Dufferin Gate Studios has taken over the former Stratagem Studios complex in east Toronto as the veteran studio operator places a bet on a return of major studios and streamers and their appetite for original content production post-Hollywood strikes.
The studio at 1510 Birchmount Road in Scarborough, with two giant 60-foot clear span stages and six in all, has hosted shoots for Marvel’s Hawkeye and Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown.
The Stratagem Group, led by film financier Michael Cerenzie, has given way to Dufferin Gate signing a memorandum of understanding to become the exclusive film and TV operators for the facility and position itself to serve more foreign productions by major studios and streamers shooting in Toronto.
Noel Phillips, general manager of Dufferin Gate, said the stages at 1510 Birchmount remain empty amid the Hollywood actors and writers strikes, but the studio operator has been received stepped-up inquiries, “hopefully indicating a...
The studio at 1510 Birchmount Road in Scarborough, with two giant 60-foot clear span stages and six in all, has hosted shoots for Marvel’s Hawkeye and Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown.
The Stratagem Group, led by film financier Michael Cerenzie, has given way to Dufferin Gate signing a memorandum of understanding to become the exclusive film and TV operators for the facility and position itself to serve more foreign productions by major studios and streamers shooting in Toronto.
Noel Phillips, general manager of Dufferin Gate, said the stages at 1510 Birchmount remain empty amid the Hollywood actors and writers strikes, but the studio operator has been received stepped-up inquiries, “hopefully indicating a...
- 8/29/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Toronto’s Stratagem Studios, which has hosted shoots for Marvel’s Hawkeye and Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown, plans to partner with Kleinburg Film Studios on studio lot space in hopes to attract more major productions coming to Canada.
The joint venture to be named Stratagem Kleinburg Studios increases Stratagem’s footprint to 400,000 square feet of stage and production space in Toronto.
Michael Cerenzie, a veteran film producer and CEO of The Stratagem Group, says the partnership is a bet on specialized studio space in Toronto amid demand for such space that’s kept some productions from shooting in the region. Kleinburg, which has 20,000 square feet of clear span stages and 17,500 square feet of support space, has one of only two purpose-built studios in Toronto. It features a six-acre backlot, the largest in Toronto, in addition to horse paddocks and barns, field lots, woodlots and a log cabin.
“We’ll...
The joint venture to be named Stratagem Kleinburg Studios increases Stratagem’s footprint to 400,000 square feet of stage and production space in Toronto.
Michael Cerenzie, a veteran film producer and CEO of The Stratagem Group, says the partnership is a bet on specialized studio space in Toronto amid demand for such space that’s kept some productions from shooting in the region. Kleinburg, which has 20,000 square feet of clear span stages and 17,500 square feet of support space, has one of only two purpose-built studios in Toronto. It features a six-acre backlot, the largest in Toronto, in addition to horse paddocks and barns, field lots, woodlots and a log cabin.
“We’ll...
- 1/19/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Partnership creates facility which parties say will rival any in North America, the world.
Toronto-based Stratagem Studios has partnered with Kleinburg Film Studios and announced a joint venture that increases its stage and production support space in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to 400,000 sq ft.
The rebranded Stratagem Kleinburg will see Stratagem, home to major productions such as Marvel’s Hawkeye and Taylor Sheridan’s Mayor Of Kingstown, will handle all deals for tenants and productions across both studios.
“I am truly excited to partner with Riccardo Bozzo and Kleinburg Film Studios given its rich history as a studio...
Toronto-based Stratagem Studios has partnered with Kleinburg Film Studios and announced a joint venture that increases its stage and production support space in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to 400,000 sq ft.
The rebranded Stratagem Kleinburg will see Stratagem, home to major productions such as Marvel’s Hawkeye and Taylor Sheridan’s Mayor Of Kingstown, will handle all deals for tenants and productions across both studios.
“I am truly excited to partner with Riccardo Bozzo and Kleinburg Film Studios given its rich history as a studio...
- 1/18/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Stratagem Studios may have 250,000 square feet of studio space in Toronto, with another 100,000-plus on the way, but CEO Michael Cerenzie didn’t just plan on growing the space in Toronto as fast as he could. He first wanted to make sure that there was actually enough labor and talent who could work those stages.
As a result of Netflix, Disney and other emerging streamers fighting for sound stage space over the last few years, many in his industry were racing to buy land, lobby for local tax credits and rapidly assemble stages and equipment, Cerenzie said. But there’s one thing they left out.
“The problem is no one looked at the labor. And when you’re looking at labor, you’re like four to seven years out,” Cerenzie told TheWrap for this week’s Office With a View. “You could put up a stage tomorrow and put a tax credit in place,...
As a result of Netflix, Disney and other emerging streamers fighting for sound stage space over the last few years, many in his industry were racing to buy land, lobby for local tax credits and rapidly assemble stages and equipment, Cerenzie said. But there’s one thing they left out.
“The problem is no one looked at the labor. And when you’re looking at labor, you’re like four to seven years out,” Cerenzie told TheWrap for this week’s Office With a View. “You could put up a stage tomorrow and put a tax credit in place,...
- 9/23/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Hollywood’s Streaming Gold Rush Keeps Ontario Soundstages at Full Capacity Despite Netflix’s Stumble
Click here to read the full article.
With Hollywood in need of cost-effective programming as the streamers begin to tighten their belts, local film studio operators see an opening for Ontario as the major studios reach for generous currency and tax credit savings.
Ontario is projected to add another 2.3 million square feet of studio space to an existing 3.7 million square feet of soundstages and production space over the next four years. Amid speculation about whether the video streaming market is finally oversaturated, studio operators in and around Toronto do not expect major streaming services to greatly cut back on content spending — at least in the near future.
“Netflix, Amazon, Apple, they’re still doing their production. The filtering down of [content] cutbacks, we haven’t felt that,” Paul Bronfman, chairman and CEO of studio operator Comweb Corp., tells The Hollywood Reporter amid talk of a Hollywood spending slump just as the Toronto Film Festival gets underway.
With Hollywood in need of cost-effective programming as the streamers begin to tighten their belts, local film studio operators see an opening for Ontario as the major studios reach for generous currency and tax credit savings.
Ontario is projected to add another 2.3 million square feet of studio space to an existing 3.7 million square feet of soundstages and production space over the next four years. Amid speculation about whether the video streaming market is finally oversaturated, studio operators in and around Toronto do not expect major streaming services to greatly cut back on content spending — at least in the near future.
“Netflix, Amazon, Apple, they’re still doing their production. The filtering down of [content] cutbacks, we haven’t felt that,” Paul Bronfman, chairman and CEO of studio operator Comweb Corp., tells The Hollywood Reporter amid talk of a Hollywood spending slump just as the Toronto Film Festival gets underway.
- 9/12/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The first and most important thing that happened as a result of the staging of "Sticks and Stones" at the Met Theater as part of the Act One Festival was that Scott Swan and I got our first agent. Barbara Baruch worked for Ambrosio/Mortimer, a smaller boutique agency at the time, and from the moment we met her, she seemed like what I imagined an agent to be. She was nurturing, she was a cheerleader, she was a ballbuster, and she was always, always, always in our corner. Our time with her was unfortunately too short, and by the time the agency imploded in accusations of embezzlement, we were already repped by Gersh out of New York. Barbara was first, though, and she was the first one to start pushing people to come see our show and to read our work. The strangest thing about those early days is...
- 6/11/2015
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Steve Carrell is developing a remake of 'A Boyfriend for My Wife'. The 2008 Argentinean romantic comedy - originally titled 'Un novio para mi mujer' - concerns a man who enlists the help of a legendary yet unlikely lothario to fall in love with his wife so that he can divorce her. It is thought that the 'Dinner for Schmucks' actor will take the main role in the project, Variety reports. The 48-year-old star will produce the film through his Carousel Productions company, with help from Christine Peters, who worked on 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days', and Michael Cerenzie. ..
- 8/27/2010
- Virgin Media - Movies
Warner Bros. is setting up a remake of the 2008 Argentine romantic comedy "A Boyfriend for My Wife," as a starring vehicle for Steve Carell.According to Variety, Carell will produce through his Carousel Productions along with Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters. Mark Gibson and Phil Halprin ("Snow Dogs") will write the screenplay. In the original film, "Un novio para mi mujer," a meek husband concludes that the only way out of his unsatisfying marriage is to get his wife to fall in love with another man, so he enlists the help of a well-known ladies. man.Juan Taratuto directed the original. No director has been set for the remake.Carell produced and starred in Warner's marital comedy "Crazy, Stupid Love." Directed by...
