Academy-award winning actress Tilda Swinton and the multi-talented Idris Elba star in “Three Thousand Years of Longing”, directed by George Miller, the film is a sweeping fantasy romantic adventure that trails the adventures of a solitary academic and the magical genie-in-a-bottle.
Swinton and Elba in “Three Years of Longing”
Swinton plays narratologist Dr. Alithea Binnie, someone who studies stories through the ages while Elba takes on the role of Djinn aka Genie. Their worlds intertwine as Dr. Binnie unknowingly picks up a magical bottle from a pile of relics to bring home from her trip. Once settled in her room, she eventually unleashes a genie from the bottle who offers her three wishes in exchange for her freedom. Desperate to gain her trust for his freedom, Djinn takes Dr. Binnie on an epic adventure recalling his 3000 years being in and out of the bottle.
To see the film in a cinema is the filmmakers’ greatest hope for audiences. “When we go into the cinema, it’s a kind of public dreaming,” says Miller. “You are invited into the story, and hopefully caught up in it. Sharing dreams with strangers, on the big screen. We worked so hard on the images and sounds, making them congruent. We tried to tell a story that keeps you leaning forward in your seat and, if it’s any good, to follow you out of the cinema.”
Tilda Swinton as Dr. Binnie in “Three Years of Longing”
“Three Thousand Years of Longing” is not just giving us a good story, it’s also about the importance of stories,” adds Elba. “I’m hoping that we continue to find ingenious ways to engage an audience in a story. You could quite easily sit around the tree, or a fire and tell the story of Alithea meeting the Djinn, and it would still be compelling, but with what George and our team created around it, visually, sonically, is amazing.”
For Tilda Swinton, “even though George wanted to make this film years ago, there’s never been a better time to make this film and for audiences to reconsider how important narrative is in our lives. What happened to us with the pandemic, and other global forces, there’s been a threat to the possibility of us being able to create narratives. We’re getting used to finding a way to renegotiate how we create narratives. Being story-less is not a good place for human beings to be. It is a threat to our mental health. This film is a real opportunity for people to re-evaluate and re-worship story as an essential part of how we work. So, bring on Three Thousand Years of Longing, to reboot the narrative drive in our systems.”
Swinton, Miller & Elba in “Three Years of Longing”
From Go Asia Entertainment, experience wonder in cinemas once again when Three Thousand Years of Longing opens September 14.
Fans of the classic Disney flick The Little Mermaid are finally given a glimpse of its live-action iteration. Revealed at this year’s D23 expo, the teaser trailer features Halle Baile as Ariel, singing the iconic song Port of Your World.
Watch The Little Mermaid teaser trailer below:
A tale familiar to almost everyone, The Little Mermaid follows the mermaid Ariel who wishes to discover the fascinating life on land. Despite being forbidden by her father, King Triton, Ariel makes visits to the surface, and here she falls for a human prince. Determined to be with him, the little mermaid strikes a dangerous deal with the sea witch Ursula so she can have human legs for three days. But the deal will not go without consequences.
The film also stars Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder; Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle; Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric; Art Malik as Sir Grimsby; Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina; Javier Bardem as King Triton; and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.
The movie is set for release in US theaters on May 26, 2023. It is directed by Rob Marshall and written by David Magee. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
The Walt Disney Studios turned up the volume in Hall D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center where thousands of fans gathered at D23 Expo 2022 to be the first to hear big announcements, new details and future plans for Disney Live Action, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The showcase began in true Disney style with a look back at special moments in Studio history and Cynthia Erivo’s breathtaking performance of the classic Disney song “When You Wish Upon a Star.”
“What a way to kick off the show,” said Alan Bergman, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. “Of course, ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ was first heard in the animated film ‘Pinocchio’ in 1940. It’s a motto about dreaming big, dreaming the impossible and making those dreams come true. And that’s something we try to do each and every day at the studio.”
Fans in Hall D23 were among the first to see a brand-new logo introduction of the iconic Disney castle—now platinum in honor of Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder celebration. Created by Disney Studios and Industrial Light & Magic, and featuring an all-new arrangement of “When You Wish Upon a Star” by award-winning composer Christophe Beck (“Frozen,” “WandaVision”), the new Disney castle introduction will play in front of all Disney theatrical and streaming releases starting this fall.
