Keanu, your new IMAX experience

In a recent press announcement from 20th Century Fox’s Bruce Snyder, President of Domestic Distribution, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” will be simultaneously released in regular theaters and IMAX on December.
“The suspense, action and sheer intensity of the movie is ideally suited to IMAX’s immersive format. We’re very excited to once again expand our relationship with IMAX to offer moviegoers a chance to experience another one of our tent-pole movies in a truly unique and premium way,” enthuses Snyder.
Based on the 1951 sci-fi classic, Keanu returns to his strong suit in the sci-fi sci-fi realm as he takes on the role Klaatu in the film. Klaatu is a humanoid alien from outer space who comes to Earth accompanied by an indestructible, heavily armed robot named Gort to try and stop humans from destroying each other and the planet. Caught in the midst of it all is Princeton University professor Helen Benson (played by Jennifer Connelly) who had been recruited by the government for an event which they believe threatens the human existence.
Paying homage to the original, director Scott Derrickson (“The Exorcism of Emily Rose”) stated that the trailer currently playing online and in theaters concluded with the image of the robot Gort instead of Keanu’s character Klaatu. “It was intentional,” Derrickson said. “I certainly took a lot of time to explore other possibilities. It wasn’t just a foregone conclusion in my mind that we would be sticking to the original. I tried looking at a lot of different possibilities, worked on a lot of different ideas with artists and just always a nagging sense that there was something right about the way the original, that there was something about this alien entity choosing a human form or being in a human form that had value even by modern standards, not by 1950 standards. I also am such a fan of the original film. You have to also just have some respect for Gort. Gort is Gort. There’s no question what we designed pays homage to the original,” explains Derrickson.
“One of the biggest challenges of this movie was whether or not audiences would really buy the whole idea — and there’s no question that you buy it, there’s no question that you believe Keanu’s performance. He really thinks through every moment and every beat with tremendous rigor. And he is very clear, I think, about what works for him and his physicality,” Derrickson said. “And yet it’s not like he’s doing things that are highly unusual or highly quirky. What he’s doing is something that’s not quite so upfront and center or distracting, but it still really gives you a feel of alien-ness and keeps you aware of the fact that this being you’re walking through this movie with is not a human being.”
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” opens December 10 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

“HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3” GROSSES P31.6-M, SMASHES RECORDS IN RP

MANILA, Oct. 27 – Walt Disney Pictures’ “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” graduated Valedictorian at the Philippine box-office, claiming the No. 1 spot with a nationwide three-day (Oct. 24-26) opening weekend gross of P31.6-million in only 129 screens. This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International which distributed the film.
Families, teens, college students and yuppies propelled “HSM 3” to record-breaking heights, posting the all-time biggest opening for a live-action musical in the country, outpacing previous holder (and another Disney title) “Enchanted” by a whopping 168% at P18.8-M. The feat becomes even more incredible with the fact that “HSM 3” smashed the record with only a three-day opening, compared to “Enchanted” with five.
“Senior Year’s” opening also now ranks as the fifth highest ever for a Disney-branded live-action feature, after “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “National Treasure: Book Secrets” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” in that order.
Fans and even critics gave thumbs up to “High School Musical 3’s” incredible new music and exciting dance numbers that were designed to take maximum advantage of the big screen (the first two “HSM” movies were originally made for the Disney Channel).
The Top 20 cinemas that registered the biggest box-office receipts are Trinoma (P2.03-M), Power Plant (P1.58-M), Alabang Town Center (P1.46-M), SM Mall of Asia (P1.39-M), SM North EDSA (P1.34-M), SM Megamall (P1.14-M), Glorietta 4 (P1.07-M), Shangri-la (P1.01-M), Greenhills (P996,328) and Greenbelt III (P967,222).
Rounding up the list are Gateway Cineplex (P775,220), Robinson’s Ermita (P739, 374), Ayala Center Cebu (P707,456), SM Cinema Cebu (P700,321), Robinson’s Galleria (P646,269), SM Southmall (P635,493), SM San Lazaro (P624,460), Festival (P601,229), Eastwood (P571,569) and SM Fairview (P549,672).
“Senior Year” brought to the big-screen the all-singing, all-dancing exploits of the clean-cut captain of the Wildcats, Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), beautiful brainiac Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) and scheming rich girl Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale). In the film, high school seniors Troy and Gabriella face the prospect of separation as they head off to different colleges. Joined by the rest of the Wildcats, they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes and fears about the future.
Still playing across the Philippines, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

Royal Premiere Indeed for 007

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the latest James Bond film “Quantum of Solace” announce that Prince William and Prince Harry have graciously agreed to attend the world premiere of the 22nd 007 adventure on Wednesday, October 29th 2008 at London’s Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square.
At the request of Prince William and Prince Harry, the event will benefit two charities, Help For Heroes and The Royal British Legion. The premiere will be attended by the film’s leading actors Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric and Gemma Arterton. Directed by Marc Forster, the movie will be released by Sony Pictures Entertainment in UK cinemas on Oct. 31, to be followed by the Philippines on Nov. 5.
Wilson and Broccoli commented, “We are thrilled Prince William and Prince Harry have agreed to attend the world premiere of our latest James Bond film, and are pleased this event will help raise much needed funds to support the servicemen of our country through The Princes' chosen charities.”
Starring Daniel Craig as the legendary secret agent, James Bond, “Quantum of Solace” is directed by Marc Foster and written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Oscar® winner Paul Haggis (“Crash”). The film picks up the storyline just one hour after the end of “Casino Royale,” marking the first direct sequel in the franchise.
Fueled by the betrayal of Vesper, the woman he loved (in “Casino Royale”), Bond's determination to track down the mastermind behind Quantum, sinister organization leads to Haiti, where he finds an unlikely ally in Camille (Kurylenko), a beautiful but feisty stranger. As Bond gets closer to finding the man responsible for the betrayal of Vesper, 007 must keep one step ahead of the CIA, the terrorists and even M (Dench).
“Quantum of Solace” is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures International.

Max Marks the Spot

MARK Wahlberg is hell-bent on revenge in the bullet-fired action flick “Max Payne.” Wahlberg plays Max Payne as the tough homicide cop who becomes involved in a relentless quest for justice that is dark and dangerous following the murder of his wife and newborn baby. A man with a one-track mind, sitting in a day job (in the police force’s ‘cold case’ department) from 9 to 5, he is hunting the streets at night in his quest for revenge. He has nothing to lose and will break any rules and risk his own life as he delves deeper into a terrifying underworld. Facing betrayal and danger, Max Payne is on a tireless and challenging journey that will test his strength and every cell of his being.

