John Carpenter's "Escape From New York" is a cult classic for a reason — it rules. Released in 1981, "Escape From New York" is a down-and-dirty sci-fi action pic in which New York City has become a giant maximum security prison. As bad luck would have it, an attempted hijacking of Air Force One forces the President (Donald Pleasence) to eject from the plane in an escape pod. Guess where he ends up? Yep — NYC, baby! The Big Apple! The militarized government wants to save the President and retrieve a top-secret briefcase he has cuffed to his wrist, but New York is too dangerous to simply enter for your average rescue mission. So the powers-that-be strike upon a simple plan: they force criminal Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) into doing the job.
Snake, a cool dude with an eyepatch and a whispery voice, has no real choice in the matter: a device...
Snake, a cool dude with an eyepatch and a whispery voice, has no real choice in the matter: a device...
- 3/7/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Hollywood icons Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have shared a remarkable bond since 1983, captivating audiences with their enduring love story. Despite never formalizing their union through marriage, they stand as a beacon of wholesomeness in the often tumultuous landscape of Hollywood relationships.
Their commitment to each other transcends traditional labels, emphasizing the depth of their connection beyond societal conventions.
Goldie Hawn in Snatched
One of the highlights of their remarkable journey together occurred during the 1989 Oscars, a moment etched in the annals of Hollywood history. Their onstage presence that evening might have initially puzzled fans, but it ultimately radiated warmth and authenticity, touching the hearts of viewers around the world.
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s Playful 1989 Oscars On-Stage Moment
Kurt Russell in Death Proof
In the glitzy world of Hollywood, where fairy tales often unfold on the silver screen, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s 1989 Oscars moment added a...
Their commitment to each other transcends traditional labels, emphasizing the depth of their connection beyond societal conventions.
Goldie Hawn in Snatched
One of the highlights of their remarkable journey together occurred during the 1989 Oscars, a moment etched in the annals of Hollywood history. Their onstage presence that evening might have initially puzzled fans, but it ultimately radiated warmth and authenticity, touching the hearts of viewers around the world.
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s Playful 1989 Oscars On-Stage Moment
Kurt Russell in Death Proof
In the glitzy world of Hollywood, where fairy tales often unfold on the silver screen, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s 1989 Oscars moment added a...
- 2/19/2024
- by Pritha
- FandomWire
Paul Schrader’s Hardcore is one of the writer-director’s most unabashedly autobiographical films. The opening montage of winter in Grand Rapids, Michigan, contains shots of the street where he grew up, his family members, and places he worked. Schrader has also mentioned in interviews that George S. Scott’s Calvinist furniture manufacturer, Jake Van Dorn, is an equivocal portrait of his father.
That entire sequence is shot through with ambivalence. The Van Dorn clan is depicted with warmth and hominess, but there are cracks evident in the facade: the disapproving comments about modern media; the passive-aggressive way in which the emotionally distant Jake talks down to a female employee; and the absence of a presiding maternal figure.
When his daughter, Kristen (Ilah Davis), inexplicably goes missing on a church trip to California, Jake is determined to track her down with the help of Andy Mast (Peter Boyle), a morally...
That entire sequence is shot through with ambivalence. The Van Dorn clan is depicted with warmth and hominess, but there are cracks evident in the facade: the disapproving comments about modern media; the passive-aggressive way in which the emotionally distant Jake talks down to a female employee; and the absence of a presiding maternal figure.
When his daughter, Kristen (Ilah Davis), inexplicably goes missing on a church trip to California, Jake is determined to track her down with the help of Andy Mast (Peter Boyle), a morally...
- 9/6/2023
- by Budd Wilkins
- Slant Magazine
Goldie Hawn is setting the record straight on her relationship with Kurt Russell.
Despite being together for over 40 years, the two have never tied the knot. It’s a decision that comes out a desire for privacy than anything, according to the star.
“We had been married. And because when it doesn’t work out, it ends up to be a big business. Somebody has to own something. It’s always ugly,” she told anchor Chris Wallace on his show “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” on Max and CNN. “Somebody has to actually take a look and say how many how many divorces are fun? How many divorces actually don’t cost money? How many divorces make you even hate the person more than you did before? How many divorces have hurt children?”
Read More: Goldie Hawn Slams Cancel Culture, Says It’s Affecting Comedy: ‘The Level Of Sensitivity...
Despite being together for over 40 years, the two have never tied the knot. It’s a decision that comes out a desire for privacy than anything, according to the star.
“We had been married. And because when it doesn’t work out, it ends up to be a big business. Somebody has to own something. It’s always ugly,” she told anchor Chris Wallace on his show “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” on Max and CNN. “Somebody has to actually take a look and say how many how many divorces are fun? How many divorces actually don’t cost money? How many divorces make you even hate the person more than you did before? How many divorces have hurt children?”
Read More: Goldie Hawn Slams Cancel Culture, Says It’s Affecting Comedy: ‘The Level Of Sensitivity...
- 7/14/2023
- by Anita Tai
- ET Canada
After nearly 40 years together, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell are one of Hollywood's most enduring couples. But while their relationship has spanned decades, they've never tied the knot, and that's just how Hawn likes it. In a July 14 interview on "Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?" on CNN and Max, "The First Wives Club" actor opened up about why marriage simply isn't right for her and her longtime partner.
During the interview, Wallace asked Hawn why she and Russell never married, and she was quick to respond. "Why should we get married? Isn't that a better question?" she countered. She then went on to elaborate, "Because we had been married. And because when it doesn't work out, it ends up to be a big business. Somebody has to own something. It's always ugly. Somebody has to actually take a look and say how many how many divorces are fun? How many divorces actually don't cost money?...
During the interview, Wallace asked Hawn why she and Russell never married, and she was quick to respond. "Why should we get married? Isn't that a better question?" she countered. She then went on to elaborate, "Because we had been married. And because when it doesn't work out, it ends up to be a big business. Somebody has to own something. It's always ugly. Somebody has to actually take a look and say how many how many divorces are fun? How many divorces actually don't cost money?...
- 7/14/2023
- by Sabienna Bowman
- Popsugar.com
A new episode of The Manson Brothers Show, the video series hosted by the writers/stars of the horror comedy The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre – Chris Margetis (Stone Manson) and Mike Carey (Skull Manson) – has just been released, and in this one the Boys are looking back at director John Carpenter’s 1981 sci-fi action classic Escape from New York (watch it Here). To find out what they had to say about the film, check out the video embedded above!
