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Cheerful Weather For The Wedding

 Cheerful Weather in winter

Tuesday 3rd July, 2012

 
Flashbacks of summer romance bring the passion alive for potential bride, Dolly Thatcham (Felicity Jones – Like Crazy) and her striking former lover, Joseph (Luke Treadaway – Attack the Block) in 1930’s period drama, Cheerful Weather for the Wedding.

Releasing in cinemas August 16, the Brit drama will appeal to fans of “Downton Abbey” and “The King’s Speech” (CultureBlues) with its “beautifully mounted summer scenes” and “edgily funny wedding day sequences” (ScreenDaily).

Downton Abbey’s Elizabeth McGovern plays Dolly’s frazzled mother, who while trying to keep Joseph away from her daughter on the morning she is to marry another, must also contend with the dysfunctional chaos that comes with the gathering of extended family as they assemble for the impending nuptials. As uncles flirt with bridesmaids, cousins unleash confetti bombs and Dolly’s sister (Ellie Kendrick) complains about her hideous outfit, Joseph desperately tries to get some alone time with Dolly.

Dolly, meanwhile, hides herself away, guzzling a bottle of rum and steeling herself for her lifelong commitment to the dull and wholesome Owen (James Norton). The love triangle comes to ahead and Dolly is forced to come to terms with the decision she has made, even if others can’t.

Mackenzie Crook (UK Office) and his negative wife, played by Fenella Woolgar (How To Lose Friends and Alienate People) are a scene stealing duo with their witty banter and constant bickering. Zoe Tapper (Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont) wraps up the ensemble cast as Dolly’s gin swilling best friend. First time feature director Donald Rice, who previously picked up awards for his short film I Am Bob, uses his crisp and clean directorial style and his fantastic ensemble cast to his best advantage proving that the young director has a bright future.

Speaking with IndieWire at the premiere at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in April, McGovern, who also plays Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham on the hit period drama Downton Abbey, commented on the similarities between the two projects (Cheerful Weather and Downton Abbey). “If you like Downton Abbey, you'll really like Cheerful Weather for the Wedding,” says McGovern, “The audience is the same.”

The film, which has been adapted from Julia Strachey’s classic novel will be releasing in selected cinemas nationwide August 16.

A [REC]koning is coming

Tuesday May 15, 2012

The third installment of the hugely popular horror movie franchise [REC], is coming to selected New Zealand cinemas May 31st. [REC] Genesis gives a new twist to story as the horror is unleashed at the wedding of Clara and Koldo, miles from the confined claustrophobic horror that the house from the first 2 films offered.

[REC] Genesis runs parallel to the first film in the series and reveals that there is more to the mysterious “virus” than originally thought. On what is meant to be the most special day of their lives, Clara (Letica Dolera) and Koldo (Deigo Martin) find themselves surrounded by flesh hungry relatives as they try to fight their way out alive.

Co-director of the of the first two [REC] films, Paca Plaza takes sole charge of directing duties and takes the horror outdoors and into the daylight. Plaza’s former directing partner, Jaume Balagueró, will take the helm for the fourth and final instalment [REC] Apocalypse, set to release in 2013.

The [REC] franchise, which has already spawned a Hollywood remake (Quarantine, 2007), continues to lead the way in creative scare mongering and [REC]3: Genesis won’t disappoint fans.

[REC]3: Genesis is rated R16 – Contains violence, offensive language & horror
 

Butch Cassidy lives on

April 4, 2012

The legend of infamous bank robber and western bandit lives on in the latest tale of Butch Cassidy in the movie BLACKTHORN, in cinemas April 12.

Made famous in 1969 by Paul Newman, the fate of Butch and his sidekick the Sundance Kid, has been disputed by historians and story tellers since the alleged shootout in Bolivia 1909. According to folklore, Robert Leroy Parker aka Butch Cassidy and Harry Alonzo Longabaugh aka The Sundance Kid, were supposedly killed in a shootout after the robbery of a local Bolivian mine and buried in unmarked graves.

BLACKTHORN, released by Vendetta Films, offers another explanation to the story of Butch Cassidy, played by screen legend Sam Shepard, whereby the notorious bandit survived the shootout and has been living quietly in the Bolivian countryside under the alias James Blackthorn. Getting on in years, Blackthorn decides to leave his Bolivian home and return to the USA to spend time with his son before he dies. A cruel twist of fate sees Blackthorn on an adventure not seen since the demise of his good friend The Sundance Kid and threatens his chances of returning home.