Based on a video game, this neo-noir , mythological action thriller, also starring Mila Kunis and Chris O’ Donnell, is a riveting ride. Wahlberg takes us further in the movie’s twist and turns with the following q&a:

Q: What was the attraction of MAX PAYNE for you?

A: “I liked the story and character. I had just made “The Lovely Bones,” which involved a similar situation with a parent losing a child but the character in that film is completely different. It was great making MAX PAYNE because I could get out there and do what the bad side of me would do, if something like that would, God forbid, ever happen to my family. I wanted to play a character who is just completely bad ass, who is ruthless in his mission to get the kind of information he needs to solve this horrific crime.”

Q: MAX PAYNE is based on a video game. How similar is the movie to the game?

A: “I read the script before I even knew it was based on a game, and then I looked at the game and I liked it. The film does the game a lot of justice but I had never played a game like it. The games I grew up playing were like Pac-Man that had no story whatsoever, whereas MAX PAYNE has a very elaborate story. So it is definitely going to satisfy the die hard game fans and hopefully will also bring in film audiences; maybe they will become fans of the game as well.”

Q: Directors say you have an authenticity that is not common among actors. How much of that stems from your own youth and background on the streets of Boston? Is the realism of a part like MAX PAYNE fuelled by what you have gone through?

A: Definitely. It wasn’t until recently that I appreciated all the things I had to go through to get to where I am now. I have a lot of real life experience to draw from. That helps me as an actor and I think that’s why people respond to me in this kind of film.”

Q: Why are you so good at playing cops?

A: Because I’ve been arrested by them so many times and because there is a very fine line between cop and criminal. I’m not saying that is true of every cop, but some of the guys I grew up with became cops and they did worse stuff than I did. I think the cops are also the ones who have really hard lives.”

Q: How much action is there and how tough was the film for you?

A: It was harder than anything I’ve done, harder than movies like “Fear,” “The Departed” and “Shooter” – times ten. Most of the action was shot on film with very little CGI (computer generated effects). You don’t see me hanging off any wires or anything like that. So anytime you see me flying through the air, I was actually jumping off something or landing on the ground. That was me in action.”

Q: Do you sometimes have to pinch yourself as a reminder of much your life has changed?

A: “Of course. Every single day the first thing I do when I wake up is to thank God for all the beautiful blessings that have been bestowed upon me. When I pray, I ask for the will and strength and courage and confidence to do the right things in my life. I know I have been put in this position for a reason and it is important not to forget about where I came from. It is my job to help other kids who are in similar situations, who are going through what I went through. I want to try to motivate them and inspire them. Hopefully through my foundation they will be able to pursue their own dreams, just as I have done.”

Born and raised in Boston following some tough teenage years, Wahlberg discovered an intrinsic talent and passion for acting. His early films were “Renaissance Man,” “The Basketball Diaries” and “Fear.” He made his name internationally in director Paul Thomas Anderson’s highly praised film, “Boogie Nights.” He went on to star in “Three Kings,” “The Perfect Storm” and “The Italian Job.” Wahlberg was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Martin Scorsese’s drama, “The Departed.” His recent films include “Shooter,” “Four Brothers,” The Happening” and “We Own the Night.”

He is also the executive producer of HBO’s award winning TV show, “Entourage.” A committed philanthropist, his organization, the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, works with inner city youth.

“Max Payne” opens October 15 in theaters nationwide from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

High School Musical: The Movie!

Actor Zac Efron still remembers the moment he realized that a modestly budgeted cable movie by the name of “High School Musical” was about to change his life. “One of my friends called me and told me to look on iTunes,” he says, “so I turned on my computer and there was ‘High School Musical’ in the top 5 most downloaded albums. This was a week before the film even came on television.”

One week later, when “High School Musical” did make its debut, it was seen by 7.7 million viewers, which made it the Disney Channel’s most successful film to date. Meanwhile, the soundtrack album quickly rose to the top of the charts, going on to sell 4.1 million copies in the United States alone and becoming the bestselling release of 2006. Which was, of course, just the start…

“High School Musical” may be as American as apple pie and twice as wholesome, but the all-singing, all-dancing exploits of clean-cut basketball captain Troy Bolton (played by Efron) and his fellow students struck a chord with young teens around the world. “High School Musical” and last year’s sequel, “High School Musical 2,” have been translated into 24 different languages and seen by over two hundred and fifty million fans in 100 countries.

Now, production is complete on what is promised to be a bigger HSM experience: “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” will open on the silver screen in cinemas worldwide on October 24. The hysteria seems certain to continue.

All of which begs the question, How did a low-budget television musical that was shot in 24 days and featured a cast of unknowns, give birth to perhaps the biggest entertainment phenomenon of the new millennium?

“High School Musical’s” producer and creator Bill Borden says that the initial idea behind “HSM” was simply to make something he could watch at home with his three young sons. “We’d want to watch something as a family and we kept coming back to things like ‘The Sound of Music’ because musicals were the only option, apart from animated films. So, I decided to do a musical that would appeal to the age group of my kids, and they like rock and roll and pop, rather than Hollywood or Broadway show tunes.”

The second stroke of inspiration – obvious in retrospect perhaps – was situating the story in an average American three-year high school, filled with the pressures of fitting in and learning to make your own decisions. Teens in America saw their own feelings and experiences portrayed in the songs and dances through the hallways, classrooms, gym, and cafeteria of East High. Teens around the world got a glimpse into the American teen finding his own voice through American rituals like ‘the big show’ or ‘the big game.’

The cast takes the stories they are telling seriously. “I think we’re showing what it really feels like to be in high school and how things seem big and serious and dramatic. How the girl who’s like Sharpay really is a bit frightening,” says Monique Coleman, who plays the brainy Taylor McKessie. “Most movies about high school tend to make fun of themselves and poke fun at the situation.”

“I don’t agree when people say ‘High School Musical’ is old-fashioned,” concludes Kenny Ortega, the director of all three films. “It’s just that no one had made a film like it for a while, which is very different from it being old-fashioned. What’s happened is that we’ve reawakened this yearning for a certain innocence, a certain fantasy and hopefulness and joy. People were ready to see that again and I think they will embrace it on the big screen too. I’m not sure there’s any mystery to that at all.”

Mirror, Mirrors

“The Hills Have Eyes” director Alexandre Aja will deliver the scares anew in the upcoming horror movie “Mirrors” which is based on the Korean hit film “Into the Mirror.”

“Mirrors” stars television’s hit series “24” actor Kiefer Sutherland as an ex-NYPD cop whose life has gone downhill. In an attempt to sort his life out, he accepts the job of night watchman in a department store that has suffered a severe fire years earlier, and where only a few huge mirrors survived the flames. During his night rounds, the ‘mirror world’ contacts him and asks him to do impossible things which put those closest to him in imminent danger.