Scripted by Carpenter and Nick Castle, Escape from New York has the following description: In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam. But when the US president crash-lands inside, only one man can bring him back: notorious outlaw and former Special Forces war hero Snake Plissken. But time is short. In 24 hours, an explosive device implanted...
Scripted by Carpenter and Nick Castle, Escape from New York has the following description: In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam. But when the US president crash-lands inside, only one man can bring him back: notorious outlaw and former Special Forces war hero Snake Plissken. But time is short. In 24 hours, an explosive device implanted...
- 3/15/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
In last year’s Scream movie, which came to us from the filmmaking trio known as Radio Silence, there’s a moment where the characters realize the latest iteration of the Ghostface killer is “making a requel”. It breaks down like this: “You can’t just reboot a franchise from scratch anymore, but you can’t just do a straight sequel either. You’ve got to build something new. It’s got to be part of an on-going storyline. New main characters, yes, but supported by and related to legacy characters. Not quite a reboot, not quite a sequel.” Some prefer to term “legacyquel” over “requel”, but in a new interview with ComicBook.com Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett confirmed they’re planning to make an Escape from New York “requel”.
It was announced back in November that Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett are attached to direct a new take on John Carpenter’s 1981 sci-fi...
It was announced back in November that Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett are attached to direct a new take on John Carpenter’s 1981 sci-fi...
- 3/6/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Update 2: It would seem that Radio Silence are indeed going to direct the new Escape from New York movie as Deadline has also confirmed the news, adding that original director John Carpenter is onboard as an executive producer.
Update: Our friends at Bloody Disgusting have been able to confirm that Radio Silence is in early talks with 20th Century Fox about directing an Escape from New York project, but Kurt Russell has not been contacted at this time.
The original article follows:
A remake of John Carpenter’s 1981 sci-fi action film Escape from New York (watch it Here) has been in development for many years, passing through the hands of filmmakers like Len Wiseman, Brett Ratner, Breck Eisner, Robert Rodriguez, and Leigh Whannell. But now a Rumor has emerged, via GiantFreakinRobot, that the remake plans have been scrapped and we’re actually going to be getting a sequel to Escape from New York,...
Update: Our friends at Bloody Disgusting have been able to confirm that Radio Silence is in early talks with 20th Century Fox about directing an Escape from New York project, but Kurt Russell has not been contacted at this time.
The original article follows:
A remake of John Carpenter’s 1981 sci-fi action film Escape from New York (watch it Here) has been in development for many years, passing through the hands of filmmakers like Len Wiseman, Brett Ratner, Breck Eisner, Robert Rodriguez, and Leigh Whannell. But now a Rumor has emerged, via GiantFreakinRobot, that the remake plans have been scrapped and we’re actually going to be getting a sequel to Escape from New York,...
- 11/17/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
When John Carpenter’s action classic “Escape from New York” premiered 40 years ago on July 10, 1981, moviegoers were treated to a dystopian nightmare unlike anything they’d seen before. Set in a grim future where the island of Manhattan has been converted into a giant maximum security prison, the film featured Kurt Russell in a career-defining role as Snake Plissken, a one-eyed Special Forces soldier turned master criminal who is tasked with saving the President of the United States when Air Force One crashes on the walled island.
Carpenter assembled a colorful cast of character actors to accompany Russell on his thrilling mission, including Ernest Borgnine, Harry Dean Stanton, Isaac Hayes and Donald Pleasence as the President. Aside from a brief appearance by Russell’s then-wife Season Hubley, the film’s lone female role was portrayed by Adrienne Barbeau, who was married to the director at the time and had made...
Carpenter assembled a colorful cast of character actors to accompany Russell on his thrilling mission, including Ernest Borgnine, Harry Dean Stanton, Isaac Hayes and Donald Pleasence as the President. Aside from a brief appearance by Russell’s then-wife Season Hubley, the film’s lone female role was portrayed by Adrienne Barbeau, who was married to the director at the time and had made...
- 7/9/2021
- by Matthew Chernov
- Variety Film + TV
After 35 years of dating, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell still know how to incorporate humor into their adorable relationship. On Wednesday, March 28, Goldie took to Instagram to joke that she cheated on Kurt — but with a very cute dog, don't worry! "Two-timing Kurt on the set of his movie...
- 3/29/2018
- by Samantha Faragalli
- Closer Weekly
Goldie Hawn is an open book when it comes to her 34-year-long romance with Kurt Russell. During an interview with People, the Snatched actress opened up about her instant connection with him on the set of their 1984 romantic war drama, Swing Shift. "He was so good-looking, but he had no pretense about him. I could tell right away he wasn't a womanizer," she said. At the time, Kurt had just finalized his divorce from Season Hubley and was already a father to his son, Boston, while Goldie had two kids, Oliver and Kate, from her previous marriage to Bill Hudson, but it didn't take long for their friendship to develop into something more. "What really got me was when I watched my kids when they'd come to the set and how he was with them," she added. "He was amazing with them. He was such a natural." RelatedKurt Russell and...
- 5/10/2017
- by Kelsie Gibson
- Popsugar.com
Zoe Saldana has nothing but praise for her Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 co-star Kurt Russell and his longtime love, Goldie Hawn, who will be honored at a special double Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony later this week.
"Every time I see them on TV or on the red carpet, they're my favorites," Saldana told Et at a special screening of her new Marvel sci-fi epic at The Whitby Hotel in New York City on Wednesday.
"Not only was it an honor to [work] with [him], but to know that Kurt Russell is an exceptional man besides being an artist was a treat and a check off my bucket list."
Watch: Goldie Hawn Says Walk of Fame Ceremony With Kurt Russell Will Be a 'Celebration of the Two of Us'
Saldana said she respects the 66-year-old action icon not only as an performer, but also for his devotion to parenting and his dedication to his family.
"I have...
"Every time I see them on TV or on the red carpet, they're my favorites," Saldana told Et at a special screening of her new Marvel sci-fi epic at The Whitby Hotel in New York City on Wednesday.
