Liam Neeson, a foundational pillar of the Hollywood action scene, found himself turning into an overnight fan favorite after his ultra-violent arc as the father-turned-vigilante in the Taken trilogy. The film, although profiting off of Neeson’s iconic gruff voice and imposing presence, also made it his career’s magnum opus, and the role he would be most remembered by.
Liam Neeson in Love Actually (2003) [Credit: Universal Pictures]
It then becomes a somewhat bitter pill to swallow when, in hindsight, one watches Neeson in films like Love Actually that go completely against his established reputation as the hunter-predator. As such, the genre of romance paired with the features of Liam Neeson is in itself an oxymoron.
Liam Neeson Builds a Reputation Off of Taken Persona
While the Taken franchise may not be the singular identity to his name, the pop culture sensitivity of the late 2000s that witnessed an influx of...
Liam Neeson in Love Actually (2003) [Credit: Universal Pictures]
It then becomes a somewhat bitter pill to swallow when, in hindsight, one watches Neeson in films like Love Actually that go completely against his established reputation as the hunter-predator. As such, the genre of romance paired with the features of Liam Neeson is in itself an oxymoron.
Liam Neeson Builds a Reputation Off of Taken Persona
While the Taken franchise may not be the singular identity to his name, the pop culture sensitivity of the late 2000s that witnessed an influx of...
- 7/13/2024
- by Diya Majumdar
- FandomWire
Liam Neeson’s career took a turn by the beginning of 2009 after his one film propelled him to the status of an action star. From 2008-2014, Neeson starred in three films in the Taken franchise, where he plays former CIA operative Bryan Mills. However, Neeson has one major regret in the film which made fans fall in love with the film in the first place.
Liam Neeson in a still from Taken | NBC
During the filming of Taken, Neeson’s driver pointed out the amount of killing he does in the film. Neeson was embarrassed by the driver’s question even though all his kills in the film were bad guys.
Liam Neeson Was Embarrassed By The Amount Of Kills In Taken Liam Neeson in a still from Taken | NBC
Liam Neeson‘s Bryan Mills inflicted some serious damage on the bad guys in the Taken franchise. In the first film,...
Liam Neeson in a still from Taken | NBC
During the filming of Taken, Neeson’s driver pointed out the amount of killing he does in the film. Neeson was embarrassed by the driver’s question even though all his kills in the film were bad guys.
Liam Neeson Was Embarrassed By The Amount Of Kills In Taken Liam Neeson in a still from Taken | NBC
Liam Neeson‘s Bryan Mills inflicted some serious damage on the bad guys in the Taken franchise. In the first film,...
- 6/29/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
There are not a lot of actors in Hollywood whose presence itself on-screen exudes badassery. Liam Neeson has carved a unique niche for himself in the film industry, where directors and producers look up to him for serious roles. From Schindler’s List to Batman Begins, the actor has carefully picked feathers for his cap that are a testament to his effervescent acting abilities.
However, he often goes offbeat and picks up projects that show off a different side to his demanding presence on the silver screen, like he is about to do in his upcoming The Naked Gun Reboot.
Liam Neeson with Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I
But before we talk about the rebooted crime spoof-comedy, let’s have a look at the franchise that established Neeson as the tough-as-nails character in Hollywood. The Taken series remains one of the most beloved and successful action franchises to this day,...
However, he often goes offbeat and picks up projects that show off a different side to his demanding presence on the silver screen, like he is about to do in his upcoming The Naked Gun Reboot.
Liam Neeson with Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I
But before we talk about the rebooted crime spoof-comedy, let’s have a look at the franchise that established Neeson as the tough-as-nails character in Hollywood. The Taken series remains one of the most beloved and successful action franchises to this day,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Sayantan Choudhary
- FandomWire
In terms of new original content coming to Hulu, March is a slight month, with the streamer’s highlight being the limited series premiere of We Were the Lucky Ones at the end of the month. The show, which is based on Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestselling novel, is inspired by the true story of a Jewish family who are separated at the start of WWII, and who then have to survive in order to eventually reunite. We Were the Lucky Ones stars Joey King from The Kissing Booth films alongside Percy Jackson‘s Logan Lerman, and debuts on March 28.
Here’s everything coming to Hulu (and leaving) in March…
Hulu New Releases – March 2024
March 1
Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Dubbed) Dark Side of the 90s: Complete Season 2 Dark Side of the 2000s: Complete Season 1 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | 2007 Ali | 2001 Bad Teacher | 2011 Batman Begins | 2005 Beasts of the Southern Wild...
Here’s everything coming to Hulu (and leaving) in March…
Hulu New Releases – March 2024
March 1
Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Dubbed) Dark Side of the 90s: Complete Season 2 Dark Side of the 2000s: Complete Season 1 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | 2007 Ali | 2001 Bad Teacher | 2011 Batman Begins | 2005 Beasts of the Southern Wild...
- 3/1/2024
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Pierre Morrel's 2008 film "Taken" is brazenly morally irresponsible.
"Taken" was not so much a thriller as an indulgent "dad fantasy," rooted in xenophobia and male sexual hysterics. The lead character, Bryan Mills, played by a wholly devoted and utterly capable Liam Neeson, was a divorced dad of a teenage girl named Kim (Maggie Grace) who saw his clout as a parent disappearing into the wealthy black hole of a cold-shouldered ex-wife (Famke Janssen) and her attentive new husband (Xander Berkeley). Bryan is a former CIA agent, and his job kept him away from home enough to damage his marriage. When Kim announces that she and a friend are going on an international holiday together, Bryan warns her that such an excursion is dangerous; kidnappers, he knows, often target traveling American teenage girls and sell them into sexual slavery. It sounds paranoid and everyone dismisses him.
Perhaps predictably, Kim is almost...
"Taken" was not so much a thriller as an indulgent "dad fantasy," rooted in xenophobia and male sexual hysterics. The lead character, Bryan Mills, played by a wholly devoted and utterly capable Liam Neeson, was a divorced dad of a teenage girl named Kim (Maggie Grace) who saw his clout as a parent disappearing into the wealthy black hole of a cold-shouldered ex-wife (Famke Janssen) and her attentive new husband (Xander Berkeley). Bryan is a former CIA agent, and his job kept him away from home enough to damage his marriage. When Kim announces that she and a friend are going on an international holiday together, Bryan warns her that such an excursion is dangerous; kidnappers, he knows, often target traveling American teenage girls and sell them into sexual slavery. It sounds paranoid and everyone dismisses him.
Perhaps predictably, Kim is almost...
- 12/23/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
It’s often claimed that good things come in threes, but try telling that to anyone who sat through the Big Momma’s House trilogy. Film sequels, in essence, are nothing new in Hollywood—the very first sequel came back in 1916 with the silent film The Fall of a Nation, Thomas Dixon Jr.‘s follow-up to D. W. Griffith’s jaw-droppingly racist epic, Birth of a Nation.
However, the concept only became commonplace in the 1970s when a string of follow-ups to successful dramas made waves at the box office. The Godfather, Part II, Rocky II, and The French Connection II were among the first movies that helped usher in this new era of filmmaking. Today though, moviedom has expanded beyond even the sequel and into new territory where the word “franchise” is king. Buoyed in recent times by the dominance of comic book movies and an increasing appetite for nostalgia,...
However, the concept only became commonplace in the 1970s when a string of follow-ups to successful dramas made waves at the box office. The Godfather, Part II, Rocky II, and The French Connection II were among the first movies that helped usher in this new era of filmmaking. Today though, moviedom has expanded beyond even the sequel and into new territory where the word “franchise” is king. Buoyed in recent times by the dominance of comic book movies and an increasing appetite for nostalgia,...