- 8/27/2010
- by Adnan Tezer
- Monsters and Critics
Steve Carell will produce and star in a remake of 2008 Argentine romantic comedy "A Boyfriend for My Wife" for Warner Bros. Pictures reports Variety.
The Juan Taratuto-directed original followed a timid husband stuck in a stifling marriage who enlists the help of a legendary yet unlikely Lothario to help get his wife to fall in love with another man.
Mark Gibson and Phil Halprin ("The Wild," "Snow Dogs") will adapt the script while Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters will also produce.
The Juan Taratuto-directed original followed a timid husband stuck in a stifling marriage who enlists the help of a legendary yet unlikely Lothario to help get his wife to fall in love with another man.
Mark Gibson and Phil Halprin ("The Wild," "Snow Dogs") will adapt the script while Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters will also produce.
- 8/26/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Warner Bros. Pictures is setting up a remake of the 2008 Argentine romantic comedy A Boyfriend for My Wife with Steve Carell's Carousel Productions as a starring vehicle for the actor, reports Variety . Carell will produce along with Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters. Grace Ledding is co-producing, and Carousel's Charlie Hartsock and Vance DeGeneres are executive producing. The studio has hired the writing team of Mark Gibson and Phil Halprin ( Snow Dogs ) to adapt. In director Juan Taratuto's original, a timid husband believes the only way out of his stifling marriage is to get his wife to fall in love with another man, so he enlists the help of a legendary yet unlikely Lothario.
- 8/26/2010
- Comingsoon.net
Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel the title of a latest biography on Steve McQueen, the right to the biography has been acquired by Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters and they are planning to start shooting at the end of this year. McQueen,The King of Cool as he was rightfully nicknamed since he loved beautiful women, fast cars, and motorcycles owned many cars and there are many cars that their names connected to McQueen's and it surly can be seen in movies such as Bullitt(1968) and Le Mans(1971). But who can portray this legendary Rebel? Rumor has it that Brad Pitt has been considered for the role. Is he a right pick? there are similarities between these two Icons, but we can only accept Pitt as the right pick when we all see him in the role. So let's all wait and see.
- 5/26/2009
- Films N Movies
In an upcoming star vehicle at least partially about vehicles, I'm squarely in camp Daniel Craig. The current 007 is the pick of Steve McQueen's widow to play the coolest man of all time, but she doesn't have the final word on who will embody Bullit in the upcoming adaptation of the biography, Steve McQueen: Portrait of an Americal Rebel.
Examiner (via Cinematical) says that producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters want Brad Pitt for the role, and frankly, I can't blame them. Pitt's obviously a bigger star than Craig, and even though he doesn't have the same build and he doesn't look as much like McQueen, it's not a bad fit by any means.
Clearly, Pitt brings with him greater box office potential, that women-want-him-men-want-to-be-him thing down, and he exudes the sort of confidence that would make him a natural for the role of McQueen.
Examiner (via Cinematical) says that producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters want Brad Pitt for the role, and frankly, I can't blame them. Pitt's obviously a bigger star than Craig, and even though he doesn't have the same build and he doesn't look as much like McQueen, it's not a bad fit by any means.
Clearly, Pitt brings with him greater box office potential, that women-want-him-men-want-to-be-him thing down, and he exudes the sort of confidence that would make him a natural for the role of McQueen.
- 5/25/2009
- by Colin Boyd
- GetTheBigPicture.net
Steve McQueen's widow might think that Daniel Craig would be the perfect actor to bring her husband back to life on the big screen, but it doesn't look like that's the direction Christine Peters and Michael Cerenzie are going with their adaptation of Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel. In fact, if rumors are true, they're looking for the man who was once rumored to be remaking McQueen's classic Bullitt -- Brad Pitt.
The Examiner says the actor is about to sign on to play McQueen in the biopic, which will kick into production later this year. They seem fairly happy with the news, stating: "The casting might work, Pitt resembles McQueen and shares the late actor's love of beautiful women, fast cars, and motorcycles." Me, I'm not so sure.
It all comes down to "the pretty." McQueen definitely had looks himself, but he was one of...
The Examiner says the actor is about to sign on to play McQueen in the biopic, which will kick into production later this year. They seem fairly happy with the news, stating: "The casting might work, Pitt resembles McQueen and shares the late actor's love of beautiful women, fast cars, and motorcycles." Me, I'm not so sure.
It all comes down to "the pretty." McQueen definitely had looks himself, but he was one of...
- 5/25/2009
- by Monika Bartyzel
- Cinematical
Jesse Wigutow has been hired to pen the screenplay for a biographical treatment of screen legend Steve McQueen for producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting. Wigutow’s script will be drawing from Marshall Terrill’s biography “Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel,” which the film rights to were bought back in January by Cerenzie (”Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”) and Peters (”How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”). Cerenzie-Peters Productions will produce with the film for Paramount, alongside Arthaus Pictures’ Brian Oliver and Chuck Rock. Graham Kaye, Cerenzie-Peters Productions president, is executive producing alongside Brett Granstaff, Keith Watkins and Kenny Johnson. Terrence Steven “Steve” McQueen [...]...
- 3/24/2009
- by Costa Koutsoutis
- ShockYa
Jesse Wigutow has been hired to pen the screenplay for a biographical treatment of screen legend Steve McQueen for producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the writing deal is for seven figures.
Wigutow will adapt Marshall Terrill's biography "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel", the film rights for which were nabbed by Cerenzie-Peters Prods. in January. The company will produce with Arthaus Pictures' Brian Oliver and Chuck Rock, who brought in the project.
Wigutow's script will trace McQueen's development from reform-school delinquent to the highest-paid actor in Hollywood and cover the star's obsession with motorcycles and racing, his drug abuse, his marriages and affairs and his hard-fought battle with cancer, which felled him in 1980 at age 50. According to the trade, Cerenzie acquired the cooperation of McQueen's widow, Barbara Minty, as well.
"McQueen wasn't only the leading man of his era,...
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the writing deal is for seven figures.
Wigutow will adapt Marshall Terrill's biography "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel", the film rights for which were nabbed by Cerenzie-Peters Prods. in January. The company will produce with Arthaus Pictures' Brian Oliver and Chuck Rock, who brought in the project.
Wigutow's script will trace McQueen's development from reform-school delinquent to the highest-paid actor in Hollywood and cover the star's obsession with motorcycles and racing, his drug abuse, his marriages and affairs and his hard-fought battle with cancer, which felled him in 1980 at age 50. According to the trade, Cerenzie acquired the cooperation of McQueen's widow, Barbara Minty, as well.
"McQueen wasn't only the leading man of his era,...
- 3/24/2009
- CinemaSpy
When two similar movies go into development around the same time, it's the one that gets going fastest that always ends up getting made. In the current battle of the dueling Steve McQueen biopics, the one based on the actor's official biography has been the one lagging behind without a screenwriter. But now the film to be based on Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel has hired Jesse Wigutow has been hired to adapt the screenplay, meaning maybe they'll be able to catch up after all. The other film, based on McQueen's first wife's memoir My Husband, My Friend, had screenwriters on board already when it announced development in January. Then again, as THR notes, the film Wigutow is writing is likely to get picked up by Paramount, given that producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters have a first-look deal with the studios. I've always figured that the...
- 3/23/2009
- cinemablend.com
Right now, for reasons we can’t entirely explain, there are two separate biopics of the late, great Steve McQueen in development – and today, one of them got a serious headstart on the other by hiring a writer.Jesse Wigutow has picked up a seven-figure deal (we hope for his sake that any decimal point comes after the seventh figure) to write an adaptation of Steve McQueen: Portrait Of An American Rebel, the Marshal Terrill biography to which producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters bought the rights back in January.Soon after that came news that producer David Foster, who worked with McQueen on The Getaway, was planning his own biopic of the legendary king of cool, based on the book, My Husband, My Friend, written by McQueen’s first wife, Neile McQueen Toffel.But with Wigutow’s hiring, American Rebel (Empire’s working title; the movie itself is...
- 3/23/2009
- EmpireOnline
Jesse Wigutow is taking on the King of Cool.