"Not only was it an honor to [work] with [him], but to know that Kurt Russell is an exceptional man besides being an artist was a treat and a check off my bucket list."
Watch: Goldie Hawn Says Walk of Fame Ceremony With Kurt Russell Will Be a 'Celebration of the Two of Us'
Saldana said she respects the 66-year-old action icon not only as an performer, but also for his devotion to parenting and his dedication to his family.
"I have...
- 5/4/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell may be one of Hollywood's most committed couples, but many fans will be shocked to know their relationship almost didn't happen! The two first met on the set of The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band in 1968, but nothing ever developed because of their major age difference (she was 21 and he was just 16). Although Goldie later admitted there was a spark between them, she said she didn't pursue anything because he was too young. Thankfully, fate was on their side, and their paths crossed once more when they costarred in the 1984 romantic war drama, Swing Shift. At the time, Kurt had just finalized his divorce from Season Hubley and was already a father to his son, Boston, while Goldie had two kids, Oliver and Kate, from her previous marriage to Bill Hudson. After playing love interests, it didn't take long for their friendship to develop into something more.
- 3/28/2017
- by Kelsie Gibson
- Popsugar.com
We haven't heard much about the Escape from New York remake since Fox picked up the rights to reboot the franchise back in early 2015, but now it's being reported that Robert Rodriguez is in talks to take the directing reins on the project.
According to THR, Rodriguez (Planet Terror, From Dusk Till Dawn) is in discussions to direct the Escape from New York remake for 20th Century Fox, with John Carpenter—the director of the original film and its 1996 sequel (Escape from L.A.)—on board as an executive producer with considerable creative input on the project (he's also doing something similar in the Michael Myers franchise by executive producing the new Halloween movie). On Facebook, Carpenter shared his excitement for Rodriguez's potential involvement, writing, "I am thrilled. He is a great director."
The remake will also be produced by Picture Co.'s Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman, and it's believed...
According to THR, Rodriguez (Planet Terror, From Dusk Till Dawn) is in discussions to direct the Escape from New York remake for 20th Century Fox, with John Carpenter—the director of the original film and its 1996 sequel (Escape from L.A.)—on board as an executive producer with considerable creative input on the project (he's also doing something similar in the Michael Myers franchise by executive producing the new Halloween movie). On Facebook, Carpenter shared his excitement for Rodriguez's potential involvement, writing, "I am thrilled. He is a great director."
The remake will also be produced by Picture Co.'s Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman, and it's believed...
- 3/24/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The conflicted Paul Schrader works out some hellacious personal issues, in a feverish tale of a Michigan Calvinist searching for his daughter in the porn jungle of L.A.. A disturbingly dark modern-day cross between The Searchers and Masque of the Red Death, it was meant to be even darker. Hardcore Blu-ray Twilight Time 1979 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 108 min. / Street Date August, 2016 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store / 29.95 Starring George C. Scott, Peter Boyle, Season Hubley, Dick Sargent, Leonard Gaines, David Nichols. Cinematography Michael Chapman Production Designer Paul Sylbert Art Direction Edwin O'Donovan Film Editor Tom Rolf Original Music Jack Nitzsche Produced by Buzz Feitshans, John Milius Written and Directed by Paul Schrader
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
I'm not sure that the word 'controversial' has the same meaning it once had. There has to be a consensus on what is 'normal' in society for some topics to become edgy. These...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
I'm not sure that the word 'controversial' has the same meaning it once had. There has to be a consensus on what is 'normal' in society for some topics to become edgy. These...
- 9/2/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Scream Factory has announced the April 21, 2015 release of John Carpenter’s Escape From New York (Collector’s Edition) on Blu-ray. The new edition of the 1981 cult classic starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Season Hubley, Harry Dean Stanton, and Adrienne Barbeau includes several bonus features including a new 2K scan of the inter-positive, struck from the original negative.
A thrilling landmark film that jolts along … Continue reading →
Horrornews.net...
A thrilling landmark film that jolts along … Continue reading →
Horrornews.net...
- 2/21/2015
- by Horrornews.net
- Horror News
“Snake Plissken… I’ve heard of you. I heard you were dead.” Scream Factory's out to prove The Duke of New York City wrong with the resurrection of Kurt Russell's awesome anti-hero in their Escape From New York Collector’s Edition Blu-ray that hits shelves on April 21st, complete with 2k digital restoration. Last month, Scream Factory debuted the cover art for the new release of John Carpenter's 1981 cult classic, and now they've unveiled the Blu-ray's bountiful bonus features, including a new audio commentary with actress Adrienne Barbeau and directory of photography Dean Cundey, additional interviews with the crew, and much more:
Press Release - "Los Angeles, CA – Scream Factory has announced the April 21, 2015 release of John Carpenter’s Escape From New York (Collector’s Edition) on Blu-ray. The new edition of the 1981 cult classic starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Season Hubley,...
Press Release - "Los Angeles, CA – Scream Factory has announced the April 21, 2015 release of John Carpenter’s Escape From New York (Collector’s Edition) on Blu-ray. The new edition of the 1981 cult classic starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Season Hubley,...
- 2/19/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
“I heard you were dead.” This enduring line from co-writer/director John Carpenter’s Escape From New York nicely sums up the long in-the-works remake of the 1981 cult classic film. But, like its tough-as-nails anti-hero, Snake Plissken, the potential reboot keeps getting back up just when fans of the franchise think it might be down for the count. True to form, the project is moving forward with some force now that Fox has purchased the rights to remake the Kurt Russell-starring sci-fi action film, with Carpenter offering creative input on the new take.
According to Deadline, Fox came out on top in a competitive purchasing scramble for the rights to remake Escape From New York. The studio is looking to reboot the cult classic and potentially expand the property into a multi-film series. Fans of the original Escape From New York can take solace in the fact that John Carpenter...
According to Deadline, Fox came out on top in a competitive purchasing scramble for the rights to remake Escape From New York. The studio is looking to reboot the cult classic and potentially expand the property into a multi-film series. Fans of the original Escape From New York can take solace in the fact that John Carpenter...
- 1/14/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
There have been many TV bios of Elvis Presley but Elvis, The Movie, the once-elusive 1979 feature starring Kurt Russell, was the first and is still the best. An 18-minute condensed version of Elvis The Movie on Super-8 sound film will be screened at Super-8 Marlon Brando Movie Madness on November 4th at The Way Out Club – (yes, we’re aware that Elvis, The Movie has nothing to do with Marlon Brando, but it’s the variety that makes it the madness!)
