I really don't put much stock in the International Animated Film Society's 2013 Annie Awards, which is why I didn't rush to report on their results on Saturday. One year Disney and Pixar boycott the event, feeling there was an unfair advantage paid to larger contributing sponsors, DreamWorks being the primary example. So with such a nasty stench over the event what good does it do to pay it much mind? That said, I'll be brief in mentioning Wreck-It Ralph topped Saturday night's winners with five awards, including Best Animated Picture. The awards have something like a 75% streak when it comes to helping predict the eventual Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature and as the days have gone on, it's looking more and more like Ralph will be this year's winner (see my predictions here). Pixar's Brave, Laika's ParaNorman and DreamWorks' Rise of the Guardians each took home two awards in lesser,...
- 2/4/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
I love the art of animation, and it's amazing to see how far things have come and advanced over the years. The industry is changing in terms of technology, but what it all really comes down to is telling good stories. There's been a lot of great animated movies this year, and many of them are up for several awards at the 40th Annual Annie Awards.
Some of the movies nomainated include Brave, Frankenweenie, Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman, Rise of the Guardians, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, and Wreck-It Ralph. Out of those films my favorite is a toss up between Wreck-It Ralph and ParaNorman, those were two pretty incredible films. I think ParaNorman has the edge though.
Some of the other animated properties nominated are Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, Disney Tron: Uprising, Justice League: Doom, Robot Chicken ‘DC Comics Special', South Park ‘Raising the Bar’, and several others.
Some of the movies nomainated include Brave, Frankenweenie, Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman, Rise of the Guardians, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, and Wreck-It Ralph. Out of those films my favorite is a toss up between Wreck-It Ralph and ParaNorman, those were two pretty incredible films. I think ParaNorman has the edge though.
Some of the other animated properties nominated are Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, Disney Tron: Uprising, Justice League: Doom, Robot Chicken ‘DC Comics Special', South Park ‘Raising the Bar’, and several others.
- 12/4/2012
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Disney withdrew from the International Animated Film Society, Asifa-Hollywood back in 2010 and even before then it was hard to put much stock in the Annie Awards. Now it's just sort of a blip on the overall award season radar that manages headlines twice a year, once for their nominees and again for their winners, which this year will be announced on Saturday, February 2, 2013. That said, the org announced their 2013 nominees this morning and their Best Feature Film list was made up of eight nominees (a large list considering the lack of quality animated films I've seen this year) including Brave, Frankenweenie, Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman, Rise of the Guardians, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, The Rabbi's Cat and Wreck-It Ralph. It is nice not to see something like The Lorax among that list, but I still think this was a year in which the field could have easily been limited to five nominees.
- 12/3/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
This might sound like the Ruben Fleischer-directed comedy 30 Minutes Or Less, but this true story about a pizza delivery guy that had a bomb strapped to him and forced to rob a bank is the real crazy deal. The FBI called the case Collarbomb.
The movie is based on a book detailing the event called Pizza Bomber: The Untold Story of America’s Most Shocking Bank Robbery, written by former FBI Special Agent Gerald Clark and journo Ed Palattella. The rights to the book were acquired by Mythology Entertainment and Anyway Entertainment. They also secured life rights to several of the participants involved in the case, and as of right now it will be called Collar Bomb Heist.
The event took place on August 28th, 2003, in the suburbs of Erie, Pennsylvania. A pizza delivery man named Brian Wells received a call to deliver two pizzas to an address a few miles from the pizzeria.
The movie is based on a book detailing the event called Pizza Bomber: The Untold Story of America’s Most Shocking Bank Robbery, written by former FBI Special Agent Gerald Clark and journo Ed Palattella. The rights to the book were acquired by Mythology Entertainment and Anyway Entertainment. They also secured life rights to several of the participants involved in the case, and as of right now it will be called Collar Bomb Heist.
The event took place on August 28th, 2003, in the suburbs of Erie, Pennsylvania. A pizza delivery man named Brian Wells received a call to deliver two pizzas to an address a few miles from the pizzeria.