Wigutow has been hired to pen the screenplay for a biographical treatment of screen legend Steve McQueen for producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters. The writing deal is for seven figures.
Wigutow will work from Marshall Terrill's biography "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel," to which Cerenzie ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead") and Peters ("How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days") nabbed film rights in January. Cerenzie-Peters Prods., which has a first-look deal with Paramount, will produce with Arthaus Pictures' Brian Oliver and Chuck Rock, who brought in the project.
Cp Prods. president Graham Kaye is executive producing alongside Brett Granstaff, Keith Watkins and Kenny Johnson.
Wigutow's script will trace McQueen's development from reform-school delinquent to the highest-paid actor in Hollywood and cover the star's obsession with motorcycles and racing, his drug abuse, his marriages...
Wigutow has been hired to pen the screenplay for a biographical treatment of screen legend Steve McQueen for producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters. The writing deal is for seven figures.
Wigutow will work from Marshall Terrill's biography "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel," to which Cerenzie ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead") and Peters ("How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days") nabbed film rights in January. Cerenzie-Peters Prods., which has a first-look deal with Paramount, will produce with Arthaus Pictures' Brian Oliver and Chuck Rock, who brought in the project.
Cp Prods. president Graham Kaye is executive producing alongside Brett Granstaff, Keith Watkins and Kenny Johnson.
Wigutow's script will trace McQueen's development from reform-school delinquent to the highest-paid actor in Hollywood and cover the star's obsession with motorcycles and racing, his drug abuse, his marriages...
- 3/22/2009
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Just weeks after a Steve McQueen biopic has been announced, another film about the King of Cool's life is on its way to the big screen.
Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters have announced earlier this month that they are developing a film based on the life of the late "Bullitt" star.
Now, another Steve McQueen film is in development. Producer David Foster says he is leading a project based on the memoir "My Husband, My Friend," written by the actor's first wife, Neile McQueen Toffel.
Foster, who worked as McQueen's publicist before venturing into the film industry as a producer, is teaming with producer Kevin Kasha on the biopic entitled "McQueen." Roderick and Bruce Taylor are set to pen the script, Variety reports.
Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters have announced earlier this month that they are developing a film based on the life of the late "Bullitt" star.
Now, another Steve McQueen film is in development. Producer David Foster says he is leading a project based on the memoir "My Husband, My Friend," written by the actor's first wife, Neile McQueen Toffel.
Foster, who worked as McQueen's publicist before venturing into the film industry as a producer, is teaming with producer Kevin Kasha on the biopic entitled "McQueen." Roderick and Bruce Taylor are set to pen the script, Variety reports.
- 1/28/2009
- icelebz.com
If it seems like mere weeks ago we were pondering ideas for who could play Steve McQueen in a just-announced biopic, that’s because, er, it was. But now there’s another one. Yes, hot on the heels of Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters’ film announcement comes news that producer David Foster is throwing his hat into the ring. Foster has two advantages – he used to work for McQueen as his publicist before becoming a producer and working with him, and McQueen’s first wife, Neile McQueen Toffel has given...
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- 1/28/2009
- by jwhite
- TotalFilm
Producer David Foster (The Mask of Zorro) has announced that he is developing a project based the life of Steve McQueen. According to the trades Foster will be using a memoir penned by McQueen's first wife, Neile McQueen Toffel. Foster started in Hollywood as McQueen's publicist before segueing to a successful producing career bringing such films as McQueen's The Getaway to the bigscreen. He is teaming on the biopic, which will be titled McQueen, with producer Kevin Kasha, who acquired Toffel's memoir My Husband, My Friend when he was an acquisitions executive at New Line. The story will chronicle the relationship between McQueen and Toffel, which began in 1956 when Toffel was a Broadway star and under contract at MGM. The couple was married for more than 15 years and had two children and four grandchildren together. The father and son writing team of Roderick and Bruce Taylor (The Brave One) will pen the screenplay.
- 1/28/2009
- by James Cook
- TheMovingPicture.net
Two films about the iconic Steve McQueen are racing to the big screen!
Here's the comparison breakdown:
First Film
Working Title: "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel"
Producers: Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters
Based On: Marshall Terrill's biography of the same title
Project Will Focus On: McQueen's career as well as his three marriages, including his stormy relationship with Ali McGraw, as well as his battle against lung cancer.
McQueen Connection: Barbara Minty, McQueen's widow, is collaborating with the producers
Second Film
Working Title: "McQueen"
Producer: David Foster
Based On: Memoir by McQueen's first wife, Neile McQueen Toffel called "My Husband, My Friend"
Project Will Focus On: Relationship between Toffel and McQueen
McQueen Connection: Toffel, plus Foster used to be McQueen's publicist and he was also the producer of the actor's flick, "The Getaway"
Alright, both films have the blessings of McQueen's ex-wives, but the first film sound more intriguing -- drugs,...
Here's the comparison breakdown:
First Film
Working Title: "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel"
Producers: Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters
Based On: Marshall Terrill's biography of the same title
Project Will Focus On: McQueen's career as well as his three marriages, including his stormy relationship with Ali McGraw, as well as his battle against lung cancer.
McQueen Connection: Barbara Minty, McQueen's widow, is collaborating with the producers
Second Film
Working Title: "McQueen"
Producer: David Foster
Based On: Memoir by McQueen's first wife, Neile McQueen Toffel called "My Husband, My Friend"
Project Will Focus On: Relationship between Toffel and McQueen
McQueen Connection: Toffel, plus Foster used to be McQueen's publicist and he was also the producer of the actor's flick, "The Getaway"
Alright, both films have the blessings of McQueen's ex-wives, but the first film sound more intriguing -- drugs,...
- 1/28/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Plans are underway for a new Hollywood movie about the life of late screen legend Steve McQueen.
Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters have purchased the rights to 2008 biography Steve McQueen: Portrait Of An American Rebel by Marshall Terrill and plan to transform the book into a major motion picture, according to Variety.com.
The film will focus on McQueen's glittering movie career, beginning with his uncredited role in 1956's Somebody Up There Likes Me.
McQueen went on to become the highest paid movie star in the world with films including The Magnificent Seven in 1960, 1963's The Great Escape, and The Thomas Crown Affair in 1968.
He died in 1980 aged 50 following cancer surgery.
Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters have purchased the rights to 2008 biography Steve McQueen: Portrait Of An American Rebel by Marshall Terrill and plan to transform the book into a major motion picture, according to Variety.com.
The film will focus on McQueen's glittering movie career, beginning with his uncredited role in 1956's Somebody Up There Likes Me.
McQueen went on to become the highest paid movie star in the world with films including The Magnificent Seven in 1960, 1963's The Great Escape, and The Thomas Crown Affair in 1968.
He died in 1980 aged 50 following cancer surgery.
- 1/15/2009
- WENN
Jim Sheridan (In America, In the Name of the Fathe) is developing a film based on notorious Boston mobster and FBI informant Whitey Bulger, report the trades. Sheridan will direct a script he and partner Nye Heron are penning based on "Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob," a book written by Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill. Bulger rose to prominence in Boston as a feared enforcer and built the Winter Hill Gang into an enterprise that did everything from selling drugs to procuring guns for the Irish Republican Army. His rise was helped by John Connolly, a childhood pal who became an FBI agent. Bulger disappeared 14 years ago, creating a major law enforcement scandal. Michael Cerenzie, Christine Peters and Brian Oliver (Trapped, Auto Focus) are producing. Cerenzie and Peters are also developing a Steve Mcqueen biopic,...
- 1/15/2009
- by James Cook
- TheMovingPicture.net
I've been doing a lot of double-takes lately, given that the artsy director of the British drama Hunger is named Steve McQueen, and bears no relation whatsoever to the action star legend. But now the original McQueen seems ready to get his due as well. Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters are planning a biopic about the actor, and it'll likely land at Paramount for production. Variety says the movie will mainly follow McQueen's Hollywood career, which includes three troubled marriages, a lot of fast cars, and a lot of drugs. The movie will be based on Marshall Terrill's biography of the star, Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel. McQueen isn't a name you hear much these days, but I imagine there are plenty of old fans who will be thrilled about this, and new ones to be made with a biopic done right. Yeah, yeah, the old...