When Elvis died August 16 1978 at age 42, it sent shock waves around the world, comparable to the deaths of Princess Diana or Michael Jackson in later decades. A carnival atmosphere developed in Memphis as thousands of mourners gathered around the gates of Graceland and sales of Elvis’ music skyrocketed. The 3-hour epic Elvis The Movie, produced by Dick Clark for the ABC network premiered 18 months later on February 11 1979 and, despite...
When Elvis died August 16 1978 at age 42, it sent shock waves around the world, comparable to the deaths of Princess Diana or Michael Jackson in later decades. A carnival atmosphere developed in Memphis as thousands of mourners gathered around the gates of Graceland and sales of Elvis’ music skyrocketed. The 3-hour epic Elvis The Movie, produced by Dick Clark for the ABC network premiered 18 months later on February 11 1979 and, despite...
- 10/24/2014
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
There are a lot of terrific and revealing photos within the upcoming tome "On the Set With John Carpenter" (arriving October 21st), but some of the real stand-out pics depict Kurt Russell - with Season Hubley (his ex-wife) - on the set of Carpenter's The Fog. Russell - seen in these images here adopting a western look - was visiting Carpenter to discuss ideas for Escape from New York. At the time, the two previously collaborated on Elvis.
These candid stills are just two of the many featured in the book that features the photography of Kim Gottlieb-Walker.
The post Kurt Russell on the Set of The Fog Featured in New John Carpenter Book appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
These candid stills are just two of the many featured in the book that features the photography of Kim Gottlieb-Walker.
The post Kurt Russell on the Set of The Fog Featured in New John Carpenter Book appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
- 10/6/2014
- by Ryan Turek
- shocktillyoudrop.com
“Make a move, and make my day!”
If you think that line was said by Clint Eastwood in one of his Dirty Harry films, you’d be mistaken. It was uttered in 1982, the year before Sudden Impact, in director Gary Sherman’s sensationally sleazy Vice Squad, a sordid but exciting look at life on the seedy strip of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard when the sun goes down. The guys at Destroy The Brain.com usually feature horror fare at their monthly Late Night Grindhouse midnight series, but this weekend’s offering is indeed Vice Squad, a crime film more in line with a pair of Linda Blair movies (Chained Heat and Savage Streets) they showed last year (appropriate since Vice Squad star Wings Hauser dated Linda Blair for several years).
It may be hard out there for a pimp but the opening of Vice Squad where Ramrod, the sadistic pimp played by Hauser,...
If you think that line was said by Clint Eastwood in one of his Dirty Harry films, you’d be mistaken. It was uttered in 1982, the year before Sudden Impact, in director Gary Sherman’s sensationally sleazy Vice Squad, a sordid but exciting look at life on the seedy strip of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard when the sun goes down. The guys at Destroy The Brain.com usually feature horror fare at their monthly Late Night Grindhouse midnight series, but this weekend’s offering is indeed Vice Squad, a crime film more in line with a pair of Linda Blair movies (Chained Heat and Savage Streets) they showed last year (appropriate since Vice Squad star Wings Hauser dated Linda Blair for several years).
It may be hard out there for a pimp but the opening of Vice Squad where Ramrod, the sadistic pimp played by Hauser,...
- 9/4/2012
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
There have been many TV bios of Elvis Presley but Elvis, The Movie, the once-elusive 1979 feature starring Kurt Russell, was the first and is still the best. When Elvis died August 16 1978 at age 42, it sent shock waves around the world, comparable to the deaths of Princess Diana or Michael Jackson in later decades. A carnival atmosphere developed in Memphis as thousands of mourners gathered around the gates of Graceland and sales of Elvis. music skyrocketed. The 3-hour epic Elvis The Movie, produced by Dick Clark for the ABC network premiered 18 months later on February 11 1979 and, despite CBS airing Gone With The Wind the same night, was one of the highest rated made-for-television movies ever shown (it played theatrically on other parts of the world . in Japan it was called The Singer!). The script by Antony Lawrence, who had penned two Elvis movies earlier in his career (Paradise Hawaiin Style and...
- 8/23/2012
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
It’s a big day for Kurt Russell – the Hollywood star turns 60 on Thursday.
The birthday boy was born on St. Patrick’s Day in 1951 and by the tender age of 10, he had landed his first acting job, making his big screen debut in The Absent-Minded Professor.
One of the few child stars to carve out a lasting and successful career, Russell has been in over 40 movies in the past four decades.
And there’ll be another milestone for Kurt in May - his partner Goldie Hawn's daughter Kate Hudson is due to welcome her second child!
To kick off the celebrations, WENN has compiled 10 fascinating facts about the star:
- He impressed Walt Disney as a youngster and landed a 10-year contract with the movie mogul’s studio, before shedding his wholesome image to become an action star.
- Kurt played professional baseball until a shoulder injury forced him to retire from the sport in 1973.
- He’s had plenty of links to Elvis Presley throughout his life - as a young boy, he kicked the King in the shin in 1963’s It Happened at the World Fair. And 16 years later, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for playing the singer in the 1979 TV biopic, Elvis. He reprised that role when he provided Presley’s voice in Forrest Gump. And in 2001, he played an Elvis impersonator in 3000 Miles to Graceland.
- Kurt’s dad was also an actor - Bing Russell is best known for playing Deputy Clem Foster on Bonanza.
- Kurt tried out to play Han Solo in Star Wars but lost the role to Harrison Ford.
- In 1968, he starred in The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band with his future partner, Goldie Hawn.
- Kurt married his Elvis co-star Season Hubley but they divorced in 1983, when he reconnected with Hawn. He’s been with the Private Benjamin star ever since.
- Hawn’s kids with Bill Hudson, Oliver and Kate Hudson, consider Kurt to be their dad since he raised them.
- He received a Golden Globe nomination in 1983 for Silkwood, but lost to Terms of Endearment star Jack Nicholson.
- Kurt has cemented his status as a cult hero with roles in fan favourites like Death Proof, Escape From New York and Big Trouble In Little China.