Bergman called on Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production (Disney Live Action); Pete Docter, chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios; and Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios to walk fans through a powerful lineup of streaming and theatrical titles. The event included the following theatrical titles’ highlights.
DISNEY LIVE ACTION
· “HAUNTED MANSION” director Justin Simien—who actually used to work at Disneyland—joined Bailey to discuss the ghostly adventure. Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, “Haunted Mansion” is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters. They shared a sneak peek of the film exclusively with the D23 Expo crowd, then welcomed the queen of scary movies, Jamie Lee Curtis, who made an unforgettable entrance aboard a Haunted Mansion doom buggy. Curtis plays Madame Leota in the film, which releases next year.
· “MUFASA: THE LION KING,” a prequel to “The Lion King,” won’t release until 2024, but director Barry Jenkins was on hand to show a never-before-seen sneak peek and share a little about the film, which is currently in production. Told in flashbacks—Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa tell the story of Mufasa to a young lion cub—“Mufasa” reveals the rise of one of the greatest kings of the Pride Lands.
· “SNOW WHITE” is a live-action reimagining of the classic tale starring Rachel Zegler in the title role and Gal Gadot as Snow White’s Stepmother, The Queen. The film’s two stars joined Bailey to talk about their roles and to share a very early glimpse at the iconic characters in the 2024 film, which is directed by Marc Webb, produced by Marc Platt and features new songs by Tony®-, Grammy®- and Oscar®-winning songwriters Pasek and Paul.
· “THE LITTLE MERMAID” director Rob Marshall took a break from post-production under the sea to share more about the live-action version of the beloved tale. He played the “Part of Your World” sequence for fans in Hall D23 and invited on stage Ariel herself, Halle Bailey, who shared her excitement about her new role. Marshall concluded by introducing the new teaser trailer, available worldwide today. Featuring fan-favorite songs plus four new songs penned by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the feature film also stars Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Javier Bardem as Triton. “The Little Mermaid” swims onto the big screen next summer.
PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS
Pixar’s Pete Docter was excited to share the upcoming slate for the Emeryville-based animation studio. “These last few years have been a time of great change in the world,” said Docter. “And it’s led us at Pixar to think about the future. Or, if I’m channeling my inner Joe from ‘Soul,’ I’d ask: ‘Why are we here? What’s our purpose?’ Well, for us, it’s to tell great animated stories. Whether those are theatrical feature films, streaming series or shorts, we think telling stories is foundational to who we are as people. They really define us. And we believe in the power of animation to capture and reflect the stories of our own lives.”
First up, filmmakers Peter Sohn and Denise Ream joined Docter on stageto discuss “ELEMENTAL,” an all-new, original feature film releasing in June 2023. Sohn, who directs the film, shared the personal inspiration behind the film—a story of immigrants pursuing dreams in beautiful neighborhoods where language and cultures come together. Filmmakers introduced the characters in “Elemental,” which is set in a city where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. Ember is a tough and fiery young woman, and Wade is a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy. Helping bring them to life are Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie, who were warmly welcomed to the Hall D23 stage. Audience members got an exclusive look at the film and received a mini-poster featuring Ember and Wade.
Before Docter could wrap Pixar’s portion of the show, he heard a voice from inside his head. Fortunately, it was actually the voice of Joy, Amy Poehler, who arrived on stage to huge applause—especially when she informed the audience that “INSIDE OUT 2” is in the works at Pixar. Director Kelsey Mann, producer Mark Nielsen and writer Meg LeFauve are hard at work on the all-new adventure inside the head of now-teenager Riley—who may or may not be feeling all kinds of new Emotions. “Inside Out 2,”the follow-up to 2015’s Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winning feature film, is slated for release Summer 2024.
WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee received a warm welcome from fans who were delighted to hear details about the studio’s plans for the yearlong 100-year anniversary celebration. “At Walt Disney Animation Studios, the studio that started it all, on the eve of our 100th anniversary, we see today as a moment of privilege and promise,” said Lee. “A privilege to be stewards of a studio and a dream that Walt and his brother, Roy, started a century ago. And a promise to continue to take risks in our storytelling—and to explore and expand and turn the possible into the actual, just as Walt did.”