- 1/14/2009
- cinemablend.com
Forget the cinematic adventures of Steve McQueen as a husband and friend. While a former McQueen wife might have sold the rights to her book back in 2007, nothing seems to have come of it. A year and a half later, it's time for a different approach, one that focuses on the McQueen we all know and love -- Hollywood star and rebel.
Variety reports that producers Christine Peters and Michael Cerenzie have nabbed the rights to Marshall Terrill's biography Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel. (See? Doesn't that sound better already?) The book will be whipped up into a feature that covers the actor's Hollywood career, which started in 1956, his "penchant for motorcycles, fast cards, and drugs, his relationship with Ali McGraw, and go right through his battle with lung cancer." Right now, there's no writer or director attached, but Peters and Cerenzie say that they're about to get the latter set.
Variety reports that producers Christine Peters and Michael Cerenzie have nabbed the rights to Marshall Terrill's biography Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel. (See? Doesn't that sound better already?) The book will be whipped up into a feature that covers the actor's Hollywood career, which started in 1956, his "penchant for motorcycles, fast cards, and drugs, his relationship with Ali McGraw, and go right through his battle with lung cancer." Right now, there's no writer or director attached, but Peters and Cerenzie say that they're about to get the latter set.
- 1/14/2009
- by Monika Bartyzel
- Cinematical
Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters have begun developing a Steve McQueen biopic, reports Variety. Cerenzie and Peters have acquired the rights to Marshall Terrill's biography of the actor Steve McQueen: Portrait Of An American Rebel. The film will focus on McQueen's movie career rather than his pre-fame life. McQueen's widow Barbara Minty is also involved with the project. (more)...
- 1/14/2009
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters are bringing a Steve McQueen biopic to the big screen. They have acquired the rights to Marshall Terrill's biography "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel." The project will primarily chronicle McQueen's Hollywood career, which began in 1956 when the Indiana native got his break in the film Somebody Up There Likes Me . Cerenzie and Peters are producing alongside Brian Oliver and Chuck Rock of Arthaus Productions. The book, which was published in paperback in October, also delves into McQueen's offscreen penchant for motorcycles, fast cars and drugs. Project will examine his three marriages, including his stormy relationship with Ali McGraw, as well as his battle against lung cancer.
- 1/14/2009
- Comingsoon.net
Bio-pics are tricky business, particularly when they're about movie stars and especially when the family is involved in the project. So while I would initially be concerned about a film biography of Steve McQueen, the source material makes me feel a little better about it.
Two producers, Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters, have picked up the rights to the biography, Steve McQeueen: Portrait of an American Rebel, according to Variety. This is not some Steve McQueen & Me book that his widow wrote, although Barbara Minty has given her blessing to the project. Instead, this is a fairly frank and in-depth look at McQueen's life by Marshall Terrill.
We'll see most of McQueen's Hollywood career, which spanned about 25 years, all told, but he crammed about 40 years of hard living into them, with multiple dalliances and marriages with beautiful women, a well-known jones for speed racing (which actually pre-dates the acting), as...
Two producers, Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters, have picked up the rights to the biography, Steve McQeueen: Portrait of an American Rebel, according to Variety. This is not some Steve McQueen & Me book that his widow wrote, although Barbara Minty has given her blessing to the project. Instead, this is a fairly frank and in-depth look at McQueen's life by Marshall Terrill.
We'll see most of McQueen's Hollywood career, which spanned about 25 years, all told, but he crammed about 40 years of hard living into them, with multiple dalliances and marriages with beautiful women, a well-known jones for speed racing (which actually pre-dates the acting), as...
- 1/14/2009
- by Colin Boyd
- GetTheBigPicture.net
The late Steve McQueen's legendary Hollywood life will be the focus of a new biopic by producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters.
As per Variety, the duo has acquired the film rights to the biography "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel" by Marshall Terrill, which was published in October. They will be producing alongside Brian Oliver and Chuck Rock.
The film will chronicle the actor's career from his big break in 1956's "Somebody Up There Likes Me" to his rise in the industry.
Cerenzie and Peters have secured the cooperation of the surviving wife of "The King of Cool," Barbara Minty.
As per Variety, the duo has acquired the film rights to the biography "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel" by Marshall Terrill, which was published in October. They will be producing alongside Brian Oliver and Chuck Rock.
The film will chronicle the actor's career from his big break in 1956's "Somebody Up There Likes Me" to his rise in the industry.
Cerenzie and Peters have secured the cooperation of the surviving wife of "The King of Cool," Barbara Minty.
- 1/14/2009
- icelebz.com
A biopic is in the works for Steve “The King of Cool” McQueen, star of The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Bullitt, The Cincinnati Kid, The Getaway and The Towering Inferno. The Oscar nominee passed away in 1980 at the age of 50. Producers Michael Cerenzie (Before the Devil Knows You're Dead) and Christine Peters (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) have acquired the rights to Marshall Terrill's biography Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel. According to the trades, the film will primarily chronicle McQueen's Hollywood career, which began in 1956 when the Indiana native got his break in the film Somebody Up There Likes Me. The biography, which was published in paperback in October, also delves into McQueen's off-screen desire for motorcycles, fast cars and drugs. The project will also examine his three marriages, including his stormy relationship with Ali McGraw, as well as his battle against lung cancer.
- 1/14/2009
- by James Cook
- TheMovingPicture.net
Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters have announced plans to make a biopic about Steve McQueen, the British artist who made a splash last year with his debut movie, Hunger, about the… what’s that? Oh. Sorry.*Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters have announced plans to make a biopic about Steve McQueen, the legendary American actor. That actually makes more sense.It’s actually surprising that it’s taken so long. McQueen, who brought his rebellious man’s man, man about town persona to a number of classic flicks including The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven, The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, The Towering Inferno, The Getaway and, erm, The Blob, was the epitome of cool, and also lived a life packed with incident.For example, he loved fast cars. He loved to drink. He dabbled in drugs. He was married three times, including a notoriously feisty union with his Getaway co-star Ali McGraw.
- 1/14/2009
- EmpireOnline
- #97. Black Water Transit Director: Tony Kaye Writer: Matt Chapman (Runaway Jury)Producers: Michael Cerenzie, Christopher Eberts, Kia Jam, Robert Katz, Paul Parmar, Arnold RifkinDistributor: Rights Available. Capitol Films The Gist: New Orleans is a city in chaos, picking up the pieces after hurricane Katrina. Black Water Transit's owner, Jack Vermillion (Laurence Fishburne) is trying to break away from the life of crime he grew up in and conduct a legitimate business. Jack is tortured by thoughts of his only son Gary, who is in prison endangering his own life with his self destructive behavior and aggressive attitude towards the other inmates. When the mysterious Earl Pike (Karl Urban) approaches Jack to ship an enormous stash of guns, he decides to expose Earl to District Attorney Schick in exchange for Gary's protection. Jack's plan, however, is jeopardised by the fact that Sardoonah (Brittany Snow), a prostitute he has taken under his wing,
- 1/5/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
"Fashionistas" is walking down a different runway.
Set up at Paramount Pictures four years ago, the chick-lit comedy project, based on Lynn Messina's debut novel, now has attached Donald Petrie to direct and produce independently.
Original producers Christine Peters and Michael Cerenzie of Cp Prods., which is based at Paramount, brought on Petrie and Kirsten Lea's Kellagio Entertainment to co-produce outside of the studio.
Lea will executive produce under Kellagio's LoveLea Films along with Phil Viardo.
With its echoes of the successfully translated "The Devil Wears Prada," "Fashionistas" traces the career of a young designer working at a design firm who plots to take down her ruthless boss by inventing a fictitious must-have designer.
Danny Fischer and Paula Chorley, a former fashion executive, are writing an adaptation of the book. James Berg and Stan Zimmerman wrote earlier drafts. The producers plan to sew up filming by the end of this year.
"As 'Sex and the City' and 'Mamma Mia!' have proved, there is a real hunger for female-driven comedies," Peters said. " 'Fashionistas' is the perfect marriage of humor and flirtation set in the exciting world of fashion and designers."
Petrie, repped by Wma, just finished filming "My Life in Ruins" for Fox Searchlight. He worked with Peters on "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," and his filmography includes "Mystic Pizza" and "Miss Congeniality."...
Set up at Paramount Pictures four years ago, the chick-lit comedy project, based on Lynn Messina's debut novel, now has attached Donald Petrie to direct and produce independently.
