This February, a classic mystery story comes alive on screen with the theatrical release of 20th Century Studios’ “Death on the Nile.” Directed by five-time Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh, this daring mystery-thriller features an all-star cast led by Gal Gadot (“Linette Ridgeway”), Emma Mackey (“Jacqueline de Belfort”), Letitia Wright (“Rosalie Otterbourne”), Tom Bateman (“Bouc”), four-time Oscar® nominee Annette Bening (“Euphemia Bouc”) and Russell Brand (“Windlesham”).
The film followsBelgian detective Hercule Poirot (played by Branagh) as he enjoys a luxurious cruise down the river Nile when a newlywed heiress was found murdered on board. Can Poirot put a name to the assassin before the cruise comes to an end?
The 2022 adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel reunites the stellar filmmaking team behind the 2017 global hit Murder on the Orient Express.
With 20th Century Studios’ “Death on the Nile” arriving exclusively in cinemas in time for the love month, fans of tragedy, mystery, and romance can enjoy a heart-stopping film that captures the emotions of true passion.
Catch 20th Century Studios’ “Death on the Nile” now showing only in cinemas. Join the conversations online by using the hashtag #DeathOnTheNilePH.
A new trailer blasts off this morning for Disney and Pixar’s original sci-fi action-adventure Lightyear. Releasing in Philippine cinemas in June 2022, the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear—the hero who inspired the toy—follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure. “Buzz’s world was always something I was excited about,” said director Angus MacLane. “In ‘Toy Story,’ there seemed to be this incredible backstory to him being a Space Ranger that’s only touched upon, and I always wanted to explore that world further. So my ‘Lighytear’ pitch was, ‘What was the movie that Andy saw that made him want a Buzz Lightyear toy?’ I wanted to see that movie. And now I’m lucky enough to get to make it.”
Joining the previously announced Chris Evans, who lends his voice to Buzz, are Keke Palmer, Dale Soules and Taika Waititi as a group of ambitious recruits. Peter Sohn voices Buzz’s robot companion, Sox, and the cast also includes the voices of Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez and Isiah Whitlock Jr. “The cast for ‘Lightyear’ is truly a dream team,” said MacLane. “Each of the performers immediately inhabited their character, which gave us the opportunity to play a bit during recording sessions. This resulted in a level of specificity that elevated the material and brought additional depth to the characters’ relationships. It has been a privilege to work with such a talented and generous cast.”
Also revealed is award-winning composer Michael Giacchino, who’s behind the scores for the upcoming film “The Batman,” as well as “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” is on board to score “Lightyear.” Giacchino has a long history with Pixar; he won an Oscar, Golden Globe and GRAMMY for the original score in “Up.” His other Pixar credits include “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Cars 2,” “Inside Out,” “Coco” and “Incredibles 2,” among others. The Lightyear Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from Walt Disney Records will be available in June 2022.
“Lightyear” is produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”).
Get ready to take an exciting trip with the most talented bunch in Sing 2, the much-awaited new cinematic chapter from 2016’s instant hit that introduced the world to endearing and unforgettable characters with big heart and dreams.
Voiced by a stellar cast led by Matthew McConaughey along with Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Nick Kroll, Bobby Cannavale, Pharrell Williams and Bono, Sing 2 follows the gang’s new journey of self-discovery as they go beyond their comfort zones. What begins as a dream of big-time success becomes an emotional reminder of the power of music to heal.
Illumination’s animated franchise, Sing 2 arrives with big dreams and hit songs as the ever-optimistic Buster Moon (McConaughey) and his cast of performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet …all in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There’s just one hitch: They first have to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star—played by Academy Award® nominee and global music icon BONO, in his animated film debut—to join them. Buster has turned the New Moon Theater into a local hit, but Buster has his eyes on a bigger prize: Debuting a new show at the Crystal Tower Theater in glamorous Redshore City.
