And look at that, not a leprechaun in sight.
For a relatively small island with a tiny film industry, Ireland certainly gets a lot of representation in movies — sometimes via other places masquerading as Ireland, other times by representing other places (the beach landing scene in Saving Private Ryan was shot in Wexford, for example) or worlds (Ahch-To in The Force Awakens), and occasionally it even gets to play itself. The island also exports a rather impressive number of cinematic talents considering the fact that, though every third or forth person you meet on the street in, say, Boston or Chicago (a lot of places, really) will claim Irish heritage, the Republic of Ireland has a population of slightly less than 4.6 million and Northern Ireland slightly more than 1.8 million, bringing the island to a total of only around 6.4 million. In other words, still around 2 million less than before the Famine, over...
For a relatively small island with a tiny film industry, Ireland certainly gets a lot of representation in movies — sometimes via other places masquerading as Ireland, other times by representing other places (the beach landing scene in Saving Private Ryan was shot in Wexford, for example) or worlds (Ahch-To in The Force Awakens), and occasionally it even gets to play itself. The island also exports a rather impressive number of cinematic talents considering the fact that, though every third or forth person you meet on the street in, say, Boston or Chicago (a lot of places, really) will claim Irish heritage, the Republic of Ireland has a population of slightly less than 4.6 million and Northern Ireland slightly more than 1.8 million, bringing the island to a total of only around 6.4 million. In other words, still around 2 million less than before the Famine, over...
- 3/16/2017
- by Ciara Wardlow
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
New Original Ongoing Comic Adventures Based In The Universe
Of The Legendary Tabletop Miniatures War Game!
Games Workshop and Titan Comics are thrilled to announce the exciting creative team of writer George Mann (Dark Souls, Warhammer Black Library, Eighth Doctor) and artists Tazio Bettin (Independence Day, Sally of the Wasteland) and Enrica Eren Angiolini who kick-off the phenomenal new Warhammer 40,000 comic series this October!
Now in its seventh edition, the ever-popular tabletop miniatures war game Warhammer 40,000 continues to go from strength to strength. The universe is also explored in dozens of best-selling novels, roleplaying and card games, apps and videogames. Additionally the new Dawn Of War III videogame has been announced for 2017 and looks set to join the previous two games in the series as both a critical and sales smash hit!
Hitting stores on October 12, 2016, the new Warhammer 40,000 comic sees Mann and Bettin take the series to new heights with the first adventure,...
Of The Legendary Tabletop Miniatures War Game!
Games Workshop and Titan Comics are thrilled to announce the exciting creative team of writer George Mann (Dark Souls, Warhammer Black Library, Eighth Doctor) and artists Tazio Bettin (Independence Day, Sally of the Wasteland) and Enrica Eren Angiolini who kick-off the phenomenal new Warhammer 40,000 comic series this October!
Now in its seventh edition, the ever-popular tabletop miniatures war game Warhammer 40,000 continues to go from strength to strength. The universe is also explored in dozens of best-selling novels, roleplaying and card games, apps and videogames. Additionally the new Dawn Of War III videogame has been announced for 2017 and looks set to join the previous two games in the series as both a critical and sales smash hit!
Hitting stores on October 12, 2016, the new Warhammer 40,000 comic sees Mann and Bettin take the series to new heights with the first adventure,...
- 7/8/2016
- by Michael Connally
- LRMonline.com
Stars: Jamie Gillis, Michael Gaunt, Tiffany Clark, Milton Ingley, George Payne, Samantha Fox, Tanya Lawson, Marilyn Gee, Tish Ambrose, Kelly Nichols, Nicole Bernard, Bobby Astyr | Written and Directed by Roger Watkins
“One man’s fantasy is another man’s reality!”
Finding himself with a debt that he just can’t pay off, Williams (Jamie Gillis, Dracula Sucks) is tasked by shady mafia-like Franklin (Michael Gaunt, Maraschino Cherry) with something of a retrieval mission to a mysterious warehouse containing three coloured rooms; a blue, a red and a black one, each housing a beautiful woman. Williams sends his associate Alan (George Payne, The Taming of Rebecca) to carry out the task on his behalf, but with balls of steel, Alan has taken the item for himself and has disappeared. This leads Williams to pursue him down a gaping glory… I mean rabbit hole. Frustrated and desperate, Williams visits a seedy, desolate...