Spanish direct Mateo Gil not only gets amazing performances out of his cast, but sets the story against the stunning Bolivian landscape which almost comes to life as a character in its own right. Gil, who has writing for a number of successful films (VANILLA SKY, AGORA) has his directorial debut with BLACKTHORN.

BLACKTHORN hits selected cinemas on April 12.
 

A Hollywood calling

With the release of DVD and Blu-Ray release of The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest on April 20th, New Zealand’s most successful Foreign film franchise comes to an end. Collectively, the Millennium Trilogy has grossed almost $3.5million at the NZ box office with all 3 films making it onto the list of the top 10 most successful foreign films ever in New Zealand.

For fans of the trilogy, the journey doesn’t end here. The Hollywood remake of Steig Larsson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is already making waves and is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated films of 2011/12.

In an interview with film director David Fincher (Seven, The Social Network) in February, W Magazine discovered that Fincher and Academy Award winning writer Steven Zaillian (Shindler’s List) have changed the ending to their remake from that of the book and Swedish version of the film. Furthermore they have stated as fact, much to the outrage of Larsson fans (and there are a few), that Fincher and Zaillian have made it more interesting and improved on Larsson.

“…it departs rather dramatically from the book. Blomkvist is less promiscuous, Salander is more aggressive, and, most notably, the ending—the resolution of the drama—has been completely changed. This may be sacrilege to some, but Zaillian has improved on Larsson—the script’s ending is more interesting.” (W Magazine, February 2011). Only time will tell if this controversial move will pay off.

The Hollywood cast have large shoes to fill, none more so than the relatively new-comer, Rooney Mara as the bi-sexual and emotionally stunted computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander. Whether she is up to the job is yet to be seen, but for many fans of the series, Naoomi Rapace who brought the tempestuous character to life in the original Swedish version, is irreplaceable.

Rapace took herself out of the running to reprise her role as Lisbeth Salander in the remake, instead choosing to focus on her own Hollywood career which is taking off with a starring role in Sherlock Holmes 2.
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In preparation for her role as Salander, Mara, younger sister of Kate Mara (127 Hours, Happy Thank You More Please), has transformed her body dramatically. Other than the expected dramatic hair cut, the actress has also embraced Salander’s fondness of body piercings including facial and reported nipple piercings.

According to a spokesperson for the film “she’s going to look like the character as described in the novels”. Mara has also undertaken motorbike riding lesions and has whittled her already slender body down to Salander’s pint size frame with many hours of pilates.

Whether Fincher and his Hollywood cast will remake the entire series is yet to be determined, but with a rumoured fourth book in the pipelines it is unlikely that this film will be the last we see of the tattooed computer hacker.

 

Easter with Arthur

Auckland, New Zealand - 4 April 2011: Makers of the independent New Zealand film The Insatiable Moon are touting it as an Easter reflection. They claim that Arthur – the hero of the story, played by Rawiri Paratene – will bring more pleasure to Easter than any number of chocolate eggs.

Arthur of Ponsonby may not be Jesus of Nazareth, but he does claim to be the second son of God, and sets out to tell the world. He’s also a Maori psychiatric patient living in a boarding house. When asked if he’s God, he replies: “Nah – just a rellie”.

As in the original gospels, Arthur has a habit of innocently tipping prejudice and materialism on its head with a great line of insightful humour. For Easter traditionalists, there’s even a death and half a resurrection.

Screenwriter Mike Riddell, a former Baptist minister, says people shouldn’t get upset that the second son of God seems to indulge in an adulterous affair. “After all,” he says, “Jesus had a foot rub from a prostitute. The gospels are full of scandal.”

Like the original Messiah, Arthur hangs out with the down and outs – including a homeless alcoholic (Ian Mune), a former paedophile, and a ragtag bunch of street people with various mental health problems. Together they create mayhem and hilarity as they face off with the ‘normal’ Ponsonby inhabitants.

The novel by the same name, on which the movie was based, was regarded by some as blasphemous, and even referred to the Censor’s office as “potentially pornographic”. It cost Riddell his job as a lecturer in theology. “I was just pleased crucifixion had gone out of fashion,” he reflects.

The movie, denied production funding by the NZ Film Commission, has become something of a cult classic since its release, earning praise both here and in Britain where it recently opened in Leicester Square. The prestigious Empire magazine awarded it four stars and described it as “a moving original film that deserves to be seen.”

Just in time for Easter, the film is being released into the NZ market on DVD on April 13. Riddell hopes the story of Arthur will provide some Easter joy to the world. “He’s a half-baked miracle worker, and like a good Edmonds recipe, sure to rise.”
 