Lee then set the tone for Disney Animation’s next feature film, introducing the filmmakers behind “STRANGE WORLD.” Director Don Hall and co-director/ screenwriter Qui Nguyen revealed their personal connections to the film that’s about an incredible family who must get past their differences to save a strange world full of danger and surprises. The audience was treated to an all-new trailer from Disney Animation’s 61st feature film before voice cast members Jake Gyllenhaal (Searcher Clade), Dennis Quaid (Jaeger Clade), Jaboukie Young-White (Ethan Clade) and Lucy Liu (Callisto Mal) joined the festivities. Fans also got a glimpse at an action-packed sequence from the film and received an exclusive poster. Produced by Roy Conli, “Strange World” also features the voice of Gabrielle Union (Meridian). The film opens in theaters Nov. 23, 2022.
In the finale moment of the presentation, Lee returned to the stage to officially unveil Disney Animation’s next original feature film, “WISH,” set to release Fall 2023, during the Studio’s 100th year. A film that could only come from Walt Disney Animation Studios, the epic animated musical is inspired by the legacy of films from the studio and asks the question: “How did the wishing star, upon which so many characters wished, come to be?” Directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn outlined the story, which is set in Rosas, the kingdom of wishes where wishes can literally come true. Attendees were introduced to 17-year-old Asha—an optimist with a sharp wit who cares endlessly about her community. In a moment of desperation, Asha makes an impassioned plea to the stars, which is answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, they face the most formidable of foes to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Disney Animation good-luck-charm Alan Tudyk joined filmmakers on stage to share an animation test for his newest character, a goat named Valentino. Buck, Veerasunthorn and Lee then introduced the voice of Asha, actress Ariana DeBose, who brought down the house singing an all-new original song written by Julia Michaels, who’s writing all of the songs for “Wish.” DeBose’s captivating performance of “More for Us” closed the showcase in signature Disney style. Lee is a writer on the film, Peter Del Vecho produces and Juan Pablo Reyes co-produces.
From New Line Cinema, Dwayne Johnson stars in the action adventure “Black Adam.” The first-ever feature film to explore the story of the DC Super Hero comes to the big screen under the direction of Jaume Collet-Serra (“Jungle Cruise”).
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods—and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
Poster Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Johnson stars alongside Aldis Hodge (“City on a Hill,” “One Night in Miami”) as Hawkman, Noah Centineo (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”) as Atom Smasher, Sarah Shahi (“Sex/Life,” “Rush Hour 3”) as Adrianna, Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express,” “The Mummy”) as Ishmael, Quintessa Swindell (“Voyagers,” “Trinkets”) as Cyclone, Bodhi Sabongui (“A Million Little Things”) as Amon, and Pierce Brosnan (the “Mamma Mia!” and James Bond franchises) as Dr. Fate.
Collet-Serra directed from a screenplay by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, screen story by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, based on characters from DC. Black Adam was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. The film’s producers were Beau Flynn, Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia and Dany Garcia, with Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Chris Pan, Eric McLeod, Geoff Johns and Scott Sheldon
“Black Adam” smashes into theaters and IMAX in the Philippines beginning 19 October 2022. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #BlackAdam
From Working Title, producer of unforgettable and iconic blockbuster rom-coms like Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral, Ticket to Paradise is et to bring back those “feels” that had left the audience eager to re-experience the collective excitement of watching a love story in a cinema.
“The world had completely changed when the pandemic hit. I thought about what I wanted to write and work on next, and I landed on writing something that would make people happy—something joyous and optimistic. Romantic comedies bring a large audience together to collectively laugh with each other, and after a few tough years, that seemed like a beautiful thing to bring to the big screen,” shared director Ol Parker.
(from left) David (George Clooney) and Georgia (Julia Roberts) in Ticket to Paradise, directed by Ol Parker. (Photo Credit: Universal Pictures)
It was rich comedic material for Clooney and Roberts to mine, and luckily, they both saw its potential. “Julia and I weren’t actively looking for a project to do together, but, of course, it was easy to say yes to a chance to work on another project with her,” Clooney says. “Ol Parker sent the script to both of us at the same time and said that he had written the parts for Julia and me. So, right after I read it, I called Julia and told her, ‘I’ll do it if you do it,’ and she said, ‘Well, I’ll do it if you will.’ And not long after that, we were heading to Australia.”