“One man’s fantasy is another man’s reality!”
Finding himself with a debt that he just can’t pay off, Williams (Jamie Gillis, Dracula Sucks) is tasked by shady mafia-like Franklin (Michael Gaunt, Maraschino Cherry) with something of a retrieval mission to a mysterious warehouse containing three coloured rooms; a blue, a red and a black one, each housing a beautiful woman. Williams sends his associate Alan (George Payne, The Taming of Rebecca) to carry out the task on his behalf, but with balls of steel, Alan has taken the item for himself and has disappeared. This leads Williams to pursue him down a gaping glory… I mean rabbit hole. Frustrated and desperate, Williams visits a seedy, desolate...
- 2/17/2016
- by Mondo Squallido
- Nerdly
This podcast focuses on Criterion’s Eclipse Series of DVDs. Hosts David Blakeslee and Trevor Berrett give an overview of each box and offer their perspectives on the unique treasures they find inside. In this episode, David and Trevor conclude their two-part discussion of Eclipse Series 32: Pearls of the Czech New Wave.
About the films:
Of all the cinematic New Waves that broke over the world in the 1960s, the one in Czechoslovakia was among the most fruitful, fascinating, and radical. With a wicked sense of humor and a healthy streak of surrealism, a group of fearless directors—including eventual Oscar winners Miloš Forman and Ján Kadár—began to use film to speak out about the hypocrisy and absurdity of the Communist state. A defining work was the 1966 omnibus film Pearls of the Deep, which introduced five of the movement’s essential voices: Věra Chytilová, Jaromil Jireš, Jiří Menzel,...
About the films:
Of all the cinematic New Waves that broke over the world in the 1960s, the one in Czechoslovakia was among the most fruitful, fascinating, and radical. With a wicked sense of humor and a healthy streak of surrealism, a group of fearless directors—including eventual Oscar winners Miloš Forman and Ján Kadár—began to use film to speak out about the hypocrisy and absurdity of the Communist state. A defining work was the 1966 omnibus film Pearls of the Deep, which introduced five of the movement’s essential voices: Věra Chytilová, Jaromil Jireš, Jiří Menzel,...
- 7/23/2015
- by David Blakeslee
- CriterionCast
There is nothing new in the subject matters covered in Yance Ford’s debut. Gun violence. Authorities taking a blind eye approach. A family and community torn. Pretty much sight unseen (although a peak at the trailer helps), I’d be surprised if I’ll personally be able to withstand the emotionally walloping that Strong Island promises to deliver. Forget about dry eyes. We’ve been anticipating this docu since we first heard of the person (Filmmaker Mag’s Scott Macaulay Top 25 Faces profile), and ever since then, it’s been collecting massive support from the Sundance Institute, Cinereach, Idfa Forum and just last month, a major helping hand from the MacArthur Foundation Documentary Grant. We’re wishful that this lands at the top of ’15.
Gist: Tracing the impacts of the 1992 shooting death of William Ford, Jr., an unarmed African American, and the devastation of the Ford family when his killer goes unpunished.
Gist: Tracing the impacts of the 1992 shooting death of William Ford, Jr., an unarmed African American, and the devastation of the Ford family when his killer goes unpunished.
- 11/14/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
The seven-week 2014 Documentary Lab is designed to help filmmakers who are in post-production.
This year’s Lab Fellows are Esteban Arguello and Xuan Jiang, Jamie Sisley and Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Suzanne Joe Kai, Robyn Symon, Nick Spark, Andrew James, Jonathan Matthews, and Jen Heck.
“We are delighted to kick off the fourth year of our Documentary Lab with such an talented group of filmmakers and esteemed mentors,” said Kelly Thomas, producer-in-residence and interim director of artist development.
Documentary filmmakers Doug Blush, Laura Gabbert, Caroline Libresco, Linda Goldstein-Knowlton, Jeff Malmberg and Chris Shellen are this year’s Documentary Lab mentors.
This year’s Lab Fellows are Esteban Arguello and Xuan Jiang, Jamie Sisley and Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Suzanne Joe Kai, Robyn Symon, Nick Spark, Andrew James, Jonathan Matthews, and Jen Heck.
