At a time when theatrical is looking to distinguish itself with more prolific fare than the factory conveyor belt of humdrum product coming from streaming, it’s with great upset to hear that Lionsgate’s feature adaptation of Judy Blume’s pinnacle 1970 novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret fell greatly short at the box office with a $6.8M opening; below both the $7M-$9M that the studio was seeing, and the more bullish $10M+ that rivals spotted.
Figuring out what went wrong here with Judy Blume’s first big screen Hollywood foray, which won over critics (99% certified fresh) and the few who bought tickets (A CinemaScore), has less to do with the commercial potential of the pic’s genre –movies based on female-skewing bestselling novels– and more to do with...
Figuring out what went wrong here with Judy Blume’s first big screen Hollywood foray, which won over critics (99% certified fresh) and the few who bought tickets (A CinemaScore), has less to do with the commercial potential of the pic’s genre –movies based on female-skewing bestselling novels– and more to do with...
- 5/1/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Moviefone's Top DVD of the Week
"The Act of Killing"
What's It About? In director Joshua Oppenheimer's compelling, disturbing documentary, Indonesian gangsters like Anwar Congo recreate their crimes against humanity in the style of the movies they love. Besides the horrific actions they committed in the '60s as part of Indonesia's Pancasila Youth, what's particularly shocking is their crimes are completely open knowledge, and even celebrated in Indonesia.
Why We're In: "The Act of Killing" is short-listed for the Oscars, but it's definitely not for the squeamish.
Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week
"Throne of Blood (Criterion)"
What's It About? Kurosawa's take on "Macbeth" takes place in feudal Japan, and stars the legendary Toshiro Mifune as an ambitious warrior looking to take over Spider's Web Castle. Isuzu Yamada appears as his Lady Macbeth-style wife.
Why We're In: Like all Criterion releases, this is jam-packed with extras, like two...
"The Act of Killing"
What's It About? In director Joshua Oppenheimer's compelling, disturbing documentary, Indonesian gangsters like Anwar Congo recreate their crimes against humanity in the style of the movies they love. Besides the horrific actions they committed in the '60s as part of Indonesia's Pancasila Youth, what's particularly shocking is their crimes are completely open knowledge, and even celebrated in Indonesia.
Why We're In: "The Act of Killing" is short-listed for the Oscars, but it's definitely not for the squeamish.
Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week
"Throne of Blood (Criterion)"
What's It About? Kurosawa's take on "Macbeth" takes place in feudal Japan, and stars the legendary Toshiro Mifune as an ambitious warrior looking to take over Spider's Web Castle. Isuzu Yamada appears as his Lady Macbeth-style wife.
Why We're In: Like all Criterion releases, this is jam-packed with extras, like two...
- 1/7/2014
- by Jenni Miller
- Moviefone
There has never been a feature film made from a Judy Blume book.
That crazy fact is about to change, as "Tiger Eyes," based on Blume's 1981 book of the same name is set to open Friday (June 7) in theaters and simultaneously on DirecTV, On-Demand and iTunes.
It's not just the book's author involved in the film adaptation either -- Blume's son, Lawrence Blume, wrote the screenplay and is a producer. Her husband, George Cooper, is the executive producer of the independent feature.
"Tiger Eyes" centers on a teenage girl named Davey (played in the film by Willa Holland of "Arrow" and "Gossip Girl"). After her father is murdered in New Jersey, Davey's family moves to Los Alamos, New Mexico to start over. Lawrence Blume told Reuters that the story is loosely based on his own teenage years. Judy divorced her first husband at the time and moved with her two teenagers to New Mexico.
That crazy fact is about to change, as "Tiger Eyes," based on Blume's 1981 book of the same name is set to open Friday (June 7) in theaters and simultaneously on DirecTV, On-Demand and iTunes.
It's not just the book's author involved in the film adaptation either -- Blume's son, Lawrence Blume, wrote the screenplay and is a producer. Her husband, George Cooper, is the executive producer of the independent feature.
"Tiger Eyes" centers on a teenage girl named Davey (played in the film by Willa Holland of "Arrow" and "Gossip Girl"). After her father is murdered in New Jersey, Davey's family moves to Los Alamos, New Mexico to start over. Lawrence Blume told Reuters that the story is loosely based on his own teenage years. Judy divorced her first husband at the time and moved with her two teenagers to New Mexico.
