Although Universal’s publicity department has asked that journalists refrain from spilling the secrets of Oblivion, the major revelations, once they arrive, will hardly surprise anyone familiar with Total Recall, The Matrix and the countless other sci-fi touchstones hovering over this striking, visually resplendent adventure. Pitting the latest action-hero incarnation of Tom Cruise against an army of alien marauders, director Joseph Kosinski’s follow-up to Tron: Legacy is a moderately clever dystopian mindbender with a gratifying human pulse, despite some questionable narrative developments along the way. The less-than-airtight construction and conventional resolution may rankle genre devotees, though hardly to the detriment of robust overall B.O. more »
Aviation and music tycoon Sir Richard Branson and his son Sam Branson are no fans of the War on Drugs and they're hoping a new film that they launched on YouTube will do for their cause what An Inconvenient Truth did for the issue of global warming.
Produced through the younger Branson's production company, Sundog Pictures, Breaking the Taboo features a host of notables including former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, other former world leaders as well as experts and other household names in a doc hoping to change hearts and minds about the global war on drugs.
Clinton is shown in the trailer saying the War on Drugs, which has cost billions and jailed thousands in the U.S. alone, "hasn't worked."
Morgan Freeman narrates the English version of the pic, the trailer of which opens with Richard Nixon's proclamation ushering in the U.S. War on Drugs. Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal narrates the Spanish version of the film, which has its trailer available on YouTube. The site indicated the full-length Breaking the Taboo will bow December 7th.
"I am hoping in the same way that Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth opened people's eyes to global warming issues…, Branson toldThe Guardian. This film will open people's eyes on the war on drugs and the failed war on drugs and make it easier for people who want to be brave and do something about it."
Sam Branson said the film will head to YouTube because of its "potential to reach millions. Both Branson look to countries such as Portugal and Spain where drug users receive treatment as opposed to jail time as providing an example. Sir Richard calls the legalization of marijuana as "inevitable" and added that most in power secretly agree with him.
"I have hardly ever come across a politician that won't say – off the record – what needs to be done...in the end they just need to be brave."
Washington and Colorado voted to legalize marijuana in the most recent election and the U.N. general assembly voted to hold a special session on drugs in 2016. Obama is also seen in the film before being elected saying that a change is needed, though he has held the line on decriminalization earlier this year.
"We would be hopeful that in a second term Obama intends at the very least to start treating drugs as a healthcare problem, not a criminal problem," said Sir Richard Branson.
The Batman brand is in the toilet at the outset of The Dark Knight Rises, the third and most self-consciously ornate pillar of Christopher Nolan’s caped crusader resurrection trilogy. The four years since The Dark Knight have passed as eight within the city state of Gotham — one of the neater doublings in a movie inlaid with prismatic tiling — and even the mayor condemns Batman as “a murderous thug.” more »
Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman has been in the business for over four decades, during which time he's delighted youngsters on The Electric Company, driven Miss Daisy, led the White House vs. an asteroid, hunted serial killers, trained Hilary Swank, helped Batman, played God, fought apartheid, gunslinged his way through the Wild West, sent penguins along the circle of life with the power of his voice, and introduced the CBS Evening News. He's earned that reputation for doling out movie wisdom with the best of 'em. With so many great performances to choose from, what's your favorite Freeman role? more »
Also in this morning's edition of Biz Break: Sony Classics reunites with an Oscar-winner, Music Box takes a risk with a Hemingway, John Woo gets in on a remake, and more... more »
"Freeman's rep tells us the actor remained silent for years because he didn't want to 'dignify these stories by commenting' ... but now he feels compelled to speak out after the reports were picked up by various 'mainstream media' outlets. In his statement, Freeman says, 'The recent reports of any pending marriage or romantic relationship of me to anyone are defamatory fabrications from the tabloid media designed to sell papers. What is even more alarming is that these fabrications are now being picked up by the legitimate press as well.'" Sorry about that, Mr. Freeman. In other news: TGIF. [TMZ]
The team at NextMovie today offers this stirring mash-up of deep thoughts proffered by Morgan Freeman — or at least characters played by Morgan Freeman. Even the guy in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves! Incredible. more »
