Road trip movies never seem to go out of fashion so it seems, a new trailer has been released for fugitive road trip movie Better Start Running.
Directed by Brett Simon, the film stars Analeigh Tipton (Mississipi Grind, Crazy Stupid Love), Academy Award Winner Jeremy Irons (Justice League; Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice), Karan Soni (Deadpool 2; The Goldbergs), Alex Sharp (To The Bone; How To Talk To Girls At Parties), Golden Globe nominee Maria Bello (Coyote Ugly; The History of Violence) and Edi Gathegi (X-men: First Class; Gone Baby Gone).
Also in trailers – Jason Mantzoukas takes a road trip of discovery in trailer for The Long Dumb Road
The film gets a theatrical and On Demand release of October 12
Better Start Running Official Synopsis
Better Start Running is a fun film that follows a group of misfits that are on the run. But Harley (played by Alex Sharp...
Directed by Brett Simon, the film stars Analeigh Tipton (Mississipi Grind, Crazy Stupid Love), Academy Award Winner Jeremy Irons (Justice League; Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice), Karan Soni (Deadpool 2; The Goldbergs), Alex Sharp (To The Bone; How To Talk To Girls At Parties), Golden Globe nominee Maria Bello (Coyote Ugly; The History of Violence) and Edi Gathegi (X-men: First Class; Gone Baby Gone).
Also in trailers – Jason Mantzoukas takes a road trip of discovery in trailer for The Long Dumb Road
The film gets a theatrical and On Demand release of October 12
Better Start Running Official Synopsis
Better Start Running is a fun film that follows a group of misfits that are on the run. But Harley (played by Alex Sharp...
- 9/28/2018
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
"What kind of moron stops at roadside attractions when we're on the run?" "I just want everyone to have a good time." Freestyle Releasing has debuted an official trailer for an indie crime comedy titled Better Start Running, which premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival this year. This is the latest film from director Brett Simon, who made one of my favorite underrated indie films - Assassination of a High School President in 2008 (read my original review here). Better Start Running is about an ordinary store clerk and a group of misfits who end up on the run driving around without anywhere to go. Alex Sharp stars, with Analeigh Tipton, Jeremy Irons, Edi Gathegi, plus Maria Bello and Karan Soni. This looks totally awkward and not that original. Could be good, could be bad, the footage isn't great. Maybe the film is better. Here's the first official trailer (+ posters...
- 9/27/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons ("Batman vs. Superman"), Oscar-nominee Virginia Madsen ("Joy" -opposite Jennifer Lawrence), AnnaSophia Robb ( "The Carrie Diaries"), and Rory Culkin ("Scream4") are cast as the leads of "Monumental." The action comedy, produced by Eric Fischer and Brianna Lee Johnson from Dead Fish Films and from a script penned by Annie Burgstede and Chad Faust. The project is slated to begin filming on July 6th. Kathy Morgan International (Kmi) is handling foreign pre-sales at Cannes Film Market and CAA is handling domestic.
Directed by Brett Simon ("Assassination of a High School President"), "Monumental" is described as the story of a high-octane romance of the ages. Harley (Rory Culkin) and Steph (AnnaSophia Robb) have accidentally killed their tyrant boss and kidnapped Harley's wise-cracking Vietnam Veteran relative (Jeremy Irons). The FBI (Virginia Madsen) is hot on their trail and closing fast... as they speed across the country in search of freedom, for Iron’s long lost love, amidst all the chaos and explosions, their epic journey culminates in a fiery showdown and the two find love and create their own happily-ever-after.
The film is Executive Produced by Aaron Gilbert, Robert Odgen Barnum, 3 Point Capital, Ksana Golod, James Bryant, and George Parra, with London Pacific Finance providing development funding. CAA negotiated for Jeremy Irons; CAA and Untitled handled on behalf of AnnaSophia Robb; UTA and Untitled closed on behalf of Virginia Madsen; with Paradigm and Brookside Artist Management on behalf of Rory Culkin. Director Brett Simon is a client of Management 360. Writer Annie Burgstede is with Leslie Conliffe at Intellectual Property Group. Writer Chad Faust is repped by Jackoway, Tyerman, Wertheimer, Austen, Mandelbaum, Morris, and Klein.
