Luis Guzman

Denzel Washington, John Travolta in Average ‘The Taking of Pelham 123’

BrianTT — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:31:19 -0600

Rating: 3.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Tony Scott’s remake of “The Taking of Pelham 123,” starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, is likely to meet sun-drained audience expectations for a straight-forward, adult-driven action film this season but the overly stylized and not-so-thrilling train ride is ultimately merely average at best and will disappoint fans looking for anything more.

The opportunity to make something “just not bad” out of the very well-liked “The Taking of Pelham 123” was definitely missed but there are elements of the film - mostly in the performances of Washington and Travolta and some of the choices made by screenwriter Brian Helgeland (“L.A. Confidential”) - that undeniably do work and adults looking for non-sequel action are likely to be satisfied by what this train delivers.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “The Taking of Pelham 123” in our reviews section.

“The Taking of Pelham 123” is nearly presented in real-time and opens with the hijacking of a New York City subway train by a group of domestic terrorists led by the deadly Ryder (John Travolta). Ryder and his team clearly know how the rail system works, un-coupling the Pelham train at just the right point where snipers can’t get an easy shot and they can control communication.

Ryder phones in his demand of $10 million in an hour through dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington), a former executive who has been demoted while he’s being investigated for allegedly taking a bribe. Of course, Ryder and Garber develop a bond that allows for a lot of monologues, confessions, and revealed motives. Can the family man under a cloud of suspicion himself talk the deadly hostage-taker out of drastic action before it’s too late? James Gandolfini and John Tuturro co-star.

‘The Taking of Pelham 123’ stars Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini, John Turturro, and Luis Guzman. It was written by Brian Helgeland and directed by Tony Scott. It opens on June 12th, 2009. It is rated R.

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “The Taking of Pelham 123” review.

Denzel Washington in Columbia Pictures’ action thriller THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123, also starring John Travolta.
Photo credit: Sony/Rico Torres

Slideshow: 21-Image Gallery For ‘Fighting’ With Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard

BrianTT — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:46:05 -0600

CHICAGO – This 21-image slideshow contains the press images for Rogue Pictures’ “Fighting,” starring Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Zulay Henao, Brian White, and Luis Guzman. Written by Dito Montiel and Robert Munich and directed by Montiel, the film opens on Friday, April 24th, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

Synopsis: “WSmall-town boy Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) has come to New York City with nothing. Barely earning a living selling counterfeit goods on the streets, his luck changes when scam artist Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard) sees that he has a natural talent for streetfighting. When Harvey offers Shawn help at making the real cash, the two form an uneasy partnership.

As Shawn’s manager, Harvey introduces him to the corrupt bare-knuckle circuit, where rich men bet on disposable pawns. Almost overnight, he becomes a star brawler, taking down professional boxers, mixed martial arts champs and ultimate fighters in a series of staggeringly intense bouts. But if Shawn ever hopes to escape the dark world in which he’s found himself, he must now face the toughest fight of his life.”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to Phillip V. Caruso and Rogue Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

fighting_01: Star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) tries to charm Zulay Velez (Zulay Henao) in the action film Fighting.
fighting_02: Zulay Henao as Shawn?s girlfriend, Zulay Velez, in the action film Fighting.
fighting_03: Channing Tatum as star brawler Shawn MacArthur in the action film Fighting.
fighting_04: Director Dito Montiel on the set of the action film Fighting.
fighting_05: Zulay Henao as the girlfriend of Shawn, Zulay Velez, in the action film Fighting.
fighting_06: Star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) and girlfriend Zulay Velez (Zulay Henao) in the action film Fighting.
fighting_07: Director Dito Montiel on the set of the action film Fighting.
fighting_08: Channing Tatum as star brawler Shawn MacArthur in the action film Fighting.
fighting_09: Terrence Howard as the manager of Shawn, Harvey Boarden, in the action film Fighting.
fighting_10: (L to R) Manager Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard) gives hard advice to star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) in the action film Fighting.
fighting_11: Channing Tatum as star brawler Shawn MacArthur in the action film Fighting.
fighting_12: (L to R) Manager Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard) argues with star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) in the action film Fighting.
fighting_13: (L to R) Star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) slams opponent Kimo (Dante Nero) in the action film Fighting.
fighting_14: (L to R) Director Dito Montiel and Channing Tatum as star brawler Shawn MacArthur on the set of the action film Fighting.
fighting_15: Star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) faces off with an opponent in the action film Fighting.
fighting_16: Brian J. White as the nemesis of Shawn, Evan Hailey, in the action film Fighting.
fighting_17: Star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum, Right) tries to take down his nemesis Evan Hailey (Brian J. White) in the action film Fighting.
fighting_18: (L to R) Manager Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard) tries to reason with star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) in the action film Fighting.
fighting_19: (L to R) Star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) dodges a blow from Kimo (Dante Nero) in the action film Fighting.
fighting_20: Channing Tatum as star brawler Shawn MacArthur in the action film Fighting.
fighting_21: Star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) and girlfriend Zulay Velez (Zulay Henao) in the action film Fighting.