Roberts and Clooney’s history and friendship goes way back, and that friendship comes across in their work. “George and I have always had a good chemistry as friends,” Roberts says. “We approach our work in similar ways as well. I think we also get a lot of joy out of making each other laugh. So, each day was like a search for me to find how I could make George laugh. We both take an immense amount of care in creating an environment where people feel creative and happy at work. It brings out the best in everyone.”
(from left) Wren (Billie Lourd, back to camera), Gede (Maxime Bouttier) and Lily (Kaitlyn Dever) in Ticket to Paradise (Universal Pictures)
Although Ticket to Paradise is principally a comedy, it touches on deeper, universal themes of love, regret and the complex emotions of parenting children as they take their first real steps into adulthood. Unlike most romantic comedies, which are primarily about people in their 20s or early 30s, the film explores love, in all its permutations, and about the sweet surprise of second chances.
Ticket to Paradise opens on October 5 in local cinemas nationwide from Universal Pictures International.
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) flagship film festival, Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), returns to the big screen this year featuring award-winning classic films of the new National Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts. The films will be screened for free in TriNoma Cinema in Quezon City and in all Cinematheques Centres nationwide (Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao, and Nabunturan) from September 9 to 23.
In line with the month-long celebration of Philippine Film Industry Month this September which aims to recognize the invaluable achievements of all the stakeholders and sectors of the industry, this year’s PPP Classics section consists of films of the three new National Artists for Film: actress Nora Aunor, screenwriter Ricky Lee, and late director Marilou Diaz-Abaya.
Newly-restored film Atsay by Eddie Garcia and Tatlong TaongWalang Diyos by Mario O’Hara, starring “Superstar” Nora Aunor, will have their gala premiere on September 9 in TriNoma Cinema. National Artist Aunor won the Gawad Urian Best Actress awards for Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos in 1977 and Garcia’s Atsay bagged the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) – Best Film award in 1978.
Notable films written by award-winning screenwriter Ricky Lee, Cain at Abel and Gumapang Ka sa Lusak by Lino Brocka, will be screened on September 14. Cain at Abel received the FAMAS Awards Best Picture in 1983, while Gumapang Ka sa Lusak bagged the Best Picture award in Gawad Urian in the same year.
Feature films Brutal and Karnal from the “trilogy” of multi-awarded director Marilou Diaz-Abaya will have their public screening on September 15. Diaz-Abaya bagged the MMFF Best Director award for her film Brutal in 1980 and the MMFF Best Picture prize for Karnal in 1983.
The annual PPP will also be returning to offer fresh perspectives from the youth and the regions, featuring the finalists from Sine Kabataan Short Film Lab and Festival and Sine Isla: LuzViMinda Short Film Competition. PPP Classics will be screened together with the Sine Kabataan and Sine Isla short films starting September 17 to 24 in all Cinematheques Centres (Manila, Iloilo, Davao, Negros and Nabunturan).
The PPP Classics lineup is supported by Solar Films, ABS-CBN’s Sagip Pelikula, and Viva Films.
For more information and updates on PPP 6, follow their official page on Facebook.
Go behind-the-scenes with writer-director Parker Finn, star Sosie Bacon and the cast of Smileas they discuss the creation of the psychological terror in the newly released featurette “It’s Smiling at Me” which may viewed below:
Trailer Courtesy of Paramount Pictures International
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.
Sosie Bacon stars in Paramount Pictures Presents in Association with Paramount Players A Temple Hill Production “SMILE.”
Written and directed by Parker Finn, the film stars Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Robin Weigert, Caitlin Stasey with Kal Penn and Rob Morgan.
Paramount Pictures Presents In Association with Paramount Players A Temple Hill Production “Smile”
Poster Courtesy of Paramount Pictures International
In cinemas across the Philippines September 28, Smile is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Connect with #SmileMovie and tag @paramountpicsph
Photo & Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”
Paramount Movies has revealed the Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One teaser trailer shown at the CinemaCon. The sneak peek opens with Tom Cruise casually sitting on top of a flying propeller plane while another plane appears with director Christopher McQuarrie on board. Watch the teaser trailer for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning below:
Following the success of his film Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise is returning to the big screen to play Ethan Hunt in the seventh installment of the hit spy film franchise. While details about the film’s plot are still under wraps, fans can expect action-packed sequences with breathtaking stunts that Tom Cruise does himself!