Director Aja, in the following q&a cites and shares his experiences during the film’s production.

Q: Where did the ideas for the film come from?

A: After “The Hills Have Eyes,” I wanted to deal with a different subject. I’ve always been attracted to the supernatural. It concerns a whole area of genre films that combine fantasy with horror. The idea of the mirror, an everyday object that everyone takes for granted and hardly notices, stuck with us. How many times a day do we look at ourselves, look at this image which we totally depend upon, in a mirror.... It is a little like checking to see if we are still there! Everyone has a different and particular relationship with the mirror. Some of us are quite narcissistic; others can’t stand the sight of their own reflection. We managed to convince Fox to let us take the basic theme, an ex-cop confronted with a mirror, and to turn it into a different story that has nothing to do with the original remake idea.

Q: Did working on this film make you think differently about mirrors?

A: I was terrified. I couldn’t even handle the mirror in my bedroom! Each time I was writing a mirror scene, I managed to frighten myself first before finalising a scene.

Q: When did you decide to choose Kiefer Sutherland?

A: As far as I’m concerned the most important part of a film will always be the story. His portrayal in “Flatliners,” which marked me on a personal level as it did my entire generation. It was one of the numerous reasons that made me choose him. Although his role as Jack Bauer in “24” has increased his fame, Jack is a more contained character who controls emotions well. Those who have only ever seen him in “24” will be very surprised. When we first met, I found out that he himself had a particular relationship with mirrors. He does not like looking at himself in the mirror, which is pretty rare for an actor. There are no mirrors in his house. He never looks at the monitor.

Q: What is the atmosphere like in the film?

A: The story takes place in New York, the city of reflections like no other, due to its incredible skyline of buildings. However, the attention is not focused on New York as a city; it is just a background for this ghost ship of an old abandoned department store. The intensity grows as Kiefer gradually gets caught up in a whirlpool of mystery that he must solve.

Q: Where does this film figure in your career?

A: Up until now I’ve been really lucky. Since the success of “The Hills Have Eyes,” I’ve found myself in increasingly favourable situations. I’ve often taken the risk of imposing my vision to those in America who decide, and run the risk of losing everything. “Mirrors” was a long process and I had to defend my point of view but in the end, the film is exactly as I imagined it, totally without compromise.

“Mirrors” also stars Paula Patton (“Déjà Vu”) and Amy Smart (“Crank,” “Butterfly Effect”) to be shown in local (Phils.) cinemas soon from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Narnia Talk: Mostly About Mosely

WILLIAM Moseley reprises his role as Narnia’s High King, Peter, who returns to the enchanted land with his three siblings to help Prince Caspian save Narnia from tyranny under the reign of the evil King Miraz, in “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.” The sequel represents Peter’s final appearance in the series. Moseley (now 21 years old) had his first motion picture starring role in the first “Narnia” film, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” for which he earned nominations for the Saturn and Young Artists Awards. The young actor says his anticipation and anxiety to get back in front of the movie cameras echoed what his character Peter endured in the time between his fifteen-year reign of Narnia and his return to the kingdom in the new story. Just like his character, the handsome British native returned to secondary school. “Finishing the first film was an amazing experience,” Moseley says. “Then it was all taken away. Even though I didn’t react the same way Peter does, I can really understand how he feels.” Once the senior sibling returns to Narnia, “he becomes slightly arrogant,” the actor notes of his character. “There's fighting within the group. Peter cannot accept Caspian. His plans are not set from his heart, but from his ego. Even when he doubts himself, he still is too stubborn to back down and accept that he might be wrong. And ultimately, he pays the highest price. In the process, Moseley says, his character becomes a man. “When he gets back to Narnia, it’s 1,300 years later and people don't know he's a high king. They just see a boy. Peter has to prove who he is to the Narnians.” “When we cast William as Peter, he was just 15 and had never done anything like this before,” director Andrew Adamson notes. “William’s transformation was not dissimilar to that of his character Peter in the story, from this 17-year-old boy into a young man. I don’t think he’d even been on a movie set before. He was just this really great kid you wanted to be your big brother. And now, William has turned out to be a handsome and capable young man.” Moseley believes moviegoers will see the Pevensies in a new light in “Prince Caspian.” “Peter and Susan especially. These two had challenges in the first film, but nothing on this level. I think audiences will be surprised and engaged by both the physical battles and the emotional battles endured by our characters.” "They've all grown up really well,” Adamson says, sounding like a proud parent of the young actors portraying the Pevensie clan. “A large reason for me to do this again was working with the same children. There is this wonderful relationship between the kids, how they became a family and how they let us become a part of that family. There's change in very positive ways in growing up, but I'd like to say the movie didn’t change who they are, which I'm really happy about.” Opening soon across the Philippines , “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Wahlberg Makes His Mark

ACADEMY Award nominee Mark Wahlberg stars in the hard-hitting thriller The Happening and the action-packed Max Payne where he is both plagued with uncertainties brought about by conspiracy and the obscure.

In the heart-pounding thriller The Happening where the paranoia begins with no clear warning, Wahlberg stars as science teacher Elliot Moore whose family is on the run to escape the mysterious and deadly phenomenon. In the midst of a marital crisis, Elliot and wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel) hit the road heading for Pennsylvania where they hope they’ll be out of reach of the grisly, ever-growing deadly attacks. Yet it soon becomes apparent that no one or nowhere is safe. In a matter of minutes, episodes of strange, chilling deaths that defy reason and boggle the mind in their shocking destructiveness, erupt in major American cities.

Caught in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening is another Hollywood A-list player John Leguizamo (Ice Age).

Wahlberg’s defenses steps a notch higher in the action-packed video-game-to-movie adaptation where he plays the titular role of Max Payne. In the movie, Wahlberg is a tough New York cop whose wife and baby are killed by thugs high on a designer drug called Valkyr. Devastated, Payne joins the DEA and goes undercover with the mob to find the source of the drug. Framed for the murder of his partner and hunted down by both the mob and the police, he is forced to wage a one-man war against crime.

Helmed by Ace director John Moore, Max Payne also stars Chris O’Donnell, Mila Kunis and Beau Bridges.