- 7/8/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
What’s Coming to Hulu in May 2023, Including ‘The Great’ Season 3, ‘Class of ‘09,’ 'The Kardashians'
“The Great” returns to Hulu for Season 3 on May 12. Elle Fanning portrays Catherine the Great, desperate to turn Russia into an enlightened nation, while Nicholas Hoult plays Peter III, her libertine husband. Despite marital problems, including Catherine’s attempt to murder him, Peter now claims to be in love with his wife. The show, loosely based on history, takes a snarky, sexy, and irreverent ride through 18th-century Russia. Catherine was the longest-running female ruler in the nation’s history.
Check out “The Great” Season 3 trailer:
FX’s suspense thriller “Class of ’09” streams May 10 on Hulu. A class of FBI agents at three points in time face changes in the U.S. criminal justice system, which has been altered by AI. The series takes a deep dive into the nature of justice and the choices we make.
Watch the trailer for “Class of ‘09”:
Also returning to the Disney-owned...
Check out “The Great” Season 3 trailer:
FX’s suspense thriller “Class of ’09” streams May 10 on Hulu. A class of FBI agents at three points in time face changes in the U.S. criminal justice system, which has been altered by AI. The series takes a deep dive into the nature of justice and the choices we make.
Watch the trailer for “Class of ‘09”:
Also returning to the Disney-owned...
- 4/26/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
Liam Neeson has been working consistently for over 40 years now, but he got a complete reboot in his career when the action movie Taken was released in 2008. And while that movie has spawned a trilogy, launched countless memes and gave Neeson a new fanbase, Neeson wasn’t so sure how Taken’s most famous line would stick.
Speaking with Vanity Fair, Liam Neeson said he didn’t expect Taken to be such a success. Nor did he anticipate its most famous scene–in which he delivers the now-iconic line (abridged here), “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want…but I will find you, and I will kill you”–would be received as well as it was. “I certainly did sound scary, but I thought it was corny. It was a cornball. I really did feel that…It’s nice to be proven wrong.
Speaking with Vanity Fair, Liam Neeson said he didn’t expect Taken to be such a success. Nor did he anticipate its most famous scene–in which he delivers the now-iconic line (abridged here), “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want…but I will find you, and I will kill you”–would be received as well as it was. “I certainly did sound scary, but I thought it was corny. It was a cornball. I really did feel that…It’s nice to be proven wrong.
- 2/19/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Henry Golding, Noomi Rapace, Sam Neill, and Daniela Melchior have all joined the same prestigious club—for assassins. Golding, fresh off his ninja training in this year's G.I. Joe prequel, "Snake Eyes," will star in "Assassin Club," which has already finished production in Italy.
This is the first we've heard of "Assassin Club," which is helmed by Camille Delamarre, who served as an editor on films like "Transporter 3," "Colombiana," "Locke," and "Taken 2" before he crossed over into directing with films like "Brick Mansions" and "Transporter: Refueled." Producer Jordan Dykstra describes the movie as "a fast-paced mix of pulse-pounding action and espionage — all set...
The post Assassin Club Will Unite Henry Golding, Noomi Rapace, and Sam Neill for a New Action Movie appeared first on /Film.
This is the first we've heard of "Assassin Club," which is helmed by Camille Delamarre, who served as an editor on films like "Transporter 3," "Colombiana," "Locke," and "Taken 2" before he crossed over into directing with films like "Brick Mansions" and "Transporter: Refueled." Producer Jordan Dykstra describes the movie as "a fast-paced mix of pulse-pounding action and espionage — all set...
The post Assassin Club Will Unite Henry Golding, Noomi Rapace, and Sam Neill for a New Action Movie appeared first on /Film.
- 9/23/2021
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
The summer movie season may be winding down, but HBO Max is keeping the movie ball rolling in September 2021. HBO Max’s list of new releases this month is heavy on the film side of things – both in library and original offerings.
Two Warner Bros. films of note arrive this month. The James Wan-directed horror tale Malignant premieres on Sept. 10 and is followed by Clint Eastwood’s Cry Macho on Sept. 17. The next installment in Adventure Time: Distant Lands (which is kind of like a film series!) is titled Wizard City and opens the month on Sept. 2
Of course, it wouldn’t be a new month of HBO Max releases without some interesting evergreen Warner movie titles. Sept. 1 finds all eight Harry Potter movies returning to WarnerMedia’s streaming service. They will be accompanied by The Goonies, The Evil Dead, Cloverfield, and more. Later on in the month, Mortal Kombat (Sept.
Two Warner Bros. films of note arrive this month. The James Wan-directed horror tale Malignant premieres on Sept. 10 and is followed by Clint Eastwood’s Cry Macho on Sept. 17. The next installment in Adventure Time: Distant Lands (which is kind of like a film series!) is titled Wizard City and opens the month on Sept. 2
Of course, it wouldn’t be a new month of HBO Max releases without some interesting evergreen Warner movie titles. Sept. 1 finds all eight Harry Potter movies returning to WarnerMedia’s streaming service. They will be accompanied by The Goonies, The Evil Dead, Cloverfield, and more. Later on in the month, Mortal Kombat (Sept.
- 8/30/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
On September 1, all eight Harry Potter films return home to HBO Max.
September also brings Clint Eastwood’s latest film Cry Macho on the 17th and director James Wan’s Malignant on the 10th. Both Cry Macho and Malignant will be available in theaters and on HBO Max the same day. They will stream on the $14.99/month ad-Free HBO Max plan for 31 days after their debuts.
See all of the new content on HBO Max for September, 2021, below. The list is organized alphabetically by date.
September 1:
A Hijacking
The Animal
Army Of Darkness
The Benchwarmers
Bodas de Oro – aka The Anniversary
The Cell 2
Cloverfield
Dead Again
Deck the Halls
Detour
Drinking Buddies
Epic Movie
Event Horizon
The Evil Dead
Evil Dead 2
Flawless
The Forgotten
Fun Size
The Gallows
The Good German
The Good Heart
The Goonies
Green Lantern
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the...
September also brings Clint Eastwood’s latest film Cry Macho on the 17th and director James Wan’s Malignant on the 10th. Both Cry Macho and Malignant will be available in theaters and on HBO Max the same day. They will stream on the $14.99/month ad-Free HBO Max plan for 31 days after their debuts.
See all of the new content on HBO Max for September, 2021, below. The list is organized alphabetically by date.
September 1:
A Hijacking
The Animal
Army Of Darkness
The Benchwarmers
Bodas de Oro – aka The Anniversary
The Cell 2
Cloverfield
Dead Again
Deck the Halls
Detour
Drinking Buddies
Epic Movie
Event Horizon
The Evil Dead
Evil Dead 2
Flawless
The Forgotten
Fun Size
The Gallows
The Good German
The Good Heart
The Goonies
Green Lantern
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the...
- 8/26/2021
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago, Il – – Asian Pop-Up Cinema: Season 13 will present 30 films at an in-person and drive-in festival, with select titles available for online streaming. The festival opens September 15 and runs through October 12, 2021, at AMC River East 21, The Davis Theater and ChiTown Drive-In.
The programming celebrates the best Asian-centric cinema, with new work made by filmmakers from China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the U.S. and Canada. This season will highlight women in film, stories with humanitarian themes and action thrillers, including four restored martial arts classics.
Season 13 opens with Jessica Kingdon’s Ascension, a documentary observing China’s growing class divide through labor, consumerism, and wealth. Structured in three parts, the film ascends through the levels of the capitalist structure and examines how the contemporary “Chinese Dream” remains an elusive fantasy for most.
Centerpiece film The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’T Kill is Japanese director Kan Eguchi’s action/comedy follow-up to The Fable,...
The programming celebrates the best Asian-centric cinema, with new work made by filmmakers from China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the U.S. and Canada. This season will highlight women in film, stories with humanitarian themes and action thrillers, including four restored martial arts classics.
Season 13 opens with Jessica Kingdon’s Ascension, a documentary observing China’s growing class divide through labor, consumerism, and wealth. Structured in three parts, the film ascends through the levels of the capitalist structure and examines how the contemporary “Chinese Dream” remains an elusive fantasy for most.