But with no connections, Buster and his cast—including harried mother Rosita (Reese Witherspoon), rocker Ash (Scarlett Johansson), earnest Johnny (Taron Egerton), shy Meena (Tori Kelly) and, of course, provocateur Gunter (Nick Kroll)—have to sneak their way into the world-famous Crystal Entertainment offices, run by ruthless mogul Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale).
In a desperate attempt to get Mr. Crystal’s attention, Gunter pitches an outrageous idea that Buster quickly runs with, promising that their new show will star rock legend Clay Calloway (BONO). Problem is, Buster has never met Clay, an artist who shut himself away from the world more than a decade ago after the loss of his wife. Even worse, Buster has failed to realize that Mr. Crystal is an egocentric gangster who would rather drop somebody off the roof of a building than be lied to.
As Gunter helps Buster dream up an out-of-this-world theatrical masterpiece, and the pressure (and sinister threats) from Mr. Crystal mount, Rosita’s leading role in the show gets ripped away and handed to Mr. Crystal’s spoiled daughter, Porsha, played by Grammy-nominated artist Halsey. Desperate to save the show, and his life, Buster embarks on a quest to find Clay and persuade him to return to the stage.
A Universal Pictures International release, Sing 2 will hit Philippine cinemas on February 23.
Another year, another Oscars! This year’s nominees for the revered Academy Awards have just been announced via the Oscars’ digital platforms with Leslie Jordan and Tracee Ellis Ross hosting the event. If you’re ready to place your bets on which films, actors, and filmmakers will be bringing home the trophies, we’ve got you covered! Here’s the full list of nominees for the 94th Academy Awards:
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Javier Bardem in “Being the Ricardos”
Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Power of the Dog”
Andrew Garfield in “tick, tick…BOOM!”
Will Smith in “King Richard”
Denzel Washington in “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Jessica Chastain in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Olivia Colman in “The Lost Daughter”
Penélope Cruz in “Parallel Mothers”
Nicole Kidman in “Being the Ricardos”
Kristen Stewart in “Spencer”
Achievement in directing
Belfast – Kenneth Branagh
Drive My Car – Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Licorice Pizza – Paul Thomas Anderson
The Power of the Dog – Jane Campion
West Side Story – Steven Spielberg
Best motion picture of the year
“Belfast” – Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik and Tamar Thomas, Producers
“CODA” – Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi and Patrick Wachsberger, Producers
“Don’t Look Up” – Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, Producers
“Drive My Car” – Teruhisa Yamamoto, Producer
“Dune” – Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve and Cale Boyter, Producers
“King Richard” – Tim White, Trevor White and Will Smith, Producers
“Licorice Pizza” – Sara Murphy, Adam Somner and Paul Thomas Anderson, Producers
“Nightmare Alley” – Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Bradley Cooper, Producers
“The Power of the Dog” – Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Roger Frappier, Producers
“West Side Story” – Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Ciarán Hinds in “Belfast”
Troy Kotsur in “CODA”
Jesse Plemons in “The Power of the Dog”
J.K. Simmons in “Being the Ricardos”
Kodi Smit-McPhee in “The Power of the Dog”
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Jessie Buckley in “The Lost Daughter”
Ariana DeBose in “West Side Story”
Judi Dench in “Belfast”
Kirsten Dunst in “The Power of the Dog”
Aunjanue Ellis in “King Richard”
Best animated feature film of the year
Encanto – Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer
Flee – Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie
Luca – Enrico Casarosa and Andrea Warren
The Mitchells vs. the Machines – Mike Rianda, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Kurt Albrecht
Raya and the Last Dragon – Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho
Achievement in cinematography
Dune – Greig Fraser
Nightmare Alley – Dan Laustsen
The Power of the Dog – Ari Wegner
The Tragedy of Macbeth – Bruno Delbonnel
West Side Story – Janusz Kaminski
Achievement in costume design
Cruella – Jenny Beavan
Cyrano – Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran
Dune – Jacqueline West and Robert Morgan
Nightmare Alley – Luis Sequeira
West Side Story – Paul Tazewell
Best documentary feature
Ascension – Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy and Nathan Truesdell
Attica – Stanley Nelson and Traci A. Curry
Flee – Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) – Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein
Writing with Fire – Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh
Best documentary short subject
Audible – Matt Ogens and Geoff McLean
Lead Me Home – Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk
The Queen of Basketball – Ben Proudfoot
Three Songs for Benazir – Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei
When We Were Bullies – Jay Rosenblatt
Achievement in film editing
Don’t Look Up – Hank Corwin
Dune – Joe Walker
King Richard – Pamela Martin
The Power of the Dog – Peter Sciberras
tick, tick…BOOM! – Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum
Best international feature film of the year
Drive My Car – Japan
Flee – Denmark
The Hand of God – Italy
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom – Bhutan
The Worst Person in the World – Norway
Achievement in makeup and hairstyling
Coming 2 America – Mike Marino, Stacey Morris and Carla Farmer
Cruella – Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne and Julia Vernon
Dune – Donald Mowat, Love Larson and Eva von Bahr
The Eyes of Tammy Faye – Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh
House of Gucci – Göran Lundström, Anna Carin Lock and Frederic Aspiras
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
Don’t Look Up – Nicholas Britell
Dune – Hans Zimmer
Encanto – Germaine Franco
Parallel Mothers – Alberto Iglesias
The Power of the Dog – Jonny Greenwood
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Be Alive” from “King Richard” – Music and Lyric by DIXSON and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto” – Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
“Down To Joy” from “Belfast” – Music and Lyric by Van Morrison
“No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die” – Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days” – Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
Achievement in production design
“Dune” Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Zsuzsanna Sipos
“Nightmare Alley” Production Design: Tamara Deverell; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau
“The Power of the Dog” Production Design: Grant Major; Set Decoration: Amber Richards
“The Tragedy of Macbeth” Production Design: Stefan Dechant; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
“West Side Story” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Rena DeAngelo
Best animated short film
Affairs of the Art – Joanna Quinn and Les Mills
Bestia – Hugo Covarrubias and Tevo Díaz
Boxballet – Anton Dyakov
Robin Robin – Dan Ojari and Mikey Please
The Windshield Wiper – Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez
Best live-action short film
Ala Kachuu – Take and Run – Maria Brendle and Nadine Lüchinger
The Dress – Tadeusz Łysiak and Maciej Ślesicki
The Long Goodbye – Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed
On My Mind – Martin Strange-Hansen and Kim Magnusson
Please Hold – K.D. Dávila and Levin Menekse
Achievement in sound
Belfast – Denise Yarde, Simon Chase, James Mather and Niv Adiri
Dune – Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett
No Time to Die – Simon Hayes, Oliver Tarney, James Harrison, Paul Massey and Mark Taylor
The Power of the Dog – Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie and Tara Webb
West Side Story – Tod A. Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson and Shawn Murphy
Achievement in visual effects
Dune – Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor and Gerd Nefzer
Free Guy – Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis and Dan Sudick
No Time to Die – Charlie Noble, Joel Green, Jonathan Fawkner and Chris Corbould
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Christopher Townsend, Joe Farrell, Sean Noel Walker and Dan Oliver
Spider-Man: No Way Home – Kelly Port, Chris Waegner, Scott Edelstein and Dan Sudick
Adapted screenplay
CODA – Screenplay by Siân Heder
Drive My Car – Screenplay by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe
Dune – Screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth
The Lost Daughter – Written by Maggie Gyllenhaal
The Power of the Dog – Written by Jane Campion
Original screenplay
Belfast – Written by Kenneth Branagh
Don’t Look Up – Screenplay by Adam McKay; Story by Adam McKay & David Sirota
King Richard – Written by Zach Baylin
Licorice Pizza – Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
The Worst Person in the World – Written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
Films have intangible impacts on our society. A certain film may call for action, move people in ways that may be unexpected, inspire individually and even collectively, and at times, leaves a legacy. People watch films to be entertained, to be educated, to escape from the humdrums of daily life, and to travel beyond space and time. This is at the heart of the Japanese Film Festival – to share glimpses of Japanese culture to the world, one cinematic experience at a time.