Original producers Christine Peters and Michael Cerenzie of Cp Prods., which is based at Paramount, brought on Petrie and Kirsten Lea's Kellagio Entertainment to co-produce outside of the studio.
Lea will executive produce under Kellagio's LoveLea Films along with Phil Viardo.
With its echoes of the successfully translated "The Devil Wears Prada," "Fashionistas" traces the career of a young designer working at a design firm who plots to take down her ruthless boss by inventing a fictitious must-have designer.
Danny Fischer and Paula Chorley, a former fashion executive, are writing an adaptation of the book. James Berg and Stan Zimmerman wrote earlier drafts. The producers plan to sew up filming by the end of this year.
"As 'Sex and the City' and 'Mamma Mia!' have proved, there is a real hunger for female-driven comedies," Peters said. " 'Fashionistas' is the perfect marriage of humor and flirtation set in the exciting world of fashion and designers."
Petrie, repped by Wma, just finished filming "My Life in Ruins" for Fox Searchlight. He worked with Peters on "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," and his filmography includes "Mystic Pizza" and "Miss Congeniality."...
- 7/30/2008
- by By Jay A. Fernandez and Steven Zeitchik
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Cerenzie-Peters Prods. has picked up remake rights to the Thai hit horror series "Art of the Devil", whose third installment debuted as the No. 1 movie in the Asian country.
CP principals Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters are producing alongside Eric Thompson and Tim Kwok of Convergence Entertainment.
While each installment of the series follows a new story line, what links them are the themes of revenge, black magic and mysterious deaths. CP will begin by focusing on the second installment, which featured a group of high school kids who fall victim to supernatural tattoos.
The latest movie, released April 3 in Thailand, earned more than $2.5 million during its first weekend to lead the domestic boxoffice. That beat out the $2.1 million raked in by "Jumper" and the $1.8 million grossed by "10,000 BC".
"Devil", which cost less than $1 million to make, has already been sold to more than 40 countries.
CP will produce the project via its genre division, which just signed a $100 million production financing partnership with Ghostrider Entertainment.
CP principals Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters are producing alongside Eric Thompson and Tim Kwok of Convergence Entertainment.
While each installment of the series follows a new story line, what links them are the themes of revenge, black magic and mysterious deaths. CP will begin by focusing on the second installment, which featured a group of high school kids who fall victim to supernatural tattoos.
The latest movie, released April 3 in Thailand, earned more than $2.5 million during its first weekend to lead the domestic boxoffice. That beat out the $2.1 million raked in by "Jumper" and the $1.8 million grossed by "10,000 BC".
"Devil", which cost less than $1 million to make, has already been sold to more than 40 countries.
CP will produce the project via its genre division, which just signed a $100 million production financing partnership with Ghostrider Entertainment.
- 4/30/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It was announced tonight that Cp Prods. principals Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters have started a genre division and will partner with Mississippi-based Ghostrider Entertainment to co-finance a slate of 10 fright films in the next three years with budgets between $8 million and $20 million. The first two films sounds pretty damn cool, the first by Padraig Reynolds entitled Rites of Spring, and the second being the long-delayed Slaughter, which will be helmed by Victor Garcia (Return to House on Haunted Hill). Read on for details on both films and watch this spot for more as soon as it comes in.
- 4/24/2008
- bloody-disgusting.com
NEW YORK -- In the first pickup from the Hamptons International Film Festival slate, ThinkFilm has nabbed North American rights to Thursday's world premiere My Sexiest Year.
Writer-director Howard Himelstein's autobiographical coming-of-age story follows Jack Stein (Frankie Muniz), a 17-year-old aspiring writer who lives with his mother (Frances Fisher) in Brooklyn. When her health declines, she sends him to live with his horse-racing handicapper father (Harvey Keitel) in Miami.
Jack soon becomes distracted by new friendships with a rich druggie (Dan Levy) and his sister (Haylie Duff) and the famous model (Amber Valletta) Jack falls for. Ryan Cabrera plays Jack's high school nemesis. Christopher McDonald and Karolina Kurkova also star.
The pickup reunites ThinkFilm with producers Michael Cerenzie and Paul Parmar, part of the team behind its upcoming Sidney Lumet thriller Before the Devil Knows You're Dead.
Himelstein directed Power of Attorney and scripted Myriad Pictures' upcoming Oscar Wilde adaptation A Woman of No Importance.
Cerenzie and Christine Forsyth-Peters' of CP Prods. will produce Russell Mulcahy's Zen and the Art of Slaying Vampires.
ThinkFilm U.S.
Writer-director Howard Himelstein's autobiographical coming-of-age story follows Jack Stein (Frankie Muniz), a 17-year-old aspiring writer who lives with his mother (Frances Fisher) in Brooklyn. When her health declines, she sends him to live with his horse-racing handicapper father (Harvey Keitel) in Miami.
Jack soon becomes distracted by new friendships with a rich druggie (Dan Levy) and his sister (Haylie Duff) and the famous model (Amber Valletta) Jack falls for. Ryan Cabrera plays Jack's high school nemesis. Christopher McDonald and Karolina Kurkova also star.
The pickup reunites ThinkFilm with producers Michael Cerenzie and Paul Parmar, part of the team behind its upcoming Sidney Lumet thriller Before the Devil Knows You're Dead.
Himelstein directed Power of Attorney and scripted Myriad Pictures' upcoming Oscar Wilde adaptation A Woman of No Importance.
Cerenzie and Christine Forsyth-Peters' of CP Prods. will produce Russell Mulcahy's Zen and the Art of Slaying Vampires.
ThinkFilm U.S.
- 10/18/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This review was written for the festival screening of "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead." Toronto International Film Festival
NEW YORK -- After a long series of artistic missteps, Sidney Lumet, 83, makes a smashing return to form with this bleak crime thriller that shows off the veteran director's many strengths. Pungently atmospheric, brilliantly textured and featuring superb performances from every performer in parts big and small, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" might not quite rank with such classics as "Dog Day Afternoon" and countless other films by Lumet, but it does make thrillingly clear that he's still at the top of his game.
Kelly Masterson's expert screenplay relates a relatively simple story of a small-scale robbery gone horribly wrong in complex fashion. With its constant time shifts and depictions of the same events from varying perspectives, it recalls the director's own earlier caper flick "The Anderson Tapes", though this is a far more melodramatic and elemental tale.
A highly graphic but less than joyful sex scene at the beginning sets the harsh tone for the story, which involves the botched plan by siblings Andy Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke) to rob their own parents' suburban jewelry store.
Both men are leading lives of not so quiet desperation, with each in serious financial straits. Andy has been systematically siphoning off money from the real estate company at which he works, while his divorced younger brother can't even make the child-support payments to his increasingly hostile ex-wife (Amy Ryan). Meanwhile, Hank has been having a longtime affair with his brother's beautiful wife (Marisa Tomei), even while Andy dreams of saving his passionless marriage by running off with her to Rio.
Andy's plan seems easy enough. Hank will rob the store on a quiet Saturday morning, when the only one there will be a single employee. But he makes the mistake of recruiting his petty criminal friend Bobby (Brian F. O'Byrne) to do the actual deed, and things go horribly awry, with Bobby and the brothers' Mother Rosemary Harris) winding up dead.
The men's frantic efforts to cover up their complicity in the crime, and those of their grieving father (Albert Finney) to find the rest of those involved, form the heart of the relentlessly downbeat tale, which only gets darker as it goes along.
As much character study as crime thriller, the film features indelible characterizations by the lead actors as the brothers whose flaws reach biblical proportions, with Hoffman's girth and Hawke's slightly dissipated handsomeness working perfectly for their roles. Finney is equally superb as their emotionally inaccessible father, especially in the haunting climactic scenes. But thanks to Lumet's expert handling of his actors, everyone shines, even in the smallest roles, with particularly memorable cameos by Michael Shannon as Bobby's vengeful brother-in-law and Leonard Cimino as a crooked diamond dealer.
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD
ThinkFilm
Linsefilm, Michael Cerenzie Prods., Unity Prods.