- 6/6/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Title: Tiger Eyes Freestyle Releasing Director: Lawrence Blume Screenwriter: Judy Blume, Lawrence Blume from Judy Blume’s novel Cast: Willa Holland, Army Jo Johnson, Tatanka means, Elise Eberle, Cynthia Stevenson, Lucien Dale, Forrest Fyre, Russell Means Screened at: Dolby88, NYC, 5/20/13 Opens: June 7, 2013 When I was in junior high school, our English teachers would hand out lists of recommended summer reading, warning that some of these books would appear after vacation for our pleasure. The lists were divided in half: one half for boys and the other for girls. Maybe “Little Women” for the fair sex and “Johnny Tremain” for the guys. The assumption was that the twain of [ Read More ]
The post Tiger Eyes Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Tiger Eyes Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 6/2/2013
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
Tiger Eyes is the first film adaptation from the work of Judy Blume, loved by teen girls but hated by Us conservatives
For decades she has been a heroine to generations of young women who have used her bestselling books as guides through the perils of adolescence, even as her frank discussions of sexuality and puberty have outraged social conservatives.
But Judy Blume's legions of fans, who have bought books such as Forever, Blubber and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret in their millions, have so far been denied seeing her work translated to the big screen.
In an age when Hollywood will turn even a theme-park ride into a movie, the lack of films based on works by such a prolific and globally famous author has been an enduring mystery of the entertainment industry. However, Blume's time has finally come.
To the huge excitement of Blume's followers,...
For decades she has been a heroine to generations of young women who have used her bestselling books as guides through the perils of adolescence, even as her frank discussions of sexuality and puberty have outraged social conservatives.
But Judy Blume's legions of fans, who have bought books such as Forever, Blubber and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret in their millions, have so far been denied seeing her work translated to the big screen.
In an age when Hollywood will turn even a theme-park ride into a movie, the lack of films based on works by such a prolific and globally famous author has been an enduring mystery of the entertainment industry. However, Blume's time has finally come.
To the huge excitement of Blume's followers,...
- 5/4/2013
- by Paul Harris
- The Guardian - Film News
Marking the first big screen adaptation of novelist Judy Blume’s work, Tiger Eyes will finally be arriving in Us theatres and through VOD next month, having spent much of the past year on the festival circuit.
Directed and adapted by Blume’s own son, Lawrence Blume, the film sees the great Willa Holland (The O.C.) take the lead as the young Davey. And with its release date now just over a month away, the first trailer and the official poster have finally debuted online.
Tiger Eyes marks the first major motion picture adaptation from the work of iconic author Judy Blume, whose books have sold more than 82 million copies in 41 countries.
Davey is a 17 year-old girl abruptly relocated by her grieving mother to the strange “atom bomb” town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the sudden and violent death of her father, the displaced Davey no longer knows who...
Directed and adapted by Blume’s own son, Lawrence Blume, the film sees the great Willa Holland (The O.C.) take the lead as the young Davey. And with its release date now just over a month away, the first trailer and the official poster have finally debuted online.
Tiger Eyes marks the first major motion picture adaptation from the work of iconic author Judy Blume, whose books have sold more than 82 million copies in 41 countries.
Davey is a 17 year-old girl abruptly relocated by her grieving mother to the strange “atom bomb” town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the sudden and violent death of her father, the displaced Davey no longer knows who...
- 5/2/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Tiger Eyes Trailer. Lawrence Blume‘s Tiger Eyes (2012) movie trailer stars Willa Holland, Amy Jo Johnson, Tatanka Means, Elise Eberle, and Cynthia Stevenson. Tiger Eyes‘ plot synopsis: based on Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume, “Forced by her grieving mother to move from her home in Atlantic City to the strange “atom bomb” [...]
Continue reading: Tiger Eyes (2012) Movie Trailer: Willa Holland leads Blume Adaptation...
Continue reading: Tiger Eyes (2012) Movie Trailer: Willa Holland leads Blume Adaptation...
- 4/27/2013
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Ready to experience literally all the feels? Well, the long-awaited film adaptation of Judy Blume's "Tiger Eyes" is set for a June 7 theatrical and Video on Demand release, according to Entertainment Weekly, and the first positively gutting trailer for the movie has now been unveiled. Starring Will Holland, Amy Jo Johnson and Tatanka Means, the film follows a young woman named Davey as she struggles to cope with the violent death of her father while on a visit to relatives in New Mexico. "Tiger Eyes" was first released back in 1981, and it's taken almost thirty years for the novel to see cinematic life, but the wait was well worth it since it's Judy Blume's own son Lawrence Blume who penned the adaptive script and directed the feature. It's the first book of Blume's to be adapted, too, and she serves as a producer on it. Davey has never...
