Oscar-nominated German director Uli Edel will direct Harper's Fairy for BiFrost Pictures. Written by Nat Mauldin and Jeff Stein, the film follows a single father dealing with his young daughter’s terminal illness and his overbearing mother-in-law’s interference. He weaves fantastic stories about a fairy named Caitlin, and these stories seem to be coming to life in the real world. Photos: The Party Scene at Cannes 2014 The project, slated to begin production in the first quarter of 2015, will be produced by Steffen Aumüller and Claus Clausen of The Very Useful Company, Daniel Wagner and Robert Ogden
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- 5/18/2014
- by Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Just when you thought the concept of direct-to-dvd sequels had been all but replaced by remakes and reboots, along comes Warner Home Video to remind us that Dtv flicks are still alive and well... and equally as frustrating. Apparently someone out there thought it was a good idea to create a sequel to the timeless holiday classic A Christmas Story without any of the original cast or creative team (admittedly, director Bob Clark and writer Jean Shepherd are no longer with us). Thirty years have passed since the original film was released but somehow Ralphie is only a teenager in this sequel, which certainly makes for some chronological confusion (I assume it is set in the 1940s?). Either way, Ralphie now has his sights set on a new toy for Christmas: a 1938 Hupmobile Skyline Convertible, which sounds slightly safer than a Red Ryder Bb Gun. Braeden Lemasters (Men of a Certain Age) will play Ralphie,...
- 8/13/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
If there's one thing that the market could probably live without these days, it's another animated movie about pampered critters that get a taste of the wild life.
Enter "Open Season", an ill-timed first feature from Sony Pictures Animation about a spoiled pet bear who finds himself plunked smack dab in the middle of the scary wilderness just before the start of hunting season.
Somebody ought to declare open season on these copycat movies, but in the meantime, you could do a lot worse than this bright-looking, lightly amusing excursion from the studio's Imageworks CG division.
Of course, the big question is, will besieged families still be game for what sounds like more of the same? Even with the added incentive of notably crisp 3-D versions in select Imax theaters, the picture could easily get lost in the crowded woods.
Directed by Roger Allers ("The Lion King") and former Pixar artist Jill Culton, the film brings together an energetic voice cast to tell the story of Boog (Martin Lawrence), a big-hearted grizzly rescued as a cub by forest ranger Beth (Debra Messing) and has been living the domesticated life in her converted garage.
But Boog's idyllic existence is about to receive a rude awakening with the arrival of Elliot, a hyper, one-antlered mule deer (Ashton Kutcher paying homage to Eddie Murphy's Donkey), whom Boog made the mistake of rescuing from the hood of a truck belonging to a rabid hunter (Gary Sinise).
Determined to repay the bear for his good deed, Elliot takes him out for a night on the town culminating in a slushy-fueled bender in a convenience store.
Realizing the fateful day has finally arrived, Beth reluctantly sets Boog free in the forest, where his survival instincts eventually click into gear. With open season upon them, Boog and Elliot rally the four-legged troops in a bid to reclaim their turf.
Despite that nagging whiff of familiarity, there are enough character quirks and inspired bits of funny business to carry this amiable if slight tale, credited to Steve Bencich & Ron J. Friedman ("Chicken Little", "Brother Bear") along with veteran sitcom writer Nat Mauldin and co-director Anthony Stacchi, based on an original story by "In the Bleachers" cartoonist Steve Moore and John Carls.
Those adding to the competent voice work also include Billy Connolly as a combative squirrel, Patrick Warburton as a vain alpha deer and Jane Krakowski as his main doe.
Visually there is a nice, retro-stylized simplicity to the character drawings and the Big Bear-type mountain resort backdrops, while, thanks to state-of-the-art CG texture, all the fur really flies, especially in 3-D.
On the aural side, Paul Westerberg, in his first full-length soundtrack assignment, contributes a comfortably down-home score and song selection that feels a considerable distance away from his harder-rocking Replacements days.
