John Travolta

Film Review: Oliver Stone’s ‘Savages’ Harpoons Drug War Absurdities

PatrickMcD — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:44:49 -0400

CHICAGO – Director Oliver Stone sees a controversy, and comments on a controversy, in his own distinctive cinematic style. The new film “Savages” is no exception, taking on the U.S./Mexican marijuana wars, with performances by Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Salma Hayek and John Travolta.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The story of intrigue and kidnapping in the marijuana trade is the surface story, underneath is Stone’s statement on how much energy, law enforcement resources and lives are used up trying to keep a product that people want out of their hands. The endgame on pot prohibition is coming – as John Travolta’s DEA character points out – but before that underground money stream is cut off, people will be tortured, shot, blown up and psychologically ruined, all in the ironic pursuit of providing an outlook altering and wholly available buzz.

Chon (Taylor Kitsch), Ben (Aaron Johnson) and Ophelia (Blake Lively) are living the pure California dream. Their luxurious beachfront home sports all the amenities three twentysomething life drifters could possibly desire. Chon is ex-military, having done tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his travels there determined his stateside business – the production of potent marijuana. Ben is the botanist, discovering a pot strain that is high on the high, and their in-demand product becomes the best in California. Ophelia is part of the reward, a rich girl escaping her trappings to love both men.

One of the largest Mexican pot cartels, led by the mysterious Elena (Salma Hayek), wants a piece of the California action, and threatens Chon and Ben to essentially give them part of the business. The two growers refuse, so the cartel kidnaps their precious Ophelia to convince them otherwise. This now becomes a rescue mission, involving Elena’s ruthless enforcer named Lado (Benicio Del Toro) and a hapless Drug Enforcement Agent named Dennis (John Travolta). The war is on, one that no one can win.

“Savages” opens everywhere on July 6th. Featuring Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek and John Travolta. Screenplay by Shane Salerno, Don Winslow and Oliver Stone. Directed by Oliver Stone. Rated “R”

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Savages”

The High Life: Taylor Kitsch (Chon), Blake Lively (Ophelia) and Aaron Johnson (Ben) in ‘Savages’
Photo credit: Universal Pictures

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Savages”

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Passes to ‘Savages’ From Oliver Stone with Taylor Kitsch

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:07:23 -0400

CHICAGO – Oliver Stone is back! In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 40 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the highly anticipated new Oliver Stone film “Savages”!

“Savages” features an all-star cast including Benicio Del Toro, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Uma Thurman, Emile Hirsch, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, Demián Bichir, Jonathan Carr, Joaquín Cosio, Shea Whigham, Diego Cataño, Jana Banker, Candra Docherty, Patrick Fourmy and Gary Stretch from director Oliver Stone and writers Shane Salerno and Don Winslow.

The film opens on July 6, 2012. To win your free passes to the advance screening of “Savages” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! This screening is on Monday, July 2, 2012 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete below, the higher yours odds of winning!

Before entering, make sure you allow pop-ups.
If viewing this on your phone, click “Go to Full Site” at the bottom of the page to enter.
Deadline: Entries can continue being submitted through Friday, June 29, 2012
at 5 p.m. CST. These Hookup winners will be awarded via e-mail that night.
If necessary: To see your entry count on a repeat visit, submit your name and e-mail again.

Here is the synopsis for “Savages”:

Three-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone returns to the screen with the ferocious thriller “Savages,” which features the all-star ensemble cast of Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Emile Hirsch and Demian Bichir. The film is based on Don Winslow’s best-selling crime novel that was named one of The New York Times’ top 10 books of 2010.

Laguna Beach entrepreneurs Ben (Johnson) (a peaceful and charitable Buddhist) and his closest friend Chon (Kitsch) (a former Navy SEAL and ex-mercenary) run a lucrative, homegrown industry: raising some of the best marijuana ever developed. They also share a one-of-a-kind love with the extraordinary beauty Ophelia (Lively). Life is idyllic in their Southern California town until the Mexican Baja cartel decides to move in.

