Carla Gugino

Preview: The Best of the 45th Chicago International Film Festival, Week One

BrianTT — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:51:16 -0600

CHICAGO – We’ve been working our way through the schedule for the upcoming 45th Annual Chicago International Film Festival, kicking off tonight with the premiere of “Motherhood,” starring Uma Thurman, Anthony Edwards, and Minnie Driver. We’ve watched dozens of films from some that stand among the best of the year to a few that stand among the worst. We’re here to focus on the former and point out a few highlights for your movie-going weekend.

The best films of the first week of the fest include a spectacular coming-of-age story, an intense drama, a fascinating documentary, and a Russian musical. The lineup at this year’s fest may be a little light on true gems that instantly jump out from the printed schedule, but it just means you’ll have to dig a little harder. There are great films on there. Here are a few.

The top tier of film’s this weekend includes Lone Scherfig’s “An Education,” Oren Moverman’s “The Messenger,” Ruxandra Medrea Annonier and Serge Bromberg’s “Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno,” and Valery Todorovsky’s “Hipsters”. They stand among the best films of the year to unspool in Chicago, outside of the film festival or within it.

An Education
Photo credit: The Chicago International Film Festival

“An Education”
October 11th, 6pm

Last year, “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Wrestler” played at the Chicago Film Festival before they became major Oscar contenders. “An Education” is one of the films from this year’s fest with Oscar written all over it. Carey Mulligan gives what will become an iconic debut performance (and possibly Oscar-winning) as a young, bright schoolgirl in London in the early ’60s. Much smarter and more mature than her age, she finds herself drawn in by a charismatic older man (Peter Sarsgaard), but “An Education” is not a traditional May-December coming-of-age tale. With a script by Nick Hornby (“High Fidelity,” “About a Boy”), it’s funny, genuine, sweet, and incredibly moving. Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Olivia Williams, Sally Hawkins, and Emma Thompson also star in one of the best films of the year. Director Lone Scherfig will be in attendance.

Hipsters
Photo credit: The Chicago International Film Festival

“Hipsters”
October 9th, 6:30pm
October 10th, 6:00pm
October 11th, 12:30pm

From a film that will be a major part of the year-end conversation to one that probably won’t play again in Chicago (unless it has a quick Facets, Siskel, or possibly even Music Box run down the road). See “An Education” because it’s great. See “Hipsters” because it’s like nothing else you’ll see this year and you probably won’t get the chance again soon. Like a Russian version of “West Side Story” reimagined by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (“Amelie”), “Hipsters” is a musical about Moscow life in 1955. Young Russians are infatuated with American culture, puffing up their pompadours, falling in love with jazz, and learning all the big band dance moves. A young KGB agent falls in love with someone on the other side of the counter-culture fence and a star-crossed romance ensues. The word I keep think of when it comes to “Hipsters” is vibrant. This movie is so alive that it’s bursting at the seams. The festival program asks if it could be this year’s “Slumdog Millionaire”. The answer is no because Russian musicals have much bigger hills to climb to popularity than Danny Boyle films, but after seeing it, the question doesn’t seem that ridiculous. Director Todorovsky will be in attendance.

Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno
Photo credit: The Chicago International Film Festival

“Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno”
October 11th, 1pm
October 15th, 6pm

One of the best documentaries of the year is about the mid-’60s French masterpiece that was never meant to be. Henri-Georges Clouzot had already directed two of the most influential films of all time - “Diabolique,” “The Wages of Fear” - when he was basically given complete control and nearly unlimited budget on what would be his most ambitious film, “Inferno”. The story of an average-looking man and the jealousy that destroys his life with his stunning wife (the gorgeous Romy Schneider) would incorporate different film styles, require multiple camera teams, and take weeks. The film would never be completed and what was shot languishes in film cans, unfinished and unseen. Directors Ruxandra Medrea Annonier and Serge Bromberg not only unveil the footage that was shot but try and link it together with actors stage-reading from the screenplay to fill in the storytelling the gaps. At the same time, they tell the story behind the story - a man with his own demons of obsession making a movie about uncontrolled emotion. “Inferno” would be an amazing film if just to see what Clouzot was intending with his lost masterpiece but the documentary that details its fall is just as interesting. This is a must-see for film historians.