“We are delighted to kick off the fourth year of our Documentary Lab with such an talented group of filmmakers and esteemed mentors,” said Kelly Thomas, producer-in-residence and interim director of artist development.
Documentary filmmakers Doug Blush, Laura Gabbert, Caroline Libresco, Linda Goldstein-Knowlton, Jeff Malmberg and Chris Shellen are this year’s Documentary Lab mentors.
- 3/17/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Movie Club Podcast is an irregular roundtable podcast where we select two movies to dissect, analyze and discuss with a group of fellow movie bloggers and film fans. At this point I think it's pretty much known that we tend to have long gaps in between episodes of The Movie Club Podcast, but this time around it was easily our longest break yet... 10 months to be exact. Fortunately, the crew finally managed to re-assemble to discuss a pair of crime flicks: Walter Hill's The Driver and John Frankenheimer's 52 Pick-Up. What's more, it was also our first ever live recording on Google Hangouts, complete with video feed! Alas, Jay and I were not able to attend, but a strong contingency of Row Three contributors showed up in full force including Kurt Halfyard, Andrew James, Bob Turnbull and Jandy Hardesty, along with Jim Laczkowski from The Director's Club Podcast.
- 12/13/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Scottish comic book scribe Mark Millar has penned a prequel to his upcoming Supercrooks series.
The lead-in tale will appear in issue 15 of Millar's magazine CLiNT, which hits Us stores on March 28, 2012, and UK stores on March 29.
A teaser trailer for the story has been unveiled and is embedded below.
"It's a thrill to be able to publish this world exclusive," said editorial manager Andrew James. "It's not a preview, not an excerpt, it's an in-universe feature that delves deep into the sordid and compromising blackmail driving the story. And you won't read it anywhere else.
"Supercrooks is going to be white-hot at the start of 2012, and this is a perfect opportunity to get yourself primed - whether you're reading it in single issues or awaiting the CLiNT serialisation."
Millar described the project as follows: "All the superheroes live in America, so why don't the supervillains just go somewhere else?...
The lead-in tale will appear in issue 15 of Millar's magazine CLiNT, which hits Us stores on March 28, 2012, and UK stores on March 29.
A teaser trailer for the story has been unveiled and is embedded below.
"It's a thrill to be able to publish this world exclusive," said editorial manager Andrew James. "It's not a preview, not an excerpt, it's an in-universe feature that delves deep into the sordid and compromising blackmail driving the story. And you won't read it anywhere else.
"Supercrooks is going to be white-hot at the start of 2012, and this is a perfect opportunity to get yourself primed - whether you're reading it in single issues or awaiting the CLiNT serialisation."
Millar described the project as follows: "All the superheroes live in America, so why don't the supervillains just go somewhere else?...
- 12/29/2011
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Mark Millar has written a prequel to his upcoming Supercrooks series for CLiNT magazine. The in-continuity lead-in will appear in issue #15 of Millar's anthology publication, which also offers a first look at Leinil Francis Yu's Supercrooks artwork. "It's a thrill to be able to publish this world exclusive," said editorial manager Andrew James, "It's not a preview, not an excerpt, it's an in-universe feature that delves deep into the sordid and compromising blackmail driving the story. "You won't read it anywhere else. Supercrooks is going to be (more)...
- 12/28/2011
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
As Comic fans will know, Kick-Ass writer Mark Millar and Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons will unveil their mysterious new title The Secret Service in February next year - with director Matthew Vaughn already developing a feature film adaptation.
It's been confirmed that more clues about the comic will be revealed in this week's latest edition of Millar's CLiNT magazine, which will now be released in the Us at the same time as in the UK.
Announcing the move to simultaneous publication, editorial manager Andrew James said: "It's a pleasure to finally launch each issue of CLiNT at the same time on both sides of the Atlantic. CLiNT is one of the most exciting and best value collections of comics in the world, and nobody should have to wait for it!"
Issue 12 of the 100-page mag - which hits stores and newsstands tomorrow (Wednesday, November 23, 2011) in the Us, and Thursday (November...
It's been confirmed that more clues about the comic will be revealed in this week's latest edition of Millar's CLiNT magazine, which will now be released in the Us at the same time as in the UK.
