FLIGHT RISK takes flight this weekend with an $11 million opening from 3,161 theatres for Lionsgate/Cineplex Pictures. The Mark Wahlberg-starring Action-Thriller, directed by Mel Gibson, gets 21% on the Tomatometer.
In second is MUFASA: THE LION KING with $7.4 million, a tally of $219.7 million for Disney over seven weeks.
Third is ONE OF THEM DAYS with $7 million, a two week total of $24 million for Disney.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 gets fourth with $4.4 millIion, a tally of $225 million for Paramount Pictures.
In fifth is Steven Soderbergh‘s PRESENCE with $3 million, from 1,730 theatres for NEON/Elevation Pictures.
In all a very fulfilling and successful TIFF ’24 for us! This will be the final daily of the Fest for us and we hope you had fun! Some sightings from Day Nine:
•Lucy Liu
•Steven Soderbergh
•Callina Liang
•Chris Sullivan
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
By Nicholas Porteous
We open on a particularly bland overhead shot as a car pulls into a driveway. It’s a reserved choice to serve as the opening for Steven Soderbergh‘s latest–but wait. The camera twists and turns and hovers down the stairs, revealing an empty house and an anxious realtor (Julia Fox–be warned: this is her only scene). There’s clearly something more to this strange, drifting perspective. Indeed, there’s a Presence in this house. A ghost. And for whatever reason, among the family of new occupants in this otherwise lovely abode, their young daughter Blue (captivating newcomer Callina Liang) shares some kind of connection with the spirit.
What follows is entirely from the ghost’s perspective, and it turns out to be a fantastic parameter for Soderbergh to play within. How does a non-speaking entity reveal its motivations? What kind of phantom are we dealing with here? And how will a family contend with the unknown force? You won’t hear another word about the plot from me, but if you’re looking for a good little ghost story, you’ve come to the right place. Presence is another small-scale, experimental gem from Soderbergh that moves at a clip and kept me intrigued–both as a narrative and as a technical act of storytelling–for its lean, 85-minute runtime.
David Koepp‘s Screenplay is occasionally guilty of tripping over the line into schlock and cheese, which plays at odds with Soderbergh’s relatively naturalistic approach. But all in all, Presence is a brilliant blend of family dramedy and supernatural suspense, anchored by a strong ensemble–featuring Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan as spiritually discordant parents–that imbues the camera with a perfectly calibrated sense of fear and wonder. Presence could be considered a minor work from a master Filmmaker, but its slender format and otherworldly themes have staying power. Don’t let this one pass you by.
Presence screens at TIFF ’24:
Friday, September 13 at 6:15 PM at The Princess of Wales Theatre
Saturday, September 14 at 7:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre
Today we get a new Tease for Steven Soderbergh’s PRESENCE, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year. Cast includes Julia Fox and Lucy Liu!
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
By Amanda Gilmore
It’s been 35 years since Director Steven Soderbergh has had a Feature film at Sundance. All those years ago he brought Sex, Lies and Videotape which won the Audience Award: Dramatic in 1989. He’s been back since with his TV Show The Girlfriend Experience in 2009.
However, his big return follows a family that moves into a suburban home. Shortly after moving in, their daughter Chloe (Callina Liang), still grieving the sudden death of her best friend, senses a supernatural spirit within.
Soderbergh always finds new ways to use the camera. He was the first established Director to shoot films with an iPhone. Additionally, he always finds new ways to bring audiences into a story. He’s back at it again with Presence. This time around he’s used the camera to tell this story through an entirely new —and inventive— perspective. His camera is the ghost’s perspective. Thus, putting a whole new spin on the Haunted House genre.
Screenwriter David Koepp’s Script mixes multiple genres. It begins as a Domestic Drama. We see this family in all its dysfunction. It’s most fascinating seeing the mother (a fantastic Lucy Liu) who favours her son over her daughter. As the story progresses, it leans more into the ghost and Haunted House subgenres. It succeeds at every turn because of Soderbergh’s choice of perspective.
Presence screens at Sundance ’24:
Jan 19 at 9:45 PM at Library Centre Theatre
Jan 20 at 9:00 AM at Egyptian Theatre
Jan 21 at 9:00 PM at Rose Wagner Centre
Jan 23 at 8:00 PM at Eccles Theatre
Jan 27 at 2:30 PM at Redstone Cinemas – 1
Jan 28 at 11:00 AM at Magaplex Theatres at The Gateway – Theatre 1/2/3
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