The Messenger
Photo credit: The Chicago International Film Festival

“The Messenger”
October 10th, 8pm ($25)
October 11th, 7:30pm

It appears that 2009 was the year that enough time had passed that interesting films could be made about the Iraq War. After years of films that ranged from just bad to downright insufferable, 2009 has given us an amazing film about being in country (“The Hurt Locker”) and a great one about the return home in “The Messenger”. Ben Foster gives the best performance of his career as Will Montgomery, a troubled young man just returned from the front lines without much to hold on to in the States. With three months to serve, he is given one of the most emotionally devastating jobs imaginable, one of the two men who tell the “NOK” (next of kin) when their relative has died in combat. Co-starring Woody Harrelson, who also gives one of the best performances of his career,” The Messenger is a film that is hard to watch and even harder to shake. The sad eyes of its characters linger with you and the film serves as a better reminder of the true cost of war than any in a very long time. Star Ben Foster and director Oren Moverman will be in attendance at the screening on the 10th.

Check out page two for the second tier of week one highlights.

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Race to Witch Mountain’ With Dwayne Johnson a Waste of Energy

BrianTT — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:04:45 -0600

CHICAGO – “Race to Witch Mountain,” now on Blu-Ray and DVD, is a head-scratcher, a movie with more than enough individual elements that should work but proof that a film is not just the sum of its parts. Dwayne Johnson is charismatic, AnnaSophia Robb is one of the better young actresses working today, Carla Gugino is always good, and the source material is beloved, but “Race to Witch Mountain” is a mess that never connects with its target audience or their parents.

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

The plot of “Race to Witch Mountain” is simple. A pair of aliens who look like teenagers (AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig) crash land near Las Vegas. While they’re being chased by an alien bounty hunter and a group of human men in black (including Ciaran Hinds, Chris Marquette, and Tom Everett Scott), they stumble into the life of a cab driver (Johnson) and a scientist (Gugino), the only two people who can help them save planet Earth from destruction.

Race to Witch Mountain was released on Blu-Ray on August 4th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

The big problem with “Witch Mountain” is a breakneck pace that doesn’t allow the audience to latch on to anything worth caring about. Johnson is reduced to nothing more than a series of shocked expressions and scenes of running. Robb, so great in “Bridge to Terabithia,” is allowed to show none of her range, merely explaining the plot whenever she has time to catch her breath. And even the lovely Gugino is purely a plot device.

Race to Witch Mountain was released on Blu-Ray on August 4th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

Director Andy Fickman (who also worked with the actor formerly known as The Rock on “The Game Plan”) takes the first word of his title way too seriously, forgetting that a movie needs ups AND downs to really work. Watching characters we don’t care about run from point A to point B gets numbingly dull, even for kids.

Disney is wisely releasing all family films in gorgeous 3-disc packs that include a Blu-Ray copy, standard DVD copy, and digital copy of the movie. Kids like to watch movies anywhere from the family room to their bedroom to the car to their iPod and this new “all options” delivery system is really the way to go.

Both the standard DVD and Blu-Ray release of “Race to Witch Mountain” include deleted scenes, bloopers, and promotional bits for Blu-Ray (with Dylan & Cole Sprause) and digital copy. The Blu-Ray combo pack includes “Which Mountain?,” a bit in which Fickman reveals the film’s hidden reference to the original movies, “Escape to Witch Mountain” and “Return From Witch Mountain”. The Blu-Ray version is also D-Box enabled.

All versions feature a surprising lack of behind-the-scenes material and no commentary track, adding to the feeling that “Witch Mountain” is a bit of a disappointment all-around, as a film and a home release.