The Happening opens June 11 in R.P. theaters and Max Payne opens October this year in theaters from 20^th Century Fox; to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Vegas Time! 21

Columbia Pictures gathers Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess (“Across the Universe”), Kate Bosworth (“Superman Returns”) and Laurence Fishburne (“The Matrix”) for the new action-thriller “21,” which is inspired by the true story of the very brightest young minds in America – and how they took Vegas for millions.
In the film, Ben Campbell (Sturgess) is a shy, brilliant M.I.T. student who – needing to pay school tuition – finds the answers in the cards. He is recruited to join a group of the school’s most gifted students that heads to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor.
With unorthodox math professor and stats genius Micky Rosa (Spacey) leading the way, they’ve cracked the code. By counting cards and employing an intricate system of signals, the team can beat the casinos big time.
Seduced by the money, the Vegas lifestyle, and by his smart and sexy teammate, Jill Taylor (Bosworth), Ben begins to push the limits. Though counting cards isn’t illegal, the stakes are high, and the challenge becomes not only keeping the numbers straight, but staying one step ahead of the casinos’ menacing enforcer: Cole Williams (Fishburne).
Directed by Robert Luketic, “21” is written by Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb, based upon the book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich.
Opening soon across the Philippines , “21” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Speed Racer to the IMAX

IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures announced recently that “Speed Racer,” the action-packed adventure from the creators of "The Matrix" trilogy, will be simultaneously released to IMAX® and conventional theatres across the Philippines on May 7.
“Speed Racer,” based on the hit anime series created by Tatsuo Yoshida, is written and directed by The Wachowski Brothers. The film will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology.
"'Speed Racer' combines riveting action with stunning special effects, making it an ideal choice for IMAX's format," said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "We are delighted to release the film to IMAX theatres, where audiences can experience the next best thing to actually sitting in the driver's seat during this high speed adventure."
"'Speed Racer' is a fantastic addition to our 2008 film slate, and we are very pleased to welcome The Wachowski Brothers back to the world of IMAX," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "The unique vision of these talented filmmakers has always been well suited to IMAX's format, and we're more than excited to be a part of this release."
"'Speed Racer' has all the elements for a powerful IMAX experience, with its broad appeal and spectacular effects," said Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. "We are excited to be exhibiting the film internationally in this unique format."
In the film, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel, hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition. Born to race cars, Spe ed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idoliz ed —the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Spe ed is driven to fulfill.
Spe ed is loyal to the family racing business, l ed by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Spe ed ’s thundering Mach 5. When Spe ed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret—some of the biggest races are being fix ed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Spe ed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line.
The only way for Spe ed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Spe ed teams with his one-time rival—the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox)—to win the race that had taken his brother’s life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

Chris Evans Teams Up with Keanu

FLAMING on to be one of Hollywood’s next iconic actor of his generation, Chris Evans proves his mettle as he goes beyond his boy-next-door image in the hard-core action cop movie "Street Kings" with Keanu Reeves.

In "Street Kings," Evans plays Detective Paul Diskant, a homicide detective tasked to investigate on the death of Ludlow’s (Reeves) fellow officer, Washington (Terry Crews). While on the case, Ludlow and Diskant eventually teamed up as they try to uncover the obscure events surrounding the death of Washington. As they uncover more, they find out that the department’s exterior is just a door jammed with gray areas that will force them to go up against the system they’ve been a part of for years.

Director David Ayer and producer Erwin Stoff set out to put their own unique spin on the police-thriller genre. Unlike most other urban thrillers, "Street Kings" is steeped in realism and contemporary politics. "From the beginning we set out to make a movie that transcended the genre and not just hit the expected beats of the traditional police thriller," explains Stoff. "We made it a point to have the world inside this film populated with real characters with real dilemmas without being white-washed."

"What makes this story interesting to me is that there’s a nuance to these characters and everyone has a shade of gray," explains Ayer. "It’s an urban thriller, so everyone’s a little bit corrupt, but I think the same is true in real life. Nobody wakes up and thinks they’re the bad guy. In their eyes they have found themselves in situations that grew beyond their control and are trying to survive. The film is structured like a tragedy and feels like a train wreck, but there is incredible redemption there. There is a message that no matter how far gone you are, there is always a way back."

From his first feature film "Not Another Teen Movie," Evans gained following in the crime comedy "The Perfect Score" and the thriller "Cellular." Evans was catapulted into full stardom when he suited up in the action hits "Fantastic Four" in 2005 and "Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer" in 2007 as Johnny Storm a.k.a. The Human Torch with Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis.

His other film credits include "Sunshine," "The Nanny Diaries," "Fierce People," "London" and "The Orphan King."

Non-stop cop action starts April 16 when "Street Kings" opens in local cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Matthew Fox: Hotter Than Ever

HE mesmerized worldwide audiences for playing the rugged hero Jack Shepard in the smash TV series “Lost.” Now, Matthew Fox vaults into the big screen with two back-to-back major films.

First up in February is Columbia Pictures’ explosive action-thriller “Vantage Point” where he stars with Dennis Quaid as Secret Service agents assigned to protect the American President at a landmark summit on the global war on terror. When the President is shot moments after his arrival in Spain , chaos ensues and disparate lives collide in the hunt for the assassin.

Fox follows that up with Warner Bros.’ high-octane family adventure “Speed Racer” based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida. The film combines revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers’ films (“The Matrix” series).

The actor talks about “Vantage Point” and “Speed Racer” in the following interview:

Question: You play a secret service agent in “Vantage Point.” What attracted you to the role?

Matthew Fox: I was attracted to the project because of [director] Pete Travis. I'm fascinated with the concept of perspective and vantage point. It's amazing to me how 10 people can look at the same events and depending on the point of view that they're looking at it from, they can see it differently. I'm constantly trying to remind myself of perspective and how much control I have over how I perceive things...I can't really talk a lot about the role without giving away parts of the picture, but that was attractive to me as well.

Q: Did you study at all with actual secret service agents?

Fox: Yeah. Pete was really amazing about trying to get us [trained], and those guys are really reticent to talk about their profession. So getting that opportunity was great and Pete really pushed for that to happen and then we had some research materials as well that we studied. And then we had people on the set all the time that were sort of consultants to make sure that what we were doing jives with reality.

Q: In May, you play Racer X in the Wachowski Brothers' highly anticipated “Speed Racer.” How did that come about?

Fox: I'm a cartoon and comic book fan, and I love anime. [But] I didn't know anything about “Speed Racer.” I grew up without a television. So when I found out that the Wachowskis were doing “Speed Racer” and were interested in me for it, I immediately went on the Internet, and as soon as I saw Racer X, I was like, I think that looks like me. I kinda think I would be a good Racer X. [Laughs] So then I was like, Dammit, I'm going to win this role! I went and read for it, and then waited quite a while.... It was the project last spring that I was dying to do, and I would have been so incredibly disappointed if I didn't.

Q: What can you say about your interpretation of Racer X?