When the merciless Elena (Hayek) and her brutal enforcer Lado (Del Toro) underestimate the unbreakable bond among these three friends, Ben and Chon – with the reluctant, slippery assistance of a dirty DEA agent (Travolta) – wage a seemingly unwinnable war against the cartel. And so begins a series of increasingly vicious ploys and maneuvers in a high-stakes, savage battle of wills.

The “Savages” movie poster from Oliver Stone with Benicio Del Toro and John Travolta.
Image credit: Universal Pictures

The “Savages” movie trailer can be watched now below.

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple! Just get interactive in our unique Hookup technology above. We will award 40 admit-two movie tickets based on social entry numbers and/or randomly via e-mail for our “Savages” Hookup. Good luck!

Disclaimer
Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Since showings are overbooked to ensure a full house, winners are not guaranteed entrance and must arrive early. We recommend arriving 45 minutes before the showing’s scheduled start time. HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway. Note: Comments are closed in this Hookup.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

TV News: Rumors Claim Ricky Gervais Will Host Golden Globes Again

TimBMartens — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:10:08 -0400

CHICAGO – Apparently, Hollywood does not know how to quit Ricky Gervais, even when he gives them every reason to kick him out the door. Rumors have hit the web this morning that Ricky Gervais, creator of “The Office” (UK) and “Extras,” has been asked to return a third consecutive year as the host of the Golden Globe Awards.

The rumors are both surprising and somewhat expected. Gervais made news everywhere the last few years for his no-holds-bar attitude as the host of the awards that celebrate the year of film and television. Last year, Gervais was able to mock Johnny Depp repeatedly for his movie “The Tourist,” threw in a joke about Robert Downey Jr.’s substance abuse problems, and touched on some religious laughter at the expense of scientology enthusiasts Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

After the telecast, Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Phillip Berk told the media he had no idea what Ricky was planning on: “He definitely crossed the line. And some of the things were totally unacceptable. But that’s Ricky,” Berk said. “I had absolutely no idea what Ricky was going to say so anything I heard was heard the same time you heard it. When you hire Ricky Gervais, you expect the unexpected.”

The rumors of Ricky’s return, first reported by The New York Post, was followed by a tweet from Gervais that simply read “Ooooooh! The plot thickens… Thoughts?”

Will Hollywood deal have to deal with more jokes at their own expense this year? We will have to wait and see if the rumors are true and the most fearless host in Golden Globe history returns for a third year.

By TIM MARTENS
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
tim@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Pulp Fiction,’ ‘Jackie Brown’

BrianTT — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:06:10 -0400

CHICAGO – I’m old enough dear readers to vividly remember Quentin Tarantino’s premiere with “Reservoir Dogs” and then how much he took the world by storm with “Pulp Fiction,” a common choice for the best film of the ’90s. At the time, “Jackie Brown” seemed like a disappointment by comparison (how could it not?), but it is now widely respected and even beloved. These aren’t just good movies — they’re classics of their time. What more do you want from a pair of Blu-rays?

The fact that Lionsgate bought out the library of Miramax for Blu-ray release has led to an onslaught of some of the best movies of their day in the last few months including “Amelie,” “Trainspotting,” “Swingers,” and more. Perhaps the best pair of releases of this entire collection came last week with the one-two punch of “Pulp Fiction” and “Jackie Brown,” two five-star films from one of the best living directors.

“Jackie Brown” has not been given any new special features, but “Pulp Fiction” has, which should be reason alone for the legion of fans to pick it up (a very-low MSRP that has it below $13 at some online outlets REALLY seals the deal). As for transfers, “Pulp” looks good but the HD transfer on “Brown” looks grainier and more poorly-mixed than it should. But it’s a minor complaint. The movies are so perfect that you need to upgrade and add them to your Blu-ray collection. Especially if you’re close to my age.