Centerpiece film The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’T Kill is Japanese director Kan Eguchi’s action/comedy follow-up to The Fable,...
- 8/23/2021
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
HBO is rounding out the cast for its upcoming limited series, The White Lotus, from Enlightened creator Mike White. Saturday Night Live alum Molly Shannon is set to recur, along with Jon Gries (Dream Corp.), Jolene Purdy (Under the Dome), Kekoa Kekumano (Aquaman) and Lukas Gage (Euphoria). They join previously announced series regulars Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Fred Hechinger, Jake Lacy, Brittany O’Grady, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney and Steve Zahn.
Created, executive produced, written and directed by White, the series is set at an exclusive tropical resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.
David Bernad and Nick Hall exec produce alongside White with Mark Kamine as co-exec producer.
Shannon’s recent credits include The Other Two, which will air its second season on HBO Max next year. She’ll be seen in the upcoming thriller drama Promising Young Woman...
Created, executive produced, written and directed by White, the series is set at an exclusive tropical resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.
David Bernad and Nick Hall exec produce alongside White with Mark Kamine as co-exec producer.
Shannon’s recent credits include The Other Two, which will air its second season on HBO Max next year. She’ll be seen in the upcoming thriller drama Promising Young Woman...
- 10/30/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
A powerful earthquake, with a magnitude of up to 7.0, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, struck Turkey’s Aegean coast on Friday.
The quake, which affected Turkey’s Izmir province the most, was centered north of Greece’s Samos island, with tremors felt as far as Athens and Istanbul. Buildings are reported to have collapsed in Izmir city, with people taking to the streets. The tremors were also felt on the Greek island of Crete.
Turkey and Greece are located on faultlines. In January, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the Elazig and Malatya provinces, killing 38 people.
Turkey has a thriving film and television industry that was booming up until the global coronavirus pandemic. In 2019, around 143 local films and 216 international titles screened in cinemas, drawing 59 millions viewers for a box office of 981 million Turkish Lira ($117 million). Until cinemas shut down in March this year, the box office was already north of $40 million,...
The quake, which affected Turkey’s Izmir province the most, was centered north of Greece’s Samos island, with tremors felt as far as Athens and Istanbul. Buildings are reported to have collapsed in Izmir city, with people taking to the streets. The tremors were also felt on the Greek island of Crete.
Turkey and Greece are located on faultlines. In January, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the Elazig and Malatya provinces, killing 38 people.
Turkey has a thriving film and television industry that was booming up until the global coronavirus pandemic. In 2019, around 143 local films and 216 international titles screened in cinemas, drawing 59 millions viewers for a box office of 981 million Turkish Lira ($117 million). Until cinemas shut down in March this year, the box office was already north of $40 million,...
- 10/30/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The John Wick producer talks about some of the movies that made her.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Jurassic Park (1993)
Sicario (2015)
Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)
Wind River (2017)
John Wick (2014)
The Town (2010)
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Hotel Mumbai (2018)
A Private War (2018)
Moana (2016)
A History Of Violence (2005)
Spaceballs (1987)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Star Wars (1977)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
High Anxiety (1977)
High Fidelity (2000)
History of the World, Part 1 (1981)
Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead (1991)
Back To The Future (1985)
The Goonies (1985)
Cat’s Eye (1985)
Splash (1984)
Big (1988)
Bill And Ted Face The Music (2020)
The French Connection (1971)
Pretty Woman (1990)
Steel Magnolias (1989)
Parenthood (1989)
Beaches (1988)
The Wild Bunch (1969)
Heat (1995)
Cocktail (1988)
Gremlins (1984)
The Lost Boys (1987)
The Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008)
The Lost Boys: The Thirst (2010)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Curly Sue (1991)
Stagecoach (1939)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Some Kind Of Wonderful (1987)
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
Frozen (2013)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Beauty And The Beast (1991)
Raising Arizona (1987)
Baby Boom (1987)
I Confess (1953)
Avatar (2009)
Titanic (1997)
The Fast And The Furious...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Jurassic Park (1993)
Sicario (2015)
Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)
Wind River (2017)
John Wick (2014)
The Town (2010)
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Hotel Mumbai (2018)
A Private War (2018)
Moana (2016)
A History Of Violence (2005)
Spaceballs (1987)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Star Wars (1977)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
High Anxiety (1977)
High Fidelity (2000)
History of the World, Part 1 (1981)
Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead (1991)
Back To The Future (1985)
The Goonies (1985)
Cat’s Eye (1985)
Splash (1984)
Big (1988)
Bill And Ted Face The Music (2020)
The French Connection (1971)
Pretty Woman (1990)
Steel Magnolias (1989)
Parenthood (1989)
Beaches (1988)
The Wild Bunch (1969)
Heat (1995)
Cocktail (1988)
Gremlins (1984)
The Lost Boys (1987)
The Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008)
The Lost Boys: The Thirst (2010)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Curly Sue (1991)
Stagecoach (1939)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Some Kind Of Wonderful (1987)
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
Frozen (2013)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Beauty And The Beast (1991)
Raising Arizona (1987)
Baby Boom (1987)
I Confess (1953)
Avatar (2009)
Titanic (1997)
The Fast And The Furious...
- 9/1/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Hmmm. I’m not often one for starting an article with one long reflective exclamation (is anyone?), but that’s my immediate response after learning this.
Netflix’s number one film today – a dubious distinction given that its one of their originals – is The Last Days of American Crime. However, despite its popularity on the platform, the newly released action thriller has a 0% score over on Rotten Tomatoes. Yep, 18 reviewers have sat down to digest it, and 18 reviewers have emphatically thumbed it down. The average rating in those reviews was 2.4/10, and considering the bottom grade that many reviewers give is 2/10 (or one star), that’s pretty catastrophic.
This caught my eye because I remember covering the trailer for The Last Days of American Crime a few weeks ago. Now, this wasn’t exactly the science of deduction, but I’ll refer you to the following paragraph from that piece:
From...
Netflix’s number one film today – a dubious distinction given that its one of their originals – is The Last Days of American Crime. However, despite its popularity on the platform, the newly released action thriller has a 0% score over on Rotten Tomatoes. Yep, 18 reviewers have sat down to digest it, and 18 reviewers have emphatically thumbed it down. The average rating in those reviews was 2.4/10, and considering the bottom grade that many reviewers give is 2/10 (or one star), that’s pretty catastrophic.
This caught my eye because I remember covering the trailer for The Last Days of American Crime a few weeks ago. Now, this wasn’t exactly the science of deduction, but I’ll refer you to the following paragraph from that piece:
From...
- 6/8/2020
- by Alex Crisp
- We Got This Covered
Netflix may be slowly but surely establishing themselves as one of Hollywood’s major players thanks to critically-acclaimed awards seasons favorites like Roma and The Irishman, along with headline-grabbing blockbusters 6 Underground and Extraction, but the streaming service’s original output is generally wildly inconsistent.
For every hit, there seems to be more than a few misses, with their frequent collaborations with Adam Sandler’s crew and Marlon Wayans being repeat offenders, and many others simply appear one day with little fanfare and then quickly sink without a trace, like the $60 million Brad Pitt satire War Machine or The Cloverfield Paradox.
Based on the reactions online, it appears as though The Last Days of American Crime is going to perform the impressive task of falling into both camps. Directed by Taken 2 and Transporter 3’s Olivier Megaton, the action thriller only hit Netflix on Friday but is already being...
For every hit, there seems to be more than a few misses, with their frequent collaborations with Adam Sandler’s crew and Marlon Wayans being repeat offenders, and many others simply appear one day with little fanfare and then quickly sink without a trace, like the $60 million Brad Pitt satire War Machine or The Cloverfield Paradox.
Based on the reactions online, it appears as though The Last Days of American Crime is going to perform the impressive task of falling into both camps. Directed by Taken 2 and Transporter 3’s Olivier Megaton, the action thriller only hit Netflix on Friday but is already being...