Fischer served as Executive Producer on Jeremy Irons’ award-winning film "Night Train to Lisbon." Fischer and Johnson have produced several projects together under the Dead Fish Films banner and currently have two films in post- production...
Directed by Brett Simon ("Assassination of a High School President"), "Monumental" is described as the story of a high-octane romance of the ages. Harley (Rory Culkin) and Steph (AnnaSophia Robb) have accidentally killed their tyrant boss and kidnapped Harley's wise-cracking Vietnam Veteran relative (Jeremy Irons). The FBI (Virginia Madsen) is hot on their trail and closing fast... as they speed across the country in search of freedom, for Iron’s long lost love, amidst all the chaos and explosions, their epic journey culminates in a fiery showdown and the two find love and create their own happily-ever-after.
The film is Executive Produced by Aaron Gilbert, Robert Odgen Barnum, 3 Point Capital, Ksana Golod, James Bryant, and George Parra, with London Pacific Finance providing development funding. CAA negotiated for Jeremy Irons; CAA and Untitled handled on behalf of AnnaSophia Robb; UTA and Untitled closed on behalf of Virginia Madsen; with Paradigm and Brookside Artist Management on behalf of Rory Culkin. Director Brett Simon is a client of Management 360. Writer Annie Burgstede is with Leslie Conliffe at Intellectual Property Group. Writer Chad Faust is repped by Jackoway, Tyerman, Wertheimer, Austen, Mandelbaum, Morris, and Klein.
Fischer served as Executive Producer on Jeremy Irons’ award-winning film "Night Train to Lisbon." Fischer and Johnson have produced several projects together under the Dead Fish Films banner and currently have two films in post- production...
- 5/17/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Exclusive: Jeremy Irons, Virginia Madsen, rising star AnnaSophia Robb and Rory Culkin have joined the action comedy, which Kathy Morgan International has introduced to Cannes buyers.
CAA represents Us rights on Monumental, about two youngsters who accidentally kill their tyrannical boss and go on the run with a wise-cracking Vietnam veteran as the FBI closes in.
Brett Simon is set to start shooting on July 6. Annie Burgstede and Chad Faust wrote the screenplay and Eric Fischer and Brianna Lee Johnson of Dead Fish Films produce.
Aaron Gilbert, Robert Odgen Barnum, Three Point Capital, Ksana Golod, James Bryant and George Parra are executive producers.
London Pacific Finance provided development funding.
CAA represents Us rights on Monumental, about two youngsters who accidentally kill their tyrannical boss and go on the run with a wise-cracking Vietnam veteran as the FBI closes in.
Brett Simon is set to start shooting on July 6. Annie Burgstede and Chad Faust wrote the screenplay and Eric Fischer and Brianna Lee Johnson of Dead Fish Films produce.
Aaron Gilbert, Robert Odgen Barnum, Three Point Capital, Ksana Golod, James Bryant and George Parra are executive producers.
London Pacific Finance provided development funding.
- 5/16/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
After two wartime tours of Iraq, Alex Brown couldn’t shut off his alert switch. "My job as a gunner was to literally see everything," says the former Army specialist. "Not only my life, but my team’s life depended on it." Yet back home in Louisville, Ky., the constant tension honed in combat left him anxious and jumpy - and afraid to venture beyond secure walls. His relationships crumbled in the wake of his post-traumatic stress disorder. "I didn’t leave my room, much less the house," says Brown, 28. "It wasn't affecting just me, it was affecting those who love and care about me,...
- 12/12/2013
- by Jeff Truesdell
- PEOPLE.com
Dearly Beloved is an upcoming horror film from Aldamisa Entertainment and Kilburn Media. The film was at Cannes earlier this year and filming is expected to begin shortly (Q3 2014). The film has been written by Brett Simon with Diablo Cody (Juno) and Steven Schneider to produce. The film involves a jilted bride, whose fiance may be organizing a sinister plot against her. Or, is she simply becoming paranoid, under the stress of her matrimonial vows? An early concept poster for the film has been released by Aldamisa Entertainment. The graphic shows the bride, through a peephole and the wedding does not appear to be going so well; blood stains mark a nearby wall. Also, Dearly Beloved will release in 2014. More details on the film will be posted as they are announced. Release Date: 2014 Director/writer: Brett Simon. Executive producers: Diablo Cody, and Steven Schneider. Source: Dearly Beloeved at Aldamisa | | Advertise Here -.