Announcing the move to simultaneous publication, editorial manager Andrew James said: "It's a pleasure to finally launch each issue of CLiNT at the same time on both sides of the Atlantic. CLiNT is one of the most exciting and best value collections of comics in the world, and nobody should have to wait for it!"
Issue 12 of the 100-page mag - which hits stores and newsstands tomorrow (Wednesday, November 23, 2011) in the Us, and Thursday (November...
- 11/22/2011
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
CLiNT is to be released in the Us and UK simultaneously. Mark Millar's anthology publication will arrive in both territories at the same time, starting with this month's issue #12. "It's a pleasure to finally launch each issue of CLiNT at the same time, on both sides of the Atlantic. CLiNT is one of the most exciting and best value collections of comics in the world, and nobody should have to wait for it," said editorial manager Andrew James. CLiNT #12 features the latest chapters of Millar's Kick-Ass 2 (more)...
- 11/21/2011
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
A Comic Strip by comedian Frankie Boyle has been launched digitally for the iPhone and iPad.
From the pages of CLiNT, the comics magazine from Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar and Titan magazines, Boyle's Rex Royd follows the adventures of the title character, a Lex Luthor-style superscientist and businessman.
Along with his support staff including Eve, the first woman, and his invincible head of security Alan Black, Rex is out to change the world.
Four episodes are available now to read on the iPhone and iPad via the Titan Comics app, with the fifth chapter coming soon to CLiNT. A trailer for Rex Royd is included below, and some images from the strip are also featured here.
"I first got into comics properly when I was about 21, digging down through stacks in my friends' bedrooms," says Boyle.
"I'd read maybe half a dozen different issues of Justice Society of America before...
From the pages of CLiNT, the comics magazine from Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar and Titan magazines, Boyle's Rex Royd follows the adventures of the title character, a Lex Luthor-style superscientist and businessman.
Along with his support staff including Eve, the first woman, and his invincible head of security Alan Black, Rex is out to change the world.
Four episodes are available now to read on the iPhone and iPad via the Titan Comics app, with the fifth chapter coming soon to CLiNT. A trailer for Rex Royd is included below, and some images from the strip are also featured here.
"I first got into comics properly when I was about 21, digging down through stacks in my friends' bedrooms," says Boyle.
"I'd read maybe half a dozen different issues of Justice Society of America before...
- 10/14/2011
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Press Release – Comic strip written by comedian Frankie Boyle is released digitally for the first time!
Exploding out of the pages of CLiNT, the trailblazing comics magazine from Kick-ass creator Mark Millar and Titan magazines, Frankie Boyle’s twisted comic strip is now available for iPhone and iPad!
Rex Royd, by outspoken Scottish comedian and writer Frankie Boyle, introduces “The Renaissance Man of Madness” in a spectacular serialised comic. Drenched in the blackest of humour, Boyle weaves the barrier-shattering adventures of Rex Royd, a Lex Luthor-style super-scientist and businessman. Along with his close-knit support staff including Eve, the first woman, and his invincible head of security, Alan Black, Rex is out to change the world whether we want him to or not!
Check out the brand new Rex Royd trailer, here:
Click here to view the embedded video.
Four brain-twisting episodes are available now to read on the iPhone and...
Exploding out of the pages of CLiNT, the trailblazing comics magazine from Kick-ass creator Mark Millar and Titan magazines, Frankie Boyle’s twisted comic strip is now available for iPhone and iPad!
Rex Royd, by outspoken Scottish comedian and writer Frankie Boyle, introduces “The Renaissance Man of Madness” in a spectacular serialised comic. Drenched in the blackest of humour, Boyle weaves the barrier-shattering adventures of Rex Royd, a Lex Luthor-style super-scientist and businessman. Along with his close-knit support staff including Eve, the first woman, and his invincible head of security, Alan Black, Rex is out to change the world whether we want him to or not!
Check out the brand new Rex Royd trailer, here:
Click here to view the embedded video.
Four brain-twisting episodes are available now to read on the iPhone and...
- 10/14/2011
- by Brandon Johnston
- ScifiMafia
Taking a page out of the Film Studies for Free playbook, this week, I’m going to direct all of your attention to the third issue of the always incredible Incite: Journal of Experimental Media. The issue is dubbed “New Ages.”