Pulp Fiction
Photo credit: Lionsgate

“Pulp Fiction”

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

Synopsis:
Critics and audiences worldwide hailed Pulp Fiction as the star-studded motion picture that redefined cinema in the 20th Century! The 7-time Academy Award-nominated film (including Best Picture, 1994) is considered one of AFI’s “100 Greatest American Movies of All Time” and is listed on Time magazine’s “All-Time 100 Best Films.” It has been called “quite simply, the most exhilarating piece of filmmaking to come along in the decade” (Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly) and “(unquestionably) the most influential American movie of the 1990’s” (Richard Corliss, Time). Writer/Director Quentin Tarantino (Academy Award® Winner - Best Original Screenplay, 1994) delivers an unforgettable cast of characters - including a pair of low-rent hit men (John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson), their boss’s sexy wife (Uma Thurman) and a desperate prizefighter (Bruce Willis) - in a wildly entertaining and exhilarating motion picture adventure that both thrills and amuses!

Special Features:
o New Interviews with Cast
o New Critics’ Retrospective on the Movie’s Place in Film History
o Behind-the-Scenes Footage
o Pulp Fiction: The Facts Featurette
o Production Design Featurette
o Siskel & Ebert At The Movies - The Tarantino Generation
o Independent Spirit Awards Footage
o Cannes Film Festival Footage
o The Charlie Rose Show Tarantino Interview
o Still Galleries
o Trivia Track
o Deleted Scenes

“Jackie Brown”

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

Synopsis:
Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction) scores with an explosive mix of intense action and edgy humor in his “twisty crime yarn” (Entertainment Weekly). What do a sexy stewardess (Pam Grier), a street-tough gun runner (Samuel L. Jackson), a lonely bail bondsman (Robert Forster), a shifty ex-con (Robert De Niro), an earnest federal agent (Michael Keaton) and a stoned-out beach bunny (Bridget Fonda) have in common? They’re six players on the trail of a half million dollars in cash! The only questions are… who’s going to get played… and who’s going to make the big score?

Academy Award nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Forster), Jackie Brown is now presented for the first time in eye-popping High-Definition Blu-ray with a stunning new transfer overseen by Tarantino and new lossless 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio.

Special Features:
o Breaking Down Jackie Brown
o Jackie Brown: How It Went Down Retrospective Featuring Interviews with Quentin Tarantino, Pam Grief, Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, Elmore Leonard and Crew
o A Look Back At Jackie Brown Interview with Quentin Tarantino
o Chicks With Guns Video
o Siskel & Ebert At The Movies - Jackie Brown Review
o Jackie Brown on MTV
o Marketing Gallery
o Still Galleries
o Trivia Track
o Deleted and Alternate Scenes

“Jackie Brown” and “Pulp Fiction” were released on Blu-ray on October 4th, 2011. Both were written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Brian De Palma’s Thriller ‘Blow Out’ With John Travolta

BrianTT — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:38:37 -0400

CHICAGO – When Brian De Palma was at his peak in the ’70s and ’80s, he was simply one of the best living directors. Some wanted to write him off as nothing more than an Alfred Hitchcock wannabe, but that was a criticism that I never understood. Yes, he cribbed from arguably the best director of all time. Is that a problem? Watch “Blow Out” in its new Criterion Collection edition and try and complain.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

“Blow Out” was more directly influenced by Antonioni’s “Blow Up,” but it also clearly has echoes of the man who De Palma was most often accused of being too obviously inspired by in its tale of a man caught up in a deadly situation beyond his control. As sound effects man Jack (John Travolta, giving one of the best performances of his career) stands on that bridge capturing the truth about a car accident that’s not really an accident, I was always reminded of Hitch’s classic example of a bystander caught up in something he observes — “Rear Window.”

The story of “Blow Out” is a spectacular one. A man records a car accident that kills the frontrunner for President of the United States. And is supposed to kill the hooker (Nancy Allen) in the car with him that goes into a river. But Jack not only saves the hooker but has evidence that there were two loud bangs in the air that night — one when the tire exploded but one before it that clearly was a gunshot. As everyone not only tries to make the story go away but even kill the girl who knows too much, Jack gets deeper into the conspiracy. With echoes of not just Hitchcock but the JFK assassination, “Blow Out” is a riveting piece about a good man caught in a bad situation. If you’ve never seen it, I’m jealous of the first-time experience that you’re going to have.