OPEN SEASON
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures presents a Sony Pictures Animation film
Credits:
Directors: Jill Culton, Roger Allers, Anthony Stacchi
Screenwriters: Steve Bencich & Ron J. Friedman and Nat Mauldin
Screen story: Jill Culton and Anthony Stacchi
From an original story by: Steve Moore and John Carls
Producer: Michelle Murdocca
Executive producers: John Carls, Steve Moore
Editor: Pamela Ziegenhagen-Shefland
Music: Paul Westerberg and Ramin Djawadi
Voices:
Boog: Martin Lawrence
Elliot: Ashton Kutcher
Beth: Debra Messing
Shaw: Gary Sinise
McSquizzy: Billy Connolly
Reilly: Jon Favreau
Ian: Patrick Warburton
Giselle: Jane Krakowski
Bobbie: Georgia Engel
Gordy: Gordon Tootoosis
Running time -- 87 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Enter "Open Season", an ill-timed first feature from Sony Pictures Animation about a spoiled pet bear who finds himself plunked smack dab in the middle of the scary wilderness just before the start of hunting season.
Somebody ought to declare open season on these copycat movies, but in the meantime, you could do a lot worse than this bright-looking, lightly amusing excursion from the studio's Imageworks CG division.
Of course, the big question is, will besieged families still be game for what sounds like more of the same? Even with the added incentive of notably crisp 3-D versions in select Imax theaters, the picture could easily get lost in the crowded woods.
Directed by Roger Allers ("The Lion King") and former Pixar artist Jill Culton, the film brings together an energetic voice cast to tell the story of Boog (Martin Lawrence), a big-hearted grizzly rescued as a cub by forest ranger Beth (Debra Messing) and has been living the domesticated life in her converted garage.
But Boog's idyllic existence is about to receive a rude awakening with the arrival of Elliot, a hyper, one-antlered mule deer (Ashton Kutcher paying homage to Eddie Murphy's Donkey), whom Boog made the mistake of rescuing from the hood of a truck belonging to a rabid hunter (Gary Sinise).
Determined to repay the bear for his good deed, Elliot takes him out for a night on the town culminating in a slushy-fueled bender in a convenience store.
Realizing the fateful day has finally arrived, Beth reluctantly sets Boog free in the forest, where his survival instincts eventually click into gear. With open season upon them, Boog and Elliot rally the four-legged troops in a bid to reclaim their turf.
Despite that nagging whiff of familiarity, there are enough character quirks and inspired bits of funny business to carry this amiable if slight tale, credited to Steve Bencich & Ron J. Friedman ("Chicken Little", "Brother Bear") along with veteran sitcom writer Nat Mauldin and co-director Anthony Stacchi, based on an original story by "In the Bleachers" cartoonist Steve Moore and John Carls.
Those adding to the competent voice work also include Billy Connolly as a combative squirrel, Patrick Warburton as a vain alpha deer and Jane Krakowski as his main doe.
Visually there is a nice, retro-stylized simplicity to the character drawings and the Big Bear-type mountain resort backdrops, while, thanks to state-of-the-art CG texture, all the fur really flies, especially in 3-D.
On the aural side, Paul Westerberg, in his first full-length soundtrack assignment, contributes a comfortably down-home score and song selection that feels a considerable distance away from his harder-rocking Replacements days.
OPEN SEASON
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures presents a Sony Pictures Animation film
Credits:
Directors: Jill Culton, Roger Allers, Anthony Stacchi
Screenwriters: Steve Bencich & Ron J. Friedman and Nat Mauldin
Screen story: Jill Culton and Anthony Stacchi
From an original story by: Steve Moore and John Carls
Producer: Michelle Murdocca
Executive producers: John Carls, Steve Moore
Editor: Pamela Ziegenhagen-Shefland
Music: Paul Westerberg and Ramin Djawadi
Voices:
Boog: Martin Lawrence
Elliot: Ashton Kutcher
Beth: Debra Messing
Shaw: Gary Sinise
McSquizzy: Billy Connolly
Reilly: Jon Favreau
Ian: Patrick Warburton
Giselle: Jane Krakowski
Bobbie: Georgia Engel
Gordy: Gordon Tootoosis
Running time -- 87 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 9/29/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Gersh Agency is beefing up its literary department with the acquisition of Los Angeles-based Dytman & Associates, veteran agent Jack Dytman's 15-year-old boutique literary agency. Dytman will join Gersh as a partner and senior vp. He will work closely with senior vp Gary Loder, who runs Gersh's literary department. Dytman will bring with him all of his nearly 30 clients, including David Amann ("Without a Trace"), WGA award winner Bob Daily ("Desperate Housewives", "Frasier"), Frank Pace ("George Lopez"), Robert Lloyd Lewis ("Dexter"), Nat Mauldin ("Open Season"), Jeff Melvoin ("Alias"), novelist-screenwriter Peter Gethers, and Bill Schmidt ("Carnivale").