- 8/30/2012
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Back in 2003, a 46-year-old pizza delivery man Brian Wells died when a bomb strapped around his neck exploded after he was forced to rob a bank. Then in 2011, Columbia Pictures released "30 Minutes or Less," a comedy that seemed to mock the tragic event. The studio claimed that neither the filmmakers or the stars of the movie were aware of Wells before getting involved in the film. Obviously that was a lie since the story was reported by every major media outlet. Now comes word that the real story of Wells will be told in a new movie, based on the book "Pizza Bomber: The Untold Story of America's Most Shocking Bank Robbery." At this point, the film is being called "Collar Bomb Heist." For those who don't remember the 2003 events... Wells entered a bank and told the teller he'd been shackled with an explosive device around his neck and forced to pull off a heist.
- 8/30/2012
- WorstPreviews.com
To paraphrase the great Michael Keaton, “You want to get nuts, Crime Heads? Let’s get nuts.”
By which I mean, of course, let’s talk true crime.
Now you may be thinking, “How is non-fiction nuttier than the made-up stuff?” And if you are thinking that, I hope your head wound heals up well. For the rest of us who have accepted the old cliché that truth is stranger than fiction as gospel, you know where I’m coming from.
You know that a story of a pizza delivery man who chains a bomb to himself so that he can pose as a hostage and rob a bank, only to be blown up by his own bomb, is not beyond the realm of possibility. You know, in fact, that such a story isn’t even unusual – at least, not in the definitive sense. A story like the Pizza Bomber,...
By which I mean, of course, let’s talk true crime.
Now you may be thinking, “How is non-fiction nuttier than the made-up stuff?” And if you are thinking that, I hope your head wound heals up well. For the rest of us who have accepted the old cliché that truth is stranger than fiction as gospel, you know where I’m coming from.
You know that a story of a pizza delivery man who chains a bomb to himself so that he can pose as a hostage and rob a bank, only to be blown up by his own bomb, is not beyond the realm of possibility. You know, in fact, that such a story isn’t even unusual – at least, not in the definitive sense. A story like the Pizza Bomber,...
- 8/30/2012
- by Matthew C. Funk
- Boomtron
Mythology Entertainment and Anyway Entertainment have announced to Deadline plans to develop Collar Bomb Heist , based on the tragic true story of Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man allegedly forced to rob a bank with a bomb strapped around his neck. The film version is based on the forthcoming nonfiction book, "Pizza Bomber: The Untold Story of Most Shocking Bank Robbery." Written by Jerry Clark and Ed Palattella, the book is officially described as follows: On August 28, 2003, in the suburbs of Erie, Pennsylvania, a pizza deliveryman named Brian Wells robbed a bank with a time bomb locked around his neck. He said a group of men accosted him and forced him to carry out the heist. After delivering the money, he would receive clues to help him disarm the bomb. It was...
- 8/29/2012
- Comingsoon.net
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Supposedly based on the true story of Brian Wells, who attempted to stage a robbery with a home-made collar bomb strapped to himself, writer Michael Diliberti and Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer have concocted a story of equal, if not greater, absurdity. In fact after the 83 minute whiz-bang running time you might just sit there and wonder if you hadn’t just made up the whole thing yourself.
Centred around pizza delivery guy Nick (Jesse Eisenberg), whose delivery style revolves around driving as maniacally as possible in order to stay within the promised 30 minutes or less, and his somewhat more successful high school teacher best friend Chet (Aziz Ansari), the film creates a smorgasbord of boneheads, losers, criminals, ineptitude, thievery and slapstick violence.
Chief among the idiots on display is Dwayne (a playing to type Danny McBride), whose strained to breaking point relationship with his wealthy but...
Supposedly based on the true story of Brian Wells, who attempted to stage a robbery with a home-made collar bomb strapped to himself, writer Michael Diliberti and Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer have concocted a story of equal, if not greater, absurdity. In fact after the 83 minute whiz-bang running time you might just sit there and wonder if you hadn’t just made up the whole thing yourself.
Centred around pizza delivery guy Nick (Jesse Eisenberg), whose delivery style revolves around driving as maniacally as possible in order to stay within the promised 30 minutes or less, and his somewhat more successful high school teacher best friend Chet (Aziz Ansari), the film creates a smorgasbord of boneheads, losers, criminals, ineptitude, thievery and slapstick violence.
Chief among the idiots on display is Dwayne (a playing to type Danny McBride), whose strained to breaking point relationship with his wealthy but...