Blow Out was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on April 26, 2011
Photo credit: Courtesy of The Criterion Collection

Personally, “Blow Out” is my favorite De Palma film. There are others that may be more technically impressive (“Scarface,” “The Untouchables”) and others still that I can recognize are more influential (“Carrie,” “Sisters”), but I just enjoy every single frame of “Blow Out.” It’s the kind of old-fashioned mystery with a modern twist that really helped me fall in love with the form of cinema. Yes, De Palma was a better director than he was a writer and some of the dialogue in “Blow Out” stings a bit, but it doesn’t matter when there’s such impressive artistry on display on a visual level and in the way De Palma slowly turns the knob on the tension in Jack’s life. And Travolta is great here. He was arguably never better.

Blow Out was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on April 26, 2011
Photo credit: Courtesy of The Criterion Collection

The Criterion release of “Blow Out” is another beauty with one of the best HD transfers I’ve ever seen for a movie three decades old. If not for knowing that Travolta and John Lithgow have aged, one could easily think this was a 2011 film that was merely set in 1981. It looks better than most 2011 films on Blu-ray.

The video and the quality of the film itself are the best elements of the “Blow Out” Blu-ray addition to The Criterion Collection. Sadly, the special features are a bit light. I would have loved a commentary track and it’s disappointing that Johnny T. couldn’t be bothered to return for an interview or a retrospective about what is clearly one of the most important films in his career. Do you think Tarantino would have tapped him for “Pulp Fiction” based on “Grease” or “Saturday Night Fever” alone? Hell no. “Blow Out” helped.

What is included is interesting, including a new video interview with De Palma conducted by Noah Baumbach (“Greenberg”), a new interview with Nancy Allen, a new interview with cameraman Garrett Brown, on-set photos, and a De Palma feature from 1967 called “Murder a la Mod.” Great stuff, for sure, I just wanted a little more. We always want more for the movies we love.

Special Features:
o New hour-long video interview with De Palma, conducted by filmmaker Noah Baumbach
o New video interview with star Nancy Allen
o De Palma’s 1967 feature Murder A La Mod
o New video interview with cameraman Garrett Brown on the Steadicam shots featured in the film within the film
o On-set photos by photographer Louis Goldman
o Original Theatrical Trailer
o Booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Sragow and Pauline Kael’s original New Yorker review

“Blow Out” stars John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow, and Dennis Franz. It was written and directed by Brian De Palma. It was released by The Criterion Collection on Blu-ray and DVD on April 26, 2011.

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

Blu-Ray Review: ‘From Paris With Love’ a Cinematic Royale With Cheese

mattmovieman — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:09:09 -0400

CHICAGO – John Travolta always seems to be in a perpetual state of “coming back.” His various attempts at reinventing his screen persona seem to be driven less by artistic integrity than commercial desperation. The more macho and foul-mouthed he tries to be, the less convincing he is.

While Woody Harrelson has jump-started his career by mastering the art of tongue-in-cheek bravado, Travolta hasn’t even graduated into the realm of middle-aged hipness. It’s saying something when the best role of Travolta’s career in the last decade was Edna Turnblatt in “Hairspray.” “From Paris With Love” is easily his most unimaginative star vehicle since “Be Cool.” While that film paired Travolta and Uma Thurman just so they could dance again, this picture plants Travolta in “The City of Lights,” just so he can declare that his vice is still a “Royale With Cheese.” Emphasis on the cheese.