The issue offers multiple reports from the historic 2010 International Experimental Media Congress that took place in Toronto on April 7-10 where the experimental media community gathered to discuss where the future of the art form is headed.
Below is a list of all the links to these articles, plus editor Brett Kashmere’s opening editorial. Enjoy!
Better Daze (Intro) by Brett KashmereThe 2010 Congress in Context by Brett KashmereSteering the Congress: Up Shit Creek Without a Paddle by Tess TakahashiThe Architecture of Dialogue by Roger BeebeResponse to the 2010 Congress by Ekrem SerdarMedium Quality by Kevin McGarryNotes on the 2010 Congress by Andrew James PatersonResponse to the 2010 Congress by Benj GerdesElephants in...
The issue offers multiple reports from the historic 2010 International Experimental Media Congress that took place in Toronto on April 7-10 where the experimental media community gathered to discuss where the future of the art form is headed.
Below is a list of all the links to these articles, plus editor Brett Kashmere’s opening editorial. Enjoy!
Better Daze (Intro) by Brett KashmereThe 2010 Congress in Context by Brett KashmereSteering the Congress: Up Shit Creek Without a Paddle by Tess TakahashiThe Architecture of Dialogue by Roger BeebeResponse to the 2010 Congress by Ekrem SerdarMedium Quality by Kevin McGarryNotes on the 2010 Congress by Andrew James PatersonResponse to the 2010 Congress by Benj GerdesElephants in...
- 10/9/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The Wallace & Gromit digital comic has a hit a million downloads worldwide, publishers Titan have announced.
The comic was launched as a free iPhone app in November 2009 and has taken the charts by storm, hitting No1 in the UK, Us and Canada free books app store and No3 overall in the free apps chart.
Titan comics editor Andrew James said: "We are really proud that we are the first UK comics publisher to get a million downloads on iTunes, but we aren't stopping there. The new Titan Comics app for iPhone and iPad demonstrates our cutting-edge technology and our diverse range of top-quality comics."
To celebrate this, Titan is releasing new Wallace & Gromit comic adventures via its iPhone and iPad app, including the Wallace & Gromit daily strips originally printed in The Sun.
To download the free app, go to the iTunes store then search Titan Comics.
Wallace & Gromit are the...
The comic was launched as a free iPhone app in November 2009 and has taken the charts by storm, hitting No1 in the UK, Us and Canada free books app store and No3 overall in the free apps chart.
Titan comics editor Andrew James said: "We are really proud that we are the first UK comics publisher to get a million downloads on iTunes, but we aren't stopping there. The new Titan Comics app for iPhone and iPad demonstrates our cutting-edge technology and our diverse range of top-quality comics."
To celebrate this, Titan is releasing new Wallace & Gromit comic adventures via its iPhone and iPad app, including the Wallace & Gromit daily strips originally printed in The Sun.
To download the free app, go to the iTunes store then search Titan Comics.
Wallace & Gromit are the...
- 6/24/2011
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
The Pacific – Episode 4
Guest Review by Andrew James
Stars: James Badge Dale, Joe Mazzello, Jon Seda, Joshua Biton, Brendan Fletcher | Directed by Graham Yost
Eugene Sledge is sent to Camp Elliott, California to train as part of a mortar unit, and it seems at this point he’s not a natural warrior. Meanwhile the 1st Marine Division are on the deck of a troop transport singing Christmas carols as they head towards their next protracted engagement, Cape Gloucester.
Leckie and the rest of the Marines soon find that on Cape Gloucester the enemy are not the Japanese, who they fight rarely and usually at night (like episode 1), but the jungle and the constant rain, and it’s not a surprise when Leckie ends up in a naval psychiatric hospital when his unit moves on to Pavuvu.
Episode 4 is very much like an episode of HBOs previous World War II show,...
Guest Review by Andrew James
Stars: James Badge Dale, Joe Mazzello, Jon Seda, Joshua Biton, Brendan Fletcher | Directed by Graham Yost
Eugene Sledge is sent to Camp Elliott, California to train as part of a mortar unit, and it seems at this point he’s not a natural warrior. Meanwhile the 1st Marine Division are on the deck of a troop transport singing Christmas carols as they head towards their next protracted engagement, Cape Gloucester.