- 8/29/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Every time the Preacher hits a rocky patch in his sermon, the Preacher's wife cranks up the choir to uplift his ramblings. So too does the rousing gospel singing of Whitney Houston lift up "The Preacher's Wife" when it hits some story flat notes and dull patches. Starring Houston and Denzel Washington, this holiday-time fantasy will surely warm viewers' hearts and fill up boxoffice stockings despite its patchy narrative.
Based on the 1947 film "The Bishop's Wife", this Buena Vista release of a Samuel Goldwyn Jr. production is an old-style, family fantasy chilled over with the hard realities of contemporary urban life. In this '90s rendition, Houston stars as a choir-singing preacher's wife, Julia, whose marriage to her husband, Henry (Courtney B. Vance) has become stale. The sparks that once kindled between them have now been doused by Henry's workaholic tendencies. The Preacher is a good man, to a fault. By taking on all the woes of his parish, he has not only unwittingly neglected his wife and son Justin Pierre Edmund), but in the process, has become less effective as a minister. In a moment of desperate candor, the Preacher prays for help and, lo and behold, it arrives in the form of an angel, a dapper, gray-coated gent named Dudley (Washington). Although appreciating that God works in mysterious ways, the Preacher is skeptical about the viability of so charismatic and smooth-talking an angel.
What Dudley brings that is most valuable to the Preacher's household is his luminous smile and good-hearted intentions. He soon becomes a hit with the kid, and Mom, of course, notices. Verily, she sparks to his good works. The movie is at its most fun and most magical in the scenes between Washington and Houston as the effervescent Angel brings the good wife out of her day-to-day doldrums.
It's hard not to root for them to get together and somehow lose the stuffy hubby. Houston and Washington are a radiant screen couple and when paired on the screen, the story sizzles.
Screenwriters Nat Mauldin and Allan Scott's updating of Robert E. Sherwood and Leonardo Bercovici's "The Bishop's Wife" script is episodically structured as Dudley assists the Preacher and his wife in their personal and parishional woes, sometimes pulling a few angelic tricks out of his overcoat's sleeve. Eventually, the story kicks into a solid dramatic gear in a battle between the Preacher and a slick developer (Gregory Hines) over saving the church. The film's narrative here is similar to that of a musical, serving mainly as a line to string together Houston's glorious gospel singing.
Although the pacing sometimes drags, director Penny Marshall has nicely colored the production with a number of offbeat human moments. Marshall's direction is particularly strong in her work with the supporting players. As the minister of drudge, Vance is well-cast.
The supporting cast -- credit to casting director Paula Herold -- brings life and energy to the production. Particularly entertaining are Jenifer Lewis as the preacher's sassy mother-in-law and Loretta Devine as his lively secretary.
THE PREACHER'S WIFE
Buena Vista Releasing
Buena Vista, Touchstone Pictures
and the Samuel Goldwyn Co. present
A Samuel Goldwyn Jr. production
In association with Parkway Prods.