Credits:
Director: Sidney Lumet
Screenwriter: Kelly Masterson
Producers: Michael Cerenzie, Brian Linse, Paul Parmar, William S. Gilmore
Executive producers: Bella Avery, Jane Barclay, David Bergstein, Janette Jensen Hoffman, Eli Klein, Hannah Leader, Jeffry Melnick, Sam Zaharis
Director of photography: Ron Fortunato
Production designer: Christopher Nowak
Music: Carter Burwell
Co-producers: Austin Chick, Jeff G. Waxman
Costume designer: Tina Nigro
Editor: Tom Swartwout
Cast:
Andy: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Hank: Ethan Hawke
Charles: Albert Finney
Gina: Marisa Tomei
Nanette: Rosemary Harris
Chris: Aleksa Palladino
Dex: Michael Shannon
Martha: Amy Ryan
Bobby: Brian F. O'Byrne
Running time -- 123 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
NEW YORK -- After a long series of artistic missteps, Sidney Lumet, 83, makes a smashing return to form with this bleak crime thriller that shows off the veteran director's many strengths. Pungently atmospheric, brilliantly textured and featuring superb performances from every performer in parts big and small, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" might not quite rank with such classics as "Dog Day Afternoon" and countless other films by Lumet, but it does make thrillingly clear that he's still at the top of his game.
Kelly Masterson's expert screenplay relates a relatively simple story of a small-scale robbery gone horribly wrong in complex fashion. With its constant time shifts and depictions of the same events from varying perspectives, it recalls the director's own earlier caper flick "The Anderson Tapes", though this is a far more melodramatic and elemental tale.
A highly graphic but less than joyful sex scene at the beginning sets the harsh tone for the story, which involves the botched plan by siblings Andy Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke) to rob their own parents' suburban jewelry store.
Both men are leading lives of not so quiet desperation, with each in serious financial straits. Andy has been systematically siphoning off money from the real estate company at which he works, while his divorced younger brother can't even make the child-support payments to his increasingly hostile ex-wife (Amy Ryan). Meanwhile, Hank has been having a longtime affair with his brother's beautiful wife (Marisa Tomei), even while Andy dreams of saving his passionless marriage by running off with her to Rio.
Andy's plan seems easy enough. Hank will rob the store on a quiet Saturday morning, when the only one there will be a single employee. But he makes the mistake of recruiting his petty criminal friend Bobby (Brian F. O'Byrne) to do the actual deed, and things go horribly awry, with Bobby and the brothers' Mother Rosemary Harris) winding up dead.
The men's frantic efforts to cover up their complicity in the crime, and those of their grieving father (Albert Finney) to find the rest of those involved, form the heart of the relentlessly downbeat tale, which only gets darker as it goes along.
As much character study as crime thriller, the film features indelible characterizations by the lead actors as the brothers whose flaws reach biblical proportions, with Hoffman's girth and Hawke's slightly dissipated handsomeness working perfectly for their roles. Finney is equally superb as their emotionally inaccessible father, especially in the haunting climactic scenes. But thanks to Lumet's expert handling of his actors, everyone shines, even in the smallest roles, with particularly memorable cameos by Michael Shannon as Bobby's vengeful brother-in-law and Leonard Cimino as a crooked diamond dealer.
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD
ThinkFilm
Linsefilm, Michael Cerenzie Prods., Unity Prods.
Credits:
Director: Sidney Lumet
Screenwriter: Kelly Masterson
Producers: Michael Cerenzie, Brian Linse, Paul Parmar, William S. Gilmore
Executive producers: Bella Avery, Jane Barclay, David Bergstein, Janette Jensen Hoffman, Eli Klein, Hannah Leader, Jeffry Melnick, Sam Zaharis
Director of photography: Ron Fortunato
Production designer: Christopher Nowak
Music: Carter Burwell
Co-producers: Austin Chick, Jeff G. Waxman
Costume designer: Tina Nigro
Editor: Tom Swartwout
Cast:
Andy: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Hank: Ethan Hawke
Charles: Albert Finney
Gina: Marisa Tomei
Nanette: Rosemary Harris
Chris: Aleksa Palladino
Dex: Michael Shannon
Martha: Amy Ryan
Bobby: Brian F. O'Byrne
Running time -- 123 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
This review was written for the festival screening of "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead." Toronto International Film Festival
NEW YORK -- After a long series of artistic missteps, Sidney Lumet, 83, makes a smashing return to form with this bleak crime thriller that shows off the veteran director's many strengths. Pungently atmospheric, brilliantly textured and featuring superb performances from every performer in parts big and small, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" might not quite rank with such classics as "Dog Day Afternoon" and countless other films by Lumet, but it does make thrillingly clear that he's still at the top of his game.
Kelly Masterson's expert screenplay relates a relatively simple story of a small-scale robbery gone horribly wrong in complex fashion. With its constant time shifts and depictions of the same events from varying perspectives, it recalls the director's own earlier caper flick "The Anderson Tapes", though this is a far more melodramatic and elemental tale.
A highly graphic but less than joyful sex scene at the beginning sets the harsh tone for the story, which involves the botched plan by siblings Andy Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke) to rob their own parents' suburban jewelry store.
Both men are leading lives of not so quiet desperation, with each in serious financial straits. Andy has been systematically siphoning off money from the real estate company at which he works, while his divorced younger brother can't even make the child-support payments to his increasingly hostile ex-wife (Amy Ryan). Meanwhile, Hank has been having a longtime affair with his brother's beautiful wife (Marisa Tomei), even while Andy dreams of saving his passionless marriage by running off with her to Rio.
Andy's plan seems easy enough. Hank will rob the store on a quiet Saturday morning, when the only one there will be a single employee. But he makes the mistake of recruiting his petty criminal friend Bobby (Brian F. O'Byrne) to do the actual deed, and things go horribly awry, with Bobby and the brothers' Mother Rosemary Harris) winding up dead.
The men's frantic efforts to cover up their complicity in the crime, and those of their grieving father (Albert Finney) to find the rest of those involved, form the heart of the relentlessly downbeat tale, which only gets darker as it goes along.
As much character study as crime thriller, the film features indelible characterizations by the lead actors as the brothers whose flaws reach biblical proportions, with Hoffman's girth and Hawke's slightly dissipated handsomeness working perfectly for their roles. Finney is equally superb as their emotionally inaccessible father, especially in the haunting climactic scenes. But thanks to Lumet's expert handling of his actors, everyone shines, even in the smallest roles, with particularly memorable cameos by Michael Shannon as Bobby's vengeful brother-in-law and Leonard Cimino as a crooked diamond dealer.
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD
ThinkFilm
Linsefilm, Michael Cerenzie Prods., Unity Prods.
Credits:
Director: Sidney Lumet
Screenwriter: Kelly Masterson
Producers: Michael Cerenzie, Brian Linse, Paul Parmar, William S. Gilmore
Executive producers: Bella Avery, Jane Barclay, David Bergstein, Janette Jensen Hoffman, Eli Klein, Hannah Leader, Jeffry Melnick, Sam Zaharis
Director of photography: Ron Fortunato
Production designer: Christopher Nowak
Music: Carter Burwell
Co-producers: Austin Chick, Jeff G. Waxman
Costume designer: Tina Nigro
Editor: Tom Swartwout
Cast:
Andy: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Hank: Ethan Hawke
Charles: Albert Finney
Gina: Marisa Tomei
Nanette: Rosemary Harris
Chris: Aleksa Palladino
Dex: Michael Shannon
Martha: Amy Ryan
Bobby: Brian F. O'Byrne
Running time -- 123 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
NEW YORK -- After a long series of artistic missteps, Sidney Lumet, 83, makes a smashing return to form with this bleak crime thriller that shows off the veteran director's many strengths. Pungently atmospheric, brilliantly textured and featuring superb performances from every performer in parts big and small, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" might not quite rank with such classics as "Dog Day Afternoon" and countless other films by Lumet, but it does make thrillingly clear that he's still at the top of his game.
Kelly Masterson's expert screenplay relates a relatively simple story of a small-scale robbery gone horribly wrong in complex fashion. With its constant time shifts and depictions of the same events from varying perspectives, it recalls the director's own earlier caper flick "The Anderson Tapes", though this is a far more melodramatic and elemental tale.
A highly graphic but less than joyful sex scene at the beginning sets the harsh tone for the story, which involves the botched plan by siblings Andy Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke) to rob their own parents' suburban jewelry store.
Both men are leading lives of not so quiet desperation, with each in serious financial straits. Andy has been systematically siphoning off money from the real estate company at which he works, while his divorced younger brother can't even make the child-support payments to his increasingly hostile ex-wife (Amy Ryan). Meanwhile, Hank has been having a longtime affair with his brother's beautiful wife (Marisa Tomei), even while Andy dreams of saving his passionless marriage by running off with her to Rio.