Leckie and the rest of the Marines soon find that on Cape Gloucester the enemy are not the Japanese, who they fight rarely and usually at night (like episode 1), but the jungle and the constant rain, and it’s not a surprise when Leckie ends up in a naval psychiatric hospital when his unit moves on to Pavuvu.
Episode 4 is very much like an episode of HBOs previous World War II show,...
- 4/21/2010
- by Phil
- Nerdly
The Pacific – Episode 3
Guest Review by Andrew James
Stars: James Badge Dale, Joe Mazzello, Jon Seda, Joshua Biton, Brendan Fletcher | Directed by Jeremy Podeswa
After four months of combat on Guadalcanal, Leckie, Basilone and the the 1st Marine Division are relieved and transported to Melbourne, Australia for much needed rest and recovery time. They seem shocked to be greeted by cheering crowds, who consider them heroes, and the Marines find themselves almost in paradise with plenty to eat and drink and many beautiful young women to chase, as the Australian men are in the Pacific fighting the Japanese.
After the action of episode 2, this episode is almost like watching a different series, you can almost forget about the war and about the men still dying for their country in the Pacific and European theatres. Bob Leckie is the main focus of this episode, and most of it is about his...
Guest Review by Andrew James
Stars: James Badge Dale, Joe Mazzello, Jon Seda, Joshua Biton, Brendan Fletcher | Directed by Jeremy Podeswa
After four months of combat on Guadalcanal, Leckie, Basilone and the the 1st Marine Division are relieved and transported to Melbourne, Australia for much needed rest and recovery time. They seem shocked to be greeted by cheering crowds, who consider them heroes, and the Marines find themselves almost in paradise with plenty to eat and drink and many beautiful young women to chase, as the Australian men are in the Pacific fighting the Japanese.
After the action of episode 2, this episode is almost like watching a different series, you can almost forget about the war and about the men still dying for their country in the Pacific and European theatres. Bob Leckie is the main focus of this episode, and most of it is about his...
- 4/21/2010
- by Phil
- Nerdly
The Pacific – Episodes 1 And 2
Guest Review by Andrew James
Stars: James Badge Dale, Joe Mazzello, Jon Seda, Joshua Biton, Brendan Fletcher | Directed by Timothy Van Patten & David Nutter
The Pacific is the eagerly anticipated HBO World War II drama by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. If that sounds a bit familiar it’s because HBO, Hanks and Spielberg were also the team behind Band of Brothers, which The Pacific is kind of a successor to.
Whilst many comparisons will be made between the two shows, The Pacific is closer in theme to Vietnam based TV shows such as Tour of Duty. Where Band of Brothers was concerned with Europe’s last great ground war, which was recognisable to western troops at the time, the Marines in Pacific are fighting in strange, alien landscapes, in unfamiliar and unknown locations with hard to pronounce names.
“We’ve been swallowed by the jungle...
Guest Review by Andrew James
Stars: James Badge Dale, Joe Mazzello, Jon Seda, Joshua Biton, Brendan Fletcher | Directed by Timothy Van Patten & David Nutter
The Pacific is the eagerly anticipated HBO World War II drama by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. If that sounds a bit familiar it’s because HBO, Hanks and Spielberg were also the team behind Band of Brothers, which The Pacific is kind of a successor to.
Whilst many comparisons will be made between the two shows, The Pacific is closer in theme to Vietnam based TV shows such as Tour of Duty. Where Band of Brothers was concerned with Europe’s last great ground war, which was recognisable to western troops at the time, the Marines in Pacific are fighting in strange, alien landscapes, in unfamiliar and unknown locations with hard to pronounce names.
“We’ve been swallowed by the jungle...
- 3/24/2010
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Working for the first time from a script he didn't write and brazenly borrowing elements from other successful movies, Neil LaBute has with "Nurse Betty" fashioned a carefree comic fantasy out of what might have been a very dark tale. Perhaps lack of authorship benefits his comic sensibilities as a director. Whatever the reason, "Nurse Betty" is a playful movie that gives its stars -- Renee Zellweger, Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock -- the leeway to imbue characters almost too kooky for belief with touching humanity.
With careful nurturing, USA Films could successfully reach a broad demographic with this funny though definitely twisted movie. It suffers from a third act that fizzles out, but it should have built up enough good will by then to only slightly disappoint audiences.
