#FIRSTLOOK: “FURIOSA” NOW IN PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA

After MAD MAX: FURY ROAD won Oscars and grossed $375 million worldwide, FURIOSA, the latest in the Franchise, is currently in production in Australia. George Miller also will direct this latest installment which will star Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke. Taylor-Joy has been prepping mentally and physically for some time to prepare for this. Cannot wait to see her carry this Film!

Synopsis:

As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus.  Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe.  While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Taylor-Joy was most recently seen in Edgar Wright’s “Last Night in Soho” and Robert Eggers’ “The Northman.”  She also played the lead in the romantic comedy “Emma,” based on the Jane Austen novel.  Her additional features include the sci-fi thrillers “Split” from M. Night Shyamalan, and his follow up “Glass,” in which she reprised her role from the previous film.  She also starred as a chess prodigy in the massively successful miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit.”

Hemsworth is right at home with high-octane action, having starred in the “Avengers” and “Thor” films as well as the recent “Extraction.”  His other film credits include “Bad Times at the El Royale,” “12 Strong,” “In the Heart of the Sea,” “Rush,” “Snow White and the Huntsman,” and “Star Trek,” among many others.

Burke is perhaps best-known for his award-nominated role in Joanna Hogg’s film “The Souvenir,” as well as playing the lead in the popular UK crime series “C.B. Strike.” He also starred as Athos in the BBC series “The Musketeers,” appeared in such feature films as Nicholas Winding Refn’s “Only God Forgives,” and played famed filmmaker Orson Welles in David Fincher’s Oscar-winning “Mank.”

Miller penned the script with “Mad Max: Fury Road” co-writer Nico Lathouris and produces alongside his longtime partner, Oscar-nominated producer Doug Mitchell (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Babe”).  Miller’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes such longtime Australian collaborators as production designer Colin Gibson, editor Margaret Sixel, sound mixer Ben Osmo, costume designer Jenny Beavan and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt, each of whom won an Oscar for their work on “Mad Max: Fury Road,” as well as first assistant director PJ Voeten and second unit director and stunt coordinator Guy Norris.  The director of photography is Simon Duggan (“Hacksaw Ridge,” “The Great Gatsby”).

More details to come. Warner Bros. Pictures Canada will release.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

#OSCARS: “SPOTLIGHT”, LEONARDO DICAPRIO, BRIE LARSON TOP WINNERS AT 2016 OSCARS

SPOTLIGHT, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brie Larson and Alejandro González Iñárritu emerge as the big winners of the 88th Academy Awards, marking a finale to Awards Season in Hollywood.

Despite pundit predictions pointing to The Big Short winning Best Picture based on its Producers Guild Awards win, it would be Toronto-filmed SPOTLIGHT to take the coveted golden statue. The Catholic molestation scandal Drama also won for Best Original Screenplay.

With the acting categories being less open to discussion, we would witness Leonardo DiCaprio’s long overdue Best Actor win in a celebrated career with several close calls. He in addition, THE REVENANT Director Alejandro González Iñárritu would get recognized for the Film, which was seen also as a legitimate contender to take Best Picture. Filming for the Movie took place in Alberta.

Brie Larson after building Oscar buzz during the festival circuit for ROOM, became a clear frontrunner in an Awards Season trail which saw her win virtually every Lead Actress award including the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, SAGs, Critics’ Choice Awards and many more. The Actress who filmed her Oscar-winning role in Toronto, next can be seen in Skull Island, the latest in the King Kong franchise.

Swedish star Alicia Vikander quickly has risen in Hollywood after multiple plum roles of late including Ex_Machina (winner for Visual Effects), wins Supporting Actress for The Danish Girl. After seeing her Friday night in Hollywood, we whispered to her “You’re so winning on Sunday”, to which she replied back “You’re so sweet! Thank you!”.

Mark Rylance would win Supporting Actor shining brightest in Steven Spielberg’s Cold War Drama BRIDGE OF SPIES.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD dominated the technical categories, winning Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Costume Design, Hair & Makeup, Production Design and Editing.

Chris Rock had many debating just how controversial he would go on #OSCARSSOWHITE and he would not disappoint as host with a biting opening which snapped at Hollywood, which he says flat-out is “racist” and also those who would boycott the Oscars this year due to a lack of diversity. He jokes about Jada Pinkett-Smith‘s refusal to attend this year comparing it to Rihanna‘s panties, “Neither of us were invited!”. He also makes valid points about dividing actors by sex having categories for Actor and Actress stating there shouldn’t be a separation. He also points to progress, calling Michael B. Jordan‘s success in Creed, or as he says “Black Rocky“, and the fact that the race of nominees at Awards shows being a hot topic also is indicative of positive change as black people were dealing with more important concerns like social rights issues in the decades leading to this.