‘Race to Witch Mountain’ is released by Buena Vista Home Video and stars Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Everett Scott, and Chris Marquette. It was written by Matt Lopez and Mark Bomback and directed by Andy Fickman. The Blu-Ray and DVD were released on August 4th, 2009. It is rated PG.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

DVD Review: Director’s Cut of ‘Watchmen’ Gives Fans Half a Release

BrianTT — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:42:41 -0600

CHICAGO – Despite the serious problems I had with Zack Snyder’s “Watchmen,” it was a Blu-Ray and DVD title that I was highly anticipating. With the film’s detailed production level, lengthy running time, and broad scope, it would seem to be tailor-made for a loyal home audience. Whether you like the film or not, that audience is getting screwed.

DVD Rating: 2.0/5.0

Let’s leave aside for now any possible disagreement over the actual movie. We’ll get to that later. The DVD is undeniably, irrefutably, a place-holder. There is no way this is the final word on DVD and Blu-Ray on “Watchmen,” a film that has not only seen its share of controversy but also had secondary home releases to date, including “The Complete Motion Comic” and “Tales of the Black Freighter”.

Watchmen: Director’s Cut was released on DVD on July 21st, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Why don’t we look into the DVD/Blu-Ray crystal ball? I can guarantee that there will be a future release of “Watchmen” that delivers a far-more-complete package, including at least “Freighter” and maybe even the “CMC” in one set and with literally hours of special features about the making of the film, artwork, promotional material, interviews, etc. Heck, there will at LEAST be a version that includes the theatrical and director’s cut on one DVD. Is that too much to ask the first time around?

Watchmen: Director’s Cut was released on DVD on July 21st, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

It also feels like this is probably not the last “Director’s Cut”. This version includes 24 extra minutes which we’ll get to, but is not the long-rumored 205-minute version of the film that will reportedly splice “Freighter” material back into the film. Anyone want to bet that hits stores in 2010?

Now that I’m done ranting about the blatant double-dip I feel is inevitable, let’s move on to the film itself.

I love the book. I wanted to love the movie, but it is a deeply flawed film that misses a lot of what makes the book work. Snyder undeniably recreated a majority of the imagery from his source material, but he compiled them in a way that made for a brutally disjointed experience. Like a karaoke singer, “Watchmen” gets a lot of the words right but misses the meaning.

“Watchmen” is about the very definitions of the words hero and villain. When our good guys are working on weapons that could end the world and our bad ones are taking out the scum of the Earth vigilante-style, who is the real superhero? What can a masked man possibly accomplish?

The biggest problem with “Watchmen” is an overabundance of ideas. “Watchmen” could have been a 12-hour HBO mini-series. It simply doesn’t work as a 3-hour film. None of the action is given any time to sink in. “Watchmen” is an experience to be savored, to be read in installments, not to be pounded into a viewer’s head. It’s like watching an entire season of highlights from “Lost” in 160 minutes. It’s not given a chance to breathe, as each revelation, each origin story, and each character arc is hurried through to get to the next.

Watchmen: Director’s Cut was released on DVD on July 21st, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

On a positive level, I do admire the ambition of Snyder’s work, Jackie Earle Haley steals the movie as Rorschach, and Billy Crudup gives a genuinely sad performance. Watching the film again, I didn’t react as negatively as I did the first time, although I still think all of my criticisms of it hold true and any theory that this is a film that will be rewarded and revered by the passage of time is just wrong.

So, what’s new in this version? Most of the new footage involves minor changes - a line of dialogue here and there, a new character beat every once in awhile. None of it is major and none of it rescues the film from its flaws. I do think this version is a bit more fleshed-out, but it certainly doesn’t solve Snyder’s pacing problems or radically change anyone’s opinions of the film. This is not “Blade Runner”-level differences. So, don’t expect your opinion to change by more than half a star at best.