Coming from the successes of the Japanese Film Festival Online in 2020, the Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) is bringing back our beloved film festival right at the comfort of our homes through another virtual edition this year, happening from February 14 to 27, 2022.
“The Japanese Film Festival Online 2022 gives viewers the chance to experience and learn Japanese ways and culture, as the featured films mirror our contemporary society and document people’s lives at certain periods in time. Films are indeed powerful vehicles for cultural exchange and bilateral relations” shares JFM Director SUZUKI Ben.
Take a look at these 20 impressive titles, from bittersweet coming-of-age stories to thriller, sci-fi, comedy, documentaries, animation, and heartbreaking ones, these films promise to leave viewers something memorable.
ReLIFE
This refreshing and touching love story suggests that perhaps living out one’s youth to the fullest can affect the direction that one’s life can take. This one’s a live-action feature film adaptation of “ReLIFE,” which was serialized on the manga app comico and adapted for anime and stage performance.
Time of EVE the Movie
A moving animation consisting of a string of episodes told by the customers about their sorrows of being discriminated against. The social settings of the film and issues surrounding old robots getting dumped as garbage provide realistic details to the world depicted. Originally a six episode online sci-fi animation, now re-edited and brought to the big screen with all-new additional scenes.
Aristocrats
This is an award-winning drama that questions the state of contemporary life through the perspectives of two female protagonists of different backgrounds.
Until the Break of Dawn
A heartwarming fantasy adapted from the eponymous novel by Naoki Prize-winning author Tsujimura Mizuki, this spiritual and humanistic drama that depicts the inner conflicts of those who, for various reasons, seek contact with the dead.
The Chef of South Polar
A classic Japanese comedy film with a mix of pathos and humor follows the bittersweet and charmed daily lives of a group of men living in the Antarctic, where their only joy is to eat.
Ito
A fresh and moving tale about a young woman growing out of her shell as well as the preciousness of familial bonds. The contemporary and specific “maid café” culture from Tokyo is juxtaposed with the traditional shamisen music of Aomori giving insight into the uniqueness and breadth of Japanese culture.
The God of Ramen
A moving documentary about the man who started a legendary ramen shop in Tokyo. This uniquely moving film is a record of a man’s uncompromising attitude expressed to its fullest.
Masked Ward
A tense mystery film set in the eerie confines of a hospital, where a chilling psychological battle unfolds and eventually leads into a chain of surprising twists. The film is an adaptation of a bestselling book written by a real-life doctor, and features two of Japan’s leading young actors, Kentaro Sakaguchi and Mei Nagano.
OZLAND
With a humorous and light-hearted touch, the film conveys the joy of working at an amusement park—a place of dreams—and draws the audience into the happiness experienced by the protagonist.
Her Love Boils Bathwater
A tear-inducing humanistic drama, that has won several awards, about the bonds between a strong-willed and deeply loving mother and her family.
RASHOMON
In this film that has garnered several awards, a group of murder witnesses all give completely different testimonies. One of the most celebrated films in Japanese history that questions whether there is such a thing as truth in this world.
Mio’s Cookbook
Set in Japan about 200 years ago, this entertaining period drama refreshingly portrays the bond between Miho, who stakes her life on cooking, and Noe, who has become a courtesan (high-class geisha) in Yoshiwara, Japan’s largest red-light district.
Happy Flight
This is an ensemble film depicting on-the-ground staff, cabin attendants and pilots in action. Through episodes related to the work involved in operating large commercial passenger flights, the film spins an entertaining tale that shows the growth of new staff members with both humor and suspense.
Under the Open Sky
This award-winning film tells the story of a former yakuza’s struggles to be accepted by society, even as he tries to live an earnest life. Naoki Prize-winning author Saki Ryuzo’s ‘Mibuncho’ serves as the basis for this drama.