- 6/7/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Netflix has been bringing us a solid helping of original movies over the last few months. However, it must be said that the quality has varied quite a bit. Coffee & Kareem was pretty terrible, while Extraction was all kinds of awesome. Still, both saw very solid viewing figures. Now, their latest original is available for you to stream and it comes in the form of sci-fi heist drama The Last Days Of American Crime.
Helmed by Taken 2‘s Olivier Megaton, the pic is based on a 2009 graphic novel by Rick Remender and Gregg Tocchini and boasts a strong cast that includes Michael Pitt, Sharlto Copley, Edgar Ramirez and Anna Brewster. Set in a crime-ridden “not too distant” future, in which the Us government is looking to introduce some sort of technology that makes it impossible for citizens to commit crime, The Last Days of American Crime certainly has an intriguing premise,...
Helmed by Taken 2‘s Olivier Megaton, the pic is based on a 2009 graphic novel by Rick Remender and Gregg Tocchini and boasts a strong cast that includes Michael Pitt, Sharlto Copley, Edgar Ramirez and Anna Brewster. Set in a crime-ridden “not too distant” future, in which the Us government is looking to introduce some sort of technology that makes it impossible for citizens to commit crime, The Last Days of American Crime certainly has an intriguing premise,...
- 6/6/2020
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
It’s hard to imagine that the definitive studio movie about Trump-era authoritarianism would come from the guy behind “Taken 2” and “Taken 3,” but that sure didn’t stop him from trying. Of course, you should never doubt the delusional self-confidence of a man who changed his last name to “Megaton,” just as you should never put your faith in a filmmaker who’s basically the Mr. Brainwash to Luc Besson’s Banksy.
Here’s the thing about “The Last Days of American Crime” — you don’t have time for this shit. None of us do. And that’s not just because Olivier Megaton’s agonizingly dull Netflix feature is 149 minutes long (a crime unto itself). While there’s never really a good moment to introduce a bad movie into the world, . We’re all for escapism where you can get it — this critic has streamed an ungodly amount...
Here’s the thing about “The Last Days of American Crime” — you don’t have time for this shit. None of us do. And that’s not just because Olivier Megaton’s agonizingly dull Netflix feature is 149 minutes long (a crime unto itself). While there’s never really a good moment to introduce a bad movie into the world, . We’re all for escapism where you can get it — this critic has streamed an ungodly amount...
- 6/5/2020
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
These days, searching for solace amid a global pandemic and nationwide protests, film critics frequently find themselves referring to “the movie we need right now,” lavishing that clichéd description on anything that offers the slightest comfort or context in a world turned upside down. Let me assure you, Netflix’s “The Last Days of American Crime” is not that movie. In fact, this gory, excessive and frequently incoherent near-future heist film from Luc Besson protégé Olivier Megaton is pretty much the opposite: It’s an offensive eyesore in which
Perhaps some would take comfort in such a distraction, although for anyone paying the slightest attention to what’s going on in the real world, it’s hard to stomach a film that so frivolously engages with circumstances in which overzealous police are no longer necessary. That radical advance comes thanks to something called the American Peace Initiative, a “controversial” new...
Perhaps some would take comfort in such a distraction, although for anyone paying the slightest attention to what’s going on in the real world, it’s hard to stomach a film that so frivolously engages with circumstances in which overzealous police are no longer necessary. That radical advance comes thanks to something called the American Peace Initiative, a “controversial” new...
- 6/5/2020
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Considering how profoundly the coronavirus has affected the film industry, the vault full of original content Netflix had ready to pump out is an impressive coup. Obviously, they will run out eventually – the shutdown is going to catch up – but for now they seem to be coping fine.
Case in point: The studio have dropped a new trailer for the latest of their original movies, which they’ve pencilled in for release in the near future, Olivier Megaton’s The Last Days of American Crime. Based on a graphic novel, the film will posit a world where all crime will soon be obsolete, with the Us government planning to broadcast a signal that makes it impossible to commit unlawful acts. That leaves a career criminal looking to stage one last heist before it’s too late to do so. Sounds bonkers, right?
Want to see the trailer? It’s in the usual place,...
Case in point: The studio have dropped a new trailer for the latest of their original movies, which they’ve pencilled in for release in the near future, Olivier Megaton’s The Last Days of American Crime. Based on a graphic novel, the film will posit a world where all crime will soon be obsolete, with the Us government planning to broadcast a signal that makes it impossible to commit unlawful acts. That leaves a career criminal looking to stage one last heist before it’s too late to do so. Sounds bonkers, right?
Want to see the trailer? It’s in the usual place,...
- 5/20/2020
- by Alex Crisp
- We Got This Covered
Shakespearean Transformer Olivier Megaton is back with a brand new actioner. The Versailles-born director of Taken 2 and Taken 3 will bring his latest cars-and-shooting movie to Netflix in June, and the streaming service has just released a first trailer for it.
The Last Days of American Crime is based on the 2009 Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini graphic novel, and has been adapted for the screen by Oblivion scribe Karl Gajdusek. It’s got a decent cast, too – The Assassination of Gianni Versace‘s Edgar Ramírez leads the pack alongside Anna Brewster (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) with a surprising appearance from Boardwalk Empire‘s Michael Pitt, who appears to be firing on all cylinders at Full Michael Pitt. That just so happens to be our favorite level of Michael Pitt, so we’ll probably have to check this one out.
An official synopsis from Netflix lies yonder:
“As...
The Last Days of American Crime is based on the 2009 Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini graphic novel, and has been adapted for the screen by Oblivion scribe Karl Gajdusek. It’s got a decent cast, too – The Assassination of Gianni Versace‘s Edgar Ramírez leads the pack alongside Anna Brewster (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) with a surprising appearance from Boardwalk Empire‘s Michael Pitt, who appears to be firing on all cylinders at Full Michael Pitt. That just so happens to be our favorite level of Michael Pitt, so we’ll probably have to check this one out.
An official synopsis from Netflix lies yonder:
“As...
- 5/20/2020
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
"So you want revenge, I want legacy!" Netflix has debuted an official trailer for a new action thriller titled The Last Days of American Crime, which is based on the graphic novel of the same name. In the not-too-distant future, as a final response to terrorism and crime, the Us government plans to broadcast a signal making it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit unlawful acts. A career criminal puts together a team to pull off the heist of the century and the last crime in American history before the signal starts. From the director of Taken 2 & 3. Starring Edgar Ramírez, along with Michael C. Pitt, Anna Brewster, Patrick Bergin, Sharlto Copley, Tamer Burjaq, and Daniel Fox. This definitely looks like an Olivier Megaton movie - excessive action galore, incoherent / dumb plot, attractive women, violent men. Might be a fun one? Here's the first trailer (+ poster) for Olivier Megaton's...
- 5/19/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
José Antonio Domínguez Bandera, known professionally as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish actor, producer, director, and singer. Ok, I didn’t have to plagiarize his Wikipedia article, I know who he is. But now we have his full creative background, which can’t hurt, right?
Sorry, preamble over. What’s Antonio been up to lately? Well, speaking to a reporter from the Associated Press, the actor, producer, direc- you get me, has discussed his prospects of returning to the Desperado franchise.
For those who don’t know, Desperado was a trilogy of contemporary westerns, with Banderas starring as gunslinger El Mariachi in two of the three films. His last turn as the character came back in 2003’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico and 17 years later, Banderas is pessimistic about whether his current age prohibits a return to his rootin’-tootin’ days.
When asked if he’d do another one,...
Sorry, preamble over. What’s Antonio been up to lately? Well, speaking to a reporter from the Associated Press, the actor, producer, direc- you get me, has discussed his prospects of returning to the Desperado franchise.