Watchmen: Director’s Cut was released on DVD on July 21st, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Special Features:

“The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics” (28:46)

You would think that this feature would be driven by the graphic novel, but when it starts with a sound bite from Malin Akerman, you soon realize that it’s driven by the film and the actor’s experiences with one of the best books ever written. Ever wonder what Carla Gugino thinks of “Watchmen”? Wonder no more. Luckily, there are enough journalist and industry insights to keep the featurette from becoming too much of a commercial for the film. It’s essentially a love letter to the book by Alan Moore (whose name is, almost hysterically, barely even mentioned in the featurette, clearly because of his disassociation with the film) and Dave Gibbons. Even though it’s odd to hear from the lead singer of My Chemical Romance about “Watchmen” but allow almost no recognition of the actual AUTHOR, there is enough interesting material here to warrant a look.

“Watchmen: Video Journals” - “The Minutemen” (3:36), “Sets and Sensibility” (3:57), “Dressed For Success” (3:06), “The Ship Has Eyes” (4:23), “Dave Gibbons” (3:25), “Burn Baby Burn” (2:15), “Shoot to Thrill” (3:17), “Blue Monday” (3:02), “Attention to Detail” (2:56), “Girls Kick Ass” (3:06), and “Rorschach’s Mask” (3:46)

Watchmen: Director’s Cut was released on DVD on July 21st, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

These are a series of EPK-style quickies at behind-the-scenes material and certain characters mostly fueled by cast & crew interviews. Why not organize these into one documentary about the making of the film? I find mini-featurettes annoying, especially without a “Play All” feature, although there is some interesting material spread throughout the 11 journals.

“My Chemical Romance - “Desolation Row” Music Video” (3:15)

A decent video for a pretty good song.

All in all, without BD-Live functionality (and we tried to get a Blu-Ray copy for review but were denied one by Warner Brothers), the special features on a film that will surely have a loyal following run just over an hour. Anyone really think this is the final word on “Watchmen”?

‘Watchmen’ is released by Warner Bros. Home Video and stars Malin Akerman, Carla Gugino, Billy Crudup, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Matthew Goode, and Patrick Wilson. It was written by David Hayter & Alex Tse and directed by Zack Snyder. It was released on July 21st, 2009. It is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Tales of the Black Freighter’ a Great Companion to ‘Watchmen’

BrianTT — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:58:39 -0600

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s influential graphic novel “Watchmen” may have not made the impact that we all expected it to in theaters, but it is a film and book that still has legions of fans. Fan of the book or the movie or both should take a look at the interesting “Tales of the Black Freighter,” a companion piece that fills in the world of “Watchmen” and is now available on Blu-Ray.

“Tales of the Black Freighter” is the name of a comic book within the world of the “Watchmen” that a young boy is reading throughout the graphic novel. Understandably, the “Freighter” had to be cut from the already over-long film, but director Zack Snyder and one of his writers on the film, Alex Tse, adapted it and turned it into a 26-minute animated film featuring voice work by Gerard Butler (“300”) and Jared Harris (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”).

Tales of the Black Freighter was released on Blu-Ray on March 24th, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers

“Black Freighter” is a highly stylized tale of a pirate trying to get home and save his family before the black freighter beats him to it. With lines like “His head burst as if pressurized by the guilt within,” “Black Freighter” is an old-fashioned pirate tale with an Alan Moore twist.

Tales of the Black Freighter was released on Blu-Ray on March 24th, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers

“Freighter” served several functions in the graphic novel - breaking up the superhero action of the piece, illustrating the depth of this world in that comics still exist in a world with real caped crusaders, and thematic parallels to the action of the story, particularly the arc of Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias. As a stand-alone story, it’s interesting but not riveting storytelling. It’s truly a companion piece to “Watchmen”.

Directed by Daniel Delpurgatorio and Mike Smith, “Tales From the Black Freighter” undeniably looks amazing. The artwork is loyal to the book but is not merely a motion comics. It’s a beautiful film, especially in HD. What really elevates this “Freighter” is the fantastic voice work by Butler. He should do more.