and Mundy Lane Entertainment
A Penny Marshall film
Producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
Director Penny Marshall
Screenwriters Nat Mauldin, Allan Scott
Based on "The Bishop's Wife" screenplay by Robert E. Sherwood, Leonardo Bercovici
Executive producers Robert Greenhut,
Elliot Abbott
Co-producers Debra Martin Chase,
Amy Lemisch, Timothy M. Bourne
Director of photography Miroslav Ondricek
Production designer Bill Groom
Editor Stephen A. Rotter, George Bowers
Costume designer Cynthia Flynt
Music Hans Zimmer
Casting Paula Herold
Gospel music producers Mervyn Warren,
Whitney Houston
Associate producer Bonnie Hlinomaz
Sound mixer Les Lazarowitz
Color/stereo
Cast:
Dudley Denzel Washington
Julia Biggs Whitney Houston
Henry Biggs Courtney B. Vance
Joe Hamilton Gregory Hines
Marguerite Coleman Jenifer Lewis
Beverly Loretta Devine
Jeremiah Biggs Justin Pierre Edmund
Britsloe Lionel Richie
Saul Jeffreys Paul Bates
Osbert Lex Monson
Running time -- 125 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Based on the 1947 film "The Bishop's Wife", this Buena Vista release of a Samuel Goldwyn Jr. production is an old-style, family fantasy chilled over with the hard realities of contemporary urban life. In this '90s rendition, Houston stars as a choir-singing preacher's wife, Julia, whose marriage to her husband, Henry (Courtney B. Vance) has become stale. The sparks that once kindled between them have now been doused by Henry's workaholic tendencies. The Preacher is a good man, to a fault. By taking on all the woes of his parish, he has not only unwittingly neglected his wife and son Justin Pierre Edmund), but in the process, has become less effective as a minister. In a moment of desperate candor, the Preacher prays for help and, lo and behold, it arrives in the form of an angel, a dapper, gray-coated gent named Dudley (Washington). Although appreciating that God works in mysterious ways, the Preacher is skeptical about the viability of so charismatic and smooth-talking an angel.
What Dudley brings that is most valuable to the Preacher's household is his luminous smile and good-hearted intentions. He soon becomes a hit with the kid, and Mom, of course, notices. Verily, she sparks to his good works. The movie is at its most fun and most magical in the scenes between Washington and Houston as the effervescent Angel brings the good wife out of her day-to-day doldrums.
It's hard not to root for them to get together and somehow lose the stuffy hubby. Houston and Washington are a radiant screen couple and when paired on the screen, the story sizzles.
Screenwriters Nat Mauldin and Allan Scott's updating of Robert E. Sherwood and Leonardo Bercovici's "The Bishop's Wife" script is episodically structured as Dudley assists the Preacher and his wife in their personal and parishional woes, sometimes pulling a few angelic tricks out of his overcoat's sleeve. Eventually, the story kicks into a solid dramatic gear in a battle between the Preacher and a slick developer (Gregory Hines) over saving the church. The film's narrative here is similar to that of a musical, serving mainly as a line to string together Houston's glorious gospel singing.
Although the pacing sometimes drags, director Penny Marshall has nicely colored the production with a number of offbeat human moments. Marshall's direction is particularly strong in her work with the supporting players. As the minister of drudge, Vance is well-cast.
The supporting cast -- credit to casting director Paula Herold -- brings life and energy to the production. Particularly entertaining are Jenifer Lewis as the preacher's sassy mother-in-law and Loretta Devine as his lively secretary.
THE PREACHER'S WIFE
Buena Vista Releasing
Buena Vista, Touchstone Pictures
and the Samuel Goldwyn Co. present
A Samuel Goldwyn Jr. production
In association with Parkway Prods.
and Mundy Lane Entertainment
A Penny Marshall film
Producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
Director Penny Marshall
Screenwriters Nat Mauldin, Allan Scott
Based on "The Bishop's Wife" screenplay by Robert E. Sherwood, Leonardo Bercovici
Executive producers Robert Greenhut,
Elliot Abbott
Co-producers Debra Martin Chase,
Amy Lemisch, Timothy M. Bourne
Director of photography Miroslav Ondricek
Production designer Bill Groom
Editor Stephen A. Rotter, George Bowers
Costume designer Cynthia Flynt
Music Hans Zimmer
Casting Paula Herold
Gospel music producers Mervyn Warren,
Whitney Houston
Associate producer Bonnie Hlinomaz
Sound mixer Les Lazarowitz
Color/stereo
Cast:
Dudley Denzel Washington
Julia Biggs Whitney Houston
Henry Biggs Courtney B. Vance
Joe Hamilton Gregory Hines
Marguerite Coleman Jenifer Lewis
Beverly Loretta Devine
Jeremiah Biggs Justin Pierre Edmund
Britsloe Lionel Richie
Saul Jeffreys Paul Bates
Osbert Lex Monson
Running time -- 125 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 12/9/1996
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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