WORLD WAR II HORROR FILM COMMENCES FILMING IN WELLINGTON, NZ

Principle photography has begun in Wellington, New Zealand on World War II Horror pic, THE DEVIL’S ROCK.

Written by Paul Finch, Paul Campion and Brett Ihaka, The Devil’s Rock is award-winning short film director Paul Campion’s debut feature film. His short films Night of the Hell Hamsters and Eel Girl have screened at every major genre film festival worldwide.

Produced by Leanne Saunders (The Devil Dared Me To, A Song of Good), the film is set in the Channel Islands on the eve of D-Day. Two Kiwi commandos, sent to destroy German gun emplacements to distract Hitler’s forces away from Normandy, discover a Nazi occult plot to unleash demonic forces to win the war.

Academy Award winning New Zealand company WETA Workshop (Avatar, District 9, Lord of the Rings, King Kong ) will create the film’s physical effects, whose ensemble cast includes Craig Hall (Love Birds, Boy, 30 Days of Night, The World’s Fastest Indian, King Kong), Matthew Sunderland (Out of the Blue, Under the Mountain), Gina Varela (Xena, Siones Wedding, Power Rangers) and Karl Drinkwater (A Song of Good, Lord of the Rings, Spartacus: Blood & Sand).

The Devil’s Rock has been financed by the New Zealand Film Commission and Chameleon Pictures. It will be distributed in NZ by Vendetta Films. NZ Film, the sales arm of the NZFC, is handling world sales of the film.
 

Picture Me: A Model’s Diary

Picture Me is the first true behind the scenes modelling documentary. Filmed by supermodel Sara Ziff and her at the time boyfriend Ole Schell, Picture Me follows Sara during her rise to modelling success over a 5 year period.

The controversial documentary looks at the dark side of the fashion industry from an insider’s point of view and speaks with some of the industry’s most influential names including photographer Gilles Bensimon, designer Nicole Miller and Model Sena Cech.

The documentary covers some of the most talked-about issues surrounding the exclusive trade including weight and eating issues, the disposability of the models and their ages, and sexual exploitation of young girls. In what could have been a career-ending moment for Ziff, the film was released during the 2009 Milan International Film Festival and went on to win the Audience award.

The documentary will be released in cinemas on September 30, following the 2010 NZ Fashion Week.
 

July DVD release is moving forward

 All remaining July titles will be releasing Thursday 8th, July. The titles releasing include French thriller, Anything for Her starring Diane Kruger, and Louise Michel, the French black comedy Starring Yolande Moreau (Sérephine).

Also releasing this month is Bad Guys, starring Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, an action movie about a group of petty criminals trying to take on the drug dealers. Bad Guys also stars NZ champion K1 kickboxer “Sugar” Ray Sefo!

How to be a Serial Killer pokes fun at self-help literature as main character Mike Wilson has found his passion in life; exterminating people. He is now determined to spread his message about the joy of serial killing.
 

Critically acclaimed film City of Life and Death, also hits shelves this week. The film is based on the true events in 1937 when Japan invaded Nanjing, China. Described by some critics as one of the best war films made, City of life and Death is a harrowing portrayal of the atrocities of war.

From the director of Kaikohe Demolition comes Land of the Long White Cloud. Described as “A marvellous celebration of our land and people” (Herald on Sunday), Land of the Long White Cloud is a must see for New Zealanders.

 

Ip Man 2 Releasing August

Picking up from the hugely successful Ip Man, Ip Man 2 sees Donnie Yen return in the titular role battling rival Kung Fu masters and oppressive British overlords. Ip Man 2 has recently finished a successful run at the NZ box office and will be hitting shelves in August.

Keep posted for more updates.
 

This Way Of Life up for Oscar Contention

This Way of Life, the award winning NZ documentary, has been selected for DocuWeeks putting it up for Academy Awards 2010 consideration. The film has taken the international film festival circuit by storm and picked up the Crystal Bear award for best film in the Generational category at the Berlin International Film Festival.

This Way of Life is the life-changing story of the extraordinary Karena Family and their everyday existence. The film has recently finished a successful 12 week theatrical run in NZ and will be heading across the ditch shortly.

To be up for consideration a documentary must be selected to take part in DocuWeeks which has to take place by August 2010 in the USA. During that time the film must play in screenings for a period of 1 week in both Los Angeles and New York where it will then be judged by members of the Documentary Branch. Final voting will be made by members of The Academy where a short list of documentaries that will be in the running for the Academy awards will be decided upon.

Vendetta Films is proud to announce that This Way of Life releases on DVD on June 17 in all good retailers.