Another break in the action in the original was Hollis Mason’s “Under the Hood,” a fictional non-fiction book about what it was like to be a superhero back when men started wearing masks. Director Eric Matthies has made a live-action/CGI version about that book with interviews with Mason (Stephen McHattie) and Silk Spectre (Carla Gugino). It’s a little cheesy and doesn’t stand on its own. “Hood” is nearly 50% longer than “Freighter” but the latter is still the draw on this release.

I hope that one day “Black Freighter” and “Under the Hood” are at least available as branching options on the film itself. They could be reinserted as act breaks, like they sort of were in the book, and add depth to a film that was lacking it.

“Tales of the Black Freighter” and “Under the Hood” may not stand on their own but they’re must-sees for fans of the book or movie. As the back of the Blu-Ray case says, “Two fan-essential stories. One place to watch the excitement.”

Special features on the Blu-Ray release include “Story Within a Story: The Books of Watchmen,” “Watchmen Motion Comic Episode 1,” and a first look at DC Universe’s animated “Green Lantern”.

‘Tales of the Black Freighter’ is released by Warner Brothers Home Video and features voice work by Gerard Butler and Jared Harris. It was written by Alex Tse & Zack Snyder and directed by Daniel Delpurgatorio and Mike Smith. It was released on March 24th, 2009. It is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Zack Snyder Turns ‘Watchmen’ Into Loud, Disjointed, Brutal Mess

BrianTT — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:29:00 -0700

Rating: 2.0/5.0

CHICAGO – For years, fans of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s masterful and influential “Watchmen” have been waiting for a filmmaker willing to faithfully and slavishly adapt their favorite graphic novel. Well, we got what we wanted in Zack Snyder’s frame-copying vision of this legendary book, but as someone once said - You should be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.

Snyder’s take on “Watchmen” is like a karaoke singer who hits most of the notes but doesn’t understand the lyrics to the song. The filmmaker has recreated a majority of the panels from his source material, but he’s compiled them in such a way that makes for a brutal, disjointed, misguided experience.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Watchmen” in our reviews section.

There are enough good ideas in the original that people unfamiliar with it and still refusing to read it may have something to talk about after seeing “Watchmen” but those elements that work are in spite of the people who made this film, not because of them. Except for a few strong performances (balanced out by a few awful ones) and the strength of the ideas at the core of “Watchmen,” the film is a complete disaster, one of the biggest disappointments of the last several years.

The opening credits to “Watchmen” arguably make up the most effective sequence in the film. Set to “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” Snyder introduces us to his alternate universe, one in which masked crusaders have come and gone and Richard Nixon is still President in 1985. The world is on the edge of nuclear armageddon as the U.S. and U.S.S.R. have their nuclear weapons pointed at each other, held back from launching them by the existence of a God-like figure named Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup).

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Watchmen” review.

‘Watchmen’ stars Malin Akerman, Carla Gugino, Billy Crudup, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Matthew Goode, and Patrick Wilson. ‘Watchmen,’ which was written by David Hayter & Alex Tse and directed by Zack Snyder, opens on March 6th, 2009. It is rated R.

Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl II, Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.
Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Slideshow: 18-Image Gallery From ‘Race to Witch Mountain’ With Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

BrianTT — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:20:50 -0700

CHICAGO – This 18-image slideshow contains the available press images for Walt Disney Pictures’ “Race to Witch Mountain,” starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Carla Gugino, Anna SophiaRobb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Everett Scott, Chris Marquette, and Billy Brown. The film, directed by Andy Fickman, opens on Friday, March 13th, 2009.

Synopsis: “For years, stories have circulated about a secret place in the middle of the Nevada desert known for unexplained phenomena and strange sightings. It is called Witch Mountain, and when Las Vegas cab driver Jack Bruno (Dwayne Johnson) encounters two teens with supernatural powers in his cab, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of an adventure he can’t explain. Working together, Jack and his young passengers discover that the only chance to save the world lies in unraveling the secrets of Witch Mountain, and the race begins.