Andy's plan seems easy enough. Hank will rob the store on a quiet Saturday morning, when the only one there will be a single employee. But he makes the mistake of recruiting his petty criminal friend Bobby (Brian F. O'Byrne) to do the actual deed, and things go horribly awry, with Bobby and the brothers' Mother Rosemary Harris) winding up dead.
The men's frantic efforts to cover up their complicity in the crime, and those of their grieving father (Albert Finney) to find the rest of those involved, form the heart of the relentlessly downbeat tale, which only gets darker as it goes along.
As much character study as crime thriller, the film features indelible characterizations by the lead actors as the brothers whose flaws reach biblical proportions, with Hoffman's girth and Hawke's slightly dissipated handsomeness working perfectly for their roles. Finney is equally superb as their emotionally inaccessible father, especially in the haunting climactic scenes. But thanks to Lumet's expert handling of his actors, everyone shines, even in the smallest roles, with particularly memorable cameos by Michael Shannon as Bobby's vengeful brother-in-law and Leonard Cimino as a crooked diamond dealer.
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD
ThinkFilm
Linsefilm, Michael Cerenzie Prods., Unity Prods.
Credits:
Director: Sidney Lumet
Screenwriter: Kelly Masterson
Producers: Michael Cerenzie, Brian Linse, Paul Parmar, William S. Gilmore
Executive producers: Bella Avery, Jane Barclay, David Bergstein, Janette Jensen Hoffman, Eli Klein, Hannah Leader, Jeffry Melnick, Sam Zaharis
Director of photography: Ron Fortunato
Production designer: Christopher Nowak
Music: Carter Burwell
Co-producers: Austin Chick, Jeff G. Waxman
Costume designer: Tina Nigro
Editor: Tom Swartwout
Cast:
Andy: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Hank: Ethan Hawke
Charles: Albert Finney
Gina: Marisa Tomei
Nanette: Rosemary Harris
Chris: Aleksa Palladino
Dex: Michael Shannon
Martha: Amy Ryan
Bobby: Brian F. O'Byrne
Running time -- 123 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Toronto International Film Festival
NEW YORK -- After a long series of artistic missteps, Sidney Lumet, 83, makes a smashing return to form with this bleak crime thriller that shows off the veteran director's many strengths. Pungently atmospheric, brilliantly textured and featuring superb performances from every performer in parts big and small, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead might not quite rank with such classics as Dog Day Afternoon and countless other films by Lumet, but it does make thrillingly clear that he's still at the top of his game.
Kelly Masterson's expert screenplay relates a relatively simple story of a small-scale robbery gone horribly wrong in complex fashion. With its constant time shifts and depictions of the same events from varying perspectives, it recalls the director's own earlier caper flick The Anderson Tapes, though this is a far more melodramatic and elemental tale.
A highly graphic but less than joyful sex scene at the beginning sets the harsh tone for the story, which involves the botched plan by siblings Andy Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke) to rob their own parents' suburban jewelry store.
Both men are leading lives of not so quiet desperation, with each in serious financial straits. Andy has been systematically siphoning off money from the real estate company at which he works, while his divorced younger brother can't even make the child-support payments to his increasingly hostile ex-wife (Amy Ryan). Meanwhile, Hank has been having a longtime affair with his brother's beautiful wife (Marisa Tomei), even while Andy dreams of saving his passionless marriage by running off with her to Rio.
Andy's plan seems easy enough. Hank will rob the store on a quiet Saturday morning, when the only one there will be a single employee. But he makes the mistake of recruiting his petty criminal friend Bobby (Brian F. O'Byrne) to do the actual deed, and things go horribly awry, with Bobby and the brothers' Mother Rosemary Harris) winding up dead.
The men's frantic efforts to cover up their complicity in the crime, and those of their grieving father (Albert Finney) to find the rest of those involved, form the heart of the relentlessly downbeat tale, which only gets darker as it goes along.
As much character study as crime thriller, the film features indelible characterizations by the lead actors as the brothers whose flaws reach biblical proportions, with Hoffman's girth and Hawke's slightly dissipated handsomeness working perfectly for their roles. Finney is equally superb as their emotionally inaccessible father, especially in the haunting climactic scenes. But thanks to Lumet's expert handling of his actors, everyone shines, even in the smallest roles, with particularly memorable cameos by Michael Shannon as Bobby's vengeful brother-in-law and Leonard Cimino as a crooked diamond dealer.
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD
ThinkFilm
Linsefilm, Michael Cerenzie Prods., Unity Prods.
Credits:
Director: Sidney Lumet
Screenwriter: Kelly Masterson
Producers: Michael Cerenzie, Brian Linse, Paul Parmar, William S. Gilmore
Executive producers: Bella Avery, Jane Barclay, David Bergstein, Janette Jensen Hoffman, Eli Klein, Hannah Leader, Jeffry Melnick, Sam Zaharis
Director of photography: Ron Fortunato
Production designer: Christopher Nowak
Music: Carter Burwell
Co-producers: Austin Chick, Jeff G. Waxman
Costume designer: Tina Nigro
Editor: Tom Swartwout
Cast:
Andy: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Hank: Ethan Hawke
Charles: Albert Finney
Gina: Marisa Tomei
Nanette: Rosemary Harris
Chris: Aleksa Palladino
Dex: Michael Shannon
Martha: Amy Ryan
Bobby: Brian F. O'Byrne
Running time -- 123 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
NEW YORK -- After a long series of artistic missteps, Sidney Lumet, 83, makes a smashing return to form with this bleak crime thriller that shows off the veteran director's many strengths. Pungently atmospheric, brilliantly textured and featuring superb performances from every performer in parts big and small, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead might not quite rank with such classics as Dog Day Afternoon and countless other films by Lumet, but it does make thrillingly clear that he's still at the top of his game.
Kelly Masterson's expert screenplay relates a relatively simple story of a small-scale robbery gone horribly wrong in complex fashion. With its constant time shifts and depictions of the same events from varying perspectives, it recalls the director's own earlier caper flick The Anderson Tapes, though this is a far more melodramatic and elemental tale.
A highly graphic but less than joyful sex scene at the beginning sets the harsh tone for the story, which involves the botched plan by siblings Andy Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke) to rob their own parents' suburban jewelry store.
Both men are leading lives of not so quiet desperation, with each in serious financial straits. Andy has been systematically siphoning off money from the real estate company at which he works, while his divorced younger brother can't even make the child-support payments to his increasingly hostile ex-wife (Amy Ryan). Meanwhile, Hank has been having a longtime affair with his brother's beautiful wife (Marisa Tomei), even while Andy dreams of saving his passionless marriage by running off with her to Rio.
Andy's plan seems easy enough. Hank will rob the store on a quiet Saturday morning, when the only one there will be a single employee. But he makes the mistake of recruiting his petty criminal friend Bobby (Brian F. O'Byrne) to do the actual deed, and things go horribly awry, with Bobby and the brothers' Mother Rosemary Harris) winding up dead.
The men's frantic efforts to cover up their complicity in the crime, and those of their grieving father (Albert Finney) to find the rest of those involved, form the heart of the relentlessly downbeat tale, which only gets darker as it goes along.
As much character study as crime thriller, the film features indelible characterizations by the lead actors as the brothers whose flaws reach biblical proportions, with Hoffman's girth and Hawke's slightly dissipated handsomeness working perfectly for their roles. Finney is equally superb as their emotionally inaccessible father, especially in the haunting climactic scenes. But thanks to Lumet's expert handling of his actors, everyone shines, even in the smallest roles, with particularly memorable cameos by Michael Shannon as Bobby's vengeful brother-in-law and Leonard Cimino as a crooked diamond dealer.
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD
ThinkFilm
Linsefilm, Michael Cerenzie Prods., Unity Prods.
Credits:
Director: Sidney Lumet
Screenwriter: Kelly Masterson
Producers: Michael Cerenzie, Brian Linse, Paul Parmar, William S. Gilmore
Executive producers: Bella Avery, Jane Barclay, David Bergstein, Janette Jensen Hoffman, Eli Klein, Hannah Leader, Jeffry Melnick, Sam Zaharis
Director of photography: Ron Fortunato
Production designer: Christopher Nowak
Music: Carter Burwell
Co-producers: Austin Chick, Jeff G. Waxman
Costume designer: Tina Nigro
Editor: Tom Swartwout
Cast:
Andy: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Hank: Ethan Hawke
Charles: Albert Finney
Gina: Marisa Tomei
Nanette: Rosemary Harris
Chris: Aleksa Palladino
Dex: Michael Shannon
Martha: Amy Ryan
Bobby: Brian F. O'Byrne
Running time -- 123 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- "City of Ghosts" drips with atmosphere.
