Tag: The Lost City

Revisiting a classic genre, ‘The Lost City’ is an enjoyable break from superhero movies in the cinema

Back in the 80s, the success of the 1984 film ‘Romancing the Stone’ with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, started a fun genre known as the adventure/romance genre. It was an enjoyable movie that had all the genre conventions of both kinds of movies and appealed to women. It had the thrills and spills of the action genre, a heavy dose of comedy, and a love story grounding the film at the center. That film is also about a romance novelist, who ends up on an adventure much like her own books, and meets a dashing smuggler, who helps her through her quest. I actually saw the movie and its sequel and it was a lot of fun.

‘The Lost City’ takes a generous amount of story elements from the 1984 film but ramps up the comedy for an enjoyable revisit to this classic genre that I didn’t realize was sorely missed. The film exchanges the original film’s dashing bird smuggler for the romance novelist’s cover model and hilarity ensues. While the premise of ‘Romancing the Stone’ is steeped in real danger and real issues (her sister is kidnapped, people are killed), ‘The Lost City’ leans on the hyper-real and is unafraid to be goofy and wacky.

The genre covers a lot of bases – romance, action, and comedy – which makes it perfect for a date or for watching movies with your close friends. It’s the kind of light, feel-good and enjoyable time in the theater that has been lacking in recent years with either films loaded with special effects or award-bait movies that can leave you in a spiral of heavy thoughts.

While the first five or eight minutes of ‘The Lost City’ have some tired and expected jokes – involving Channing Tatum’s cover model being not very bright and Sandra Bullock’s reclusive, grieving author being forced out of her comfort zones to promote her latest book – the film really starts to take flight when Bullock’s Loretta Sage is kidnapped by billionaire Abigail Fairfax (played by Daniel Radcliffe) as her background in archeology and ancient languages may help find the missing resting place of a priestess and her treasure. The same priestess who is written about in Loretta Sage’s books.

Witnessing the kidnapping, Alan, the cover model, insists on trying to save her because he wants her to see him as more than just a pretty face.

‘The Lost City’ is unafraid to be over the top and unrealistic. As seen in the trailer, Fairfax takes her on an airplane landing on the top floor of a building, a fantastic scene that feels a little too much so quickly. But this is the charm of the film. It doesn’t take itself so seriously so you can really just sit back and relax and just have fun with all the hilarious gags.

Because this is exactly in Bullock and Tatum’s wheelhouse. They get to do physical comedy (both have impeccable timing), Bullock gets to show off her wit and eloquence while Tatum gets to make fun of himself but still find the beating heart and warmth of his character that makes him so endearing. There’s also a healthy dose of Tatum showing off his amazing body so that’s always a plus.

Radcliffe is having a ball playing the billionaire with manners who gets more and more unhinged as the film unfolds. It’s the steady build up from elegant and posh to diabolically evil. It’s just so much fun. And the Brad Pitt cameo is as funny in the movie as it is in the trailer.

In a cinematic landscape that is heavily populated by big event movies, comic book fare, or serious, heavy dramas that are gunning for awards, it’s so refreshing to have a film that is just all about having a good time. It hints at some criticism against corporate takeovers of smaller countries – Abigail Fairfax buys half an island in search of the actual lost city of D – and the sort of destruction they do to the natural surroundings but it never hits too hard or makes any real statement against it.

It’s not that kind of film. And after the 112-minute running time of the film, I realized that that was okay too. ‘The Lost City’ is not going to change my life or the way I see the world but for almost two hours, I got lost in the laughs and the fun chemistry between Bullock and Tatum. I forgot that movies can be like this in the cinema too. It’s not just for streaming and I’m glad that it’s doing well at the box office. It’s nice to just have fun again in the theater.

My Rating:

ALSO READ:
Film Facts: 5 Things to Know About ‘The Lost City’
LOOTBOX: Click here for your chance to win limited edition goodies from The Lost City!

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‘The Lost City‘ is now in cinemas nationwide. Find a cinema near you and book your tickets here.

April 25, 2022
New Movie This Week: The Lost City

Plan your week ahead and choose which schedule of this movie opening this April 20, 2022, you’ll see on the big screen.

The Lost City

Action, Comedy, Romance | 1hr 51mins

Directed by the Nee Brothers, it follows a reclusive author who is on tour promoting a new book with her cover model and is then kidnapped by a billionaire in hopes that she can lead him to an ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. It stars Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Brad Pitt.