Walt Disney Pictures’ “Race to Witch Mountain” marks the Disney reunion of director Andy Fickman (“The Game Plan,” “She’s the Man”) with Dwayne Johnson (“Get Smart,” “The Game Plan”). The producer is Andrew Gunn (“Bedtime Stories,” “Freaky Friday”), with executive producers Mario Iscovich (“The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement”) and Ann Marie Sanderlin (“Freaky Friday”). The film’s screenplay is by Matt Lopez (“Bedtime Stories”) and Mark Bomback (“Live Free or Die Hard”), from a screen story by Matt Lopez based on the book “Escape to Witch Mountain” by Alexander Key. The film is a modern-day re-imagining of Key’s book, which was made into the 1975 Disney classic “Escape to Witch Mountain” and whose characters inspired the 1978 film sequel, “Return
from Witch Mountain.”

Working alongside Johnson is an impressive roster of up-and-comers, as well as some of the industry’s leading talent: AnnaSophia Robb (“Bridge to Terabithia,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”), Carla Gugino (“Night at the Museum,” “Watchmen”), Ciarán Hinds (“There Will Be Blood,” “Munich”), Alexander Ludwig (“The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising”), Tom Everett Scott (“That Thing You Do!,” “ER”), Christopher Marquette (“Just Friends”), Cheech Marin (“Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” “Cars”), Garry Marshall (“The Simpsons,” “Chicken Little”) and Billy Brown (“Cloverfield,” “Lakeview Terrace”). The cast also includes Kim Richards and Iake Eissinmann,

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos are credited to Ron Phillips and © 2008 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

witch_mountain_01: Alexander Ludwig, Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Carla Gugino
witch_mountain_02: Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Dwayne Johnson
witch_mountain_03: Carla Gugino, Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig
witch_mountain_04: AnnaSophia Robb, Dwayne Johnson, Alexander Ludwig
witch_mountain_05: AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Dwayne Johnson
witch_mountain_06: Dwayne Johnson, Alexander Ludwig, AnnaSophia Robb
witch_mountain_07: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino
witch_mountain_08: Cheech Marin, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig
witch_mountain_09: Tom Everett Scott, Ciaran Hinds, Chris Marquette, Billy Brown, Soldiers
witch_mountain_10: Chris Marquette, Ciaran Hinds, Billy Brown
witch_mountain_11: Chris Marquette, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Everett Scott
witch_mountain_12: Chris Marquette, Tom Everett Scott
witch_mountain_13: Kevin Christy, Bob Clendenin, Garry Marshall
witch_mountain_14: Dwayne Johnson
witch_mountain_15: Andrew Gunn, Dwayne Johnson
witch_mountain_16: Andy Fickman, Dwayne Johnson
witch_mountain_17: AnnaSophia Robb, Dwayne Johnson, Alexander Ludwig
witch_mountain_18: Carla Gugino, Alexander Ludwig, Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘Watchmen’ at Chicago’s Navy Pier IMAX Adds Morning Screening on March 6, 2009

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:22:30 -0700

CHICAGO – If you’re like many others who crave braving the opening-day crowds to see the highly anticipated new “Watchmen” film, HollywoodChicago.com has learned that Chicago’s Navy Pier IMAX theatre has just added one additional screening at 7 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2009. Chicago moviegoers could even catch the flick and make it to work by 10 a.m.

“Watchmen,” which is a movie adaptation of one of the most celebrated graphic novels of our time, stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Matt Frewer, Laura Mennell, Stephen McHattie, Rob LaBelle, Gary Houston, James M. Connor and Mary Ann Burger from “300” director Zack Snyder.

Opening weekend will begin with a sold-out screening at midnight on Friday, March 6, 2009 (i.e. late Thursday night on March 5, 2009). IMAX tickets for opening weekend – including the newly added 7 a.m. screening – are now on sale. Tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and $13 for children. They are available at the Navy Pier IMAX theatre box office at 700 E. Grand Ave. or online here.

The “Watchmen” ensemble.
Image credit: Warner Bros.