Patema Inverted
This award-winning film is a truly unique sci-fi fantasy that almost numbs our own senses of up and down. A touching animation that creatively depicts the beauty of love, friendship, and courage.
The Floating Castle
A riveting historical spectacle about those who stand up for their dignity as samurai, armed with their wisdom, courage, and love for their people. Shot on a massive set, it presents an epic portrayal of Sengoku (Warring States) Period warlord Narita Nagachika, who fought back against a 20,000-strong enemy force with an army of 500 in the late 16th century.
It’s a Summer Film!
A girl passionate about samurai films convinces a boy full of mystery to make a film together that transcends time and space. This coming-of-age masterpiece incorporates elements of science fiction while providing a fresh look at young people who are serious about filmmaking.
SUMODO-The Successors
A documentary with rare access into sumo, Japan’s national sport and the behind-the-scenes lives of famous sumo wrestlers.
AWAKE
The year 2015 marked the first time that a shogi game software played against a professional human player. Inspired by a true story, this moving coming-of-age film is about a game between an AI and a human also about a fateful battle between two rivals, as well as the hard work that each of them had gone through to get there.
Bread of Happiness
This humanistic drama brims with kindness and is set in the backdrop of the beautiful and harsh four seasons of Hokkaido. The film is adorned with a variety of breads and dishes made with seasonal ingredients that heal the hearts of the wounded souls.
In addition to online film screenings, the Japan Foundation, Manila prepared “Let’s Talk about Japanese Films!” a 2-part free online talk event and will be available to interested participants even outside the Philippines. The first session, entitled Your Guide to Japanese Films, will be moderated by Mr. Tito Valiente, and will be joined by panelists Prof. Daisuke Miyao, Prof. Nick Deocampo, and film director Sigrid Andrea Bernardo. The second event entitled Inside the World of JFF 2022 Films will feature five young film critics namely Mr. Skilty Labastilla, Ms. Princess Kinoc, Mr. Janus Nolasco, and Ms. Stepanie Mayo; to be moderated by Mr. Richard Bolisay.
Join in the discussion with prominent and young up-and-coming film professionals as they casually talk about the influences of Japanese cinema in the Philippines and the world and tips to watch Japanese films. Additionally, there will be online campaigns throughout the festival where viewers will get the chance to win exclusive JFF freebies!To watch and view the full list of featured films, visit https://jff.jpf.go.jp/watch/jffonline2022/philippines/. Viewers can watch the films through their smart TV, computer, mobile phone or similar gadgets with access to the Internet. Follow the official JFM and JFF Philippines Facebook pages and social media accounts for more information.
Aside from superhero films and movie reboots, pop culture fans might also notice the current trend of turning more video games into films and shows. With upcoming titles such as Uncharted starring Tom Holland, the Super Mario film with Chris Pratt, and The Last of Us TV series, we can’t help but be excited to see how our favorite video games will expand into our screens. But if you’re a bit late on checking out such titles based on video games, this list could be your starting point!
Based on the popular Nintendo game franchise, this Hollywood film follows Tim who searches for his missing father with the help of a talking Pikachu voiced by Ryan Reynolds. As they try to uncover the truth, they get dragged into a conspiracy surrounding the powerful Mewtwo.
Sonic The Hedgehog is another video game icon that got a big-screen treatment. The film centers on Sonic who got stuck in the human world and must defeat the mad scientist Dr. Robotnik who plans to use his power of speed for world domination.
Mortal Kombat just got a new film adaptation last year. It tells the story of MMA fighter Cole Young who finds himself being hunted by the vicious Sub-Zero. He then finds sanctuary in the temple of Lord Raiden where he must train with other great champions to take on the enemies of the Outworld.
Tomb Raider
The famous Tomb Raider franchise also received a recent film revamp in 2018. In this film, the fierce Lara Croft must embark on a journey to a mythical island and find the fabled tomb that his father was trying to uncover before he vanished.