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

“Paris” is the third directorial effort from veteran cinematographer Pierre Morel, who is beginning to cement his reputation as the Parisian Michael Bay. His debut feature, “District 13,” was bolstered by spectacular parkour choreography, while “Taken” was greatly aided by the fierce presence of Liam Neeson. But Morel has certainly demonstrated his own gift for framing action while maintaining a breakneck pacing. He simply needs good material to marry with his skills, but “Paris” provides him with neither a strong cast nor a compelling script. Travolta plays rowdy special agent Charlie Wax, who teams up with uptight CIA operative James (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) while on assignment in France. James expresses doubts about his trigger-happy partner while on the phone with his unseen boss, who orders, “Do exactly what Wax says!”

Jonathan Rhys Meyers and John Travolta star in Pierre Morel’s From Paris With Love.
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Morel has taken credit for his star’s new look, consisting of a shaved head and goatee, which looks relatively close to the look Travolta sported when he was equally miscast as the villain in “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.” Travolta’s attempts at freewheeling macho exuberance come off as awkwardly as Meyers’s efforts to nail his American accent. With his steely eyes and unflagging seriousness, Meyers excels best when playing roles like the cold-blooded opportunist in “Match Point.” Here, he’s supposed to be the film’s relatable emotional center, but Meyers is fatally static, conveying all the emotion of the mannequins blowing up around him, during one of Morel’s endless derivative action sequences. Screenwriter Adi Hasak has no idea how to conceal his alarmingly obvious plot twist, and ends the film with a climax straight out of “The Naked Gun” (only this time, it’s not played for laughs).

From Paris With Love was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on June 8th, 2010.
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Entertainment

“From Paris With Love” is presented in 1080p High Definition (with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio), accompanied by English and French audio tracks (as well as Spanish subtitles), and includes a digital copy of the film. There’s a ho-hum pop-up trivia track and a rather pointless picture-in-picture commentary offering a feature-length view of Morel watching the movie while downing various beverages (his comments could’ve easily been confined to an audio track). He highlights the film’s various homages to everything from John Woo and the “Transporter” series to Travolta’s love of planes. A typical example of Morel’s probing insights: “For those of you who like body counts, we’re currently at 26. There’ll be more.” In a 26-minute making-of featurette, Travolta looks positively giddy about being in such an action-packed film, and admits that he couldn’t help giggling to himself while performing stunts usually done by men half his age.

The most interesting extra, by far, is the 16-minute featurette, “Spies, Spooks and Special Ops: Life Under Cover,” which includes interviews with actual CIA operatives, including John Kiriakou, who discusses his pride at capturing Al Qaeda leader Abu Zubaydah. The operatives discuss how they go about bugging a room, utilizing GPS devices, and balancing their separate lives. However, it’s silly to hear these mild-mannered professionals compare their work to a blood-drenched cartoon like “From Paris With Love.” Toward the end, the featurette becomes somewhat of a recruiting video, with the operatives encouraging kids to “try it out for two years.” The juxtaposition of this extra next to an ad for the International Spy Museum and a gallery of Wax’s glorified firearms is borderline offensive. The subliminal message aimed at young viewers is clear: join the CIA and blow s—t up!

‘From Paris With Love’ is released by Lionsgate Home Entertainment and stars John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kasia Smutniak, Richard Durden, Yin Bing, Amber Rose Revah and Eric Godon. It was written by Adi Hasak and directed by Pierre Morel. It was released on June 8th, 2010. It is rated R.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
matt@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Absolutely Awful ‘Old Dogs’ With John Travolta, Robin Williams

BrianTT — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:34:19 -0500

CHICAGO – Culturally insensitive, disgusting, violent, vile, and shockingly unfunny, “Old Dogs” is the kind of embarrassment for which stars, writers, and directors should be forced to do community service. If someone delivered a product this awful to you at a restaurant, you wouldn’t have to pay for it and you could probably sue. Those of you who paid to see it in theaters, should consider a class action case. The rest of you should just avoid it like you would a dog turd on the sidewalk.

Blu-Ray Rating: 0.5/5.0

“Old Dogs” is one of those comedies that mistakes physical violence for humor. Punch a guy in the face, slam a woman’s hands in a trunk, hit a kid in the face with a soccer ball - why write actual jokes when you can just shoot people falling down in pain and the occasional hilarious dog reaction shot? “Wild Hogs,” the previous collaboration between John Travolta and director Walt Becker may have been problematic but it looks like something that could be used in a comedy class compared to this mess.