- 9/2/2013
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Stars: Reece Thompson, Mischa Barton, Bruce Willis, Michael Rapaport, Melonie Diaz | Written by Kevin Jakubowski, Tim Calpin | Directed by Brett Simon
Boy, that cover is misleading. Full disclosure: The Assassination – originally Assassination of a High School President - isn’t a Bruce Willis actioner, he gets about ten minutes of screentime and the gun on the DVD is the only one in the film. It doesn’t actually fire bullets. But I suppose that’s the kind of marketing you can expect from a movie that bowed at festivals in 2008 and is only just getting a home video release.
Set an assignment to profile his school’s class president, intrepid/lazy reporter Bobby Funke (no relation to Arrested Development’s Tobias, though I suspect Bobby may once have been a never-nude) played by Reece Thompson unwittingly sets off a plot involving stolen exam papers, suspended students, Mischa Barton as...
Boy, that cover is misleading. Full disclosure: The Assassination – originally Assassination of a High School President - isn’t a Bruce Willis actioner, he gets about ten minutes of screentime and the gun on the DVD is the only one in the film. It doesn’t actually fire bullets. But I suppose that’s the kind of marketing you can expect from a movie that bowed at festivals in 2008 and is only just getting a home video release.
Set an assignment to profile his school’s class president, intrepid/lazy reporter Bobby Funke (no relation to Arrested Development’s Tobias, though I suspect Bobby may once have been a never-nude) played by Reece Thompson unwittingly sets off a plot involving stolen exam papers, suspended students, Mischa Barton as...
- 7/12/2013
- by Mark Allen
- Nerdly
Snow Patrol's music video for their new single "Called Out in the Dark" has been fully unleashed. Revolving around a video shoot, it sees Jack Davenport who stars in the first three "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies taking over the mic from Gary Lightbody.
The James Norrington depicter looks sleek in a tuxedo. The actor croons the song while some boys and girls break into a choreographed dance. The band's members are nowhere to be seen, except for the frontman who makes a nuisance of himself on the set.
The video was shot by Brett Simon (The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age), and choreographed by Noemie Lafrance (Feist). The concept and storyline require Gary to do acting and dancing, but he's never the one who backs down from a challenge. He wrote, "If you don't try new things you fade away and die..."
Responding to negative comments toward the video,...
The James Norrington depicter looks sleek in a tuxedo. The actor croons the song while some boys and girls break into a choreographed dance. The band's members are nowhere to be seen, except for the frontman who makes a nuisance of himself on the set.
The video was shot by Brett Simon (The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age), and choreographed by Noemie Lafrance (Feist). The concept and storyline require Gary to do acting and dancing, but he's never the one who backs down from a challenge. He wrote, "If you don't try new things you fade away and die..."
Responding to negative comments toward the video,...
- 8/18/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Plotting comic intrigue, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is set to release Assassination of a High School President on DVD October 6th for the suggested retail price of $24.96. The witty high school satire film (in the tradition of Election and Rushmore) features Mischa Barton (TV.s .The O.C.., The Sixth Sense), Reece Thompson (Rocket Science) and action icon Bruce Willis (Die Hard series, upcoming Surrogates). The film marks the feature directorial debut of Brett Simon and was scripted by the writing team of Tim Calpin and Kevin Jakubowski, former production assistants on TV.s .South Park.. It co-stars Michael Rapaport (TV.s .Prison Break,. Hitch), Zöe Kravitz (The Brave One, No Reservations) and Kathryn Morris (Resurrecting The Champ, TV.s .Cold Case.).
- 8/6/2009
- by Patrick Luce
- Monsters and Critics
About a month ago, we brought you news about the little indie movie that could in The Assassination of a High School President and it’s fight for a theatrical release, or at the very least, a distributor. Fortunately, the film’s fight appears to be over now with its distribution being picked up by Sony Pictures for an expected DVD release.