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

‘Nothing Like the Holidays’ Does Nothing to Stand Out From Christmas Movie Crowd

BrianTT — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:56:31 -0700

CHICAGO – When it was still called “Humboldt Park” and was probably more closely related to Chicago’s thriving Hispanic neighborhood, Alfredo De Villa’s “Nothing Like the Holidays” was probably a lot more interesting than the cookie-cutter dramedy that ended up on the big screen.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

Just as the title was turned more generic, “Holidays” became a film that we’ve seen dozens of times before. It’s a typical family holiday movie that lives and dies on the likeability of its extensive ensemble cast, but that, unfortunately, sacrifices its believable characters due to its emphasis on quantity over quality. Like last year’s “This Christmas”, every character comes to the dinner table not with a fruitcake but with a problem that audiences can expect to be resolved before the credits roll.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Nothing Like the Holidays” in our reviews section.

There’s something comforting about good holiday movies that make them such an annual staple. We’d all love to think that our family isn’t the only weird or troubled one out there and that the warmth of the holiday season will resolve everyone’s deepest issues just in time for the New Year. But when that believability is pushed to the breaking point with ridiculous behavior and unlikable characters, the subgenre falls apart.

‘Nothing Like the Holidays’ stars Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Pena, Freddy Rodriguez, Humboldt Park, Luis Guzman, Vanessa Ferlito, Melonie Diaz, John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, and Jay Hernandez, ‘Nothing Like the Holidays,’ which was written by Alison Swan and Rick Najera and directed by Alfredo De Villa, opened on December 12, 2008.

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Nothing Like the Holidays” review.

Freddy Rodriguez, John Leguizamo, and Vanessa Ferlito star in Nothing Like the Holidays.
Photo credit: Overture Films

Exclusive Red-Carpet Portraits: Luis Guzman, Freddy Rodriguez, Elizabeth Pena For ‘Nothing Like the Holidays’

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:36:54 -0700

CHICAGO – Luis Guzman, Freddy Rodriguez and Elizabeth Pena were in Chicago on a snowy Dec. 1, 2008 for the red-carpet premiere of the new Chicago-filmed movie “Nothing Like the Holidays” at the Music Box Theatre. The HollywoodChicago.com lens captured their exclusive portraits.

“Nothing Like the Holidays,” which opens on Dec. 12, 2008 and was formerly called “Humboldt Park,” stars Debra Messing, John Leguizamo, Luis Guzman, Freddy Rodriguez, Elizabeth Pena and Alfred Molina. “Nothing Like the Holidays” follows a Puerto Rican family living in the area of Humboldt Park in west Chicago as they face what may be their last Christmas together.

Luis Guzman poses for the HollywoodChicago.com lens in Chicago on Dec. 1, 2008 at
the Music Box Theatre for the red-carpet premiere of “Nothing Like the Holidays”.
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Freddy Rodriguez poses for the HollywoodChicago.com lens in Chicago on Dec. 1, 2008 at
the Music Box Theatre for the red-carpet premiere of “Nothing Like the Holidays”.
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Elizabeth Pena poses for the HollywoodChicago.com lens in Chicago on Dec. 1, 2008 at
the Music Box Theatre for the red-carpet premiere of “Nothing Like the Holidays”.
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

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