Fox: Racer X is all about mystery. And it's all about not just disguise of suit, but it's disguise of voice — he's, like, impenetrable.... Part of the fun that I had was that I got to be a badass, and work with the most insane stunt guys. I'm proud I did it all. They didn't double me. The stunt guys were like, ''We think you can do everything. Do you want to do everything?'' ''Damn right I want to do everything. I want to do everything to the point where you think it looks like crap. That's when I need you to step in and help me out.'' [During] some of it I was just dying. I would do these fight sequences in this leather thing, and the amount of sweat was extraordinary. I was coming home ultra-dehydrated.

Q: Is your goal to make the leap into movies full-time?

Fox: There's no question. For me, it's more about my own quality of life. It's better for me to do films because it gives me much more flexibility in my life. I love the idea of becoming all-consumed in this one thing for four months, and then it's done, and I'm just floating around going, I don't know what I'm doing next. You're in that process of looking, and then you're like, Oh, this is the inevitable next thing. Then you dive into that. Also, I love to play new roles. [But] the beautiful thing about “Lost” is that even though I'm playing Jack Shephard, I get all these new things to do with him. It's not like playing Charlie Salinger on “Party of Five.” It was tough to play that same character for six years because I don't think I got to evolve that character and play new elements of him and have him be as many different things as Jack Shephard can be.

Twice the Terror in AVP2

IN ALIENS VS. PREDATOR – 2, the iconic creatures from two of the scariest film franchises in movie history wage their most brutal battle ever -- in our own backyard.

The science fiction-action-thriller captures the magic of the “Alien vs. Predator” comics, novels and videogames that established the “AVP” brand – while paying homage to the hallmarks of the film series that preceded it: Ridley Scott’s seminal work of science fiction and horror, “Alien”; James Cameron’s masterpiece of intense action, “Aliens”; and John McTiernan’s thriller about an extra-terrestrial warrior wreaking havoc in the jungle, “Predator.” At the same time AVP2, introduces an intriguing element new to the franchise, by having the Aliens and Predator wage war in a small American town.

Bringing these elements together are directors The Brothers Strause, Colin and Greg, whose visual effects house, Hydraulx, is renowned for its computer-generated wizardry on films such as “300,” “X-Men: The Last Stand,” and “Fantastic Four.”

It’s no accident that the Strause brothers are making their feature film helming debut on a story featuring Aliens and Predators – they’re unabashed fans of both film series. “Colin and Greg live Aliens and Predators,” says John Davis, who produced this film, as well as the original “Predator” and 2005’s “Alien vs. Predator.” “They’ve seen the movies countless times, know the [AVP] comics and played the [AVP] videogames. They really understand these characters.” Adds AVP2 screenwriter Shane Salerno: “The Strause brothers live, eat and breathe these films. The specificity they’ve given AVP2 is remarkable. They’re passionate about this material.”

The brothers’ passion extends to the film’s central notion of placing warring creatures in the middle of a small American town. To them, this idea heightened the stakes – and the scares. “What’s more frightening – a menace happening millions of miles away, or a threat in your own backyard,” says Greg Strause. “Obviously, we thought it was time to bring the Predator and Aliens into the thick of things here. It gets very primal; you’ve never seen anything like it on film. No one is safe in this movie!”

“The creatures are literally on our streets,” adds John Davis: “The idea to set the story in ‘Anywhere, U.S.A.’ – in a nice, recognizable town that is suddenly thrust into the middle of an epic battle and mounting carnage they can’t begin to fathom.”

The town under siege is Gunnison, a real-life locale situated in the mountains of central Colorado. “It’s small – but not too small,” says Shane Salerno who set the story in Gunnison after searching a U.S. map for a fresh take on the warring creatures. (Vancouver, British Colombia stood in for Gunnison.)

AVP2 exists in a familiar landscape – a town’s dark sewers, its rain-soaked streets, the concrete jungle of its electrical plant, and a hospital maternity ward – that become battlefields beyond the townspeople’s worst nightmares.

“While writing the script, I was constantly thinking about how regular people respond to the most extreme situations,” Salerno continues. “I looked at things like hurricanes and fires, where ordinary people – firefighters, police officers, teachers – become heroes.”

“We wanted to explore the lengths to which people would go to protect their families,” elaborates Colin Strause. “Who would they fight for… and die for?”

AVP2 is a 20^th Century Fox release, distributed by Warner Bros. Now showing in Philippine theaters.

LIST OF OSCAR 2008 NOMINEES

HERE are the announced nominations in major categories for the coming 80th Annual Academy Awards. The much awaited event will be held on February 24:

Best motion picture of the year
"Atonement" (Focus Features) A Working Title Production: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight) A Dancing Elk Pictures, LLC Production: Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) A Clayton Productions, LLC Production: Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production: Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production: JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
Julie Christie in "Away from Her" (Lionsgate)
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
Laura Linney in "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
Ellen Page in "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.)
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War" (Universal)
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" (The Weinstein Company)
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster" (Universal)
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

Achievement in directing
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Julian Schnabel
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight), Jason Reitman
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Tony Gilroy
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Paul Thomas Anderson

Achievement in cinematography
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.): Roger Deakins
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Seamus McGarvey
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Janusz Kaminski
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Roger Deakins
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Robert Elswit

Best foreign language film of the year
"Beaufort" Israel
"The Counterfeiters" Austria
"Katyn" Poland
"Mongol" Kazakhstan
"12" Russia

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"Falling Slowly" from "Once" (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and: Marketa Irglova
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush" (Warner Bros.): Nominees to be determined
"So Close" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz


Achievement in visual effects
"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier

Original screenplay
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Diablo Cody
"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM), Written by Nancy Oliver
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Written by Tony Gilroy
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Brad Bird; Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
"The Savages" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Tamara Jenkins

Strait to 10,000 B.C.

FROM director Roland Emmerich (“The Day After Tomorrow,” “Independence Day”) comes “10,000 BC,” a sweeping odyssey into a mythical age of prophesies and gods, when spirits rule the land and mighty mammoths shake the earth.

Two of today’s most exciting young stars, Steven Strait (“The Covenant,” “Sky High”) and Camilla Belle (“When a Stranger Calls”) headline the film.

In a remote mountain tribe, the young hunter, D’Leh (Strait), has found his heart’s passion – the beautiful Evolet (Belle). When a band of mysterious warlords raid his village and kidnap Evolet, D’Leh is forced to lead a small group of hunters to pursue the warlords to the end of the world to save her.

Driven by destiny, the unlikely band of warriors must battle saber-tooth tigers and prehistoric predators and, at their heroic journey’s end, they uncover a Lost Civilization.

Their ultimate fate lies in an empire beyond imagination, where great pyramids reach into the skies. Here they will take their stand against a powerful god who has brutally enslaved their people.