The birthday boy was born on St. Patrick’s Day in 1951 and by the tender age of 10, he had landed his first acting job, making his big screen debut in The Absent-Minded Professor.
One of the few child stars to carve out a lasting and successful career, Russell has been in over 40 movies in the past four decades.
And there’ll be another milestone for Kurt in May - his partner Goldie Hawn's daughter Kate Hudson is due to welcome her second child!
To kick off the celebrations, WENN has compiled 10 fascinating facts about the star:
- He impressed Walt Disney as a youngster and landed a 10-year contract with the movie mogul’s studio, before shedding his wholesome image to become an action star.
- Kurt played professional baseball until a shoulder injury forced him to retire from the sport in 1973.
- He’s had plenty of links to Elvis Presley throughout his life - as a young boy, he kicked the King in the shin in 1963’s It Happened at the World Fair. And 16 years later, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for playing the singer in the 1979 TV biopic, Elvis. He reprised that role when he provided Presley’s voice in Forrest Gump. And in 2001, he played an Elvis impersonator in 3000 Miles to Graceland.
- Kurt’s dad was also an actor - Bing Russell is best known for playing Deputy Clem Foster on Bonanza.
- Kurt tried out to play Han Solo in Star Wars but lost the role to Harrison Ford.
- In 1968, he starred in The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band with his future partner, Goldie Hawn.
- Kurt married his Elvis co-star Season Hubley but they divorced in 1983, when he reconnected with Hawn. He’s been with the Private Benjamin star ever since.
- Hawn’s kids with Bill Hudson, Oliver and Kate Hudson, consider Kurt to be their dad since he raised them.
- He received a Golden Globe nomination in 1983 for Silkwood, but lost to Terms of Endearment star Jack Nicholson.
- Kurt has cemented his status as a cult hero with roles in fan favourites like Death Proof, Escape From New York and Big Trouble In Little China.
- 3/17/2011
- WENN
Chicago – Our younger readers may find it hard to believe that John Carpenter was once one of the most inspiring filmmakers in the world. He’s still one of the truly influential voices of the ’70s and ’80s despite the tragedy that has been his career for the last couple decades. Save for the occasional flare-up (“Masters of Horror: Cigarette Burns,” “In the Mouth of Madness”), Carpenter’s work has barely resembled his prime. For proof, check out the still-amazing and timeless “Escape From New York,” now available on Blu-ray for the first time.
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
“Escape From New York” fell right in the middle of an amazing period of Carpenter creativity that began with “Assault on Precinct 13” in 1976 and closed with “They Live” in 1988. With his most common and successful leading man in Kurt Russell (who would also star in the director’s “The Thing” and “Big Trouble in Little China...
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
“Escape From New York” fell right in the middle of an amazing period of Carpenter creativity that began with “Assault on Precinct 13” in 1976 and closed with “They Live” in 1988. With his most common and successful leading man in Kurt Russell (who would also star in the director’s “The Thing” and “Big Trouble in Little China...
- 8/10/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Escape From L.A. (Blu-ray)Paramount Home Entertainment1996/Rated R/101 MinsNow Available – List Price $29.99I think it all started when in 1993 Kurt Russell and John Carpenter reunited to record an audio commentary for the laserdisc release of Escape From New York. The duo, who also collaborated on the TV movie Elvis, The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China, had not seen each other for some time, and if you've ever heard one of their audio commentaries, you know what a laugh-riot these two are when put together. 1997, the date in which the film was set was fast approaching and Russell and Carpenter seemed to have had such a great time making the picture that the time seemed right for them to try it again. With the success of the western adventure Tombstone later that year, Russell became a bankable star and soon would enjoy starring in hits like Stargate and Executive Decision.
- 5/14/2010
- LRMonline.com
This week sees more new film and TV releases on Blu-ray and DVD. Among the ones we’re more interested in this week are The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Ponyo, The Neverending Story, the Syfy miniseries Alice , Kurt Russell in Elvis, and the original Clash of the Titans (with Sir Laurence Olivier, pictured above).
Check out all the new releases below.
Film
Bitch Slap (Unrated) ~ Debbie Lee Carrington, Michael Hurst, Kevin Sorbo (DVD)
Clash of the Titans ~ Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin, Maggie Smith (Blu-ray and DVD)
Cold Souls ~ Paul Giamatti, Boris Leskin (Blu-ray and DVD)
Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey ~ Curious George (DVD)
Gentlemen Broncos ~ Jermaine Clement, Sam Rockwell (Blu-ray and DVD)
Ninja ~ Scott Adkins (Blu-ray and DVD)
Poltergeist: The Legacy Season 2 ~ Derek De Lint, Patrick Fitzgerald (DVD)
Ponyo (Two-Disc Edition) ~ Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson (Blu-ray and DVD)
Return To The 36th Chamber ~ Gordon Liu (DVD – 2010)
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin...
Check out all the new releases below.
Film
Bitch Slap (Unrated) ~ Debbie Lee Carrington, Michael Hurst, Kevin Sorbo (DVD)
Clash of the Titans ~ Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin, Maggie Smith (Blu-ray and DVD)
Cold Souls ~ Paul Giamatti, Boris Leskin (Blu-ray and DVD)
Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey ~ Curious George (DVD)
Gentlemen Broncos ~ Jermaine Clement, Sam Rockwell (Blu-ray and DVD)
Ninja ~ Scott Adkins (Blu-ray and DVD)
Poltergeist: The Legacy Season 2 ~ Derek De Lint, Patrick Fitzgerald (DVD)
Ponyo (Two-Disc Edition) ~ Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson (Blu-ray and DVD)
Return To The 36th Chamber ~ Gordon Liu (DVD – 2010)
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin...
- 3/3/2010
- by Joe Gillis
- The Flickcast
Hollywood veteran Goldie Hawn has laughed off old reports she plans to wed long-term lover Kurt Russell, insisting their relationship is so strong because they are not married. The blonde actress, 59, started dating 54-year-old Russell after meeting on the set of Swing Shift in 1982, following two broken marriages to Gus Trikonis and Bill Hudson. In her autobiography A Lotus Grows In The Mud, Hawn explains, "Swing Shift was a bitter experience, but without it I might never have met Kurt. He is the love of my life and we're now one of Hollywood's longest-established couples. We are often asked why we have never married. I laugh it off and say, 'Been there, done that.' It didn't work for either of us." Russell was previously married to Season Hubley, mother of his son Boston.