For his feature debut as a writer-director, Matt Dillon heads into the heart of Southeast Asian darkness previously explored by such novelists as Joseph Conrad and Graham Green, not to mention a host of old movies. Dangers lurk in every shadow and down every dark passageway. Westerners connive to make a buck, but Asians outfox them at every turn. While the film was shot in Cambodia, in reality the story takes place in a mystical world spun out of old literary and cinematic works.
This is not a boring movie, though. The Asian intrigue thickens the tension as strange, often decaying sites, seedy expatriates, local eccentrics and hostility toward foreigners stoke the thriller's fire. If rolled out properly, UA should be able to cross the film over from specialty venues into mainstream theaters. You just wish there were more to the story.
Dillon, who wrote the script with Barry Gifford, plays the central role of Jimmy, a New Yorker who sells bogus insurance policies to homeowners on the East Coast. When a hurricane causes hundreds of claims to pour in against the phony policies, Jimmy becomes the focus of an FBI investigation. He has deniability on his side, but once he gets the chance, he slips away to track down the man who set up the scam, his mentor, Marvin James Caan), who is laying low in Southeast Asia.
Two things are never clear: why Jimmy takes off for Asia and what he expects to achieve when he meets up with Marvin. As a consequence, Jimmy drifts through the movie, reacting to people and events but never the film's driving force.
Jimmy arrives first in Bangkok, Thailand, where he learns that Marvin is in Cambodia. With the help of one of Marvin's "associates," Kasper (Stellan Skarsgard), he sneaks across the border and comes to Phnom Penh. He takes a shabby room in the misnamed Bellevue Hotel, run by a rough European expat, Emile Gerard Depardieu).
At the Bellevue bar across the street, Jimmy meets all sorts of characters. One steals his passport. Another -- a monkey, in fact -- steals his dark glasses. Natascha McElhone's Sophie, an archeologist who looks like a fashion model, steals his heart. Rather improbably, he finds an easygoing cyclo driver, Sok (Sereyvuth Kem), who speaks English well enough to help him navigate the capital's dangerous streets and identify the "bad people."
After a fight, a beating and other incidents never fully explained, Jimmy is summoned by Marvin. Marvin is up to his eyeballs in mischief, having run out on his Russian mob backers -- who vow to hunt him down like a dog -- and scheming with an ex-general to use the money to open a casino. This makes little sense because Cambodia is hardly a tourist Mecca (nor is this movie likely to help matters). The point of it all is to confront Jimmy with his criminal self, as reflected in Marvin's disreputable dealings, and force Jimmy to decide what kind of man he wants to be. In movie terms, does he go with Caan or McElhone? Guess how that works out?
The film makes other revelations about its characters, but given how remote they remain from us, few viewers are likely to care. The movie's genre trappings swamp the final third of the film, shoving most character concerns into the background.
At the very least, Dillon has rediscovered a great movie location. "City of Ghosts" claims to be the first Western feature to film almost entirely in Cambodia since "Lord Jim" in 1964. His technical support in what must have been arduous locations is very strong, especially David Brisbin's art direction of crumbling interiors, Jim Denault's moody cinematography and Tyler Bates' score, which incorporates Eastern elements into the music.
CITY OF GHOSTS
United Artists
A United Artists, Mainline Prods. and Banyan Tree presentation in association with Kintop Pictures
Credits:
Director: Matt Dillon
Screenwriters: Matt Dillon, Barry Gifford
Producers: Willi Baer, Michael Cerenzie, Deepak Nayar
Director of photography: Jim Denault
Production designer: David Brisbin
Music: Tyler Bates
Costume designer: Moji Sangi
Editor: Howard E. Smith
Cast:
Jimmy: Matt Dillon
Marvin: James Caan
Sophie: Natascha McElhone
Emile: Gerard Depardieu
Sok: Sereyvuth Kem
Kaspar: Stellan Skarsgard
Sabrina: Rose Byrne
Robbie: Shawn Andrews
Running time -- 117 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARK CITY -- "City of Ghosts" drips with atmosphere.
For his feature debut as a writer-director, Matt Dillon heads into the heart of Southeast Asian darkness previously explored by such novelists as Joseph Conrad and Graham Green, not to mention a host of old movies. Dangers lurk in every shadow and down every dark passageway. Westerners connive to make a buck, but Asians outfox them at every turn. While the film was shot in Cambodia, in reality the story takes place in a mystical world spun out of old literary and cinematic works.
This is not a boring movie, though. The Asian intrigue thickens the tension as strange, often decaying sites, seedy expatriates, local eccentrics and hostility toward foreigners stoke the thriller's fire. If rolled out properly, UA should be able to cross the film over from specialty venues into mainstream theaters. You just wish there were more to the story.
Dillon, who wrote the script with Barry Gifford, plays the central role of Jimmy, a New Yorker who sells bogus insurance policies to homeowners on the East Coast. When a hurricane causes hundreds of claims to pour in against the phony policies, Jimmy becomes the focus of an FBI investigation. He has deniability on his side, but once he gets the chance, he slips away to track down the man who set up the scam, his mentor, Marvin James Caan), who is laying low in Southeast Asia.
Two things are never clear: why Jimmy takes off for Asia and what he expects to achieve when he meets up with Marvin. As a consequence, Jimmy drifts through the movie, reacting to people and events but never the film's driving force.
Jimmy arrives first in Bangkok, Thailand, where he learns that Marvin is in Cambodia. With the help of one of Marvin's "associates," Kasper (Stellan Skarsgard), he sneaks across the border and comes to Phnom Penh. He takes a shabby room in the misnamed Bellevue Hotel, run by a rough European expat, Emile Gerard Depardieu).
At the Bellevue bar across the street, Jimmy meets all sorts of characters. One steals his passport. Another -- a monkey, in fact -- steals his dark glasses. Natascha McElhone's Sophie, an archeologist who looks like a fashion model, steals his heart. Rather improbably, he finds an easygoing cyclo driver, Sok (Sereyvuth Kem), who speaks English well enough to help him navigate the capital's dangerous streets and identify the "bad people."
After a fight, a beating and other incidents never fully explained, Jimmy is summoned by Marvin. Marvin is up to his eyeballs in mischief, having run out on his Russian mob backers -- who vow to hunt him down like a dog -- and scheming with an ex-general to use the money to open a casino. This makes little sense because Cambodia is hardly a tourist Mecca (nor is this movie likely to help matters). The point of it all is to confront Jimmy with his criminal self, as reflected in Marvin's disreputable dealings, and force Jimmy to decide what kind of man he wants to be. In movie terms, does he go with Caan or McElhone? Guess how that works out?
The film makes other revelations about its characters, but given how remote they remain from us, few viewers are likely to care. The movie's genre trappings swamp the final third of the film, shoving most character concerns into the background.
At the very least, Dillon has rediscovered a great movie location. "City of Ghosts" claims to be the first Western feature to film almost entirely in Cambodia since "Lord Jim" in 1964. His technical support in what must have been arduous locations is very strong, especially David Brisbin's art direction of crumbling interiors, Jim Denault's moody cinematography and Tyler Bates' score, which incorporates Eastern elements into the music.
CITY OF GHOSTS
United Artists
A United Artists, Mainline Prods. and Banyan Tree presentation in association with Kintop Pictures
Credits:
Director: Matt Dillon
Screenwriters: Matt Dillon, Barry Gifford
Producers: Willi Baer, Michael Cerenzie, Deepak Nayar
Director of photography: Jim Denault
Production designer: David Brisbin
Music: Tyler Bates
Costume designer: Moji Sangi
Editor: Howard E. Smith
Cast:
Jimmy: Matt Dillon
Marvin: James Caan
Sophie: Natascha McElhone
Emile: Gerard Depardieu
Sok: Sereyvuth Kem
Kaspar: Stellan Skarsgard
Sabrina: Rose Byrne
Robbie: Shawn Andrews
Running time -- 117 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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