The Resident Evil video games have spawned a popular film franchise starring Milla Jovovich. The movies kicked off with a commando team trying to suppress the Umbrella Corporation’s zombie virus in an underground genetics laboratory.
The series follows the intertwining stories of the monster hunter Geralt, Princess Ciri, and the sorceress Yennefer, whose fates are bound by destiny. As evil forces pursue Princess Ciri for her mystical powers, Geralt must step up and protect her.
Based on the characters of the hit online game League of Legends, this animated series follows the sisters Vi and Jinx who find themselves on the opposing sides of a brewing war over conflicting ideologies and arcane technology.
Inspired by the popular video game franchise of the same name, this dark fantasy series follows the vampire hunter Trevor Belmont who must save a city from otherworldly beasts unleashed by Dracula himself.
Pokemon
Pokemon is a long-running anime series based on the iconic video game franchise. The show follows the adventures of Ash Ketchum who, alongside his Pikachu, embarks on a quest to become a Pokemon Master.
This animated adaptation of the Resident Evil video games puts the spotlight on Claire and Leon as they team up to stop a possible zombie outbreak while they uncover a military conspiracy.
Marvel’s Ant-Man himself Paul Rudd now plays Mr. Grooberson, the endearing slacker summer school teacher in Columbia Pictures’ new action-adventure Ghostbusters: Afterlife, in Philippine cinemas this February 16.
“He’s one of the great comedians of our time,” director Jason Reitman says. “I remember one of my first short films opening for Wet Hot American Summer at Sundance back in 2000 and seeing Paul Rudd in a whole new light, thinking I’d be lucky if I got to work with this guy one day.”
Rudd says he instantly fell in love with his character. “One of the things that I liked about Grooberson is that he has no problem talking about how he doesn’t want to be teaching, doesn’t care about it, and doesn’t really care about what the kids do,” he says. “I thought he was a fun character to play.”
“Paul makes everything look good, I don’t know how he does it,” adds Reitman. “He makes dialogue funnier. He’s a great classically physical comedian.”
In the film, Grooberson, who happens to be a seismologist, is a cool breeze in dreaded summer school, playing vintage horror movies in class. “I can’t imagine how much I would have liked having a teacher that walked into class on the first day and said: ‘You don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be here.’ And then showed Cujo,” Rudd says. His Grooberson still manages to connect with fellow science nerds like Phoebe (McKenna Grace), the new kid in town and granddaughter of late Ghostbuster Egon Spengler.
Rudd was swept up with the original 1984 Ghostbusters mania as a teenager. “I saw it a few times. It was such a big thing, everyone was talking about it at school. Ghostbusters had that magical component that just struck a chord with people.”
On the proton-pack-filled Ghostbusters: Afterlife set, Rudd didn’t need to fake the wonder. “I was actually holding a ghost trap in that scene. These are things I have known my whole life.”
From director Jason Reitman and producer Ivan Reitman, comes Columbia Pictures’ Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the next chapter in the original Ghostbusters universe.
In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, when a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind. The film is written by Jason Reitman & Gil Kenan. Based on the 1984 film Ghostbusters, an Ivan Reitman film written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis.
Starring Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace and Paul Rudd, Ghostbusters: Afterlife’s executive producers are Dan Aykroyd, Gil Kenan, Jason Blumenfeld, Michael Beugg.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Use the hashtag #Ghostbusters
Two total and completely opposite strangers agree to marry and get to know each other in Marry Me, starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. But as forces conspire to separate them, the universal question arises: Can two people from such different worlds bridge the gulf between them and build a place where they both belong?
When we meet global superstar Kat Valdez, played by Jennifer Lopez, she’s about to be married to her fiancé, Bastian (Maluma). Together, they’ve become the hottest celebrity couple on the planet and are about to be wed publicly, live, in front of the whole world. Their smash duet single, “Marry Me” has become the biggest song of the year. Everything in her life seems, on the surface, to be perfection. But the reality of her life is far more complex. “Kat’s a global superstar who is also a strong, confidant businesswoman,” Jennifer Lopez says. “She’s a boss but also a regular person who gets lonely and needs love. She wants to feel like she has a home and isn’t a gypsy traveling the world.”