- 5/16/2005
- WENN
"Kiss the Sky" is a smart, sexy, sophisticated comedy-drama with provocative ideas, witty dialogue and droll performances by a first-rate cast. Needless to say, its commercial prospects don't look good.
But it deserves a fighting chance, and one hopes Goldwyn's marketing department will figure out a way to promote it effectively. The film recently had its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
William Petersen and Gary Cole -- two superb, theater-trained actors who rarely get to play film roles with this much depth -- play Jeff and Marty, old friends approaching the cusp of middle age who have serious dissatisfactions with their prosperous but spiritually empty, unexciting lives. Both men are married to beautiful, loving women, and Marty has kids he adores. But both are stubbornly nostalgic for the pleasures of their youth; when Jeff discovers a business opportunity in the Philippines, he convinces Marty to join him, and they set off like a couple of college kids searching for adventure.
They get more than they bargained for. After a requisite period exploring the opium dens and sex clubs of Manila, the pair find themselves staying at a remote island resort. There, they chance upon a beautiful Australian traveler, Andy (Sheryl Lee), and before long the trio has settled into a complex but workable menage a trois that has each delighted and confused. Things get even more disorienting when both men discover that they have fallen in love, and that Andy loves them back. Providing wittily acerbic commentary about the proceedings is Kozan (Terence Stamp), an unconventional Buddhist monk on holiday.
Eric Lerner's script is terrifically smart, filled with digressions and philosophical musings as insightful as they are entertaining. The characters are drawn with a depth and shading rare in contemporary theatrical features, and the dialogue fairly crackles with wit. Although the plot at times strains credibility, the execution is so deft it's hard to seriously care. It is also one of the few films that can truly be described as sexy, a result of the characters' intelligence as much as their physical appeal.
And appealing they are. Petersen, playing a cynical, hard-edged, philosophical type with a soft interior, is given the best of the dialogue and runs with it. Cole, playing a more vulnerable, inward soul, makes even his character's ambivalence highly attractive. And Lee is the best she has ever been: An actress who has never been afraid to bare her body, she delivers a sexy portrayal of a sophisticated woman that will have male audience members panting heavily.
Stamp, delivering lines in the deadpan style he has honed to perfection, scores huge laughs as the monk, and Patricia Charbonneau and Season Hubley are moving as frustrated wives who still love their wayward husbands.
Roger Young's astute direction manages the screenplay's shifts of tone perfectly, and he gets maximum mileage from the talented cast. Donald M. Morgan's lensing of beautiful, exotic locations is likely to spark an exodus to island paradises. Another plus is the musical score's extensive use of Leonard Cohen records, which complement perfectly the script's bittersweet maturity and elegance.
KISS THE SKY
Goldwyn Films
An MGM company
Produced in association with Pacific Motion Pictures
Director: Roger Young
Screenwriter-producer: Eric Lerner
Executive producer: Matthew O'Connor
Director of photography: Donald M. Morgan
Production designer: James Schopppe
Editor: Benjamin A. Weissman
Music: Patrick Williams
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jeff: William Petersen
Marty: Gary Cole
Andy: Sheryl Lee
Franny: Patricia Charbonneau
Beth: Season Hubley
Kozan: Terence Stamp
Running time -- 103 minutes
No MPAA rating...
But it deserves a fighting chance, and one hopes Goldwyn's marketing department will figure out a way to promote it effectively. The film recently had its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
William Petersen and Gary Cole -- two superb, theater-trained actors who rarely get to play film roles with this much depth -- play Jeff and Marty, old friends approaching the cusp of middle age who have serious dissatisfactions with their prosperous but spiritually empty, unexciting lives. Both men are married to beautiful, loving women, and Marty has kids he adores. But both are stubbornly nostalgic for the pleasures of their youth; when Jeff discovers a business opportunity in the Philippines, he convinces Marty to join him, and they set off like a couple of college kids searching for adventure.
They get more than they bargained for. After a requisite period exploring the opium dens and sex clubs of Manila, the pair find themselves staying at a remote island resort. There, they chance upon a beautiful Australian traveler, Andy (Sheryl Lee), and before long the trio has settled into a complex but workable menage a trois that has each delighted and confused. Things get even more disorienting when both men discover that they have fallen in love, and that Andy loves them back. Providing wittily acerbic commentary about the proceedings is Kozan (Terence Stamp), an unconventional Buddhist monk on holiday.
Eric Lerner's script is terrifically smart, filled with digressions and philosophical musings as insightful as they are entertaining. The characters are drawn with a depth and shading rare in contemporary theatrical features, and the dialogue fairly crackles with wit. Although the plot at times strains credibility, the execution is so deft it's hard to seriously care. It is also one of the few films that can truly be described as sexy, a result of the characters' intelligence as much as their physical appeal.
And appealing they are. Petersen, playing a cynical, hard-edged, philosophical type with a soft interior, is given the best of the dialogue and runs with it. Cole, playing a more vulnerable, inward soul, makes even his character's ambivalence highly attractive. And Lee is the best she has ever been: An actress who has never been afraid to bare her body, she delivers a sexy portrayal of a sophisticated woman that will have male audience members panting heavily.
Stamp, delivering lines in the deadpan style he has honed to perfection, scores huge laughs as the monk, and Patricia Charbonneau and Season Hubley are moving as frustrated wives who still love their wayward husbands.
Roger Young's astute direction manages the screenplay's shifts of tone perfectly, and he gets maximum mileage from the talented cast. Donald M. Morgan's lensing of beautiful, exotic locations is likely to spark an exodus to island paradises. Another plus is the musical score's extensive use of Leonard Cohen records, which complement perfectly the script's bittersweet maturity and elegance.
KISS THE SKY
Goldwyn Films
An MGM company
Produced in association with Pacific Motion Pictures
Director: Roger Young
Screenwriter-producer: Eric Lerner
Executive producer: Matthew O'Connor
Director of photography: Donald M. Morgan
Production designer: James Schopppe
Editor: Benjamin A. Weissman
Music: Patrick Williams
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jeff: William Petersen
Marty: Gary Cole
Andy: Sheryl Lee
Franny: Patricia Charbonneau
Beth: Season Hubley
Kozan: Terence Stamp
Running time -- 103 minutes
No MPAA rating...