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April 20, 2022
Daniel Radcliffe is a Bratty Billionaire in ‘The Lost City,’ in Cinemas April 20

An action-adventure comedy is only as good as its villain, and Paramount Pictures’ The Lost City has an unforgettable one in eccentric, author-nabbing billionaire Abigail Fairfax, played by Daniel Radcliffe (“Harry Potter” film series).

When Daniel Radcliffe was first mentioned for the role, co-star Sandra Bullock thought the suggestion was, as she calls it, “genius,” adding, “Daniel has these piercing blue eyes that are soft and inviting, until Fairfax starts going nuts. Then, Daniel transforms into that maniacal guy. He’s brilliant and I am excited for audiences to experience a Daniel Radcliffe they will not expect.”

Radcliffe embraced the villainous but always fun role. “Fairfax is a bad guy, but there’s a lot of humor to him because he’s both bratty and petulant,” he points out. “All of Fairfax’s villainy comes from a need to please his media mogul father, which undercuts any real evil about him. Fairfax is just this terrible, entitled colonialist.

“He has a real interest in archeology and history, but for all the wrong reasons,” Radcliffe continues. “Fairfax wants to possess treasures so that the rest of the world cannot. It’s a very childish motivation.”

When Fairfax pitches reclusive author Loretta (Bullock) the idea that her expertise can help him find the Lost City of D and its hidden treasure – a rare red diamond headdress – he thinks she will jump at the chance. When Loretta resists, he decides his next best option is to kidnap her.

“Fairfax chloroforms Loretta and puts her on his jet, expecting that she’ll change her mind, and when she doesn’t, it is clear to Fairfax that he’s not going to get his own way,” Radcliffe points out. “When she steals Fairfax’s one clue to finding that treasure, he decides she’s not an innocent anymore. Loretta is now fair game, and Fairfax is going to hunt her down.”

Fairfax’s temperament isn’t helped by his given name: Abigail. “I do love that name,” Radcliffe says with a laugh. “It was a source of constant amusement for me because Fairfax is so defensive about it. He’s spent his entire life insisting that it’s a gender-neutral name.”

Radcliffe always remained cool under the locations’ unforgiving sun and triple-digit temperatures. “Normally, extreme heat or cold are great because they sort of make you forget about acting; you’re just in it,” he says. “But Fairfax was not somebody who was supposed to be particularly sweaty, so I had five people around me with fans just trying to stop me sweating through my T-shirt.”

In Philippine cinemas on April 20, The Lost City is distributed by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/; Instagram at www.instagram.com/paramountpicsph/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZ7igjHZB-5k8DDM7ilVJw. Connect with #TheLostCity and tag @paramountpicsph

April 18, 2022
Film Facts: 5 Things to Know About ‘The Lost City’

In the new adventure film The Lost City, a reclusive author is on a book tour to promote her latest novel, with her cover model in tow. She is suddenly kidnapped by a billionaire, as he hopes she can lead him to an ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest book.

This star-studded film is coming to cinemas nationwide this April 20! Excited to catch it in the theaters? Before you head to the cinemas, here are some fun facts about ‘The Lost City’ that you should check out!

1. The adventure-slash-romcom is headed by Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum

Bullock plays author Loretta Sage, a brilliant yet reclusive author who pens romance-adventure novels, while Tatum portrays Alan, the handsome cover model of Loretta’s books. In her books, Alan is ‘Dash,’ the hero character, which the model dedicates to personifying. Together they are on tour to promote Loretta’s new book, which features exotic locations and lost treasure.

2. Sandra Bullock also acts as a producer of this film

The Academy Award-winning actor is producing The Lost City, through her production company Fortis Films. Her company is known for producing films such as Hope Floats and Miss Congeniality, and its sequel Miss Congeniality 2. Bullock wanted to create a big-scale adventure film, and shares that The Lost City experience is like an amusement ride!

ALSO READ:
Sandra Bullock: A Novelist Turned Adventurer in ‘The Lost City’
Channing Tatum is a Novel Cover Model Turned Hero in ‘The Lost City’

3. Daniel Radcliffe plays a villain that kidnaps Sandra Bullock’s character in the movie

Eccentric billionaire Abigail Fairfax is played by Daniel Radcliffe, and he’s the bad guy in this flick. The Harry Potter actor isn’t quite known to be the villain, but Radcliffe seems to be having a lot of fun being the baddie in this film in ‘The Lost City!’

4. Brad Pitt is also part of the cast

Cast as Jack Trainer, Brad Pitt’s character in the film is hired by cover model Alan when Loretta gets kidnapped. Jack Trainer is an all-action former Navy SEAL who attempts to rescue Loretta. According to this interview, Sandra Bullock and Brad Pitt shared the same film hairstylist, Janine Rath-Thompson, and she played a part in having Pitt agree to do the role in ‘The Lost City.’