Old Dogs was released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 9th, 2010.
Photo credit: Disney Home Video

Williams and Travolta play life-long man-children in this buddy comedy about two businessmen forced to deal with a couple of children while also negotiating a deal they’ve been working towards for years. Charlie (Travolta) is the outgoing ladies man and Dan (Robin Williams) is his more conservative better half. When an old flame (Kelly Preston) drops a pair of fraternal twins that Dan didn’t know were his into the lives of the pair, hijinks ensue. Seth Green, Matt Dillon, Ann-Margret, Rita Wilson, and the late Bernie Mac slum with Robin and John.

Old Dogs was released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 9th, 2010.
Photo credit: Disney Home Video

Why do stars like Williams and Travolta make films this bad? They don’t need the money. It’s literally impossible that any of their advisors thought this screenplay was funny. Maybe it’s a favor or, more likely, they thought it might be a throwback to more Three Stooges-esque physical humor. The fact is that Robin has an Oscar and John has been in some classics: They should know better by now and more should be expected of them. And while Travolta seems to be having fun, Williams gives one of the most smug, awful performances in a very long time. The fact is that they’re using their star power to get a film on Blu-ray that would have been shelved without more recognizable faces in it and so they need to be held responsible.

Of course, they’re not alone. Most notably, writers David Diamond & David Weissman have crafted one of the least enjoyable screenplays in a very long time. It’s almost a parody of films like this one with its never-ending string of bad physical humor intercut by manipulative material about Dan learning “what’s important in life”. You know what’s important? Never seeing movies this horrendous.

I know what some readers will think - it’s a kids/family/Disney movie, don’t be so hard on it. But the fact is that children’s entertainment has become as intellectually rich and emotionally satisfying as adult’s in the last few years with the rise of Pixar and what that’s done to the competition. We don’t even have to look back that far to find far more rewarding rentals or purchases if you’re looking for a family movie this weekend. Check out “Coraline,” “Up,” “Ponyo,” “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,” or “The Princess and the Frog” - five minutes of any of them are more rewarding than the entirety “Old Dogs” in every sense of the word.

The Disney Blu-ray release of “Old Dogs” includes multiple ways to experience the pain with a BD, DVD, and Digital Copy version of the film. Special features include “Young Dogs Learn Old Tricks,” Music Video “You’ve Been a Friend to Me” Performed by Bryan Adams, Bloopers, Deleted Scenes, Music Video “Every Little Step” Performed by John Travolta and Ella Bleu Travolta,” and an audio commentary by Director Walt Becker, Producer Andrew Paney, and Writers David Diamond and David Weissman.

‘Old Dogs’ is released by Disney Home Video and stars Robin Williams, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin, and Matt Dillon. It was written by David Diamond & David Weissman and directed by Walt Becker. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 9th, 2010. It is rated PG.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Denzel Washington, Tony Scott Take ‘Pelham 123’ Seriously

BrianTT — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:07:28 -0500

CHICAGO – When a New York subway dispatcher finds himself locked in a tense battle of the wits with a deranged criminal onboard Pelham 123, he’s offered this bit of advice from a seasoned hostage negotiator: don’t enter his world. The same warning could be issued to viewers intent on entering the world of Tony Scott. It is a cinematic landscape that is alternately marred and enhanced by ADD.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

With his ever-changing frame rate and rapid editing, Scott speeds through his story until he lands on a part that sparks his interest; often a moment of physical or emotional violence. This plays out in extreme slo-mo, halting the movement and blurring the action to such an extent that the audience feels like they have been punched in the head.