"Kiss the Sky" is a smart, sexy, sophisticated comedy-drama with provocative ideas, witty dialogue and droll performances by a first-rate cast. Needless to say, its commercial prospects don't look good.
But it deserves a fighting chance, and one hopes Goldwyn's marketing department will figure out a way to promote it effectively. The film recently had its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
William Petersen and Gary Cole -- two superb, theater-trained actors who rarely get to play film roles with this much depth -- play Jeff and Marty, old friends approaching the cusp of middle age who have serious dissatisfactions with their prosperous but spiritually empty, unexciting lives. Both men are married to beautiful, loving women, and Marty has kids he adores. But both are stubbornly nostalgic for the pleasures of their youth; when Jeff discovers a business opportunity in the Philippines, he convinces Marty to join him, and they set off like a couple of college kids searching for adventure.
They get more than they bargained for. After a requisite period exploring the opium dens and sex clubs of Manila, the pair find themselves staying at a remote island resort. There, they chance upon a beautiful Australian traveler, Andy (Sheryl Lee), and before long the trio has settled into a complex but workable menage a trois that has each delighted and confused. Things get even more disorienting when both men discover that they have fallen in love, and that Andy loves them back. Providing wittily acerbic commentary about the proceedings is Kozan (Terence Stamp), an unconventional Buddhist monk on holiday.
Eric Lerner's script is terrifically smart, filled with digressions and philosophical musings as insightful as they are entertaining. The characters are drawn with a depth and shading rare in contemporary theatrical features, and the dialogue fairly crackles with wit. Although the plot at times strains credibility, the execution is so deft it's hard to seriously care. It is also one of the few films that can truly be described as sexy, a result of the characters' intelligence as much as their physical appeal.
And appealing they are. Petersen, playing a cynical, hard-edged, philosophical type with a soft interior, is given the best of the dialogue and runs with it. Cole, playing a more vulnerable, inward soul, makes even his character's ambivalence highly attractive. And Lee is the best she has ever been: An actress who has never been afraid to bare her body, she delivers a sexy portrayal of a sophisticated woman that will have male audience members panting heavily.
Stamp, delivering lines in the deadpan style he has honed to perfection, scores huge laughs as the monk, and Patricia Charbonneau and Season Hubley are moving as frustrated wives who still love their wayward husbands.
Roger Young's astute direction manages the screenplay's shifts of tone perfectly, and he gets maximum mileage from the talented cast. Donald M. Morgan's lensing of beautiful, exotic locations is likely to spark an exodus to island paradises. Another plus is the musical score's extensive use of Leonard Cohen records, which complement perfectly the script's bittersweet maturity and elegance.
KISS THE SKY
Goldwyn Films
An MGM company
Produced in association with Pacific Motion Pictures
Director: Roger Young
Screenwriter-producer: Eric Lerner
Executive producer: Matthew O'Connor
Director of photography: Donald M. Morgan
Production designer: James Schopppe
Editor: Benjamin A. Weissman
Music: Patrick Williams
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jeff: William Petersen
Marty: Gary Cole
Andy: Sheryl Lee
Franny: Patricia Charbonneau
Beth: Season Hubley
Kozan: Terence Stamp
Running time -- 103 minutes
No MPAA rating...
But it deserves a fighting chance, and one hopes Goldwyn's marketing department will figure out a way to promote it effectively. The film recently had its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
William Petersen and Gary Cole -- two superb, theater-trained actors who rarely get to play film roles with this much depth -- play Jeff and Marty, old friends approaching the cusp of middle age who have serious dissatisfactions with their prosperous but spiritually empty, unexciting lives. Both men are married to beautiful, loving women, and Marty has kids he adores. But both are stubbornly nostalgic for the pleasures of their youth; when Jeff discovers a business opportunity in the Philippines, he convinces Marty to join him, and they set off like a couple of college kids searching for adventure.
They get more than they bargained for. After a requisite period exploring the opium dens and sex clubs of Manila, the pair find themselves staying at a remote island resort. There, they chance upon a beautiful Australian traveler, Andy (Sheryl Lee), and before long the trio has settled into a complex but workable menage a trois that has each delighted and confused. Things get even more disorienting when both men discover that they have fallen in love, and that Andy loves them back. Providing wittily acerbic commentary about the proceedings is Kozan (Terence Stamp), an unconventional Buddhist monk on holiday.
Eric Lerner's script is terrifically smart, filled with digressions and philosophical musings as insightful as they are entertaining. The characters are drawn with a depth and shading rare in contemporary theatrical features, and the dialogue fairly crackles with wit. Although the plot at times strains credibility, the execution is so deft it's hard to seriously care. It is also one of the few films that can truly be described as sexy, a result of the characters' intelligence as much as their physical appeal.
And appealing they are. Petersen, playing a cynical, hard-edged, philosophical type with a soft interior, is given the best of the dialogue and runs with it. Cole, playing a more vulnerable, inward soul, makes even his character's ambivalence highly attractive. And Lee is the best she has ever been: An actress who has never been afraid to bare her body, she delivers a sexy portrayal of a sophisticated woman that will have male audience members panting heavily.
Stamp, delivering lines in the deadpan style he has honed to perfection, scores huge laughs as the monk, and Patricia Charbonneau and Season Hubley are moving as frustrated wives who still love their wayward husbands.
Roger Young's astute direction manages the screenplay's shifts of tone perfectly, and he gets maximum mileage from the talented cast. Donald M. Morgan's lensing of beautiful, exotic locations is likely to spark an exodus to island paradises. Another plus is the musical score's extensive use of Leonard Cohen records, which complement perfectly the script's bittersweet maturity and elegance.
KISS THE SKY
Goldwyn Films
An MGM company
Produced in association with Pacific Motion Pictures
Director: Roger Young
Screenwriter-producer: Eric Lerner
Executive producer: Matthew O'Connor
Director of photography: Donald M. Morgan
Production designer: James Schopppe
Editor: Benjamin A. Weissman
Music: Patrick Williams
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jeff: William Petersen
Marty: Gary Cole
Andy: Sheryl Lee
Franny: Patricia Charbonneau
Beth: Season Hubley
Kozan: Terence Stamp
Running time -- 103 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 11/30/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Kiss the Sky" is a smart, sexy, sophisticated comedy-drama with provocative ideas, witty dialogue and droll performances by a first-rate cast. Needless to say, its commercial prospects don't look good.