- 9/16/2011
- by Mark Clark
- Obsessed with Film
Jesse Eisenberg’s new film ’30 Minutes or Less’ is upsetting the friends of Brian Wells, who died after he was abducted, outfitted with a bomb and forced to rob a bank in 2003, TMZ is reporting. Those who knew Wells, a 46-year-old pizza delivery man, are angry that Columbia Pictures would release a comedic film that is so similar to his death. Wells insisted to police that he was abducted when he was delivering a pizza in Pennsylvania. He claimed a bombmaker locked an explosive device around his neck and demanded he rob a bank. Officers didn’t believe Wells at first, and placed him in handcuffs. When they realized he...
- 8/11/2011
- by karen
- ShockYa
Ruben Fleischer's upcoming film 30 Minutes or Less is one of the few comedies I've been looking forward to this summer. The story revolves around a pizza delivery man (Jesse Eisenberg) who is kidnapped by two criminals (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson). They strap a bomb to his chest and tell him that they will detonate it if he doesn't rob a bank within a few hours. Now, with the movie just days from hitting theatres, an interesting report has emerged. Could it be that 30 Minutes or Less is based on a true story... one that ended up costing a man his life? According to TMZ, a group of people in Pennsylvania are up in arms over the release of the film because their friend Brian Wells was killed under very similar circumstances. Did the filmmakers turn a real-life tragedy into a Hollywood comedy? Back in 2003, Wells was arrested while...
- 8/10/2011
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
In "30 Minutes or Less," Jesse Eisenberg plays a hapless pizza delivery boy still slackin' it in his hometown when he gets kidnapped by two lowlifes who fit a bomb to his vest and tell him he has 9-hours to steal $100,000 dollars from a bank or he'll go Blam. Hilarity ensues.
While this premise is rife with dark comic tension and that ticking clock storytellers love so much, it's actually inspired by a real life event.
In August of 2003, Brian Wells was forced by Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong and Kenneth Barnes to rob a bank wearing a bomb, and when he was apprehended by police the bomb was exploded.
According to Total Film, Wells' sister Jean Heid is none-too-pleased about audiences yucking it up to her brother's bizarre tragedy.
"It's hard for me to grasp how other human beings can take delight and pride in making such a movie and consider it a comedy,...
While this premise is rife with dark comic tension and that ticking clock storytellers love so much, it's actually inspired by a real life event.
In August of 2003, Brian Wells was forced by Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong and Kenneth Barnes to rob a bank wearing a bomb, and when he was apprehended by police the bomb was exploded.
According to Total Film, Wells' sister Jean Heid is none-too-pleased about audiences yucking it up to her brother's bizarre tragedy.
"It's hard for me to grasp how other human beings can take delight and pride in making such a movie and consider it a comedy,...
- 8/10/2011
- by Max Evry
- NextMovie
30 Minutes or Less director Ruben Fleischer has defended the film against accusations that it is based on a real-life crime. Jesse Eisenberg's pizza delivery boy character is forced to rob a bank with a bomb tied to his chest in the crime thriller. The family of 46-year-old pizza delivery man Brian Wells, who died in a similar case in 2003, have criticised Fleischer for drawing on the real-life event. Fleischer has denied that the script refers to the Wells case and said that it did not provide any inspiration. He told The Huffington Post: "For me the best reference was Fargo. "It's another misguided crime plot where somebody comes up with a bad idea and then, as it goes down, it gets worse and worse and spirals (more)...
- 8/10/2011
- by By Zakia Uddin
- Digital Spy
A new clip has been released for 30 Minutes or Less by director Ruben Fleischer starring Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride and Nick Swardson. The film bears a resemblance to an unusual real life bank robbery which occurred on August 28, 2003 in Erie, Pennsylvania, where pizza delivery man Brian Wells was killed when a bomb fastened to his neck detonated as he was approached by police. As you can see by the clip, the film has been given an R rating by the MPAA. Cover your children’s ears and eyes, if you have four hands; otherwise have them leave the room. It is about to get seriously vulgar. Enjoy!
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- 8/10/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Director Ruben Fleischer has defended his film 30 Minutes Or Less amid complaints from the family of a man who was killed during a similar crime. In the film, Jesse Eisenberg's pizza-delivery boy is kidnapped and forced to rob a bank while wearing a bomb strapped to his chest. That mirrors the real-life case of Brian Wells, a 46-year-old pizza-delivery man who died in 2003 when the bomb around his neck detonated. Wells claimed he had been forced to rob the bank. Now Wells' family has made it clear they...