For those who don’t know, Desperado was a trilogy of contemporary westerns, with Banderas starring as gunslinger El Mariachi in two of the three films. His last turn as the character came back in 2003’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico and 17 years later, Banderas is pessimistic about whether his current age prohibits a return to his rootin’-tootin’ days.
When asked if he’d do another one,...
- 1/10/2020
- by Alex Crisp
- We Got This Covered
Andrei Kamarowsky, who recently stepped down from Orange Studio, where he spearheaded international, has joined Dubai-based distribution group Gulf Film as its chief operating officer.
Founded three decades ago, Gulf Film is involved in both distribution and exhibition in the Middle East, and has close relationships with Studiocanal and Pathé, and output deals with Stx Entertainment, MGM and EuropaCorp, where Kamarowsky worked as senior VP of international sales for more than six years. Gulf Film also has deals with companies such as Osn, Filmbox, Netflix and Vubiquity.
Gulf Film is the sister company of Novo Cinemas, one of the region’s leading cinema chains with more than 200 screens.
Every year, the company distributes more than 100 movies in the Middle East. Some of its biggest B.O. hits include “Spectre,” “Fast & Furious 6” and “Taken 3,” which grossed $12.6 million, $10.4 million and $10.2 million, respectively.
Kamarowsky told Variety that he was joining...
Founded three decades ago, Gulf Film is involved in both distribution and exhibition in the Middle East, and has close relationships with Studiocanal and Pathé, and output deals with Stx Entertainment, MGM and EuropaCorp, where Kamarowsky worked as senior VP of international sales for more than six years. Gulf Film also has deals with companies such as Osn, Filmbox, Netflix and Vubiquity.
Gulf Film is the sister company of Novo Cinemas, one of the region’s leading cinema chains with more than 200 screens.
Every year, the company distributes more than 100 movies in the Middle East. Some of its biggest B.O. hits include “Spectre,” “Fast & Furious 6” and “Taken 3,” which grossed $12.6 million, $10.4 million and $10.2 million, respectively.
Kamarowsky told Variety that he was joining...
- 10/16/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Several family-friendly holdover titles looking for strong holds.
Studiocanal’s revenge thriller Cold Pursuit will aim to weather the storm of recent controversy around star Liam Neeson to challenge a selection of family titles at the UK box office this weekend.
In the film, Neeson plays a snowplough driver who seeks revenge against the drug dealers he believes killed his son. Hans Petter Moland directs, with the film based on his 2014 Norwegian title In Order Of Disappearance.
Neeson has fronted a string of box office hits in recent years, led by the Taken series. The first title started with £1.2m in September 2008, finishing on £6.4m.
Studiocanal’s revenge thriller Cold Pursuit will aim to weather the storm of recent controversy around star Liam Neeson to challenge a selection of family titles at the UK box office this weekend.
In the film, Neeson plays a snowplough driver who seeks revenge against the drug dealers he believes killed his son. Hans Petter Moland directs, with the film based on his 2014 Norwegian title In Order Of Disappearance.
Neeson has fronted a string of box office hits in recent years, led by the Taken series. The first title started with £1.2m in September 2008, finishing on £6.4m.
- 2/22/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
It hasn’t been a good week for Liam Neeson. He’s still getting raked over the coals for an interview telling the story of how he fantasized about killing “some black bastard” after a close friend was raped. And now, his latest gritty action film, “Cold Pursuit,” is yielding one of the worst opening weekends in the actor’s box office career.
The Lionsgate film opened with an estimated $10.8 million, the worst opening for any wide release starring Neeson since 2010. That year, he starred alongside Russell Crowe in “The Next Three Days,” which opened to $6.5 million.
To be fair, “Cold Pursuit” wasn’t tracking to be a blockbuster even before his ill-timed interview with London’s The Independent — or a Tuesday “Good Morning America” appearance in which he insisted he’s not a racist.
Prior to this past week, the Lionsgate film was expected by independent trackers to only open to $7-10 million.
The Lionsgate film opened with an estimated $10.8 million, the worst opening for any wide release starring Neeson since 2010. That year, he starred alongside Russell Crowe in “The Next Three Days,” which opened to $6.5 million.
To be fair, “Cold Pursuit” wasn’t tracking to be a blockbuster even before his ill-timed interview with London’s The Independent — or a Tuesday “Good Morning America” appearance in which he insisted he’s not a racist.
Prior to this past week, the Lionsgate film was expected by independent trackers to only open to $7-10 million.
- 2/10/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Anna Brewster, Michael Pitt, and Sharlto Copley have rounded out the cast of the Netflix pic “The Last Days of American Crime” starring Edgar Ramirez.
“Taken 2” director Olivier Megaton is helming with Karl Gajdusek adapting the script.
Based on the Radical Publishing graphic novel “The Last Days of American Crime” by Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini, the story is set when, in a final response to fight terrorism and crime, the U.S. government plans to broadcast a signal making it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit unlawful acts. Graham Bricke (Ramirez), a career criminal who was never able to hit the big score, teams up with Kevin Cash (Pitt) and Shelby Dupree (Brewster) to commit the heist of the century and the last crime in American history before the signal goes off.
Jesse Berger at Radical Studios will produce along with Jason Michael Berman at Mandalay Pictures, as well as Barry Levine.
“Taken 2” director Olivier Megaton is helming with Karl Gajdusek adapting the script.
Based on the Radical Publishing graphic novel “The Last Days of American Crime” by Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini, the story is set when, in a final response to fight terrorism and crime, the U.S. government plans to broadcast a signal making it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit unlawful acts. Graham Bricke (Ramirez), a career criminal who was never able to hit the big score, teams up with Kevin Cash (Pitt) and Shelby Dupree (Brewster) to commit the heist of the century and the last crime in American history before the signal goes off.
Jesse Berger at Radical Studios will produce along with Jason Michael Berman at Mandalay Pictures, as well as Barry Levine.
- 10/17/2018
- by Justin Kroll
- Variety Film + TV
Kirsten Howard Oct 10, 2018
There's no proof (yet) but you never know...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Huge news broke this week that the lovable Liam Neeson, star of such films as Taken, Taken 2, and Taken 3, has become convinced that a horse that pulled his wagon during production on Netflix's upcoming Coen brothers movie, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, remembered him from another film.
The internet meme machine quickly got to work on the revelation after the actor appeared at this year's New York Film Festival, stating to the gathered audience "This horse knew me. He actually remembered me from another western we made a while back … He whinnied when he saw me. And pawed the ground. I love animals. When we worked together before I took special care of him. I fed him treats. Gave him apples.”
That's brilliant, because horses love apples. They do.
There's no proof (yet) but you never know...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Huge news broke this week that the lovable Liam Neeson, star of such films as Taken, Taken 2, and Taken 3, has become convinced that a horse that pulled his wagon during production on Netflix's upcoming Coen brothers movie, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, remembered him from another film.
The internet meme machine quickly got to work on the revelation after the actor appeared at this year's New York Film Festival, stating to the gathered audience "This horse knew me. He actually remembered me from another western we made a while back … He whinnied when he saw me. And pawed the ground. I love animals. When we worked together before I took special care of him. I fed him treats. Gave him apples.”
That's brilliant, because horses love apples. They do.
- 10/10/2018
- Den of Geek
In today’s film news roundup, Edgar Ramirez is in talks to play a criminal, Kiersey Clemons is in negotiations to portray a flower arranger and finalists have been announced for Universal’s Film Music Composer Initiative.
Castings
Edgar Ramirez is in talks to portray a career criminal in Netflix’s near-future movie “The Last Days of American Crime.”
The project is based on the Radical Publishing graphic novel by Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini. Olivier Megaton (“Taken 2”) is directing from an adapted screenplay by Karl Gajdusek, whose credits include “Oblivion” and “Stranger Things.”
The story centers on U.S. government plans to broadcast a signal making it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit unlawful acts. Graham Bricke, a career criminal who was never able to hit the big score, teams up with Kevin Cash and Shelby Dupree to commit the heist of the century and the last crime...