5. There’s a mid-credits scene, so don’t leave your cinema seat too soon.

We won’t spoil you on what the scene will reveal, so just wait until you catch it on the big screen!

LOOTBOX:
Click here for your chance to win limited edition goodies from The Lost City!

The Lost City opens in Phillippine cinemas on April 20, 2022. Book your seats ahead and buy your tickets here.

April 18, 2022
Channing Tatum is a Novel Cover Model Turned Hero in ‘The Lost City’

Channing Tatum takes on the role of Dash/Alan, the strikingly handsome model who graces the covers of Loretta Sage’s (Sandra Bullock) romance novels, in Paramount Pictures’ new romantic adventure The Lost City, showing in Philippine cinemas this April 20.

Dash is machismo personified: handsome, debonaire, smart, and courageous. But his real-life alter ego, Alan, is, when we meet him, not Dash. But at his core Alan is honest, dependable, and loyal, and against all odds, becomes the hero he always envisioned Dash to be.

“Dash is a swashbuckling character who rides in on the white horse or swings in on a vine and saves the day,” says Channing Tatum. “Alan is the farthest thing from that, but it’s not from lack of trying. I think Alan was a little embarrassed when he first got the modeling job, but then he had an epiphany and realized what a beautiful opportunity he had in playing this character who brings joy to so many people. What nobler job is there than the ability to make people happy?

“Alan’s not totally crazy,” Tatum continues. “He doesn’t really believe he is Dash, but he’d like to believe he has some of those qualities, especially the fact that he has such a good heart.”

For Sandra Bullock, Tatum was the perfect foil. “Channing is so self-deprecating; there’s nothing about him that’s ego driven, which works for the role of Alan because he is such an innocent,” she says. “He is wide-eyed and sweet. Not many people can play that kind of a guileless, open person, but Channing had such comedic intuition about Alan.

“Channing is a physical comedian who uses his body to convey the joke. We connected at once because that’s how I operate. It’s so nice to have a partner you’re comfortable with, and who has amazing timing. Moreover, we’re different enough that we complement one another,” Bullock adds.

A wonderful example of Tatum’s flair for physical comedy was when he stripped down for a laugh-out-loud scene with Bullock. Tatum’s character encounters leeches all over his backside, and Bullock inspects him to help with removal.

Tatum recalls filming the scene which was Day 2 of production, “Walking to set with a bunch of leeches super-glued to my butt and not having met everybody and just kinda being like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna be butt-naked today, my name’s Chan. This is just what it is,’ ” said Tatum. “And then not only that, but to have Sandra Bullock have, like, a two-page monologue with, uh, a certain part of my body.”

About The Lost City

Brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.” While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. Wanting to prove that he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it’s lost forever.

The Lost City is distributed by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/; Instagram at www.instagram.com/paramountpicsph/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZ7igjHZB-5k8DDM7ilVJw. Connect with #TheLostCity and tag @paramountpicsph

April 11, 2022
Sandra Bullock: A Novelist Turned Adventurer in ‘The Lost City’

Sandra Bullock has long been drawn to the idea of making an action-adventure film seasoned with comedy, like the classic sweeping adventures she has enjoyed as a moviegoer. So, she decided to produce one, through her production company Fortis Films. And with that, The Lost City is born!

Sandra Bullock as Producer

As expected, the Academy Award-winning actor and respected filmmaker aimed high. Bullock recalls, “We knew we were ambitious in what we were trying to pull off… but we also knew we HAD to pull it off. This film wouldn’t work if all the tones in it didn’t intersect seamlessly. The central characters are a shut-in author and a model, neither of whom should be in a jungle or even out in nature. Jungles eat people like them. They should remain in a hermetically sealed building with air conditioning.”

In the film, brilliant but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.” While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story.

Wanting to prove that he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it’s lost forever.

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum star in Paramount Pictures’ “THE LOST CITY.”

Sandra Bullock as Loretta Sage

Loretta is really a historian disguised as a best-selling author of romantic historical fiction. “No one would buy her history books,” Bullock explains, “so Loretta added some sex to sell them and found great success with that.”

A widow whose beloved husband was an archaeologist, Loretta is now a recluse. She hides in a comfortable house, surrounded by artifacts and memories, finding adventure in the stories she concocts while pining for a life that has long since passed. “Loretta finds comfort in her home, books, words, and in her brain,” says Bullock. “She finds adventure in her imagination and has no need to go out there and look for it.”