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- 8/10/2011
- by Matt Chapman
- TotalFilm
What was Sony thinking? Like predecessors Superbad ($121.5 million domestic B.O.) and Pineapple Express ($87.3 million), raunchy comedy 30 Minutes or Less, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari and Danny McBride, looked to be building some summer bad-boy buzz until online needles rattled over a potentially devastating controversy. Anthony D'Alessandro has more:
Instantly, the set-up of 30 Minutes, which looked like a heightened version of Neil Simon’s Seems Like Old Times, took on a new light when the family of Brian Wells, a late Pennsylvania pizza man who met his fate after being coerced to rob a bank as a bomb hostage, revealed that the 30 Minutes filmmakers were satirizing their real tragedy. Who knew that the film was even remotely associated with actual events? Director Ruben ...
Instantly, the set-up of 30 Minutes, which looked like a heightened version of Neil Simon’s Seems Like Old Times, took on a new light when the family of Brian Wells, a late Pennsylvania pizza man who met his fate after being coerced to rob a bank as a bomb hostage, revealed that the 30 Minutes filmmakers were satirizing their real tragedy. Who knew that the film was even remotely associated with actual events? Director Ruben ...
- 8/9/2011
- Thompson on Hollywood
Some of Hollywood’s funniest guys and gals came out for the L.A. premiere of the pizza-boy-turned-robber-with-a-bomb movie, “30 Minutes Or Less,” Monday night.
Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari, who star in the film, hung out with producer Ben Stiller, as well as Dane Cook and co-stars Nick Swardson and Michael Pena at the star-studded event.
Other celebs spotted on the red carpet? Joe Jonas, Brody Jenner and Busy Phillips -- just to name a few.
But while the film may deliver some big laughs, there’s one group that isn’t laughing at the story of a pizza delivery driver forced to rob a bank with a bomb strapped to his chest.
In 2003, pizza delivery man Brian Wells was killed when a metal bomb collar he was wearing exploded. Wells was reportedly forced to rob a bank while wearing the explosive device.
Sound familiar? It's probably because that's kind...
Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari, who star in the film, hung out with producer Ben Stiller, as well as Dane Cook and co-stars Nick Swardson and Michael Pena at the star-studded event.
Other celebs spotted on the red carpet? Joe Jonas, Brody Jenner and Busy Phillips -- just to name a few.
But while the film may deliver some big laughs, there’s one group that isn’t laughing at the story of a pizza delivery driver forced to rob a bank with a bomb strapped to his chest.
In 2003, pizza delivery man Brian Wells was killed when a metal bomb collar he was wearing exploded. Wells was reportedly forced to rob a bank while wearing the explosive device.
Sound familiar? It's probably because that's kind...
- 8/9/2011
- by Kelly Fisher
- Huffington Post
Filed under: Movie News
'30 Minutes or Less,' a comedy very obviously inspired by the quite horrifying demise of pizza delivery man Brian Wells, is under a bit of scrutiny after TMZ wrote about how Infuriated Wells' friends are about the whole thing. In 2003, Wells was allegedly part of a bank-robbing conspiracy that required him to wear a bomb locked to his body, much as Jesse Eisenberg's character does in the movie, which opens Friday. Wells, quite understandably, tried to back out of the plot once he realized that the bomb was quite real. (For those interested, Wired has a fascinating look at this story and Jen Yamato over at Movieline breaks down the key similarities between the film and the real-life events.) Earlier this week, Sony responded to the controversy by issuing a statement that read, "Neither the filmmakers nor the stars of 30 Minutes or Less were...
'30 Minutes or Less,' a comedy very obviously inspired by the quite horrifying demise of pizza delivery man Brian Wells, is under a bit of scrutiny after TMZ wrote about how Infuriated Wells' friends are about the whole thing. In 2003, Wells was allegedly part of a bank-robbing conspiracy that required him to wear a bomb locked to his body, much as Jesse Eisenberg's character does in the movie, which opens Friday. Wells, quite understandably, tried to back out of the plot once he realized that the bomb was quite real. (For those interested, Wired has a fascinating look at this story and Jen Yamato over at Movieline breaks down the key similarities between the film and the real-life events.) Earlier this week, Sony responded to the controversy by issuing a statement that read, "Neither the filmmakers nor the stars of 30 Minutes or Less were...