Castings
Edgar Ramirez is in talks to portray a career criminal in Netflix’s near-future movie “The Last Days of American Crime.”
The project is based on the Radical Publishing graphic novel by Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini. Olivier Megaton (“Taken 2”) is directing from an adapted screenplay by Karl Gajdusek, whose credits include “Oblivion” and “Stranger Things.”
The story centers on U.S. government plans to broadcast a signal making it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit unlawful acts. Graham Bricke, a career criminal who was never able to hit the big score, teams up with Kevin Cash and Shelby Dupree to commit the heist of the century and the last crime...
- 7/28/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Rade Serbedzija -- who played Prince Kuragin in "Downton Abbey" and memorable movie villains -- nearly took out several cars before he was arrested for DUI ... according to cops. Santa Monica cops tell us they got calls about a Lexus swerving all over the road last weekend. Once officers pulled him over ... they say they found an open bottle of whiskey, and 71-year-old Rade showed signs of intoxication. We're told his field sobriety testing did not go well,...
- 6/30/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
36th Fajr International Film Festival announces the Winners
Closing ceremony of the 36th edition of Fajr international film festival was held in presence of Iran minister of culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi, head of cinema organization Mohammad Mehdi Heidarian, festival director Reza Mir Karimi, and prominent Iranian and international cinema individuals including Oliver Stone, Reza Kianian, Oliver Montagon, and many well-known personalities. Reza Mirkarimi director of the festival delivered a short speech and said nothing could be don…
Director Oliver Stone says Iran is the heart of Middle East for me and I’m astonished by its cinema
American movie director Oliver Stone arrived in Tehran Monday morning aiming to attend the 36th edition Fajr international film festival runs April 19–27 in Tehran, Iran. Stone hosted a workshop for filmmakers at Tehran University for the students craving to learn more and benefit from the knowledge and experiences of the prominent individuals.
Closing ceremony of the 36th edition of Fajr international film festival was held in presence of Iran minister of culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi, head of cinema organization Mohammad Mehdi Heidarian, festival director Reza Mir Karimi, and prominent Iranian and international cinema individuals including Oliver Stone, Reza Kianian, Oliver Montagon, and many well-known personalities. Reza Mirkarimi director of the festival delivered a short speech and said nothing could be don…
Director Oliver Stone says Iran is the heart of Middle East for me and I’m astonished by its cinema
American movie director Oliver Stone arrived in Tehran Monday morning aiming to attend the 36th edition Fajr international film festival runs April 19–27 in Tehran, Iran. Stone hosted a workshop for filmmakers at Tehran University for the students craving to learn more and benefit from the knowledge and experiences of the prominent individuals.
- 5/3/2018
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Throughout his late renaissance as an action hero, Liam Neeson has battled wolves (The Grey), evil Albanians (Taken), evil Turks (Taken 2), flight turbulence (Non-Stop), an unwanted TV show adaptation (The A-Team), an unwanted board game adaptation (Battleship), more evil Albanians (Run All Night), evil Germans (Unknown) and even evil Nazis, if you want to go all the way back to Schindler's List.
But in The Commuter, which marks the 65-year-old star’s fourth collaboration with Spanish director and Hitchcock enthusiast Jaume Collet-Serra, he may be facing his greatest challenge yet: trying to take the Metro-North Railroad home from New York...
But in The Commuter, which marks the 65-year-old star’s fourth collaboration with Spanish director and Hitchcock enthusiast Jaume Collet-Serra, he may be facing his greatest challenge yet: trying to take the Metro-North Railroad home from New York...
- 12/29/2017
- by Jordan Mintzer
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Welcome to this week’s “Preview Reel” column, where we look at the week’s upcoming wide release movies. Blade Runner 2049 received rave reviews last week, but that did not translate to box-office success as the movie stumbled to a $32.8 million opening against a $155 million budget. The sci-fi flick has a chance to retain the top spot, however, as the competition this week looks relatively weak—there’s the revenge thriller The Foreigner, and the Blumhouse horror flick, Happy Death Day.
The Foreigner
What we are excited about: While it would be easy to say that the thing we are most excited about here is Jackie Chan (and we are excited about that), we are going to go with the film’s director. Martin Campbell is responsible for two of the best James Bond movies of the past twenty-five years in Casino Royale (2006) and GoldenEye (1995). While we will ignore his last movie,...
The Foreigner
What we are excited about: While it would be easy to say that the thing we are most excited about here is Jackie Chan (and we are excited about that), we are going to go with the film’s director. Martin Campbell is responsible for two of the best James Bond movies of the past twenty-five years in Casino Royale (2006) and GoldenEye (1995). While we will ignore his last movie,...
- 10/11/2017
- by Scott Davis
- CinemaNerdz
Gear up for Father's Day with our list of Memorable Movie Dads!Gear up for Father's Day with our list of Memorable Movie Dads!Zachary Dent6/16/2017 10:01:00 Am
Father's Day is upon us once again! Whether you're getting together with family, heading up to the cottage, or just hitting the park for some fresh air it's always good to mix in a cinematic adventure. We've all got a favourite movie; ok, well at least a top 3. And there's nothing like sitting back with family and friends to take in everyone's favorites. What better reason to check out the Cineplex store's Father's Day sale and earn some extra Scene points!
To inspire your viewing choices, we've got a list of the most memorable movie dads coming at you before the weekend. Take a look, there's something here for everyone.
Marlin - Finding Nemo/Finding Dory
"If this is some kind of practical joke,...
Father's Day is upon us once again! Whether you're getting together with family, heading up to the cottage, or just hitting the park for some fresh air it's always good to mix in a cinematic adventure. We've all got a favourite movie; ok, well at least a top 3. And there's nothing like sitting back with family and friends to take in everyone's favorites. What better reason to check out the Cineplex store's Father's Day sale and earn some extra Scene points!
To inspire your viewing choices, we've got a list of the most memorable movie dads coming at you before the weekend. Take a look, there's something here for everyone.
Marlin - Finding Nemo/Finding Dory
"If this is some kind of practical joke,...
- 6/16/2017
- by Zachary Dent
- Cineplex
Liam Neeson cut his teeth performing in searing dramas, but pivoted to Death Wish-style action in his twilight years, having mowed through a variety of gangsters, thugs, and deadbeats in films like Taken, A Walk Among The Tombstones, Taken 2, Non-Stop, and Taken 3. His latest movie fits snugly in that lineage; it’s called Hard Powder, which stars Neeson as an “upright snowplow driver” whose “vengeful crusade sparks a turf war between a Viking gangster and a Native American mafia boss.”
Anyways, the film was originally set to film in the Canadian cities of Banff and Jasper, but was denied access by Parks Canada after they realized one of the characters was an indigenous gang leader. Now they’re filming in British Columbia, which was very exciting for a New Westminster eatery called Big Star Sandwich.
They never expected the hard-nosed actor to show up when they put...
Anyways, the film was originally set to film in the Canadian cities of Banff and Jasper, but was denied access by Parks Canada after they realized one of the characters was an indigenous gang leader. Now they’re filming in British Columbia, which was very exciting for a New Westminster eatery called Big Star Sandwich.
They never expected the hard-nosed actor to show up when they put...
- 5/4/2017
- by Randall Colburn
- avclub.com
Some actors manage to catch lightning in a bottle twice. It’s impressive enough to find your niche in Hollywood’s A-list even once. Occasionally, an actor will reinvent him/herself and begin a new phase of their careers that will be even more successful than it was before. Here are nine actors who had a cinematic rebirth.
Liam Neeson- Neeson has had a long career, and the early part of it was in dramatic roles. An intense dramatic actor, he apeared in films like The Dead Pool, Dark Man, Schindler’s List, Rob Roy and Les Miserables. His career rebirth came after playing Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars-Episode one: The Phantom Menace. After that, he got more offers for actions parts and recreated himself as an action hero in films like Gangs of NY, Batman Begins, Taken, Clash of the Titans, the A-Team, Unknown, the Grey, Taken 2,...