When Kat discovers, seconds before her wedding, that Bastian has been unfaithful to her, the façade and the fantasy of what her life can be disintegrates around her. “In one second, everything changes, and it all falls apart,” Lopez says. “Kat blames herself for not seeing the truth, but also makes a spontaneous choice to marry somebody else in the audience. That’s how she meets Charlie. With that, her life completely changes, as it does when you meet someone who sees you for who you are.”
Lopez, of course, knows what it is like to navigate a romantic relationship in the glare of the public eye. “Living a life in the spotlight has its challenges,” Lopez says. “The truth is that nobody wants to hear the ‘woe is me…’ part of that, but it has a scrutiny and a judgment to it that most people don’t ever have to deal with. That can be very lonely.” What the public often forgets, for both Lopez and Kat, is that there’s a real person dealing with real pain and loss behind the clickbait headlines.
The key to surviving it, Lopez says, is to stay focused on who you really are rather than on how the public views you. “Kat never forgets that she was a little girl growing up with a dream,” Lopez says. “It’s the same for me. Remembering where I came from has always kept me grounded. I don’t feel any different, and I think that’s what people forget. That’s why I’ve made songs over the years like ‘Jenny from the Block’ and ‘I’m Real.’ I’m still the same person, but I’m just doing these things with my life and it has expanded and grown. Still, there’s a human being there.”
Playing Kat, Lopez says, allowed her to explore and expose these ideas, both on the screen and within herself. “It was about baring my soul in every moment,” Lopez says. “It was more uncomfortable than playing a character that is nothing like you, because I brought experience into a world in a way that I’ve never had to before. This is also the first time that I’ve been able to make an album with a movie, which has been a dream of mine. It’s the first time I’ve done a movie with music since Selena, and in that film, they used Selena’s voice, so I never got to sing myself.”
From Universal Pictures International, say yes when Marry Me opens in local cinemas on February 9.
Finn Wolfhard who is best known for his starring role as Mike Wheeler in the critically acclaimed Netflix Original Series Stranger Things and as Richie Tozier in the blockbuster horror feature IT, now stars in Columbia Pictures’ Ghostbusters: Afterlife, openingexclusively in Philippine cinemas on February 16.
Watch the film’s latest trailer below:
Directed by Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air) and produced by Ivan Reitman, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the next chapter in the original Ghostbusters universe. In the film, when a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind. The film is written by Gil Kenan & Jason Reitman.
Wolfhard joins Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace and Paul Rudd in the lead cast.
Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and Podcast (Logan Kim) in Columbia Pictures’ GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.
“My daughter was thrilled when we cast Finn,” Jason says. “He captures a generation in the way he talks, the way he looks. He has an incredible vulnerability for being a teenage boy, and that is a very unusual characteristic. He also happens to be as obsessed with the nuts and bolts of filmmaking as any young man his age.”
Wolfhard says he’s been a Ghostbusters fan since a very young age. “I think they’re timeless movies, because they are characters that everyone can relate to, and they’re such iconic performances so they’re hard to forget,” he explains. “My parents showed me those movies at a really young age, so I was lucky. But, then again, I don’t know a kid that’s my age that doesn’t know what Ghostbusters is. It’s iconic.”
The Ecto-1 and RV-1 in Columbia Pictures’ GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.
Wolfhard says that his character, Trevor, is “a normal, awkward teenager. He’s a city kid from Chicago who gets evicted and ends up in the middle of nowhere – Summerville, Oklahoma. He’s shell-shocked, there’s no cell service, he’s annoyed about everything – until he finds a girl he falls for, and it all becomes worth it to him.”
Trevor, who is still too young to drive but is obsessed with cars, is the one to discover the iconic but long-abandoned Ecto-1 covered under a sheet in the barn. At first, he is the only one who knows it exists and begins to tinker with it to bring it back to life.
