Wellspring
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Bruno Dumont
Producers: Jean Brehat, Rachid Bouchareb
Executive producers: Muriel Merlin in association with the 7th Floor, Allen Bain, Jesse Scolaro, Darren Goldberg
Director of photography: Georges Lechaptois
Editor: Dominique Petrot
Cast:
Katia: Katia Golubeva
David: David Wissak
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 130 minutes...
Filmed in California's Joshua Tree Desert -- the widescreen compositions of Georges Lechaptois are quite beautiful -- the film chronicles the seemingly interminable road trip undertaken by David David Wissak), an American, and his Eastern European, French-speaking girlfriend, Katia (Katia Golubeva). Proving the adage about being wary of movies in which the characters' names are the same as the actors, David and Katia are virtual ciphers
indeed, they barely communicate even with each other as neither speaks the other's language.
But they do have sex, and quite a lot of it, rendered in highly graphic but ultimately laughable scenes because the onscreen orgasms are so violent and torrential in nature that one fears for the performers' safety. Needless to say, this aspect of the film, with the couplings often taking place outdoors in quite scenic locations, will no doubt figure prominently in the international marketing campaign.
The film's climax, a particularly brutal episode, won't be revealed here, but suffice it to say that memories of "Deliverance" are likely to be stirred. The director has said that he intended "Twentynine Palms" to be a horror film, but the label ill matches the sleep-inducing proceedings on display.
Twentynine Palms
Wellspring
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Bruno Dumont
Producers: Jean Brehat, Rachid Bouchareb
Executive producers: Muriel Merlin in association with the 7th Floor, Allen Bain, Jesse Scolaro, Darren Goldberg
Director of photography: Georges Lechaptois
Editor: Dominique Petrot
Cast:
Katia: Katia Golubeva
David: David Wissak
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 130 minutes...
- 3/22/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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