Liam Neeson- Neeson has had a long career, and the early part of it was in dramatic roles. An intense dramatic actor, he apeared in films like The Dead Pool, Dark Man, Schindler’s List, Rob Roy and Les Miserables. His career rebirth came after playing Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars-Episode one: The Phantom Menace. After that, he got more offers for actions parts and recreated himself as an action hero in films like Gangs of NY, Batman Begins, Taken, Clash of the Titans, the A-Team, Unknown, the Grey, Taken 2,...
- 4/22/2017
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
Exclusive: Margaret Avery, The Walking Dead‘s Xander Berkeley and Neal McDonough have been cast in Screen Gems’ upcoming thriller Proud Mary, starring Taraji P. Henson as hit woman Mary Goodwin. Danny Glover (Almost Christmas) has also officially joined the film along with Jahi Di'Allo Winston (The New Edition Story), Rade Serbedzija (Taken 2), and previously announced Billy Brown. Babak Najafi is directing from a script by John Stewart Newman and Christian Swegal, with…...
- 4/5/2017
- Deadline
Disney spent the late 2000s regaining all the ground they had lost in the previous decade. In the mid-2000s, their name was no longer synonymous with quality, and they had a tendency to churn out dud after dud, with an obvious eye on profit over strong storytelling. Things started to turn around for them around 2008 with the release of Bolt, which was the first Disney animated feature under the new leadership of Pixar’s head honcho and creative genius John Lasseter. And it was quite the step in the right direction.
Disney’s re-ascent to the top, however took a bit longer to gain steam. The films’ qualities and box office performances mostly saw an upward trend, but it wasn’t until perhaps 2013’s Frozen that it became clear that we were witnessing a brand new renaissance for the entertainment conglomerate. Even now, Frozen permeates the pop culture zeitgeist...
Disney’s re-ascent to the top, however took a bit longer to gain steam. The films’ qualities and box office performances mostly saw an upward trend, but it wasn’t until perhaps 2013’s Frozen that it became clear that we were witnessing a brand new renaissance for the entertainment conglomerate. Even now, Frozen permeates the pop culture zeitgeist...
- 3/31/2017
- by Joseph Medina
- LRMonline.com
Craig Thomas Mar 7, 2017
Were we, ahem, taken by Amazon Prime's new TV version of the Liam Neeson action franchise?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock since 2008, you’ll all know about Taken. If anyone wants to point to the starting point of the so-called “geriaction” genre that has been nearly omnipresent for the last decade, they could do much worse than to start here. It was also the film that made Liam Neeson the brilliant but unlikely action star he remains to this day.
See related Taboo: plans afoot for two more series Taboo episode 8 review Taboo episode 7 review Taboo episode 6 review
In Taken, Neeson plays Bryan Mills, the former CIA operative with a special set of skills who is in a fight against time (and the entire population of Albania, apparently) to rescue his kidnapped daughter before she disappears forever. It was an unexpected and profitable hit.
Were we, ahem, taken by Amazon Prime's new TV version of the Liam Neeson action franchise?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock since 2008, you’ll all know about Taken. If anyone wants to point to the starting point of the so-called “geriaction” genre that has been nearly omnipresent for the last decade, they could do much worse than to start here. It was also the film that made Liam Neeson the brilliant but unlikely action star he remains to this day.
See related Taboo: plans afoot for two more series Taboo episode 8 review Taboo episode 7 review Taboo episode 6 review
In Taken, Neeson plays Bryan Mills, the former CIA operative with a special set of skills who is in a fight against time (and the entire population of Albania, apparently) to rescue his kidnapped daughter before she disappears forever. It was an unexpected and profitable hit.
- 3/6/2017
- Den of Geek
The Keanu-ssance is in full swing, but here's some news which could cause that upward trajectory to come to a crashing halt.
Before we get to the bad news, let's all get on the same page. We've known for months that Keanu Reeves is set to star in a China-set film racing movie called Rally Car. Here's the synopsis:
Rally Car centers on a hot-shot former champion Nascar driver (Reeves) who doesn’t want to believe his glory days are behind him. When his professional and personal life begin to spiral out of control, he’s forced to take part in a high-stakes international rally race across the face of China, with a young Chinese girl as his co-driver, in order to prove he’s still the badass racer he thinks he is.
That alone might not be so terrible...the bad news is who is going to direct it.
Before we get to the bad news, let's all get on the same page. We've known for months that Keanu Reeves is set to star in a China-set film racing movie called Rally Car. Here's the synopsis:
Rally Car centers on a hot-shot former champion Nascar driver (Reeves) who doesn’t want to believe his glory days are behind him. When his professional and personal life begin to spiral out of control, he’s forced to take part in a high-stakes international rally race across the face of China, with a young Chinese girl as his co-driver, in order to prove he’s still the badass racer he thinks he is.
That alone might not be so terrible...the bad news is who is going to direct it.
- 2/15/2017
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
Exclusive: Paris-based Upside Distribution is screening a teaser trailer at Efm.
French action director Olivier Megaton is hitting the European Film Market (Efm) this weekend with a teaser screening of his upcoming documentary Roc, The World’s Greatest Con Artist, about infamous French con artist Christophe Rocancourt, which is currently in post-production.
The Taken 2 and Taken 3 and Transporter 3 director reveals that between big budget action pictures he likes to make documentaries.
“I started out as a painter, not a director. Documentary helps me return to something more human and artisanal that I had when I was painting,” says Megaton.
“As time goes by the films I make are more and more heavy, complicated and pressured. When I am not making films, I need to do something different as I am addicted to work and find it impossible to stop. Documentary is something perfect for me. There’s not so much pressure and I love...
French action director Olivier Megaton is hitting the European Film Market (Efm) this weekend with a teaser screening of his upcoming documentary Roc, The World’s Greatest Con Artist, about infamous French con artist Christophe Rocancourt, which is currently in post-production.
The Taken 2 and Taken 3 and Transporter 3 director reveals that between big budget action pictures he likes to make documentaries.
“I started out as a painter, not a director. Documentary helps me return to something more human and artisanal that I had when I was painting,” says Megaton.
“As time goes by the films I make are more and more heavy, complicated and pressured. When I am not making films, I need to do something different as I am addicted to work and find it impossible to stop. Documentary is something perfect for me. There’s not so much pressure and I love...
- 2/12/2017
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Paris-based Upside Distribution is screening a teaser trailer at Efm.
French action director Olivier Megaton is hitting the European Film Market (Efm) this weekend with a teaser screening of his upcoming documentary Roc, The World’s Greatest Con Artist, about infamous French con artist Christophe Rocancourt, which is currently in post-production.
The Taken 2 and Taken 3 and Transporter 3 director reveals that between big budget action pictures he likes to make documentaries.
“I’m started out as a painter, not a director. Documentary helps me return to something more human and artisanal that I had when I was painting,” says Megaton.
“As time goes by the films I make are more and more heavy, complicated and pressured. When I am not making films, I need to do something different as I am addicted to work and find it impossible to stop. Documentary is something perfect for me. There’s not so much pressure and I love...
French action director Olivier Megaton is hitting the European Film Market (Efm) this weekend with a teaser screening of his upcoming documentary Roc, The World’s Greatest Con Artist, about infamous French con artist Christophe Rocancourt, which is currently in post-production.
The Taken 2 and Taken 3 and Transporter 3 director reveals that between big budget action pictures he likes to make documentaries.
“I’m started out as a painter, not a director. Documentary helps me return to something more human and artisanal that I had when I was painting,” says Megaton.
“As time goes by the films I make are more and more heavy, complicated and pressured. When I am not making films, I need to do something different as I am addicted to work and find it impossible to stop. Documentary is something perfect for me. There’s not so much pressure and I love...