Lucky (Celeste O’Connor), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), Podcat (Logan Kim) and Phoebe (McKenna Grace) in Columbia Pictures’ GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.
Though he didn’t get to physically drive the car, Wolfhard says it was an honor to interact with the iconic machine. “In one sequence, Trevor is in the Ecto-1 ripping through this giant wheat field,” he says. “He loses control and flies off and hits the road.”
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Use the hashtag #Ghostbusters
I really enjoyed the first ‘Scream’ movie when it came out in 1996. I remember watching it in the theater and was fascinated by how self-referential the film was (I’m not sure but we didn’t use the word meta back then) and how it criticized and praised slasher films and managed to provide surprises all throughout. I don’t remember much from the second and I never got to see the third and fourth.
Considering that my attachment to the franchise isn’t deep, I was able to follow the story of the latest sequel (the fifth!), Scream, and enjoyed seeing Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette return as their characters. In fact, I enjoyed their return more than I did the new characters and they are not the real protagonists of the story.
In this latest installment, the story follows two sisters, Samantha and Tara, who live in Woodsboro where the events of the very first movie transpired. Tara is attacked at home by Ghostface and Samantha must return to her hometown and face the dark secret that has led her to leave in the first place.
In this reality, the story of the movie had been turned into a movie called Stab and everyone is aware of “the rules of surviving a slasher film,” and what is surprising is the amount of indifference the students of Woodsboro have with the news of another attack. Yes, the circle of friends that we are introduced to is affected by Tara’s attack but they are so desensitized by the idea of Ghostface returning to their town. They talk about it openly and discuss who would probably get attacked next. They walk around carrying tasers and protection. This is a town whose youth population is completely used to violence.
In fact, it feels oddly reminiscent of how present-day Americans are so used to school shootings. They live normal lives and when a school shooting happens, they know exactly what to do. Is this a commentary on the violence happening in America today and it’s no longer a big thing among the youth? I can’t help but point that out.
As Samantha investigates and tries to discover who attacked her sister, we are once again brought into the world of the franchise and people openly talk about their lives as if it were a slasher film because, after all, a killer is on the loose. There is a tongue-in-cheek aspect to this that is taken to its furthest extreme. It makes the film funny, funnier than I expected it to be, and then the film is not only making fun of itself (and slasher movies and franchises) but it started to unravel how films these days are so reactive to the audience.
The relationship of movies and their fans is given center stage in the discussions here and it shows how much of the audience has become savvy of the outer workings of the film industry that some films are more focused on pleasing the fans than they are on committing to a story.
And while this new installment of ‘Scream’ is working hard to hit the right notes balancing fresh scares with old themes, it falls into the trap of not hitting all the story beats. Melissa Barrera, who plays Samantha, doesn’t have the flair of holding your attention. Other characters are more interesting than our lead: Jenna Ortega’s Tara is so promising while Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mikey Madison are so interesting to watch as part of Tara’s group of friends, who are all possible victims or perpetrators. As the film tries to juggle the legacy of the franchise and bring something new to the series, its capacity to make us attached to these new characters doesn’t quite stick.
So when Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette arrive to reprise their roles, that’s when the electricity returns for the film. The three have a complete understanding of this world and this particular genre so their presence creates electricity for the film. Unfortunately, it’s not their movie. I wish they had more screen time.
And so while ‘Scream’ is fun because it takes itself lightly, reveling in the meta-discussions of slasher films in a slasher film, it’s never actually quite scary because we don’t really care that much yet about the new characters. There’s an inventive sequence filled with fake jump scares that’s just an absolute hoot to watch but other than these small moments of brilliance, the film doesn’t quite explode as it could.
But considering foreign reviews have called this the best installment out of all the sequels, then I’m glad I didn’t see the third or the fourth. I had fun but it’s not going to stick with me the way the first movie did. Interestingly enough, that’s actually even mentioned in the film.
My Rating:
––
Scream is holding sneak previews in select cinemas on February 1 and will release nationwide on February 2, 2022.