John C. Richards and James Flamberg's screenplay takes its inspiration from two key movies, "Being There" and "Pulp Fiction". The line between reality and fiction disappears for young Kansas waitress Betty Sizemore (Zellweger) when she secretly witnesses the brutal slaying of her no-good husband by two Tarantino-like hit men, the aging Charlie Freeman) and his hard-headed protege Wesley (Rock).
This trauma causes her to truly believe she is Nurse Betty, the ex-fiancee of Dr. David Ravell, a character on her favorite hospital soap opera. She takes off for Los Angeles -- unwittingly in the Buick LeSabre containing the very drugs the hit men must recover -- to reunite with her long-lost love.
Instead she meets actor George McCord (Greg Kinnear), who plays the doctor. But she engages the actor as his character and he, thinking he is witnessing an actress performing a brilliant improvisational audition for a role on the soap, is charmed by his former "fiancee."
The hit men turn up along with -- a bit of a stretch here -- the sheriff Pruitt Taylor Vince) and a reporter (Crispin Glover) from her hometown for a final mix-up and shoot-out than falls flat after the neatly performed tightrope walk of the first two acts.
Giving the lighter-than-air fantasy grounding in flesh-and-blood is a group of actors seemingly energized by this whacked-out collision between film genres and alternate realities.
Freeman especially loses himself in this hit man obsessed by his last target, a woman who is either his equal in calculating criminality or who possesses a style and flair that could win his heart. Freeman neatly suggests a delicacy and a longing for human contact in this cold killer.
Zellweger is one of the few actresses who can play such sweet innocence. Betty's almost Candide-like guilelessness is the linchpin to the film's comic dynamics, and she performs it effortlessly.
Rock demonstrates that he is maturing as a film performer. Instead of turning in an extended comedy act, he gives lethal dimension to his amoral hit man, impatient with his mentor and with emotional coolant running through his inner coils.
The location work and shifts in light and color as the movie warms up mark top-notch work by behind-the-camera personnel. Indie poster boy Neil LaBute may be moving into the mainstream.
With careful nurturing, USA Films could successfully reach a broad demographic with this funny though definitely twisted movie. It suffers from a third act that fizzles out, but it should have built up enough good will by then to only slightly disappoint audiences.
John C. Richards and James Flamberg's screenplay takes its inspiration from two key movies, "Being There" and "Pulp Fiction". The line between reality and fiction disappears for young Kansas waitress Betty Sizemore (Zellweger) when she secretly witnesses the brutal slaying of her no-good husband by two Tarantino-like hit men, the aging Charlie Freeman) and his hard-headed protege Wesley (Rock).
This trauma causes her to truly believe she is Nurse Betty, the ex-fiancee of Dr. David Ravell, a character on her favorite hospital soap opera. She takes off for Los Angeles -- unwittingly in the Buick LeSabre containing the very drugs the hit men must recover -- to reunite with her long-lost love.
Instead she meets actor George McCord (Greg Kinnear), who plays the doctor. But she engages the actor as his character and he, thinking he is witnessing an actress performing a brilliant improvisational audition for a role on the soap, is charmed by his former "fiancee."
The hit men turn up along with -- a bit of a stretch here -- the sheriff Pruitt Taylor Vince) and a reporter (Crispin Glover) from her hometown for a final mix-up and shoot-out than falls flat after the neatly performed tightrope walk of the first two acts.
Giving the lighter-than-air fantasy grounding in flesh-and-blood is a group of actors seemingly energized by this whacked-out collision between film genres and alternate realities.
Freeman especially loses himself in this hit man obsessed by his last target, a woman who is either his equal in calculating criminality or who possesses a style and flair that could win his heart. Freeman neatly suggests a delicacy and a longing for human contact in this cold killer.
Zellweger is one of the few actresses who can play such sweet innocence. Betty's almost Candide-like guilelessness is the linchpin to the film's comic dynamics, and she performs it effortlessly.
Rock demonstrates that he is maturing as a film performer. Instead of turning in an extended comedy act, he gives lethal dimension to his amoral hit man, impatient with his mentor and with emotional coolant running through his inner coils.
The location work and shifts in light and color as the movie warms up mark top-notch work by behind-the-camera personnel. Indie poster boy Neil LaBute may be moving into the mainstream.
- 5/15/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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