The film is about high school newspaper reporter Bobby Funke (Rocket Science’s Reece Thompson), who uncovers a series of conspiracy plots going on in his private school. The film also brings in Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton, and Michael Rapaport to fill in the supporting cast for what most critics are calling “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in high school”.
This is the directorial debut of Brett Simon, with a script from Tim Calpin and Kevin Jakubowski, former production assistants on South Park. The film’s special features include...
The film is about high school newspaper reporter Bobby Funke (Rocket Science’s Reece Thompson), who uncovers a series of conspiracy plots going on in his private school. The film also brings in Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton, and Michael Rapaport to fill in the supporting cast for what most critics are calling “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in high school”.
This is the directorial debut of Brett Simon, with a script from Tim Calpin and Kevin Jakubowski, former production assistants on South Park. The film’s special features include...
- 8/5/2009
- by Matt Raub
- The Flickcast
It is incredibly difficult to continue to gush over a movie that I reviewed back in January 2008, but I'm going to give it a shot. Originally debuting at the Sundance Film Festival two years ago, Brett Simon's directorial debut Assassination of a High School President is finally going to be available for public viewing. Unfortunately the folks at Sony decided to let is simmer too long, and now you will only be able to see it when it hits DVD on October 6th. The film stars Reece Thompson (Rocket Science) as Bobby Funke, a noir-era detective trapped in the body of a second-rate high school newspaper reporter. When a set of Sat answers are stolen from the office of his private school's overbearing principal (played by Bruce Willis), Funke must get on the case and track down the culprit, clearing his own name in the process. Standing in his way is a high school full of...
- 8/4/2009
- by Neil Miller
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
After months of speculation and outrage from fans and bloggers over the possibility of it happening, Sony has now officially confirmed that the Sundance hit Assassination of a High School President will skip the multiplexes and head straight to DVD. The studio has announced plans to release the Mischa Barton comedy, which also stars Reece Thompson, Michael Rappaport, Kathryn Morris, Melonie Diaz, Rumer Willis, Josh Pais, Tanya Fischer, Luke Grimes and Bruce Willis, on DVD and Blu-Ray October 6. Directed by Brett Simon, the film takes place at a Catholic high school, where a popular girl teams up with a sophomore newspaper reporter to investigate a case of stolen Sat exams. Once the duo targets their suspects, a larger conspiracy is unearthed. It was written by Tim Calpin and Kevin Jakubowski. The disc will feature a filmmakers commentary, deleted scenes with optional commentary, extended and alternate scenes with optional commentary, and...
- 8/4/2009
- by James Cook
- TheMovingPicture.net
Screened at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, Assassination of a High School President, by relative unknown Brett Simon, is already making quite a few waves, and could become a memory before you ever even see a theatrical release.
The film is about high school newspaper reporter Bobby Funke (Rocket Science’s Reece Thompson), who uncovers a series of conspiracy plots going on in his private school. The film also brings in the likes of Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton, and Michael Rapaport in the supporting cast for what most are calling “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in high school”.
With the film’s positive reviews, that may not be enough to get a theatrical release. The film’s distributor, Yari Film Group, was recently forced into bankruptcy, which has put Assassination, as well as a few other titles, up on the shelf. This means that the audience may never see Simon’s high school noir.
The film is about high school newspaper reporter Bobby Funke (Rocket Science’s Reece Thompson), who uncovers a series of conspiracy plots going on in his private school. The film also brings in the likes of Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton, and Michael Rapaport in the supporting cast for what most are calling “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in high school”.
With the film’s positive reviews, that may not be enough to get a theatrical release. The film’s distributor, Yari Film Group, was recently forced into bankruptcy, which has put Assassination, as well as a few other titles, up on the shelf. This means that the audience may never see Simon’s high school noir.
- 6/30/2009
- by Matt Raub
- The Flickcast
At the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Yari Film Group premiered Brett Simon's Assassination of a High School President, a film noir mystery set inside the world of a John Hughes-style High School comedy. (half way between Rian Johnson's Brick and Veronica Mars) It quickly emerged as one of the underdogs on the schedule to become one of the most buzzed about films at the festival (read some of the review quotes here). Unfortunately, Yari Film Group was forced into involuntary bankruptcy, and the film has been sitting on the shelf ever since. This has presented a very serious problem for theatrical distribution, and because of the legalities of bankruptcy court, the timing of this economic downturn and a whole slew of other worst-case-scenarios, Assassination might be going direct-to-dvd. Hope isn't lost quite yet, the bankruptcy court meets in late-July, and the fate of the Yari-owned films will be...