Opening soon across the Philippines , “10,000 BC” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Italian Film Fest at the Cultural Center of the Philippines

COMEDY is the theme of the 2008 Italian Film Festival which will begin with an invitational opening event on January 17, 2008 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The award-winning 1961 classic Divorzio All'Italiana (Divorce-Italian Style) starring Marcello Mastroianni, will open the film festival.
Released at a time when divorce was illegal in Italy, Divorce Italian Style was an international box office hit which won several international awards, including Oscar awards for Best Writing, Best Story and Best Screenplay-written directly for the Screen and Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a leading role (Marcello Mastroianni) and Best Director (Pietro Germi). The film tells the story of Baron Ferdinando Cefalu, a married Sicilian who falls in love with his cousin and vows to wed her. But with divorce illegal, he must concoct a crime of passion to do away with his wife. A light sentence for such a crime is possible if Ferdinando catches his lady committing adultery. Now, Ferdinando must find a lover for his wife.
The 2008 Italian Film Festival will feature 11 other Italian comedy films throughout the year. These are:
I Soliti Ignoti (Big Deal in Madonna Street, 1958) on February 12; Tre Uomini e Una Gamba (Three Men and A Leg, 1997) on March 11 ; Dillo con Parole Mie (Ginger and Cinnamon, 2003) on April 8; Sedotta e Abbandonata (Seduced and Abandoned, 1964) on May 13; Mimi Metallurgico Ferito Nell'Onore (The Seduction of Mimi, 1972) on June 17; Film d'Amore e d'Anarchia, Ovvero: "Stamattina Alle 10 In Via Dei Fiori Nella Nota Casa Di Tolleranza…" (Love and Anarchy, 1973) on July 8; C'eravamo Tanto Amati (We All Loved Each Other So Much, 1974) on August 12; Io Speriamo Che Me La Cavo (Ciao, Professore!, 1992) on September 9; Cosi e La Vita (Such is Life, 1998) on October 14; Agata e La Tempesta (Agatha and the Storm, 2004) on November 11 and Fatto di Sangue Fra Due Uomini Per Causa di Una Vedova-Si Sospettano Moventi Politici (Blood Feud, 1978) on December 9.
Regular screenings will be held at the CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theater) at 4:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M., every second Tuesday of the month.
The 2008 Italian Film Festival is a presentation of the CCP, Italian Embassy-Manila and the Philippine-Italian Association. For more information, please call the CCP Media Arts Division at tel. no. 832-1125 local 1704-05. -- from Raul Asis, CCP Office

The Assassination of Jesse James: Pitt at His Peak

WARNER Bros. Pictures brings together the talented ensemble of Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker and Sam Rockwell in the acclaimed thriller “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.”
Written and directed by Andrew Dominik, “Assassination” has been hailed by U.S. critics as one of the best films of 2007 and has already won three awards – Best Actor for Brad Pitt in the recent Venice Film Festival, and Best Supporting Actor for Casey Affleck in the National Board of Review and San Francisco Film Critics Circle yearly citations. Affleck is also nominated in the Golden Globes and the upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards.
There have been countless books written and tales told about America’s most famous outlaw Jesse James (Pitt) —all of them colorful and fascinating, all focused on his larger-than-life public persona and daring exploits, and most of them bearing only incidental reference to the truth.
To those he robbed and terrorized, and to the families of those he admittedly killed, he may have been just a criminal, but in the sensational newspaper articles and dime novels chronicling the James Gang throughout the 1870s, Jesse was the object of awe and admiration. He was a Robin Hood, they suggested, targeting railroad owners and banks that exploited poor farmers. Most importantly, to an increasingly buttoned-down and citified population leading ordinary lives, he was the last frontiersman—a symbol of freedom and the American spirit, a charismatic rebel who flouted the law and lived by his own rules…by all accounts, a legend.
Foremost among his admirers was Robert Ford (Affleck), an idealistic and ambitious young man who had devoted his life to the hope of one day riding alongside his idol. He could never have imagined that history would ultimately mark him as the “the dirty little coward” who shot Jesse in the back.
But who was Jesse James, really—behind the folklore and the selling of newspapers? And who was Robert Ford, just nineteen and a member of Jesse’s inner circle, who was able to bring down such a formidable figure when lawmen across ten states had tried and failed? How did they come to be friends and what happened between them in the days and hours leading up to the gunshot that would end one man’s life and become the definition and sum total of another’s? No one will ever know the whole truth.
“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” delves into the private lives of America ’s most notorious outlaw and his unlikely assassin to offer a new perspective on a legend and address the question of what really may have transpired in the months before that infamous shooting.
The year is 1881 and Jesse is 34 years old. As he plans his next great robbery, he continues to wage war on his enemies who are trying to collect the reward money and the glory riding on his capture. But the greatest threat to his life could come from those he would trust the most. – Warner Bros. Pictures

James Marsden Cyke-d for 27 DRESSES

BEST known for his Cyclops role in ‘X-Men’ movies, James Marsden stars anew as Kevin, an ambitious reporter in the upcoming romantic comedy ’27 Dresses’ opposite Katherine Heigl.

In ’27 Dresses,’ Jane has always been good at taking care of others, but not so much in looking after herself. Her entire life has been about making people happy – and she has a closet full of 27 bridesmaid dresses to prove it. One memorable evening, Jane manages to shuttle between wedding receptions in Manhattan and Brooklyn, a feat witnessed by Kevin (James Marsden), a newspaper reporter who realizes that a story about this wedding junkie is his ticket off the newspaper’s bridal beat. Jane finds Kevin’s cynicism counter to everything she holds dear – namely weddings, and the two lock horns.

Director Fletcher cast Marsden after working with him in “Hairspray,” on which Fletcher was an associate choreographer and second unit director, and Marsden played the Baltimore television-dance-show host Corny Collins. She notes the volatile Jane-Kevin relationship is a classic “rom-com” situation of opposites repelling then attracting one another. “You can understand why Jane resists Kevin,” says Fletcher. “He’s sarcastic and cranky, and he nags and constantly bugs her. His protection is his wit and sarcasm, but he’s charming, charismatic and funny.”

Adds scriptwriter McKenna: “There is, however, a trait both characters share, for Jane and Kevin are observers – he by profession – and in their own ways both have chosen to sit on the sidelines.”

Marsden, was eager to tackle a romantic leading man part. “I usually play the guy who gets the short end of the stick in, so it is nice when I read ‘27 Dresses’ and realized, ‘They're considering me for the guy who may actually get the girl!’”

Recently seen in the box-office hit ‘Enchanted,’ Marsden’s diverse film credits include Cyclops in the “X-Men” trilogy, “Superman Returns,” the Nick Cassavetes romantic drama “The Notebook,” and “The Alibi.” Additional film credits include “Disturbing Behavior,” “10th and Wolf,” “24th Day,” “Sugar and Spice” and “Interstate 60.” His notable television roles include Glen Floy on the final season of the Emmy winning, David E. Kelley series “Ally McBeal.”