Instead, Loretta seems more than satisfied to send her heroine, Dr. Angela Lovemore, into the wild in such floridly titled books as “A Year in the Bush” and, her latest release, “The Lost City of D.”

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum star in Paramount Pictures’ “THE LOST CITY.”

When Loretta comes down with writer’s block, her best friend and publisher/marketing guru, Beth, insists that she attend a book convention to get the ideas flowing and spice up sales. But Beth knows success at the convention will take more than a personal appearance by the author; it requires a secret weapon – Dash, the strikingly handsome model who graces the covers of Loretta’s romance novels. Then, the shenanigans begin.

Sandra Bullock closes with her hopes and thoughts for a big-scale entertainment in which she served in two key roles. “You could make a ride out of this film at Disneyland, with its scope and scale. It transports you, makes you feel like you’re flying, and makes you feel like you’re there with Loretta and Dash in the vastness of this jungle. So, if we can’t go on vacation just yet, hopefully you’ll be able to go into the movie theaters and feel like you’ve been on a vacation with us.”

In Philippine cinemas on April 20, The Lost City is distributed by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/; Instagram at www.instagram.com/paramountpicsph/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZ7igjHZB-5k8DDM7ilVJw Connect with #TheLostCity and tag @paramountpicsph

April 5, 2022
New Movies in Philippine Cinemas this April 2022

Planning your movie night with the fam and barkada this April? Here’s a lineup of films hitting the big screen soon! From the exciting adventures of Dumbledore’s First Army to an epic journey in the jungle in search of ancient treasure, here are the new movies in Philippine cinemas for the month of April.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Saturday, April 16

Professor Albus Dumbledore needs to prevent the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald from seizing control of the wizarding world. Unable to do this alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander to steer a group of wizards, witches, and a brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Saturday, April 16

A girl meets a magical animal rescuer who gives her a red puppy, who to her surprise transforms into a giant ten-foot dog.

The Lost City

Wednesday, April 20

A reclusive author is on tour promoting a new book with her cover model and is kidnapped by a billionaire in hopes that she can lead him to an ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story.

The Bad Guys

Wednesday, April 27

A gang of animal outlaws cut a deal to avoid going to jail and it proves to be their biggest challenge yet: becoming good guys.

[Note: release dates subject to change without prior notice.]

March 28, 2022
The Jungle Won’t Be the Same with These Characters of ‘The Lost City’

Meet the characters of The Lost City in their own individual posters: Loretta (Sandra Bullock), Alan (Channing Tatum), Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), Beth (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), (Oscar) Oscar Nuñez, and (Allison) Patti Harrison. This jungle will never be the same!

Check out the one-sheet artworks below and watch The Lost City exclusively in cinemas across the Philippines on April 20.

About The Lost City

Brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.” While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. Wanting to prove that he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it’s lost forever.

The Lost City is directed by Adam Nee and Aaron Nee, with screenplay by Oren Uziel and Dana Fox and Adam Nee & Aaron Nee, story by Seth Gordon. The film is produced by Liza Chasin, Sandra Bullock, Seth Gordon; executive produced by JJ Hook, Dana Fox, Julia Gunn, Margaret Chernin.

The cast is led by Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar Nuñez, Patti Harrison, Bowen Yang.

The Lost City is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paramountpicsph/; Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/; Instagram at www.instagram.com/paramountpicsph/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZ7igjHZB-5k8DDM7ilVJw. Connect with #TheLostCity and tag @paramountpicsph

March 17, 2022
WATCH: Bullock & Tatum’s Comedy Adventure ‘The Lost City’ Drops Big Game Spot & Poster

Bullock. Tatum. Are they taken? Are they took-en? Find out in Paramount Pictures’ new comedy adventure The Lost City, starring Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum & Daniel Radcliffe. Check out the film’s newly launched Big Game Spot and main poster below. The Lost City opens exclusively in Philippine cinemas April 22.

Brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.” While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. Wanting to prove that he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it’s lost forever.

The Lost City is directed by Adam Nee and Aaron Nee, with screenplay by Oren Uziel and Dana Fox and Adam Nee & Aaron Nee, story by Seth Gordon. The film is produced by Liza Chasin, Sandra Bullock, Seth Gordon; executive produced by JJ Hook, Dana Fox, Julia Gunn, Margaret Chernin.

The cast is led by Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar Nuñez, Patti Harrison, Bowen Yang.

The Lost City is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. Connect with #TheLostCity and tag paramountpicsph.

February 11, 2022