“The film and story are so detailed,” said “Watchmen” director Zack Snyder in a Tuesday statement. “The minutiae of its setting and characters are integral to the film. Seeing the film presented in IMAX will allow audiences to be fully immersed in the world of ‘Watchmen’.”

Here is the “Watchmen” plot description (source):

In a gritty and alternate 1985, the glory days of costumed vigilantes have been brought to a close by a government crackdown. After one of the masked veterans is brutally murdered, though, an investigation into the killer is initiated.

The reunited heroes set out to prevent their own destruction, but in doing so, they discover a deeper and much more diabolical plot.

Before “Watchmen” opens, Chicagoans have one last chance to see “The Dark Knight” in IMAX. Featuring the Oscar-winning performance by the late Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight” was originally released in July 2008. “The Dark Knight” will be screened for the final time in Chicago on Thursday, March 5, 2009. Tickets are now available now for the final days of “The Dark Knight”.

See our 26-image “Watchmen” slideshow of world-premiere arrivals.
See our 26-image “Watchmen” slideshow (part one).
See our 26-image “Watchmen” slideshow (part two).
Read more “Watchmen” coverage on HollywoodChicago.com.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 26-Image Gallery For Red-Carpet Arrivals at the World Premiere of ‘Watchmen’

BrianTT — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:38:50 -0700

CHICAGO – This 26-image slideshow contains a selection of the red carpet arrivals for the world premiere of “Watchmen” at the Odeon, Leicester Square on February 23rd, 2009. Check out images of Carla Gugino, Malin Akerman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Billy Crudup, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and more of the cast and crew of Zack Snyder’s “Watchmen,” opening March 6th, 2009.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos are credited to Jo Hale and courtesy of Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

jh_watchmen_01: Malin Akerman and Carla Gugino
jh_watchmen_02: Malin Akerman
jh_watchmen_03: Malin Akerman
jh_watchmen_04: Malin Akerman
jh_watchmen_05: Malin Akerman
jh_watchmen_06: Carla Gugino
jh_watchmen_07: Carla Gugino
jh_watchmen_08: The cast
jh_watchmen_09: Jackie Earle Haley
jh_watchmen_10: Malin Akerman
jh_watchmen_11: Matthew Goode
jh_watchmen_12: Matthew Goode
jh_watchmen_13: Matthew Goode
jh_watchmen_14: Jeffrey Dean Morgan
jh_watchmen_15: Jackie Earle Haley
jh_watchmen_16: Jeffrey Dean Morgan
jh_watchmen_17: Malin Akerman and Carla Gugino
jh_watchmen_18: Carla Gugino
jh_watchmen_19: Carla Gugino
jh_watchmen_20: Matthew Goode
jh_watchmen_21: Jackie Earle Haley
jh_watchmen_22: Matthew Goode
jh_watchmen_23: Atmosphere
jh_watchmen_24: Atmosphere
jh_watchmen_25: Atmosphere
jh_watchmen_26: Atmosphere

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 26-Image Gallery For ‘Watchmen’ With Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Billy Crudup

BrianTT — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:10:08 -0700

CHICAGO – This 26-image slideshow contains the second half of the official press images (check out this link for the first half) from the Warner Brothers production of “Watchmen,” based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, starring Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Patrick Wilson. Written by David Hayter and Alex Tse and directed by Zack Snyder, the film opens on Friday, March 6th, 2009.

Synopsis: “A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, “Watchmen” is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the Doomsday Clock—which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union—moves closer to midnight.

When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the outlawed but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion—a disbanded group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers—Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future.