“27 Dresses” opens January 30 from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Russell and Denzel, Side by Side

Academy Award-winners Denzel Washington (for Glory and Training Day) and Russell Crowe (for Gladiator) first acted opposite each other a dozen years ago in Virtuosity a sci-fi crime thriller set in virtual reality. In that picture, Denzel played a police lieutenant out to catch Russell's character, a sadistic serial killer.

Now, the two have swapped sides of the law for American Gangster, with Crowe as the cop, and Washington as the crook. The film is based on the real life exploits of Frank Lucas, a Harlem heroin kingpin, and Richie Roberts, the cop who brought him to justice, as originally chronicled in a New York Magazine article by Mark Jacobson entitled "The Return of Superfly."

You both have come a long way since you first worked together.

Russell Crowe : [Sarcastically] Virtuosity, yes, a wonderful movie. That was just a momentary lapse, wasn't it? We were both young then, young and innocent. [Laughs]

Denzel Washington : Not after that movie. We were old and tired. [Laughs]

Can you talk a little about the theme of good versus evil as seen in the confrontation between your characters in American Gangster?

Denzel Washington : [Laughs] Who was the good guy and who was the evil guy? A chord runs parallel in both. Jump in there, Russell. [Chuckles]

Russell Crowe : That's the delicate balance. I think that's one of the fascinating things about the two characters, and about the story itself is that none of that's clear. There's not a clear, singular morality. When you get the opportunity to play that sort of character, which is nothing more than reality and humanity as it exists, it's just a bit of fun. Richie's an honest guy, but as his wife says in court, "You're only honest in one area. You're trying to buy yourself favors for all the other [expletive] that you do." I think that just was an honest appraisal of who he was as a man at that time. But it also leaks into that area of discussing why people go bad in the first place or what the process of Frank Lucas was to become a drug dealer. If Frank Lucas had been befriended by somebody else, and educated in a different area, you might have a situation where there's universities named after him now. He's a very smart guy, and he used the things he learned to the best of his ability to change his life and the life of his family at that time. But it just happened to be that Bumpy Johnson was his teacher. So, he did his course work on the street and earned his Ph.D. in criminality under Bumpy Johnson.

Denzel Washington : He was a man without a formal education, a man who at the age of six witnessed his cousin get murdered by sociopaths in uniforms. That shaped his life. From a very young age, he began to steal. He was on the wrong side of the tracks, but he was a brilliant student, and he became a master at the business that he was in. It's a dirty business and he's definitely a criminal who was responsible for the deaths of many people. I don't just want to say he was a product of his environment, but as Russell said, had he gotten a formal education and had different influences, I think he still would have been a leader, but he'd have gone in a different direction.

Why do you think there's outrage over rappers making gangsta videos but not over actors making gangsta movies which glorify the same lifestyle?

Denzel Washington : There's a difference. This is one movie, not the only movie. In 2005, I did Julius Caesar. Not knocking rappers, but I can do both. So, whenever any rapper's ready to do Shakespeare, I'll be there.

Russell Crowe : Wait, I think that what the question's trying to get at is actually something pretty cool. He's saying that when a guy sings a song about his life as a gangster on a record, people get down on him. But you and me, we make a movie about us in that same world, and we get praised for it from a creative point of view.

Denzel Washington: Yeah, well some rappers who have made gangster albums have gotten praised for it, too. Some real good ones. America's Most Wanted is still one of my favorite albums.

Russell Crowe : Is it the criminality that people are getting upset with now about the music, where you're literally singing the praises of gun worship, as opposed to a movie that plays out in front of you and a story that's being told showing something that actually happened?

Denzel Washington : And that these are the consequences.

Russell Crowe : There's definitely a difference there.

Where does American Gangster fit in the pantheon of New York City mob sagas such as Naked City, The Godfather and Goodfellas?

Denzel Washington : Well, I can say, for one, that among the movies you mentioned, there's no black people in any of them. So, the situation may basically be the same, but this is a Harlem story. I guess it is to a degree a genre. There are certain things that are similar about those kinds of films, but this one in particular deals with a guy from uptown.

Given all the accolades you've already received, what inspires you to continue making movies?

Denzel Washinton : Professionally, now, I've sort of segued, and I'm starting to head in another direction. I'm getting behind the camera. I've directed [The Great Debaters] for the second time now, and I'm sure that's my new career. What we do is making a living. It's not my life. My children and my family, that's life. That's the miracle of life. I get up every morning, God willing, for that.

Russell Crowe : I've always found it to be a privilege to make movies. It's a really expensive, creative medium. And people allow me to do it, and there are things that I can do as an actor that I couldn't do in any other walk of life. And I've got a strange personality, but fortunately, film requires strange people. So, I've got a nice comfy home and this is what I do, and I'm really happy with that. When I know I'm getting up to work with Ridley [director Ridley Scott], I know all the time and effort that he would have put into whatever we're about to shoot that day. To me, it's all just a great privilege, and every day I look around and thank the Lord that it's still going on.

Denzel Washington : Me, too.

AMERICAN GANGSTER is released by United International Pictures and distributed through Solar Entertainment Corp. Showing very soon!

“BOND 22” STARTS PRODUCTION AT PINEWOOD STUDIOS, LONDON

Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions Ltd, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios announced the start of principal photography on the eagerly anticipated 22nd James Bond adventure. Daniel Craig reprises his role as 007 in the film which is directed by Marc Forster and follows the success of “Casino Royale,” the latest and highest grossing film in the series.

Starring alongside Craig is an impressive international cast led by the critically acclaimed French actor Mathieu Amalric (Steven Spielberg’s “ Munich ”) as the sinister villain, and the Ukranian actress Olga Kurylenko (“Hitman”) who plays 007's leading lady.

Returning to “Bond 22” (working title) from “Casino Royale” are Judi Dench in her role as M, Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter and Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis. Newcomer to the Bond franchise, Gemma Arterton, will play the role of MI6 Agent Fields.

Commenting on the announcement, Wilson and Broccoli said "We are fortunate to continue in the Bond tradition of attracting the finest international actors for our starring roles. Mathieu in the role of Dominic Greene, a leading member of the villainous organization introduced in `Casino Royale,’ will be a powerful counterpart to Daniel's portrayal of Bond. Olga Kurylenko will play the dangerously alluring Camille, who challenges Bond and helps him come to terms with the emotional consequences of Vesper's betrayal."

MGM and Sony Pictures will share distribution rights worldwide with Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Releasing International distributing the film to theaters worldwide on November 7th, 2008 (the film opens in the Philippines two days earlier, Nov. 5^th.)