- 8/9/2011
- by Mike Ryan
- Moviefone
I'm not sure how many of you already read my piece detailing the true story behind this weekend's new release 30 Minutes or Less, but you will probably want to read it before devouring this piece as the Associated Press is reporting Jean Heid, sister to Brian Wells, the pizza delivery driver who was killed when a bomb handcuffed to his neck exploded following a bank robbery, is none-too-pleased the true story has been adapted into a Hollywood comedy. The studio, however, is claiming ignorance.
"Neither the filmmakers nor the stars of 30 Minutes or Less were aware of this crime prior to their involvement in the film," said Steve Elzer, the senior vice president who handles media relations for Sony Pictures' Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, in a statement. "The writers were vaguely familiar with what had occurred and wrote an original screenplay that does not mirror the real-life tragedy." Based...
"Neither the filmmakers nor the stars of 30 Minutes or Less were aware of this crime prior to their involvement in the film," said Steve Elzer, the senior vice president who handles media relations for Sony Pictures' Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, in a statement. "The writers were vaguely familiar with what had occurred and wrote an original screenplay that does not mirror the real-life tragedy." Based...
- 8/8/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Art has apparently imitated life in the case of the upcoming comedy "30 Minutes or Less" -- and one family isn't laughing about it. The surviving relatives of Brian Wells -- who died in 2003 during a bizarre bombing incident that had eerie similarities to the movie's plot -- have come out to condemn the Jesse Eisenberg movie. In the film -- out Aug. 12 via Columbia -- Eisenberg plays a pizza-delivery man who's kidnapped by a pair of men (played by Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) and is forced to rob...
- 8/8/2011
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
In 2003, high school dropout, Brian Douglas Wells, was working as a pizza delivery man at the Mama Mia Pizzeria in Erie, Pennsylvania when on August 28 he was sent on a delivery that ended at a TV transmission tower site. There he received instructions to rob a bank while wearing a bomb handcuffed to his neck.
He went to the bank and, instead of getting the $250,000 he asked for, walked out with only $8,702 and a Dum Dum lollipop he grabbed from the counter.
Upon completion of this task he began a scavenger hunt to gain the information necessary to remove the bomb from his neck before the kitchen timer expired and blew up. He made it to the first clue, but before he could go any further he was apprehended by the police. The bomb subsequently exploded on national television, killing him while he and the police waited for the bomb squad to show up.
He went to the bank and, instead of getting the $250,000 he asked for, walked out with only $8,702 and a Dum Dum lollipop he grabbed from the counter.
Upon completion of this task he began a scavenger hunt to gain the information necessary to remove the bomb from his neck before the kitchen timer expired and blew up. He made it to the first clue, but before he could go any further he was apprehended by the police. The bomb subsequently exploded on national television, killing him while he and the police waited for the bomb squad to show up.
- 8/8/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Ruben Fleischer's upcoming comedy 30 Minutes or Less – about a pizza delivery boy who is kidnapped and roped into a bank robbery -- opens this Friday. If the plot sounds familiar, that's because the story mirrors headlines about Brian Wells. The middle-aged Erie, Pennsylvania resident worked as a pizza delivery man, but was drawn into a murderous plot due to his associations with a prostitute. Wells agreed to participate in a bank robbery under the presumption that the explosive device he would wear would be a fake. Turns out the bomb was real, and Wells was killed shortly before the bomb squad arrived and after he told police he was being held hostage. Since then, the case has inspired several TV episodes, including those on...
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- 8/8/2011
- by Movies.com
- Movies.com
Ruben Fleischer's upcoming comedy 30 Minutes or Less – about a pizza delivery boy who is kidnapped and roped into a bank robbery -- opens this Friday. If the plot sounds familiar, that's because the story mirrors headlines about Brian Wells. The middle-aged Erie, Pennsylvania resident worked as a pizza delivery man, but was drawn into a murderous plot due to his associations with a prostitute. Wells agreed to participate in a bank robbery under the presumption that the explosive device he would wear would be a fake. Turns out the bomb was real, and Wells was killed shortly before the bomb squad arrived and after he told police he was being held hostage. Since then, the case has inspired several TV episodes, including those on...
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- 8/8/2011
- by Movies.com
- Movies.com - Celebrity Gossip
For a buddy comedy movie about a pizza guy, "30 Minutes or Less," is dredging up a lot of real world issues.