- 4/26/2013
- by thetwilightexaminer
- Twilight Examiner
Judy Blume has been writing books since the 1960s. A lot of the books she's written could have made some good movies. A couple of my favorite books that I remember are Tales of A Fourth Grade Nothing and Superfudge. After all these years, one of her books is finally getting the big screen treatment. Tiger Eyes is the first book from Blume's collection that has been made into a feature, and we have the first trailer for it!
The movie was directed and co-written by her son, Lawrence Blume, and it stars Willa Holland, Amy Jo Johnson, Cynthia Stevenson, Tatanka Means, Elise Eberle, and Russell Means. This actually looks like a solid adaptation of the story. Here's the synopsis...
Davey is a 17 year-old girl abruptly relocated by her grieving mother to the strange “atom bomb” town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the sudden and violent death of her father,...
The movie was directed and co-written by her son, Lawrence Blume, and it stars Willa Holland, Amy Jo Johnson, Cynthia Stevenson, Tatanka Means, Elise Eberle, and Russell Means. This actually looks like a solid adaptation of the story. Here's the synopsis...
Davey is a 17 year-old girl abruptly relocated by her grieving mother to the strange “atom bomb” town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the sudden and violent death of her father,...
- 4/26/2013
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The trailer and poster for Lawrence Blume’s Tiger Eyes are here. Based on the best-selling novel by Judy Blume, the film marks the first major motion picture adaptation from the work of iconic author, whose books have sold more than 82 million copies in 41 countries. Check out the trailer and poster after the jump. Synopsis: Davey is a 17 year-old girl abruptly relocated by her grieving mother to the strange “atom bomb” town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the sudden and violent death of her father, the displaced Davey no longer knows who to be or how to fit in. Everything that once...
Click to continue reading Tiger Eyes Trailer and Poster on www.filmofilia.com...
Click to continue reading Tiger Eyes Trailer and Poster on www.filmofilia.com...
- 4/25/2013
- by Vesna Sunrider
- Filmofilia
The trailer and poster for Judy Blume’s Tiger Eyes are here. Based on the best-selling novel by Judy Blume, the film features Willa Holland, Amy Jo Johnson, Cynthia Stevenson, Tatanka Means, Elise Eberle and Russell Means.
Tiger Eyes marks the first major motion picture adaptation from the work of iconic author, whose books have sold more than 82 million copies in 41 countries.
Davey is a 17 year-old girl abruptly relocated by her grieving mother to the strange “atom bomb” town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the sudden and violent death of her father, the displaced Davey no longer knows who to be or how to fit in. Everything that once mattered suddenly seems insignificant. But when she meets Wolf, a mysterious young Native-American, while exploring the surrounding canyons, she feels he is able to see past her pain and into her true self. The connection they make brings Davey back...
Tiger Eyes marks the first major motion picture adaptation from the work of iconic author, whose books have sold more than 82 million copies in 41 countries.
Davey is a 17 year-old girl abruptly relocated by her grieving mother to the strange “atom bomb” town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the sudden and violent death of her father, the displaced Davey no longer knows who to be or how to fit in. Everything that once mattered suddenly seems insignificant. But when she meets Wolf, a mysterious young Native-American, while exploring the surrounding canyons, she feels he is able to see past her pain and into her true self. The connection they make brings Davey back...
- 4/24/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Freestyle Releasing and Freestyle Digital Media announced today that they have acquired domestic theatrical and VOD rights to Tiger Eyes, based on Judy Blume’s acclaimed young adult novel of the same name. Tiger Eyes marks the first major motion picture adaptation from Blume’s work, whose books have sold more than 82 million copies in 41 countries.
Co-written by Blume and her son, Lawrence Blume, who also directed, the film stars Willa Holland (“Arrow,” “Gossip Girl”), Tatanka Means (“The Host”), Amy Jo Johnson (“Flashpoint”), Russell Means (“The Last of the Mohicans”), Cynthia Stevenson (“The Player”), and Elise Eberle (“The Astronaut Farmer”). Tiger Eyes was a co-production of Amber Entertainment (Mark Ordesky, Ileen Maisel) and Tashmoo Productions (George Cooper, Judy Blume, Lawrence Blume) with Linda Moran co-producing, and Ruth Pomerance executive producing.