Marc Forster directs the screenplay by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Paul Haggis. The unit includes Production Designer Dennis Gassner, Director of Photography Roberto Schaefer, Editors Matt Chesse and Rick Pearson, and 2nd Unit Director Dan Bradley.

THE VOICE BEHIND THE SINGING CHIPMUNK

“Alvin and the Chipmunks,” a global phenomenon to generations of fans becomes a live action/CGI motion picture event with a contemporary comic sensibility. Songwriter Dave Seville (Jason Lee) transforms singing chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore into pop sensations -- while the out-of-control trio lays waste to Dave's home, wreaks havoc on his career, and turns Dave's once-orderly life upside-down.

Alvin and the Chipmunks have been wreaking havoc for Dave Seville - and delighting audiences around the world - for nearly 50 years, in various incarnations. From the moment they sprung into being, the creative brainchild of singer/songwriter Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., the 'Munks' catchy sound has been a pop culture mainstay, for both young and old.

Three of today's hottest young actors - "Dodgeball's" Justin Long (in photo), "Criminal Minds'" Matthew Gray Gubler, and pop sensation/actor Jesse McCartney - joined the project in post-production to voice, respectively, Alvin, Simon and Theodore. Producers Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. and Janice Karman were delighted with the work of all three performers - no small thing given that Bagdasarian's father, Ross, Sr., voiced all three roles before his untimely passing, with Bagdasarian and Karman performing the voices the past thirty years. "Justin, Matthew and Jesse were all funny and smart, while conveying the critical heart of the characters," says an appreciative Bagdasarian.

The band frontman, Alvin is being voiced by Justin Long who recently starred Bruce Willis opposite the hit action movie ‘Die Hard 4.0.’ Alvin is personified as impulsive, charming, musical and full of animal magnetism. What others might characterize as half-baked schemes, Alvin prefers to see as “challenging the ordinary.” What sets Alvin apart from the other two chipmunks is his red sweater emblazoned with the letter "A" made by Dave from a sock.

Matthew Gray Gubbler whose popular film credits include “Criminal Minds” and “R.V.” voices the brainy Theodore. Simon’s signature look is his pair of spectacles borrowed from a wind-up toy that gives him the genuine “specs appeal,” which has inspired far-sighted fans around the globe to proudly sport their specs. His dry sense of humor added to his musical talents, never fails to delight the band’s legions of fans.

Behind Theodore’s voice is actor-pop sensation Jesse McCartney. Theodore is known to his fans as “The Sweet One,” who is also helpful, lovable, sensitive, gullible, trusting and naïve. He has a big heart and even larger appetite, and has been known to stuff an entire box of candy into his adorably puffy cheeks. Theodore is also the youngest of the Chipminks and often intercedes when Simon and Alvin disagree.

Fun for the old and young when “Alvin and the Chipmunks” opens on January 16 in local theaters (Metro Manila, Pampanga and Davao) from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. – Mae Romero Vecina

“NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS” TOPS U.S. TILLS IN 1st WEEK OF NEW YEAR

Nicolas Cage may be running out of storage room for his loot.
Walt Disney Pictures' "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," with Cage as a history buff on the trail of a lost city of gold, was the No. 1 box office draw for the third straight weekend with $20.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday (Jan. 6).
"Book of Secrets" raised its domestic total to $171 million in three weeks, putting it just $2 million shy of the total that 2004's "National Treasure" rang up during its entire run.
The first weekend of 2008 was promising for Hollywood , continuing a holiday box office surge that followed a weak fall season. The top 12 movies took in $123.9 million, up 18.5 percent from the first weekend of 2007.
In “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” Ben Gates (Cage) once again sets out on an exhilarating, action-packed new global quest to unearth hidden history and treasures. When a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth surfaces, Ben’s great-great grandfather is suddenly implicated as a key conspirator in Abraham Lincoln’s death. Determined to prove his ancestor’s innocence, Ben follows an international chain of clues that takes him on a chase from Paris to London and ultimately back to America . This journey leads Ben and his crew not only to surprising revelations – but to the trail of the world’s most treasured secrets.
Opening across the Philippines on Jan. 8, “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures. – Jay Gonzales

WILL SMITH IS THE LAST MAN ON EARTH IN “I AM LEGEND”

Global superstar Will Smith is Robert Neville, the only survivor of a devastating, manmade plague that has decimated the world’s population, in Warner Bros.’ new sci-fi thriller “I Am Legend.” But the last man on Earth is not alone…the plague had an adverse side effect that transformed its victims into inhuman creatures – carnivorous dark seekers called the Infected that roam the streets at night with an unquenchable hunger.

Smith was drawn to the story’s interior drama unfolding beneath the broad-scale sci-fi adventure. “It’s a huge summer blockbuster character drama,” he describes. “And yet there are science fiction elements. There are creatures in this movie. We wanted to make something new. We have action sequences, but we’re concentrating aggressively on not having action sequences for the sake of action sequences. It’s got to be driven by character, and you connect with them emotionally. That’s our hope.”

Neville, a military virologist based in Manhattan , spearheaded the government’s attempt to find a vaccine to combat the pandemic. But in spite of their efforts, the virus went airborne and the city was subsequently locked down with only the uninfected allowed to evacuate. Those of the Infected who didn’t succumb to the virus were perhaps dealt a worse fate: their ravaged metabolism transforming them into creatures who dwell in the darkness of the city’s vast underground, emerging from the shadows, driven by a singular, primal hunger.

In the aftermath of the catastrophe, Neville is also driven, but his need is to find a cure for the cataclysmic affliction. Somehow immune to the virus, he knows he has two weapons at his disposal—his scientific training and his own blood. “Neville knows these beings are infected with a virus that is a mutation of what was created in a lab,” Smith relates. “Now he has been put in this position of being a lone survivor after being the one who, in his mind, couldn’t save mankind.”

With only the companionship of his dog, Sam, Neville struggles to keep himself one step ahead of the Infected. By day, he and Sam subsist by scavenging for supplies, working in the lab and broadcasting daily radio messages in hopes of finding other survivors. By night, they barricade themselves in a reinforced brownstone monitoring the Infected as they hunt and forage through the city streets, sniffing out any hint of prey.

The dualistic nature of the film as both an epic science fiction thriller and the emotional journey of a human being is not lost on Smith. “It’s layered, and you just continue to peel each layer,” he says. “And it’s interesting when you start to get down to the fourth and fifth layers where it’s a little more oblique and people can draw their own conclusions. This film is an experience, and hopefully it will be a cathartic one for the audience. Of course, we want it to be exciting, but it also brings up thoughts and questions. That’s the line we wanted to walk with this movie.”

Opening across the Philippines on Jan. 8, “I Am Legend” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.