The explanatory text that opens “The Wanting Mare,” Nicholas Ashe Bateman’s ambitious, epoch-spanning directing debut, informs us that in the city of Whithren, citizens are desperate to escape by booking passage on the once-a-year transport ship that carries wild horses to the wintry promised land of Levithen. These words, a fantasist’s delight, only barely set the table for what’s to come, a visually enthralling but elliptical and withholding quasi post-apocalyptic drama about three generations of Whithren women who carry with them the burdensome memories of “the world before.”
At times, Bateman’s film feels overstuffed and underexplored, an inconclusive rhetorical argument between a director and his lofty intentions. Otherwise, the Baltimore native announces himself as a top-shelf world-builder-on-a-budget, a painter of luscious digital dreamscapes (and hellscapes).
Indeed, Bateman’s effects are the star here, casting such a vivid and immersive spell that they stoke a strong desire to explore Whithren,...
At times, Bateman’s film feels overstuffed and underexplored, an inconclusive rhetorical argument between a director and his lofty intentions. Otherwise, the Baltimore native announces himself as a top-shelf world-builder-on-a-budget, a painter of luscious digital dreamscapes (and hellscapes).
Indeed, Bateman’s effects are the star here, casting such a vivid and immersive spell that they stoke a strong desire to explore Whithren,...
- 2/6/2021
- by Mark Keizer
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar-nominated actor Viggo Mortensen makes his feature directorial debut with Falling, which premieres in theaters, digital and on demand today. Mortensen also wrote, starred in and composed the score for Falling to show us that he’s not just a one-trick pony (but was there any doubt?)
Falling follows John (Mortensen) who lives with his partner, Eric (Terry Chen), and their daughter, Mónica (Gabby Velis) in California. This is far from the rural life from his past. His uber-conservative father, Willis (Lance Henriksen), who is facing early stages of dementia, lives alone on the isolated farm where John grew up. When John brings Willis to Los Angeles in an attempt to relocate him closer to family, their relationship begins to unravel as Willis refuses to change his way of life.
The family drama made its world premiere in 2020 at the Sundance Film Festival before screening at Cannes and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Falling follows John (Mortensen) who lives with his partner, Eric (Terry Chen), and their daughter, Mónica (Gabby Velis) in California. This is far from the rural life from his past. His uber-conservative father, Willis (Lance Henriksen), who is facing early stages of dementia, lives alone on the isolated farm where John grew up. When John brings Willis to Los Angeles in an attempt to relocate him closer to family, their relationship begins to unravel as Willis refuses to change his way of life.
The family drama made its world premiere in 2020 at the Sundance Film Festival before screening at Cannes and the Toronto International Film Festival.
- 2/5/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
"Do you wonder what was before? Before here..." Anmaere Pictures has released an official trailer for The Wanting Mare, which is launching in theaters + on VOD next month. The Wanting Mare is a "technical marvel of digital world-building on the level of Sky Captain and Sin City, having been almost entirely - and unbelievably - shot inside a storage unit in New Jersey. Five years in the making, its hundreds of visual effects seamlessly blend digital landscapes and physical reality, bringing Whithren and its greater world to unbelievable life." Set in Whithren, a line of women pass a single dream through multiple generations. The film follows a group of people making their way in a fantasy world called "Anmaere", equal parts Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, that has evolved into a "modern" setting much like Earth. Starring Jordan Monaghan, Yasmin Keshtkar, Edmond Cofie, Nicholas Ashe Bateman, Josh Clark,...
- 1/7/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
In Shane Carruth’s 2004 debut feature Primer, two colleagues go down a physics rabbit hole to build a time machine. In the early stages of masterminding this scientifically-driven and disorienting experience, one character suggests to the other that the best mathematician is the lazy one—that those who excel usually find ways to solve problems quickly, easily and efficiently. The theory might also apply to watching Carruth’s own movies, which don’t tether themselves to linear, coherent narratives. It’s tempting to get bogged down in the details and timelines of his feverish approach, but far more enjoyable—and yes, easier—to let his imagery and ideas overwhelm you, to process them later in reflection or on repeat viewings.
Despite his current hiatus from directing and impending retirement from the artform, Carruth has returned to champion a young filmmaker and a movie that might best be consumed under the same set of recommendations.
Despite his current hiatus from directing and impending retirement from the artform, Carruth has returned to champion a young filmmaker and a movie that might best be consumed under the same set of recommendations.
- 5/24/2020
- by Jake Kring-Schreifels
- The Film Stage
It was only a few months ago we learned that Primer and Upstream Color director Shane Carruth would be retiring from filmmaking after his next directorial effort, and while we don’t know what that project may be yet, he’s still working on other films. One project that certainly has a Carruthian touch is The Wanting Mare, a dark fantasy fable he executive produced that is set to make its world premiere at the Chattanooga Film Festival this weekend, which is being presented digitally.
Directed by Nicholas Ashe Bateman, who is making his feature debut but has worked on the visual effects of Wendy and the forthcoming The Green Knight, the story follows a line of women who pass a single dream through multiple generations. Having remarkably been shot almost entirely in a storage unit in New Jersey (!), the first trailer shows off some deeply impressive atmosphere for what was certainly a shoestring budget.
Directed by Nicholas Ashe Bateman, who is making his feature debut but has worked on the visual effects of Wendy and the forthcoming The Green Knight, the story follows a line of women who pass a single dream through multiple generations. Having remarkably been shot almost entirely in a storage unit in New Jersey (!), the first trailer shows off some deeply impressive atmosphere for what was certainly a shoestring budget.
- 5/19/2020
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
"Can you see it now?" Anmaere Pictures has unveiled a teaser trailer for an indie film titled The Wanting Mare, which is premiering at the Chattanooga Film Festival this month. The Wanting Mare is a "technical marvel of digital world-building on the level of Sky Captain and Sin City, having been almost entirely - and unbelievably - shot inside a storage unit in New Jersey. Five years in the making, its hundreds of visual effects seamlessly blend digital landscapes and physical reality, bringing Whithren and its greater world to unbelievable life." Set in Whithren, a line of women pass a single dream through multiple generations. The film follows a group of people making their way in a fantasy world called "Anmaere", equal parts Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, that has evolved into a "modern" setting that feels much like today's Earth. This stars Jordan Monaghan, Yasmin Keshtkar,...
- 5/19/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Hey, "FBI" fans. Yes, you guys read the title correctly. This article is about some very bad news. For some reason,CBS will not be airing the new episode 6 of for FBI's current season 2 tonight, October 29, 2019. Instead the new episode 6 will air next Tuesday night, November 5, 2019 at approximately 8 pm central standard time on CBS of course. So, be sure to mark down that very important date on your TV show calendars. So, what will CBS air instead of FBI tonight? Actually, they will still be airing FBI, they just won't be airing the new episode 6. Instead, they will air a rerun of the 17th episode of season 1. The title of that episode is "Apex." The official description of it reads like this, "Dana and Maggie try to find justice for the serial killer's victims despite the mayor's insistence to limit the investigation." If for some reason, you guys missed that episode when it originally aired,...
- 10/29/2019
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
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