Freestyle has set June 7th for the day and date release in multiple markets.
Tiger Eyes tells the story of Davey,...
Co-written by Blume and her son, Lawrence Blume, who also directed, the film stars Willa Holland (“Arrow,” “Gossip Girl”), Tatanka Means (“The Host”), Amy Jo Johnson (“Flashpoint”), Russell Means (“The Last of the Mohicans”), Cynthia Stevenson (“The Player”), and Elise Eberle (“The Astronaut Farmer”). Tiger Eyes was a co-production of Amber Entertainment (Mark Ordesky, Ileen Maisel) and Tashmoo Productions (George Cooper, Judy Blume, Lawrence Blume) with Linda Moran co-producing, and Ruth Pomerance executive producing.
Freestyle has set June 7th for the day and date release in multiple markets.
Tiger Eyes tells the story of Davey,...
- 3/21/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The adaptation of Judy Blume's Tiger Eyes will be distributed domestically by Freestyle Releasing. Lawrence Blume directs, and also adapted the script alongside his mother Judy. Willa Holland, Tatanka Means, Elise Eberle, Amy Jo Johnson, Cynthia Stevenson and Russell Means star. Variety reports that Freestyle's set a June 7th release for the film. Mark Ordesky, Ileen Maisel, Lawrence and Judy Blume produce. George Cooper and Jane Fleming serve as executive producers.
- 3/21/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The adaptation of Judy Blume's Tiger Eyes will be distributed domestically by Freestyle Releasing. Lawrence Blume directs, and also adapted the script alongside his mother Judy. Willa Holland, Tatanka Means, Elise Eberle, Amy Jo Johnson, Cynthia Stevenson and Russell Means star. Variety reports that Freestyle's set a June 7th release for the film. Mark Ordesky, Ileen Maisel, Lawrence and Judy Blume produce. George Cooper and Jane Fleming serve as executive producers.
- 3/21/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Excellent news for Judy Blume fans! EW has exclusively learned that the big-screen adaptation of Blume’s 1981 Ya classic Tiger Eyes has gotten a theatrical and V.O.D. release date of June 7.
This is the first time that any of Blume’s popular books — which in total have sold more than 80 million and been translated into 31 languages — have gotten the feature film treatment. Of course, this production had the advantage of keeping it in the family: Blume co-wrote the script with her son, Lawrence Blume, who also directed the coming-of-age drama. “For years and years people would tell me...
This is the first time that any of Blume’s popular books — which in total have sold more than 80 million and been translated into 31 languages — have gotten the feature film treatment. Of course, this production had the advantage of keeping it in the family: Blume co-wrote the script with her son, Lawrence Blume, who also directed the coming-of-age drama. “For years and years people would tell me...
- 3/11/2013
- by Sara Vilkomerson
- EW - Inside Movies
It’s taken over 30 years to get Judy Blume’s classic 1981 novel Tiger Eyes on the big screen. In fact, this is the first time any of her 25 wildly successful books (with sales exceeding 80 million copies) have been turned into a movie. Maybe she was waiting for the right director? Blume co-wrote the screenplay with son Lawrence Blume, who also directs this touching coming-of-age story of a teenager (played by Gossip Girl’s Willa Holland) who is reluctantly uprooted to New Mexico with her mother (Felicity’s Amy Jo Johnson) and younger brother. ”For years and years people would say,...
- 2/24/2012
- by Sara Vilkomerson
- EW - Inside Movies
Judy Blume’s books have long been a favorite Ya read for tween and teen girls, but shockingly known of her novels have ever been made into a feature film, though several have made their way onto television.
Well, Blume is tired of waiting for Hollywood to catch on. Jezebel (via THR) reports she has taken matters into her own hands. Her production company, Tashmoo Prods. is partnering with Amber Entertainment to bring the novel Tiger Eyes to life.
The script for the adaptation was penned by Blume and her son, Lawrence Blume, whom will direct. Tiger Eyes centers on Davey Wexler, a teen girl who’s forced to move to New Mexico after her father was murdered in a convenience store robbery. In the new surroundings, she meets an intriguing young Native American boy named Wolf, whose father is terminally ill. Together the two traverse the tricky terrain of grief.