- 6/30/2009
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
A year and a half after leaving Paramount, Alli Shearmur has landed at Lionsgate as president of motion picture production alongside longtime Lionsgate production head Mike Paseornek.
Shearmur and Paseornek, who will each carry the same title, will report to co-coo and motion picture group president Joe Drake. Shearmur's lock on the position has been in the air for some time, and she officially starts Tuesday.
"I'm very excited to be part of a team again," Shearmur said. "I'm most looking forward to being at a place that has a real sense of momentum and an agile, savvy approach to making movies. They seem to be very creative, out-of-the-box thinkers."
While Paseornek has helped to build the mini-major into an increasingly ambitious studio, he and Shearmur will now essentially run two separate production divisions, with each turning out six to eight films per year. The studio claims that these slates will remain somewhat undefined,...
Shearmur and Paseornek, who will each carry the same title, will report to co-coo and motion picture group president Joe Drake. Shearmur's lock on the position has been in the air for some time, and she officially starts Tuesday.
"I'm very excited to be part of a team again," Shearmur said. "I'm most looking forward to being at a place that has a real sense of momentum and an agile, savvy approach to making movies. They seem to be very creative, out-of-the-box thinkers."
While Paseornek has helped to build the mini-major into an increasingly ambitious studio, he and Shearmur will now essentially run two separate production divisions, with each turning out six to eight films per year. The studio claims that these slates will remain somewhat undefined,...
- 8/27/2008
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Lionsgate has acquired the rights to Duane Swierczynski's crime novel Severance Package. The comedic action novel follows a media relations director who stumbles upon a plot to murder all of the managers at his firm -- which is a cover for a secret covert intelligence agency. Swierczynski has excitedly blogged about the deal, writing, "I know the deal: many books are called, few are chosen. A million things can go wrong. This all could evaporate... like, tomorrow. But I have a really good feeling about this team. And it's already been fun."Brett Simon, director of Assassination of a High School President, has been tapped to adapt the novel and helm the picture. Assassination premiered at Sundance last year to positive reviews. Simon's experience in the dark comedy department will surely bring the appropriate tone to Severance Package.Marc Platt and Adam Siegel will be producing. ...
- 8/14/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
Lionsgate has just acquired the rights to the novel Severance Package written by Duane Swierczynski and has hired Brett Simon to adapt. Simon will handle both the writing and directing duties, which is a great break for him. Why should you care about this? Simon also wrote and directed the greatest film no one has seen yet - Assassination of a High School President. Unfortunately the distributor pushed the release back until early next year, but it's one of the best films I saw at Sundance (and at SXSW after a second screening) and it has remained in my mind ever since. And when you hear the details of the story for this action comedy, you might be interested despite not being familiar with Simon's work anyway. "David Murphy, the CEO of a Philadelphia financial company, summons his seven staffers for an important Saturday meeting, where he informs them that...
- 8/14/2008
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The 15th annual South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival on Monday announced a lineup of 113 feature films, including 64 world premieres, high school-themed features and a healthy batch of rock documentaries.
"I think this year's lineup represents our current world of extremes," SXSW Film Festival producer Matt Dentler said. "It's a well-rounded slate of films, from both veteran masters and promising newcomers."
Among the films focusing on high school life are Frontrunners, Caroline Suh's docu about the campaign for student body president; Nanette Burstein's docu American Teen, about the cliques of high school seniors in a small Indiana town; Greg Takoudes' drama Up With Me, about a Harlem teen who is admitted to an upstate boarding school on scholarship; Brett Simon's dark comedy Assassination of a High School President, about a high school newspaper reporter investigating a mysterious plot involving the class president, drugs and a stolen test score ring; and Gregg Bishop's horror-adventure Dance of the Dead, where dateless high school losers must battle the living dead at prom.