But it deserves a fighting chance, and one hopes Goldwyn's marketing department will figure out a way to promote it effectively. The film recently had its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
William Petersen and Gary Cole -- two superb, theater-trained actors who rarely get to play film roles with this much depth -- play Jeff and Marty, old friends approaching the cusp of middle age who have serious dissatisfactions with their prosperous but spiritually empty, unexciting lives. Both men are married to beautiful, loving women, and Marty has kids he adores. But both are stubbornly nostalgic for the pleasures of their youth; when Jeff discovers a business opportunity in the Philippines, he convinces Marty to join him, and they set off like a couple of college kids searching for adventure.
They get more than they bargained for. After a requisite period exploring the opium dens and sex clubs of Manila, the pair find themselves staying at a remote island resort. There, they chance upon a beautiful Australian traveler, Andy (Sheryl Lee), and before long the trio has settled into a complex but workable menage a trois that has each delighted and confused. Things get even more disorienting when both men discover that they have fallen in love, and that Andy loves them back. Providing wittily acerbic commentary about the proceedings is Kozan (Terence Stamp), an unconventional Buddhist monk on holiday.
Eric Lerner's script is terrifically smart, filled with digressions and philosophical musings as insightful as they are entertaining. The characters are drawn with a depth and shading rare in contemporary theatrical features, and the dialogue fairly crackles with wit. Although the plot at times strains credibility, the execution is so deft it's hard to seriously care. It is also one of the few films that can truly be described as sexy, a result of the characters' intelligence as much as their physical appeal.
And appealing they are. Petersen, playing a cynical, hard-edged, philosophical type with a soft interior, is given the best of the dialogue and runs with it. Cole, playing a more vulnerable, inward soul, makes even his character's ambivalence highly attractive. And Lee is the best she has ever been: An actress who has never been afraid to bare her body, she delivers a sexy portrayal of a sophisticated woman that will have male audience members panting heavily.
Stamp, delivering lines in the deadpan style he has honed to perfection, scores huge laughs as the monk, and Patricia Charbonneau and Season Hubley are moving as frustrated wives who still love their wayward husbands.
Roger Young's astute direction manages the screenplay's shifts of tone perfectly, and he gets maximum mileage from the talented cast. Donald M. Morgan's lensing of beautiful, exotic locations is likely to spark an exodus to island paradises. Another plus is the musical score's extensive use of Leonard Cohen records, which complement perfectly the script's bittersweet maturity and elegance.
KISS THE SKY
Goldwyn Films
An MGM company
Produced in association with Pacific Motion Pictures
Director: Roger Young
Screenwriter-producer: Eric Lerner
Executive producer: Matthew O'Connor
Director of photography: Donald M. Morgan
Production designer: James Schopppe
Editor: Benjamin A. Weissman
Music: Patrick Williams
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jeff: William Petersen
Marty: Gary Cole
Andy: Sheryl Lee
Franny: Patricia Charbonneau
Beth: Season Hubley
Kozan: Terence Stamp
Running time -- 103 minutes
No MPAA rating...
But it deserves a fighting chance, and one hopes Goldwyn's marketing department will figure out a way to promote it effectively. The film recently had its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
William Petersen and Gary Cole -- two superb, theater-trained actors who rarely get to play film roles with this much depth -- play Jeff and Marty, old friends approaching the cusp of middle age who have serious dissatisfactions with their prosperous but spiritually empty, unexciting lives. Both men are married to beautiful, loving women, and Marty has kids he adores. But both are stubbornly nostalgic for the pleasures of their youth; when Jeff discovers a business opportunity in the Philippines, he convinces Marty to join him, and they set off like a couple of college kids searching for adventure.
They get more than they bargained for. After a requisite period exploring the opium dens and sex clubs of Manila, the pair find themselves staying at a remote island resort. There, they chance upon a beautiful Australian traveler, Andy (Sheryl Lee), and before long the trio has settled into a complex but workable menage a trois that has each delighted and confused. Things get even more disorienting when both men discover that they have fallen in love, and that Andy loves them back. Providing wittily acerbic commentary about the proceedings is Kozan (Terence Stamp), an unconventional Buddhist monk on holiday.
Eric Lerner's script is terrifically smart, filled with digressions and philosophical musings as insightful as they are entertaining. The characters are drawn with a depth and shading rare in contemporary theatrical features, and the dialogue fairly crackles with wit. Although the plot at times strains credibility, the execution is so deft it's hard to seriously care. It is also one of the few films that can truly be described as sexy, a result of the characters' intelligence as much as their physical appeal.
And appealing they are. Petersen, playing a cynical, hard-edged, philosophical type with a soft interior, is given the best of the dialogue and runs with it. Cole, playing a more vulnerable, inward soul, makes even his character's ambivalence highly attractive. And Lee is the best she has ever been: An actress who has never been afraid to bare her body, she delivers a sexy portrayal of a sophisticated woman that will have male audience members panting heavily.
Stamp, delivering lines in the deadpan style he has honed to perfection, scores huge laughs as the monk, and Patricia Charbonneau and Season Hubley are moving as frustrated wives who still love their wayward husbands.
Roger Young's astute direction manages the screenplay's shifts of tone perfectly, and he gets maximum mileage from the talented cast. Donald M. Morgan's lensing of beautiful, exotic locations is likely to spark an exodus to island paradises. Another plus is the musical score's extensive use of Leonard Cohen records, which complement perfectly the script's bittersweet maturity and elegance.
KISS THE SKY
Goldwyn Films
An MGM company
Produced in association with Pacific Motion Pictures
Director: Roger Young
Screenwriter-producer: Eric Lerner
Executive producer: Matthew O'Connor
Director of photography: Donald M. Morgan
Production designer: James Schopppe
Editor: Benjamin A. Weissman
Music: Patrick Williams
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jeff: William Petersen
Marty: Gary Cole
Andy: Sheryl Lee
Franny: Patricia Charbonneau
Beth: Season Hubley
Kozan: Terence Stamp
Running time -- 103 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 12/30/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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