Well, Blume is tired of waiting for Hollywood to catch on. Jezebel (via THR) reports she has taken matters into her own hands. Her production company, Tashmoo Prods. is partnering with Amber Entertainment to bring the novel Tiger Eyes to life.
The script for the adaptation was penned by Blume and her son, Lawrence Blume, whom will direct. Tiger Eyes centers on Davey Wexler, a teen girl who’s forced to move to New Mexico after her father was murdered in a convenience store robbery. In the new surroundings, she meets an intriguing young Native American boy named Wolf, whose father is terminally ill. Together the two traverse the tricky terrain of grief.
- 10/20/2010
- by Kristy Puchko
- The Film Stage
Judy Blume, the great author of books for children ("Fudge") and teens ("Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret."), is making her first movie. She co-wrote the screenplay for Tiger Eyes based on her own book with the same title. Her co-writer is her son Lawrence Blume who will direct the film. "Tiger Eyes" is about a girl who is sent to live with relatives in New Mexico after her father is killed in a convenience store robbery. She volunteers at the local hospital and meets a Native American teen named Wolf whose father is being treated for a terminal illness.
Blume's production company Tashmoo Productions is making the film with Amber Entertainment, a new company run by three former New Line execs.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter...
Blume's production company Tashmoo Productions is making the film with Amber Entertainment, a new company run by three former New Line execs.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter...
- 10/19/2010
- by tara@kidspickflicks.com (Tara the Mom)
- kidspickflicks
In news sure to set the hearts of 30-somethings soaring, the magnificent Judy Blume announced that she was adapting one of her lesser classics, Tiger Eyes, for the big screen and that her son, Lawrence Blume, would direct the film. How I remember reading this book, about a grieving girl named Davey transplanted to New Mexico after her Daddy was killed in convenience store robbery. Oh to be a girl with interesting marble-flecked eyes rather than my run of the mill brown! No boys named Wolf hung around anywhere in my stupid neighborhood.
So it’s with some trepidation that...
So it’s with some trepidation that...
- 10/19/2010
- by Karen Valby
- EW.com - PopWatch
Lawrence Blume ("Martin & Orloff") has signed on to direct a film adaptation of beloved 1981 young adult novel "Tiger Eyes" says The Hollywood Reporter.
The story follows a teenage girl whose family is forced to move in with relatives in New Mexico after her father is killed in a convenience story robbery.
She meets an American Indian teen named Wolf, whose father is a terminally ill patient in the hospital at which the girl volunteers. Together they overcome her fear and grief.
Lawrence's mother Judy Blume penned the book and co-wrote the screenplay with her son.
The story follows a teenage girl whose family is forced to move in with relatives in New Mexico after her father is killed in a convenience story robbery.
She meets an American Indian teen named Wolf, whose father is a terminally ill patient in the hospital at which the girl volunteers. Together they overcome her fear and grief.
Lawrence's mother Judy Blume penned the book and co-wrote the screenplay with her son.
- 10/19/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Spit and Glue Distribution
NEW YORK -- Genuinely anarchic comedy is so rare in today's cinema -- "Scary Movie" and its ilk notwithstanding -- that this attempt from first-time director Lawrence Blume, written by and starring Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts and Katie Roberts of the improvisational comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade, is to be commended for sheer ambition. A wacky comedy involving a suicidal marketing executive and his highly irreverent shrink, "Martin & Orloff" ultimately doesn't fully succeed in its comedic aspirations, but it does offer some genuine laughs along the way. The film is playing an exclusive engagement at New York's Sunshine Cinema.
Martin Flam (Ian Roberts) is the hapless exec, who has just returned to work after a stint in a mental hospital following an unsuccessful suicide attempt. As the film begins, he's vainly trying to clean dried blood from his bathroom floor. Ordered to see a psychiatrist, he unfortunately encounters Dr. Orloff (Walsh), who begins his treatment with the not-so-subtle query, "Why did you try to kill yourself?" Before the flustered Martin can respond, Orloff remembers he's late for a softball game, and drags his patient along to continue the session on the run.
After an ineffective stint as the game's umpire, Martin finds himself in a series of misadventures with his self-involved shrink as well as a variety of bizarre characters, including Orloff's sexually withholding stripper girlfriend (Katie Roberts)
a Desert Storm veteran (Jon Benjamin) who has the unfortunate habit of excreting in bathroom sinks
and another stripper (Amy Poehler), whose sexual fling with Martin leads to a series of confrontations with her massive, and massively well-hung, ex-boyfriend (Matt Besser). Eventually, we learn the secret behind Martin's suicide attempt, involving the accidental death of an actor whom he put in an egg roll costume unfortunately lacking eyeholes.