"I think this year's lineup represents our current world of extremes," SXSW Film Festival producer Matt Dentler said. "It's a well-rounded slate of films, from both veteran masters and promising newcomers."
Among the films focusing on high school life are Frontrunners, Caroline Suh's docu about the campaign for student body president; Nanette Burstein's docu American Teen, about the cliques of high school seniors in a small Indiana town; Greg Takoudes' drama Up With Me, about a Harlem teen who is admitted to an upstate boarding school on scholarship; Brett Simon's dark comedy Assassination of a High School President, about a high school newspaper reporter investigating a mysterious plot involving the class president, drugs and a stolen test score ring; and Gregg Bishop's horror-adventure Dance of the Dead, where dateless high school losers must battle the living dead at prom.
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- Is there anything new to say about high school torments? Probably there is, but Assassination of a High School President doesn't find enough novel insights to make for essential viewing. It has echoes of a lot of other movies about adolescent angst and cruelty, from Election to Thumbsucker, Rocket Science and Charlie Bartlett, but it doesn't live up to the best of those.
Alexander Payne's Election might still be the definitive word on the cutthroat atmosphere of high school. Assassination, which had its premiere here, won't achieve the same classic stature.
It will, however, be remembered for confirming the talent of the leading man, Reece Daniel Thompson, who starred as the stuttering teen hero of last year's Sundance prize-winner, Rocket Science and here demonstrates the same ease and charm, minus the stuttering. Not many young actors convey intelligence, but Thompson is completely convincing and immensely likable as an aspiring journalist who wants to expose the truth about the school's top jock.
As the prom queen who takes him under her wing, Mischa Barton also gives a captivating performance. These two actors make the movie worth seeing, even though the script by Tim Caplan and Kevin Jakubowski veers from genuine wit to more routine high jinks.
At his Catholic school in New Jersey, Bobby Funke (Thompson) is beset by a lot of the typical teen perils -- school bullies, an overbearing Spanish teacher (amusingly played by Josh Pais), a tyrannical principal (Bruce Willis) and, of course, the first stirrings of love and lust. The opening scenes have a lot of raunchy interchanges that make us feel we might be in a Judd Apatow high school movie. But Assassination turns out to be more of a high school detective story. When a bunch of SAT exams are stolen from the principal's office, Bobby determines that the school president, Paul Moore (Patrick James Taylor), must be the thief and exposes him in the school paper. He ruins Moore's life, but as he gets to know Moore's girlfriend, Francesca (Barton), he begins to have second thoughts and sets out to rectify matters and find the true culprit.
A high school mystery with a teenage sleuth is an appealing concept, but even this isn't a new notion. A couple of years ago, another Sundance entry, Brick, mined the same territory with a tad more style and originality. The mystery story in Assassination is fun and would be even more fun if the denouement weren't so transparent. Anyone who has a passing familiarity with Hollywood murder mysteries will be able to guess the ending long before Bobby nails the villain. At least the film doesn't take itself too seriously. The last line is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the ending of Chinatown.
Director Brett Simon must be credited with an energetic spin on a lot of tired tropes, but he also misses certain opportunities. In a delightful scene where Bobby cuts loose and dances at a party, the director keeps cutting away from his star and so minimizes the impact of Thompson's performance.
In addition to Thompson and Barton, the other young actors also are very skillful. Willis seems to be having fun with his role, and Kathryn Morris is entertaining as the addled school nurse. On the other hand, Michael Rapaport has little to do as the basketball coach; his part might have been left on the cutting-room floor.
The film runs a tight 90 minutes, so at least it doesn't wear out its welcome. The song selections are smart. All in all, the film is a likable goof that evaporates as soon as the lights come on.
ASSASSINATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT
Yari Film Group
Credits:
Director: Brett Simon
Screenwriters: Tim Caplan, Kevin Jakubowski
Producers: Bob Yari, Roy Lee, Doug Davison
Director of photography: M. David Mullen
Production designer: Sharon Lomofsky
Co-producers: Elsie Choi, Suzanne Smith
Costume designer: Amy Westcott
Editors: William Anderson, Thomas J. Nordberg
Cast:
Bobby Funke: Reece Daniel Thompson
Francesca Fachini: Mischa Barton
Principal Kirkpatrick: Bruce Willis
Clara Diaz: Melonie Diaz
Paul Moore: Patrick James Taylor
Marlon Piazza: Luke Grimes
Coach Z: Michael Rapaport
Padre Newell: Josh Pais
Nurse Platt: Kathryn Morris
Running time -- 90 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARK CITY -- Is there anything new to say about high school torments? Probably there is, but Assassination of a High School President doesn't find enough novel insights to make for essential viewing. It has echoes of a lot of other movies about adolescent angst and cruelty, from Election to Thumbsucker, Rocket Science and Charlie Bartlett, but it doesn't live up to the best of those.
Alexander Payne's Election might still be the definitive word on the cutthroat atmosphere of high school. Assassination, which had its premiere here, won't achieve the same classic stature.
It will, however, be remembered for confirming the talent of the leading man, Reece Daniel Thompson, who starred as the stuttering teen hero of last year's Sundance prize-winner, Rocket Science and here demonstrates the same ease and charm, minus the stuttering. Not many young actors convey intelligence, but Thompson is completely convincing and immensely likable as an aspiring journalist who wants to expose the truth about the school's top jock.
As the prom queen who takes him under her wing, Mischa Barton also gives a captivating performance. These two actors make the movie worth seeing, even though the script by Tim Caplan and Kevin Jakubowski veers from genuine wit to more routine high jinks.
At his Catholic school in New Jersey, Bobby Funke (Thompson) is beset by a lot of the typical teen perils -- school bullies, an overbearing Spanish teacher (amusingly played by Josh Pais), a tyrannical principal (Bruce Willis) and, of course, the first stirrings of love and lust. The opening scenes have a lot of raunchy interchanges that make us feel we might be in a Judd Apatow high school movie. But Assassination turns out to be more of a high school detective story. When a bunch of SAT exams are stolen from the principal's office, Bobby determines that the school president, Paul Moore (Patrick James Taylor), must be the thief and exposes him in the school paper. He ruins Moore's life, but as he gets to know Moore's girlfriend, Francesca (Barton), he begins to have second thoughts and sets out to rectify matters and find the true culprit.
A high school mystery with a teenage sleuth is an appealing concept, but even this isn't a new notion. A couple of years ago, another Sundance entry, Brick, mined the same territory with a tad more style and originality. The mystery story in Assassination is fun and would be even more fun if the denouement weren't so transparent. Anyone who has a passing familiarity with Hollywood murder mysteries will be able to guess the ending long before Bobby nails the villain. At least the film doesn't take itself too seriously. The last line is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the ending of Chinatown.
Director Brett Simon must be credited with an energetic spin on a lot of tired tropes, but he also misses certain opportunities. In a delightful scene where Bobby cuts loose and dances at a party, the director keeps cutting away from his star and so minimizes the impact of Thompson's performance.
In addition to Thompson and Barton, the other young actors also are very skillful. Willis seems to be having fun with his role, and Kathryn Morris is entertaining as the addled school nurse. On the other hand, Michael Rapaport has little to do as the basketball coach; his part might have been left on the cutting-room floor.
The film runs a tight 90 minutes, so at least it doesn't wear out its welcome. The song selections are smart. All in all, the film is a likable goof that evaporates as soon as the lights come on.
ASSASSINATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT
Yari Film Group
Credits:
Director: Brett Simon
Screenwriters: Tim Caplan, Kevin Jakubowski
Producers: Bob Yari, Roy Lee, Doug Davison
Director of photography: M. David Mullen
Production designer: Sharon Lomofsky
Co-producers: Elsie Choi, Suzanne Smith
Costume designer: Amy Westcott
Editors: William Anderson, Thomas J. Nordberg
Cast:
Bobby Funke: Reece Daniel Thompson
Francesca Fachini: Mischa Barton
Principal Kirkpatrick: Bruce Willis
Clara Diaz: Melonie Diaz
Paul Moore: Patrick James Taylor
Marlon Piazza: Luke Grimes
Coach Z: Michael Rapaport
Padre Newell: Josh Pais
Nurse Platt: Kathryn Morris
Running time -- 90 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/25/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- I expect my last day at the 08' edition of the Sundance film festival to end in the wee hours of the morning as the fest organizers have announced the make up of the Premieres section and have chosen documentary (Csny DÉJÀ Vu) on gray-haired legends of folk music (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young) as the fest's closing feature.As predicted by yours truly, Michel Gondry will show up once again in Park City this time with the geek comedy preem Be Kind Rewind, while a number of high profile pics such as The Great Buck Howard, What Just Happened? and Diminished Capacity will have buyers lining up the block - the upcoming actors' strike is a reality and this has many mid level indie distributors looking to add to their slate. Up for grabs we also find films littered with talent: Irish import The Escapist, The Deal (a
- 11/29/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
NEW YORK -- Reece Thompson has landed the title role in the Yari Film Group's dark comedy The Sophomore opposite Mischa Barton and Bruce Willis.
Thompson -- who can be seen today in Picturehouse's Rocket Science -- will play a bullied Catholic high school newspaper reporter who is persuaded to investigate the theft of SAT exams by the most popular student (Barton). But after he reveals that the school's president and top jock are responsible, a more sinister conspiracy emerges.
Willis will play the school's twisted principal, a Desert Storm veteran who can't let go of his glory days in Kuwait. Willis' daughter, Rumer, will play the sidekick to Barton's character.
First-time feature director Brett Simon is now filming Sophomore in New Jersey through mid-September.
Thompson was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at January's Sundance Film Festival for his role in Science. He will appear in the upcoming indie drama Afterwards.
Thompson is repped by WMA and Vickie Petronio at Play Management.
Thompson -- who can be seen today in Picturehouse's Rocket Science -- will play a bullied Catholic high school newspaper reporter who is persuaded to investigate the theft of SAT exams by the most popular student (Barton). But after he reveals that the school's president and top jock are responsible, a more sinister conspiracy emerges.
Willis will play the school's twisted principal, a Desert Storm veteran who can't let go of his glory days in Kuwait. Willis' daughter, Rumer, will play the sidekick to Barton's character.
First-time feature director Brett Simon is now filming Sophomore in New Jersey through mid-September.
Thompson was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at January's Sundance Film Festival for his role in Science. He will appear in the upcoming indie drama Afterwards.
Thompson is repped by WMA and Vickie Petronio at Play Management.
- 8/10/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Mischa Barton and Rumer Willis have been cast opposite Bruce Willis, Rumer's father, in the dark comedy "The Sophomore" for Yari Film Group.
In this teenage take on "Chinatown", Barton plays the most popular girl in her Catholic high school. She persuades a sophomore reporter to investigate the theft of SAT exams, but after he reveals that the school's president and top jock are responsible, a more sinister conspiracy emerges.
Rumer Willis plays the troublemaking sidekick of Barton's character. Bruce Willis plays the school's twisted principal, a Desert Storm veteran who can't let go of his glory days in Kuwait.
Bob Yari is producing the feature with Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment. Elsie Choi serves as co-producer. YFG production exec Brad Jenkel is overseeing the project, which was brought to the studio by YFG development exec Eric Umali. Vertigo co-produced "Addicted", starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, with YFG.
The film (previously titled "Assassination of a High School President") will be directed by Brett Simon and written by Tim Calpin and Kevin Jakubowski, who all are making their feature film debuts.
In this teenage take on "Chinatown", Barton plays the most popular girl in her Catholic high school. She persuades a sophomore reporter to investigate the theft of SAT exams, but after he reveals that the school's president and top jock are responsible, a more sinister conspiracy emerges.
Rumer Willis plays the troublemaking sidekick of Barton's character. Bruce Willis plays the school's twisted principal, a Desert Storm veteran who can't let go of his glory days in Kuwait.
Bob Yari is producing the feature with Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment. Elsie Choi serves as co-producer. YFG production exec Brad Jenkel is overseeing the project, which was brought to the studio by YFG development exec Eric Umali. Vertigo co-produced "Addicted", starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, with YFG.
The film (previously titled "Assassination of a High School President") will be directed by Brett Simon and written by Tim Calpin and Kevin Jakubowski, who all are making their feature film debuts.
- 6/15/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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