In addition to playing a pivotal role in the filming of SPOTLIGHT and ROOM, Canada would win for Short Documentary with THE GIRL IN THE RIVER by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. AMY, a detailed recounting of fallen singer Amy Winehouse, would win for Documentary.

Fashion always is at the forefront at the Oscars and Rooney Mara in Givenchy, Charlize Theron in Dior, Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé, Saoirse Ronan in Calvin Klein, Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton and Jennifer Lawrence in Dior, would win on the Red Carpet.

Complete list of Winners here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

#BOXOFFICE: “SAN ANDREAS” BECOMES DWAYNE JOHNSON’S TOP OPENING FILM EVER

NOTE: These are estimates.  Final totals to come Sunday.

If there ever were any doubt that Dwayne Johnson was a big Movie Star, this oughta settle it!  SAN ANDREAS debuts at number one this weekend with a stellar $46.5 million for Warner Bros.  from 3,777 theatres. As a Leading Actor, this would be his highest debut yet, besting 2013’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation, which opened with $40.1 million.  Critics were on-the-fence with a 49% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences were pleased with an A- CinemaScore.

TOMORROWLAND after debuting on-top last weekend lands in second his weekend with $16.5 million for Disney, from 3,972 theatres.  In its two weeks domestically, it has made $64 million.

PITCH PERFECT 2 won’t quit singing in third for Universal Pictures, with $13.9 million in its third week out, well on its way to surpassing $150 million early this week.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD continues to do well in fourth this weekend with $11.6 million for Warner Bros., a three-week tally of $114 million.

ALOHA is Cameron Crowe‘s latest and despite a superb Cast including Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone and Rachel McAdams, it missed he mark among Critics, getting 18% only on the Tomatometer.  Audiences were more forgiving with a B- CinemaScore. It opens in 2,815 theatres with $10.4 million, placing sixth.

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD continues to hang-on to the Top Ten with a smart release strategy from Fox Searchlight. In its fifth week out, it has made $1.2 million, good enough for eighth. Thus far in a limited number of theatres, it has made $8.2 million.

HOT PURSUIT rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.1 million for Warner Bros., in its fourth week out.  Its total is at $32 million in North America.

 

 

 

#BOXOFFICE: “PITCH PERFECT” HITS HIGH NOTE IN DEBUT

PITCH PERFECT 2 hits a high note with a stellar debut at the Box Office!  The Musical-Comedy picks-up where its Predecessor left-off in 2012, earning $64 million from 3,473 theatres in its opening for Universal Pictures.  In comparison, its Installment, opened wide with $15 million only. Critics gave it a solid 68% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore.

Despite big expectations of MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, it opens in second with a still-impressive $43 million for Warner Bros., from 3,702 theatres.  This latest Chapter in a Franchise directed by George Miller which dates all the way back to 1980, is winning over Critics abound with an outstanding 98% on the Tomatometer and a B+ from Audiences. By comparison, the first Film in the Mad Max Series back in 1980 would go-on to gross $8.7 million, while Sequel Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome would earn $36 million in its run in 1985.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON in its third week still is going strong with $37 million for Disney/Marvel.  In three weeks it has made a whopping $370 million domestically.

HOT PURSUIT is a distant fourth with $5.6 million for Warner Bros., now earning $26 million in its two weeks out thus far.

FURIOUS 7 is in fifth this weekend with $3.5 million in its seventh week out, now grossing $343 million.

Acclaimed Sci-Fi Flick EX_MACHINA is in ninth spot this weekend with $2 million for A24 Films/Mongrel Media, nearing the $20 million mark domestically.

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.3 million for Fox Searchlight.

#FIRSTLOOK: WATCH THE TEASER TRAILER FOR “MAD MAX: FURY ROAD”

“My name is Max, my World is fire and blood.”.

Now, I remember watching Mad Max when I was a Kid but it was nowhere near this level of slick! See the gorgeous new Trailer for what should be one of 2015’s biggest highlights! Original Mad Max Director George Miller returns to the Director’s Chair!

 

Official Synopsis:
Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

See the Teaser:

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD stars our fave Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Nicholas Hoult and Zoë Kravitz.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release MAD MAX: FURY ROAD on Friday, May 15, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)