The Taking of Pelham 123 was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video

From “True Romance” to “Man on Fire,” violence has always been justified by Scott’s characters, often as a result of vengeance. Any viewers leaving the theater without a somewhat rancid taste in their mouths are most likely leaving instead with a compromised conscience. In Scott’s nifty remake of “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” a gun-toting killer (John Travolta) repeatedly justifies his acts of vengeance, claiming it is not him, but the city’s deep-seated corruption that has killed his victims. If this were a normal Scott picture, he would be the protagonist. But here, the killer meets his match in the form of an “average Joe” (Denzel Washington) just going about his duty, who wouldn’t dream of resorting to violence unless it was a necessity.

The Taking of Pelham 123 was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video

Of course, we all know Washington is no “average Joe.” As one of the most commanding actors of his generation, it takes a considerable leap of faith for moviegoers to buy him as a soft-spoken, blue collar everyman. But Washington, concealed behind thick glasses and a mustache borrowed from Samuel L. Jackson in “Changing Lanes,” is more than up to the challenge. His perfectly modulated performance consistently anchors the film in tangible reality, just as Scott’s hyper-active style threatens to send the film flying off the rails. “Pelham” marks their fourth collaboration, and proves once again that the actor and director complement each others’ work nicely.

Travolta, on the other hand, seems lost at sea. His villainous comfort zone is often confined to quietly brooding (as in “Pulp Fiction”), and he looks ill-at-ease while screaming ultimatums at Washington. His entire character lacks the chilling edge and mystery of Robert Shaw in Joseph Sargent’s original 1974 picture, which still stands as a pleasing minor classic. The film’s color-coded villains each exuded distinctive personalities, but in the remake, Scott focuses entirely on the two leads, while taking full advantage of the technological progress that has occurred since the previous film (which alters the plot considerably). James Gandolfini breathes vibrant life into the thankless role of New York City’s boneheaded mayor, while John Turturro (as the negotiator) exists primarily to give Washington a “thumbs up.”

Since much of the film takes place in two stagnant locations, a transit office and a stalled subway car, Scott is forced to devote his antsy attention to the psychological warfare between Washington and Travolta. The resulting film is no masterpiece, nor a sizable improvement over the original, but it is surely one of the most purely entertaining films of Scott’s career.

“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” is presented in 1080p High Definition (with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio), and is accompanied by English, French and Spanish audio tracks, as well as a Digital Copy. Apart from the usual BD Live features offered by Sony (cinechat, movieIQ), there are some special features that actually manage to deepen one’s appreciation of the film. In two commentaries and a making-of documentary, the filmmakers explain why they felt the story was ripe for retelling, and how they went about updating the plot for modern times. Say what you will about Scott, but he’s certainly no slacker when it comes to research.

‘The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3’ is released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and stars Denzel Washington, John Travolta and James Gandolfini. It was written by Brian Helgeland and directed by Tony Scott. It was released on November 3rd, 2009. It is rated R.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Interview: Director John Woo on His ‘Red Cliff’ Premiere at the 2009 Chicago International Film Festival

PatrickMcD — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:55:54 -0400

CHICAGO – John Woo, whose mastery of the action movie was once compared by director Sam Raimi to the suspense mastery of Alfred Hitchcock, premiered his new film, “Red Cliff” at the Chicago International Film Festival on October 9th.

Known primarily for his Hong Kong guns-and-gangster epics like “The Killer” (1989), “Hard Boiled” (1992) and “Bullet in the Head” (1990), Woo came to America in 1993 for his memorable turns in “Broken Arrow” (1996), “Face/Off” (1997) and “Mission Impossible II” (2002). He returns to his native China for the historical drama Red Cliff.

Portrait of an Icon: John Woo at the Chicago International Film Festival, October 9, 2009.
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Red Cliff is the story of the “Three Kingdoms” of China in 208 AD, and the war between them that changed history for its country and people. It has a broad and epic scope, beautifully composed, with a sweep and acting passion worthy of David Lean.

Before his exciting Red Carpet premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival, John Woo sat down with HollywoodChicago.com to give his unique and spiritual worldview on his art, and what he learned about the art of war in rendering his vision.

HollywoodChicago.com: Which great war movies did you think about when you applied yourself to the task of creating Red Cliff and why?