Various comedy stars provide cameos, including Tina Fey and Janeane Garofalo, with the most amusing contributions coming from Andy Richter as a nasty dinner theater host and David Cross as a fey director.
Highly uneven in its scattershot gags and less-than-assured direction, the film nonetheless provides a fairly steady series of laughs thanks to the fully committed performances by the two stars and the sheer brazenness of its humor. Instead of relying on cheap parody for its humor, "Martin & Orloff" at least tries to forge fresh comedic ground.
NEW YORK -- Genuinely anarchic comedy is so rare in today's cinema -- "Scary Movie" and its ilk notwithstanding -- that this attempt from first-time director Lawrence Blume, written by and starring Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts and Katie Roberts of the improvisational comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade, is to be commended for sheer ambition. A wacky comedy involving a suicidal marketing executive and his highly irreverent shrink, "Martin & Orloff" ultimately doesn't fully succeed in its comedic aspirations, but it does offer some genuine laughs along the way. The film is playing an exclusive engagement at New York's Sunshine Cinema.
Martin Flam (Ian Roberts) is the hapless exec, who has just returned to work after a stint in a mental hospital following an unsuccessful suicide attempt. As the film begins, he's vainly trying to clean dried blood from his bathroom floor. Ordered to see a psychiatrist, he unfortunately encounters Dr. Orloff (Walsh), who begins his treatment with the not-so-subtle query, "Why did you try to kill yourself?" Before the flustered Martin can respond, Orloff remembers he's late for a softball game, and drags his patient along to continue the session on the run.
After an ineffective stint as the game's umpire, Martin finds himself in a series of misadventures with his self-involved shrink as well as a variety of bizarre characters, including Orloff's sexually withholding stripper girlfriend (Katie Roberts)
a Desert Storm veteran (Jon Benjamin) who has the unfortunate habit of excreting in bathroom sinks
and another stripper (Amy Poehler), whose sexual fling with Martin leads to a series of confrontations with her massive, and massively well-hung, ex-boyfriend (Matt Besser). Eventually, we learn the secret behind Martin's suicide attempt, involving the accidental death of an actor whom he put in an egg roll costume unfortunately lacking eyeholes.
Various comedy stars provide cameos, including Tina Fey and Janeane Garofalo, with the most amusing contributions coming from Andy Richter as a nasty dinner theater host and David Cross as a fey director.
Highly uneven in its scattershot gags and less-than-assured direction, the film nonetheless provides a fairly steady series of laughs thanks to the fully committed performances by the two stars and the sheer brazenness of its humor. Instead of relying on cheap parody for its humor, "Martin & Orloff" at least tries to forge fresh comedic ground.
The Walt Disney Co. has adopted J.T. Saladin's pitch Orphan's Club for Jane Startz and studio-based Beacon Entertainment to produce. The project revolves around an underground network of kids orphaned after the first World War, which produced more than 80 million orphans. The aim of the secret international organization is to prevent all future wars and, in turn, the creation of more orphans. The club follows highly structured rules outlined in the Orphan's Club Handbook. At the studio, the project is being shepherded by senior vp development and production Karen Glass along with director of development and production Karen Glass. Startz will produce along with Beacon topper Armyan Bernstein. Saladin is repped by the Gersh Agency. Startz, who recently pacted with Disney, filmmaker Lawrence Blume and author Judy Blume to develop and produce films based on Judy Blume books, produced the upcoming Ella Enchanted for director Tommy O'Haver and Miramax Films. Bernstein and his Beacon produced the upcoming Ladder 49 for Disney and are shepherding the romantic comedy A Lot Like Love, to star Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet.
- 3/30/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Best-selling young-adult author Judy Blume, along with filmmaker Lawrence Blume and producer Jane Startz, have pacted with Walt Disney Studios to develop and produce films based on her books. Among Blume's long list of books are such young-adult classics as Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Blubber, Superfudge and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. Her books have sold 75 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 26 languages. Several of Blume's titles have been adapted for television, such as Forever, Fudge-a-Mania and Sheila, which was directed by Lawrence Blume, who is Judy Blume's son. But her works have not yet appeared as big-screen adaptations.