The film also stars Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson who will all reprise their roles in the franchise, while Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Cary Elwes, and Esai Morales will be playing new characters. The film is slated for a US release on July 14, 2023.
Based on the best-selling book series by Bernard Waber, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a live-action / CGI musical comedy that brings this beloved character to a new, global audience.
Trailer Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
When the Primm family (Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, Winslow Fegley) moves to New York City, their young son Josh struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle – a singing crocodile (Shawn Mendes) who loves baths, caviar and great music-living in the attic of his new home. The two become fast friends, but when Lyle’s existence is threatened by evil neighbor Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman), the Primm’s must band together with Lyle’s charismatic owner, Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem), to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places and there’s nothing wrong with a big singing crocodile with an even bigger personality.
Photo Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile will feature original songs performed by Shawn Mendes and written by the songwriting team behind The Greatest Showman, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. Joining Pasek and Paul in writing original songs for the film are Ari Afsar, Emily Gardner Xu Hall, Mark Sonnenblick, and Joriah Kwamé. Directed and produced by Will Speck and Josh Gordon, the screenplay is by Will Davies. The film is produced by Hutch Parker and executive produced by Kevin K. Vafi, Dan Wilson, Robert J. Dohrmann, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Tarak Ben Ammar and Andy Mitchell.
In cinemas across the Philippines starting October 12, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #LyleLyleCrocodile
The band Fanny is marketed as “one of the most important rock bands you’ve never heard of,” and the hour-and-a-half documentary ‘Fanny: The Right to Rock’ by Bobbi Jo Hart manages to trace the all-women rock band’s rise and unfortunate fall into obscurity during the rock music scene of America during the early 70s. Needless to say, in the 60s and 70s, rock music was the territory of men. There were women who fronted bands but there were no rock music groups where all the members were women, playing instruments, and proving they were just as good with their instruments as any man. But Fanny did not just have to come head-to-head with sexism, they had to go against racism and homophobia as well as two members were Filipina Americans and some were lesbians.
But the documentary is not just a historical review of the band’s beginnings and struggles to be taken seriously, it also examines their talents and their impact in the industry – Fanny paved the way for women in rock – through interviews with rock luminaries to contextualise what it was they were able to accomplish amidst all the criticisms and pushback against an all-women rock band.
But writer and director Bobbi Jo Hart doesn’t stop there. The power of this documentary is how the historical review of their struggles to change the industry is used to frame the present-day narrative of how three of the original members have reunited to try and pick up where they left off as women in their 60s.
In a way, the documentary is operating within two timelines – the past and the present – and how both are interacting to underscore that their story as a band has not yet ended. There is still a future that is hinted at through this documentary and it makes for a riveting watch.
For a documentary to really stand out, one needs access; access to the subject of the documentary and the people around them. Hart has this in droves. All the members, past and present, are available for interviews except for one. Industry insiders include musical legends Todd Rundgren, Bonnie Raitt, The B-52s Kate Pierson, The Go Go’s Kathy Valentine, Def Leppard’s Joe Elliot, and David Bowie’s guitarist and bassist, Earl Slick and Gail Ann Dorsey. In fact, though he had passed away already, David Bowie’s presence is strongly felt as he was a champion for Fanny and constantly rallied for their recognition for their artistry. The documentary has various accounts of their beginnings, home footage of their performances in gigs and television shows, and photographs of their lives in LA when they just signed their record deal. Very little is left to the imagination and what is built is an image of a band that could have been, who paved the way for women in an industry that was not forgiving, who were not recognised for their talents and creativity, and how they eventually vanished and erased until recently.
Filled with songs from the five albums they released before they disbanded, it really highlights how good they were and with footage of them aging beautifully and still as sharp and as skilled as ever, it creates an energy and an excitement with this whole idea of them coming back together, recording an album, and adding ageism to the many barriers they’ve taken down in their journey to reclaim what could very well be their destiny.
The documentary manages to highlight how Fanny, and their resurgence in popularity is a testament to this need to battle and fight all forms of erasure, whether it’s sexist, homophobic, racist, or ageist. These women have stood against it and almost overcame it over 40 years ago but just missed out on success as they were on the brink. But this documentary chronicles their second chance and lays the foundation for a new future for the band.
It’s eye-opening and inspiring. It’s funny and daring and touching. It’s a great, good-ol’ rock and roll story and I do hope people get to see it.