John Woo: ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘The Longest Day.’ I also used Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Spartacus’ and Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samarai’ as a reference. I’ve always wanted to make a movie like those and I had the opportunity with Red Cliff.

HC: In applying all the thought and work that went into Red Cliff, what did you learn about the Art of War?

JW: You need a lot of cleverness and teamwork, that’s what I learned. In the film, we had what we called the “turtle” formation, which was a battle technique. But it was a combination of my idea, inspired by what is in the book ‘The Art of War.’ When I looked at the turtle shells, that is when I got the idea.

HC: Women play a significant role in this story, understanding and using the power of their sex in many unique ways. What status for women did you want to convey in Red Cliff?

JW: The female role wasn’t that big from the book we based the screenplay on. It was my idea to expand the Princess spy character, to show the classical woman, to show her strength and ability. She has a iron will and loves her country.

This is different from typical historical Chinese films. Women are more subtle, in the background and left behind. The whole film is about teamwork and I wanted to make the women part of the team.

HC: You use Computer Generated Images (CGI) to create scale and perspective in Red Cliff. What is the future of film technology for use in re-creating historical drama and what do you think filmmakers have to be careful of when using CGI?

JW: CGI really helped in creating the scenic and beautiful imagery in the film. But the key is to use it, but not overuse it. I didn’t want the audience thinking it was just another CGI movie.

What the visual effects team did was make it hard for the audience to distinguish between what was CGI and what is real. They combined it very cleverly.

The carrier pigeon flight scene, I was told, was the most expensive CGI sequence in film history. It was 2-1/2 minutes long, with three locations to coordinate and the camera keeps moving.

HC: This is your first Chinese film since 1993. How do you think the art and the people of China have changed?

JW: The country is changing in a good way. Because I care about China, I love China, I want to see the country get better and better. I was touring in Bejing a few years ago, there after a long absence. I was quite amazed to see many happy faces. The young people all are smiling and realizing they have hope and a better future.

You can talk all you want about the situation, but honestly I’ve gotten great support from the government and they never interfered with what I was doing. I felt free to make my own movies. But as far as where China needs to go, there is always work to be done.

HC: When you are working with western or American actors, what are the main differences in approaching them – as compared to their Asian counterparts – when you need to adjust a particular scene or acting moment?

JW: It’s not different working with the actors. My character is I never like to speak much. But I need to find a way to communicate. I like to spend time with my actors, either Asian or American, to get an idea about how they are feeling about the film. During the conversation I will try to find out their specialty, their special qualities.

I want the story to take care of the actors. I want the feeling in the script to make them feel that they are comfortable and allow them to act as themselves. I make sure, for example, to use proper camera angles to capture their good moments, their specialty.

For example, when I was working with John Travolta and Nicholas Cage in “Face/Off,” we would just have little chats about each scene, and built a confidence with each other. We would have a rough rehearsal, then I would let them rest while I set up the camera. Then they would come out, and we wouldn’t have to say anything, because what they did was exactly what I expected. It became like we knew each other for a long time.

West Humbly Meets East: Patrick McDonald and John Woo in Chicago, October 9, 2009.
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

HC: You are renowned and admired for being one of the great action filmmakers. What fascinates you most about the human being behind the gun?

JW: I never like violence. People need to be protected, not to be killed. I try to protect also the people behind the gun. Even though I’ve made a lot of action movies, I try to make it anti-violence and in the case of Red Cliff, anti-war.

HC: Your film ‘1949’ was canceled right before it was to go before the lens. Given your personal family history with the events that were to be depicted in that film, what did you get out of the film in pre-production?

JW: The year 1949 has so many different meanings for the people of China. There was suffering, pain and people forced to leave the country. In the case of my family, we moved to Hong Kong.

I feel no matter what happened, China is still a country I love. And even though that era happened, the country is still a family, despite different opinions, different lifestyles and different politics.

The Chicago International Film Festival runs until October 22, 2009. Click here for details.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

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

BrianTT — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:31:19 -0400

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