- 3/10/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Spit and Glue Distribution
NEW YORK -- Genuinely anarchic comedy is so rare in today's cinema -- "Scary Movie" and its ilk notwithstanding -- that this attempt from first-time director Lawrence Blume, written by and starring Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts and Katie Roberts of the improvisational comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade, is to be commended for sheer ambition. A wacky comedy involving a suicidal marketing executive and his highly irreverent shrink, "Martin & Orloff" ultimately doesn't fully succeed in its comedic aspirations, but it does offer some genuine laughs along the way. The film is playing an exclusive engagement at New York's Sunshine Cinema.
Martin Flam (Ian Roberts) is the hapless exec, who has just returned to work after a stint in a mental hospital following an unsuccessful suicide attempt. As the film begins, he's vainly trying to clean dried blood from his bathroom floor. Ordered to see a psychiatrist, he unfortunately encounters Dr. Orloff (Walsh), who begins his treatment with the not-so-subtle query, "Why did you try to kill yourself?" Before the flustered Martin can respond, Orloff remembers he's late for a softball game, and drags his patient along to continue the session on the run.
After an ineffective stint as the game's umpire, Martin finds himself in a series of misadventures with his self-involved shrink as well as a variety of bizarre characters, including Orloff's sexually withholding stripper girlfriend (Katie Roberts)
a Desert Storm veteran (Jon Benjamin) who has the unfortunate habit of excreting in bathroom sinks
and another stripper (Amy Poehler), whose sexual fling with Martin leads to a series of confrontations with her massive, and massively well-hung, ex-boyfriend (Matt Besser). Eventually, we learn the secret behind Martin's suicide attempt, involving the accidental death of an actor whom he put in an egg roll costume unfortunately lacking eyeholes.
Various comedy stars provide cameos, including Tina Fey and Janeane Garofalo, with the most amusing contributions coming from Andy Richter as a nasty dinner theater host and David Cross as a fey director.
Highly uneven in its scattershot gags and less-than-assured direction, the film nonetheless provides a fairly steady series of laughs thanks to the fully committed performances by the two stars and the sheer brazenness of its humor. Instead of relying on cheap parody for its humor, "Martin & Orloff" at least tries to forge fresh comedic ground.
NEW YORK -- Genuinely anarchic comedy is so rare in today's cinema -- "Scary Movie" and its ilk notwithstanding -- that this attempt from first-time director Lawrence Blume, written by and starring Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts and Katie Roberts of the improvisational comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade, is to be commended for sheer ambition. A wacky comedy involving a suicidal marketing executive and his highly irreverent shrink, "Martin & Orloff" ultimately doesn't fully succeed in its comedic aspirations, but it does offer some genuine laughs along the way. The film is playing an exclusive engagement at New York's Sunshine Cinema.
Martin Flam (Ian Roberts) is the hapless exec, who has just returned to work after a stint in a mental hospital following an unsuccessful suicide attempt. As the film begins, he's vainly trying to clean dried blood from his bathroom floor. Ordered to see a psychiatrist, he unfortunately encounters Dr. Orloff (Walsh), who begins his treatment with the not-so-subtle query, "Why did you try to kill yourself?" Before the flustered Martin can respond, Orloff remembers he's late for a softball game, and drags his patient along to continue the session on the run.
After an ineffective stint as the game's umpire, Martin finds himself in a series of misadventures with his self-involved shrink as well as a variety of bizarre characters, including Orloff's sexually withholding stripper girlfriend (Katie Roberts)
a Desert Storm veteran (Jon Benjamin) who has the unfortunate habit of excreting in bathroom sinks
and another stripper (Amy Poehler), whose sexual fling with Martin leads to a series of confrontations with her massive, and massively well-hung, ex-boyfriend (Matt Besser). Eventually, we learn the secret behind Martin's suicide attempt, involving the accidental death of an actor whom he put in an egg roll costume unfortunately lacking eyeholes.
Various comedy stars provide cameos, including Tina Fey and Janeane Garofalo, with the most amusing contributions coming from Andy Richter as a nasty dinner theater host and David Cross as a fey director.
Highly uneven in its scattershot gags and less-than-assured direction, the film nonetheless provides a fairly steady series of laughs thanks to the fully committed performances by the two stars and the sheer brazenness of its humor. Instead of relying on cheap parody for its humor, "Martin & Orloff" at least tries to forge fresh comedic ground.
- 11/14/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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