Starring Jesse Eisenberg as a deliveryman who has a bomb strapped to his chest and is forced to rob a bank by henchmen played by Danny McBride and Nick Swardson, the film has light shades of the real-life story of Brian Wells, a Pennsylvania pizza man who was thrust in the exact same scenario -- and died when the bomb detonated. Whether or not he was in on the ultimately tragic plot was a fact argued in court, but nonetheless, the humorous take on the situation has not sat well with his mourning family members.
In defending his film, director Ruben Fleischer sat down with Moviefone and insisted that his movie was not offensive -- or even that directly related -- to its parallel reality.
"Well first of all,...
Starring Jesse Eisenberg as a deliveryman who has a bomb strapped to his chest and is forced to rob a bank by henchmen played by Danny McBride and Nick Swardson, the film has light shades of the real-life story of Brian Wells, a Pennsylvania pizza man who was thrust in the exact same scenario -- and died when the bomb detonated. Whether or not he was in on the ultimately tragic plot was a fact argued in court, but nonetheless, the humorous take on the situation has not sat well with his mourning family members.
In defending his film, director Ruben Fleischer sat down with Moviefone and insisted that his movie was not offensive -- or even that directly related -- to its parallel reality.
"Well first of all,...
- 8/8/2011
- by Jordan Zakarin
- Huffington Post
Comedy fans are eagerly awaiting the release of this weekend's '30 Minutes or Less,' starring Jesse Eisenberg as a hapless pizza-delivery boy that is sucked into an elaborate and dangerous plot, when he is kidnapped by two inept criminals, forced to wear a bomb strapped to his chest and then rob a bank for them.
Moviefone spoke with the film's director Ruben Fleischer ('Zombieland') and he explained how much '30 Minutes or Less' has to do with the true story of Brian Wells and why his movie offers a positive, uplifting take on the crime.
Moviefone spoke with the film's director Ruben Fleischer ('Zombieland') and he explained how much '30 Minutes or Less' has to do with the true story of Brian Wells and why his movie offers a positive, uplifting take on the crime.
- 8/8/2011
- by blog.moviefone.com
- Huffington Post
When I first heard about the premise of the new comedy “30 Minutes or Less” (Sony, 8/12, R, trailer) — “Two fledgling criminals (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) kidnap a pizza delivery guy (Jesse Eisenberg), strap a bomb to his chest, and inform him that he has mere hours to rob a bank or else…” (per IMDb) — it immediately called to mind the real 2003 case of Brian Wells, aka the victim of the “Collar Bomb.”
In 2003, Wells, a 46-year-old pizza delivery guy in Erie, Pennsylvania, was kidnapped by two men who strapped a bomb around his neck and forced him to rob a bank… only, unlike in the film version (from what I’m told — I haven’t seen it yet), he was actually killed when the bomb exploded. (You can see some of the disturbing TV news footage from the scene below, if you wish.)
The family and friends of Wells are,...
In 2003, Wells, a 46-year-old pizza delivery guy in Erie, Pennsylvania, was kidnapped by two men who strapped a bomb around his neck and forced him to rob a bank… only, unlike in the film version (from what I’m told — I haven’t seen it yet), he was actually killed when the bomb exploded. (You can see some of the disturbing TV news footage from the scene below, if you wish.)
The family and friends of Wells are,...
- 8/8/2011
- by Scott Feinberg
- Scott Feinberg
It's one thing to be upset about a documentary portraying your misfortunes as farce, as in the case of Joyce McKinney's objections to "Tabloid," but is it necessary to go on record with disapproval of a narrative comedy that only loosely bases its plot on your real tragedy? The new movie "30 Minutes or Less" has been deemed terribly insensitive by the family of pizza delivery man turned bank robber Brian Wells, who was allegedly forced by others to commit the crime while a bomb was strapped to his chest. His life ended horribly when he was blown up in…...
- 8/8/2011
- Spout
Ruben Fleischer's upcoming, "30 Minutes or Less" stars Jesse Eisenberg as a pizza delivery boy coerced into robbing a bank by two thugs (Danny McBride and Nick Swarsdon), who strap a bomb to his chest and threaten to detonate him.
And while this action comedy delivers the goods with some serious laughs, the real-life incident that inspired the flick was no laughing matter.