- 2/12/2017
- ScreenDaily
Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.
-Sony Pictures is acquiring the worldwide rights to “Greyhound,” the World War II drama written by Tom Hanks, Deadline reports. Hanks will also star in the film, which will be directed by Aaron Schneider (“Get Low”), and produce with his Playtone partner Gary Goetzman.
In the film, Hanks plays George Krause, the commander of a Navy destroyer called the Greyhound. Sony acquired the rights to the film at the Berlin International Film Festival’s European Film Market.
Read More: Shia Labeouf, Rooney Mara and More: 10 Hot Projects at Berlin’s European Film Market
-Lionsgate has acquired U.S. rights to action film “Rally Car,” starring Keanu Reeves. The film will be directed by Olivier Megaton (“Taken 2,...
-Sony Pictures is acquiring the worldwide rights to “Greyhound,” the World War II drama written by Tom Hanks, Deadline reports. Hanks will also star in the film, which will be directed by Aaron Schneider (“Get Low”), and produce with his Playtone partner Gary Goetzman.
In the film, Hanks plays George Krause, the commander of a Navy destroyer called the Greyhound. Sony acquired the rights to the film at the Berlin International Film Festival’s European Film Market.
Read More: Shia Labeouf, Rooney Mara and More: 10 Hot Projects at Berlin’s European Film Market
-Lionsgate has acquired U.S. rights to action film “Rally Car,” starring Keanu Reeves. The film will be directed by Olivier Megaton (“Taken 2,...
- 2/10/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
Lionsgate, which is releasing the Keanu Reeves-starring John Wick 2 nationwide tomorrow via its Summit label, has just acquired U.S. distribution rights to Reeves’ film Rally Car. Deadline revealed last month the distributor was in pole position to land the film. The China-centric movie will be directed by Olivier Megaton (Taken 2, Taken 3, Colombiana) and be shot from a script by Jeremy Lott based on a treatment by Stephen Hamel. The film, described as in the vein of Can…...
- 2/9/2017
- Deadline
On the first day of the Berlin Film Market, Lionsgate has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Keanu Reeves starrer Rally Car. The movie, which will be directed by Olivier Megaton (Taken 2, Taken 3, Colombiana) from a script by Jeremy Lott based on a treatment by Stephen Hamel, stars Reeves as an American NASCAR driver.
Rally Car will be produced by Hamel and Reeves of Company Films and Mark Gao and Gregory Ouanhon of Fundamental Films. Gary Glushon will executive produce.
The film tells the story of a self-centered American NASCAR driver who revitalizes his career by entering an international...
Rally Car will be produced by Hamel and Reeves of Company Films and Mark Gao and Gregory Ouanhon of Fundamental Films. Gary Glushon will executive produce.
The film tells the story of a self-centered American NASCAR driver who revitalizes his career by entering an international...
- 2/9/2017
- by Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Simon Brew Dec 20, 2016
Liam Neeson's time with the Taken series is done, he says.
After Taken 2 was made, and before it became a smash hit, Liam Neeson cautioned against talk of a Taken 3, suggesting that the series might have run its narrative course. Many millions of dollars later, Taken 3 was greenlit, with Neeson again suggesting that Taken on the big screen was done after this one.
On this occasion, despite many more millions of dollars heading in the franchise’s direction, it does seem as though the Taken movie boxset is complete.
Neeson is currently on the interview and publicity trail for his new movie, Martin Scorsese’s Silence, and he appeared on Stephen Colbert’s show in the Us as part of that. When quizzed as to whether there would be a Taken 4, Neeson this time was adamant. “No, there’s not”, he said. “There...
Liam Neeson's time with the Taken series is done, he says.
After Taken 2 was made, and before it became a smash hit, Liam Neeson cautioned against talk of a Taken 3, suggesting that the series might have run its narrative course. Many millions of dollars later, Taken 3 was greenlit, with Neeson again suggesting that Taken on the big screen was done after this one.
On this occasion, despite many more millions of dollars heading in the franchise’s direction, it does seem as though the Taken movie boxset is complete.
Neeson is currently on the interview and publicity trail for his new movie, Martin Scorsese’s Silence, and he appeared on Stephen Colbert’s show in the Us as part of that. When quizzed as to whether there would be a Taken 4, Neeson this time was adamant. “No, there’s not”, he said. “There...
- 12/20/2016
- Den of Geek
Director Olivier Megaton is set to direct a sci-fi action film called The Champion. The movie is described by THR as being in the "vein of a futuristic Spartacus, Champion tells of a man falsely imprisoned for an act of terrorism who must battle through the prison’s gladiator program to regain his freedom."
Megaton has a solid resume of action films that include Taken 2, Taken 3, Transporter 2, and Colombiana. He will be directing the film from a script being written by actor-turned-scribe Hal Ozsan (Dawson’s Creek).
The Champion sounds like it could make for a really cool action film. Who doesn't like gladiator movies?!
Megaton has a solid resume of action films that include Taken 2, Taken 3, Transporter 2, and Colombiana. He will be directing the film from a script being written by actor-turned-scribe Hal Ozsan (Dawson’s Creek).
The Champion sounds like it could make for a really cool action film. Who doesn't like gladiator movies?!
- 9/4/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Joseph Baxter Aug 31, 2016
The director of Taken 2 and Taken 3 - Olivier Megaton - is set to tackle The Champion...
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a science-fiction stylised take on the Gladiator genre is in the works with the Taken sequels director Olivier Megaton. Brandishing the title, The Champion, the prospective film is being described as 'a futuristic Spartacus', depicting the ordeal of a man imprisoned for an act of terrorism he apparently didn’t commit and forced to participate in a type of gladiator arena that yields the possibility of winning his freedom.
It’s a familiar sounding story, recalling the various versions of the Roman Empire-era-set Spartacus story like the 1960 Kirk Douglas-starring classic and the iterations of the 2010-2013 Starz Spartacus television series like Blood And Sand, starring the late Andy Whitfield. A futuristic take on the grueling grandiosity of the gladiator arena should make...
The director of Taken 2 and Taken 3 - Olivier Megaton - is set to tackle The Champion...
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a science-fiction stylised take on the Gladiator genre is in the works with the Taken sequels director Olivier Megaton. Brandishing the title, The Champion, the prospective film is being described as 'a futuristic Spartacus', depicting the ordeal of a man imprisoned for an act of terrorism he apparently didn’t commit and forced to participate in a type of gladiator arena that yields the possibility of winning his freedom.
It’s a familiar sounding story, recalling the various versions of the Roman Empire-era-set Spartacus story like the 1960 Kirk Douglas-starring classic and the iterations of the 2010-2013 Starz Spartacus television series like Blood And Sand, starring the late Andy Whitfield. A futuristic take on the grueling grandiosity of the gladiator arena should make...
- 8/30/2016
- Den of Geek
‘Nine Lives’ Review: Kevin Spacey Is Transformed Into A Cat In This Neutered Family Comedy From Hell
Less funny than the average cat gif and approximately 1,000 times as long, the astonishingly stupid “Nine Lives” is too fluffy and frivolous to be the worst movie of the summer, but it might just be the laziest. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (“Men in Black”) and written by one of the finest algorithms money can buy, this derivative story about the very secret lives of pets is quite possibly the worst thing to happen to cats since dogs. “Cat’s don’t care about you,” begins the film’s opening voiceover. Judging by the 89 minutes that follow, people don’t care about you all that much either.
Kevin Spacey (“K-Pax”), who is apparently being severely underpaid for his work in “House of Cards,” stars as Tom Brand, a New York real estate titan who likes to put his name on buildings, hire his children in key positions, and treat people so...
Kevin Spacey (“K-Pax”), who is apparently being severely underpaid for his work in “House of Cards,” stars as Tom Brand, a New York real estate titan who likes to put his name on buildings, hire his children in key positions, and treat people so...
- 8/5/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
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