Their mission is to watch over humanity…but who is watching the Watchmen?”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos are credited on their captions when needed and courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Watchmen_27: Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II.
Watchmen_28: Matthew Goode as Ozymandias.
Watchmen_29: Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl II, Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.
Watchmen_30: Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan.
Watchmen_31: Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian.
Watchmen_32: Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.
Watchmen_33: Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II.
Watchmen_34: Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl II.
Watchmen_35: Matthew Goode as Ozymandias.
Watchmen_36: Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan
Watchmen_37: Carla Gugino as Silk Spectre.
Watchmen_38: Matthew Goode (center) as Adrian Veidt is flanked by Walter Addison, (left) as Lee Iacocca and Sonya Salomaa (right) as his assistant.
Watchmen_39: Director Zack Snyder on the set.
Watchmen_40: Jackie Earle Haley as Walter Kovacs.
Watchmen_41: Matthew Goode as Adrian Veidt.
Watchmen_42: Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson) fights off a rioting prisoner as Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman) lends a hand.
Watchmen_43: Matthew Goode as Ozymandias and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian.
Watchmen_44: Dave Gibbons, the co-creator of the graphic novel Watchmen which is now an action adventure film.
Watchmen_45: Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian and Carla Gugino as Silk Spectre.
Watchmen_46: Director Zack Snyder directs Robert Wisden as President Nixon.
Watchmen_47: Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.
Watchmen_48: Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian.
Watchmen_49: Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II.
Watchmen_50: Left: A frame from the graphic novel Watchmen of Rorschach as drawn by Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons. Right: Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.
Watchmen_51: Left: A frame from the graphic novel Watchmen of Dan Dreiberg as drawn by Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons.
Right: Patrick Wilson as Dan Dreiberg.
Watchmen_52: Left: A frame from the graphic novel Watchmen of Karnak in the Antarctic as drawn by Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons. Right: Karnak in the Antarctic.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 26-Image Gallery For ‘Watchmen’ With Malin Akerman, Patrick Wilson

BrianTT — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:36:12 -0700

CHICAGO – This 26-image slideshow contains half of the official press images (the second half can be found here) from the Warner Brothers production of “Watchmen,” based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, starring Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Patrick Wilson. Written by David Hayter and Alex Tse and directed by Zack Snyder, the film opens on Friday, March 6th, 2009.

Their mission is to watch over humanity…but who is watching the Watchmen?”

Watchmen_01: Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian.
Watchmen_02: Archimedes rises into the dark sky.
Watchmen_03: Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian. Photo by Clay Enos.
Watchmen_04: Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II and Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl II.
Watchmen_05: Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II and Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan.
Watchmen_06: L-r: The Minutemen, the original group of costumed heroes, are pictured in 1940: Apollonia Vanova as Silhouette, Niall Mater as Mothman, Dan Payne as Dollar Bill, Clint Carleton as the original Nite Owl, Daryl Scheeler as Captain Metropolis, Carla Gugino as the original Silk Spectre, Glenn Ennis as Hooded Justice and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (kneeling) as The Comedian. Photo by Clay Enos.
Watchmen_07: Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl II. Photo by Clay Enos.
Watchmen_08: Matthew Goode as Ozymandias. Photo by Clay Enos.
Watchmen_09: Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach. Photo by Clay Enos.
Watchmen_10: Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II. Photo by Clay Enos.
Watchmen_11: Jon Osterman (Billy Crudup) is transformed into Dr. Manhattan.
Watchmen_12: Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.
Watchmen_13: Laura Mennell as Janey Slater and Billy Crudup as Jon Osterman.
Watchmen_14: Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan at a press conference.
Watchmen_15: Patrick Wilson as Dan Dreiberg.
Watchmen_16: Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.
Watchmen_17: Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) reflected in the helmet of an astronaut suit.
Watchmen_18: L-r: Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian, Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II, Billy Crudup as Dr, Manhattan, Matthew Goode as Ozymandias, Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl II and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.
Watchmen_19: Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.
Watchmen_20: Matt Frewer as Hollis Mason, the original Nite Owl, and Patrick Wilson as his successor, Dan Dreiberg aka Nite Owl II.
Watchmen_21: Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach and Patrick Wilson as Dan Dreiberg.
Watchmen_22: Malin Akerman as Laurie Jupiter (left, in background), Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach (right, in background).
Watchmen_23: Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan.
Watchmen_24: The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) leaps from the Owl Ship.
Watchmen_25: Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan.
Watchmen_26: Malin Akerman as Laurie Jupiter and Patrick Wilson as Dan Dreiberg.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com