On August 28, 2003, Pennsylvania pizza man Brian Wells met with accomplices in a premeditated plot to rob an area bank using a fake bomb collar as a prop so he could feign innocence if caught. However, unbeknownst to Wells, his cohorts strapped an actual bomb to him—changing the game considerably.
After Wells was only able to collect $8,000 of the $250,000 he demanded at Pnc Bank, he began frantically hunting down clues that would release him from the bomb. When the police finally caught up to him, he pleaded...
And while this action comedy delivers the goods with some serious laughs, the real-life incident that inspired the flick was no laughing matter.
On August 28, 2003, Pennsylvania pizza man Brian Wells met with accomplices in a premeditated plot to rob an area bank using a fake bomb collar as a prop so he could feign innocence if caught. However, unbeknownst to Wells, his cohorts strapped an actual bomb to him—changing the game considerably.
After Wells was only able to collect $8,000 of the $250,000 he demanded at Pnc Bank, he began frantically hunting down clues that would release him from the bomb. When the police finally caught up to him, he pleaded...
- 8/8/2011
- by Elizabeth Durand
- NextMovie
Filed under: Celebrity Interviews, Movie News, Hot Topic, Summer Movies, Coming Soon
Comedy fans are eagerly awaiting the release of this weekend's '30 Minutes or Less,' starring Jesse Eisenberg as a hapless pizza-delivery boy who gets sucked into an elaborate and dangerous plot when he is kidnapped by two inept criminals and forced to rob a bank for them while wearing a bomb strapped to his chest. With the help of his best friend, he must somehow pull off the bank job, avoid the cops and get out with his life intact -- as hilarious hijinks, inevitably, ensue.
But what many of those fans may not know is the true story behind the plot of '30 Minutes or Less'; in 2003, 46-year-old pizza-delivery man Brian Wells died while being detained by the police, when the bomb wrapped around his neck detonated. Wells frantically pleaded that he had been forced to...
Comedy fans are eagerly awaiting the release of this weekend's '30 Minutes or Less,' starring Jesse Eisenberg as a hapless pizza-delivery boy who gets sucked into an elaborate and dangerous plot when he is kidnapped by two inept criminals and forced to rob a bank for them while wearing a bomb strapped to his chest. With the help of his best friend, he must somehow pull off the bank job, avoid the cops and get out with his life intact -- as hilarious hijinks, inevitably, ensue.
But what many of those fans may not know is the true story behind the plot of '30 Minutes or Less'; in 2003, 46-year-old pizza-delivery man Brian Wells died while being detained by the police, when the bomb wrapped around his neck detonated. Wells frantically pleaded that he had been forced to...
- 8/8/2011
- by Eric Larnick
- Moviefone
In Ruben Fleischer's upcoming comedy 30 Minutes or Less, Jesse Eisenberg plays a pizza delivery man coerced into robbing a bank by two thugs (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) who strap a bomb to his chest and threaten to detonate him. Comedy ensues, of course, but the real-life 2003 event that loosely inspired the film didn't end so hilariously, as the family of late Pennsylvania pizza man Brian Wells would like to point out.
- 8/8/2011
- Movieline
We.re less than week away from the release of 30 Minutes Or Less, and excitement surrounding the project is starting to build. The reviews have been largely positive and each subsequent clip has generated more interest. It seems pretty safe to assume it.ll open to at least decent numbers this weekend, but not everyone is pleased with what could turn out to be one of the funnier comedies of the summer. In fact, the family of Brian Wells, the pizza delivery man whose story loosely inspired the film, doesn.t see anything funny about its subject matter. Speaking by email to the Associated Press, Brian Wells. sister Jean Heid said. "It's hard for me to grasp how other human beings can take delight and pride in making such a movie and consider it a comedy. I don't think it's funny to laugh at the innocent who are victimized by...
- 8/7/2011
- cinemablend.com
Back in 2003, a 46-year-old pizza delivery man Brian Wells died when a bomb strapped around his neck exploded after he was forced to rob a bank. Now Columbia Pictures is releasing their "30 Minutes or Less" comedy, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari, and friends and family of Wells are outraged that the studio took a tragic event and turned it into a comedy. "Doesn't Brian have a right to die? They're blowing something up that should never have even happened in the first place and now they wanna make a joke out it ... it's really tragic," said a friend. The studio claims that neither the filmmakers or the stars of the film were aware of Wells before getting involved in the film. A representative of the writers added that his clients were vaguely familiar with the events, but the screenplay is based on an original story that does not mirror the real-life tragedy.
- 8/7/2011
- WorstPreviews.com
[1] Many of you have likely heard the perplexing tale of Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man who had a bomb strapped to his chest and was instructed to rob a bank. (For those who are unfamiliar, Wired wrote a fascinating and thorough recap of the event [2].) Such a tragic story would not seem to lend itself to a comedy, and yet, that very premise is serving as the basis for this summer's 30 Minutes or Less. Some may find the approach tasteless, but if the film's red band trailer [3] is any indication, Zomebieland director Ruben Fleischer and his knockout cast (which includes Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, Nick Swardson, Michael Peña, and Dilshad Vadsaria) may just pull it off. After the break, we have some new images, a video blog sharing what it was like on the film's set, and an interview with the film's director. New Images: [gallery columns="2"] Back in August of last year,...
- 5/11/2011
- by Adam Quigley
- Slash Film
Filed under: Trailers and Clips, Movie News
The trailer for Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari's new buddy comedy '30 Minutes or Less' looks like a hilarious tale of two friends and a pizza delivery gone awry. But a closer look reveals echoes of true-life events that had no punch line, according to our friends at PopEater.
Eisenberg plays Nick, a pizza delivery boy who is kidnapped and forced to rob a bank by Dwayne, a criminal played by Danny McBride. Nick only has eight hours to pull off the bank robbery or the bomb Dwayne has strapped to his chest will detonate. Chet (Ansari) gets caught in the process, making for a comedic series of events.
It might be all laughs for Eisenberg, Ansari and the '30 Minutes' crew, but on Aug. 28, 2003, Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man in Erie, Pa., was killed after the bomb strapped to his...
The trailer for Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari's new buddy comedy '30 Minutes or Less' looks like a hilarious tale of two friends and a pizza delivery gone awry. But a closer look reveals echoes of true-life events that had no punch line, according to our friends at PopEater.
Eisenberg plays Nick, a pizza delivery boy who is kidnapped and forced to rob a bank by Dwayne, a criminal played by Danny McBride. Nick only has eight hours to pull off the bank robbery or the bomb Dwayne has strapped to his chest will detonate. Chet (Ansari) gets caught in the process, making for a comedic series of events.
It might be all laughs for Eisenberg, Ansari and the '30 Minutes' crew, but on Aug. 28, 2003, Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man in Erie, Pa., was killed after the bomb strapped to his...
- 4/26/2011
- by PopEater Editors
- Moviefone
An R-Rated comedy based on a real-life bizarre and horrific crime? Hmm. Sony has unveiled the red-band trailer for the upcoming Rubin Fleischer directed comedy, 30 Minutes Or Less, on the film's official Facebook. The plot centers on a Pizza delivery boy (Jesse Eisenberg) who whilst delivering a pizza, is kidnapped by a pair of criminals (Danny McBride, Nick Swardson), strapped with a bomb and given 9 hours to rob a city bank. Starring alongside the previously mentioned are Aziz Ansari, Michael Pena and Fred Ward. Now, don't get me wrong, the footage released thus far is funny, but it begs the question is it accurately portraying what the film really is? I mean, it's loosely based on the 2003 murder of Brian Wells, a 46 year old delivery boy (er, man?), so one would expect it to be a dark, dark comedy. We'll find out September 23rd when 30 Minutes Or Less opens here in Ireland.
- 4/21/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Ferg)
- www.themoviebit.com
Two months before the premiere of NBC's two-hour movie/backdoor pilot "Secrets of the Mountain," the network has teamed with Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart for another project, "The Jensen Project."
Like "Secrets," the tentatively titled "Jensen" will be funded by P&G, produced by Canada-based Muse Entertainment and air on NBC as a time buy.
Kellie Martin, Brady Smith, Patricia Richardson and LeVar Burton have been tapped to star in "Jensen," written by Monica Macer and to be directed by Douglas Barr.
Set in 1988, it revolves around 12 geniuses who move to an isolated spot in the Allegheny Mountains to form the Jensen Project. For 20 years, the group spend their time inventing ways to fix the world's problems and then share their discoveries freely and anonymously with the world. But when a few decide to take their latest invention, cash in and make names for themselves, it launches a cross-country race...
Like "Secrets," the tentatively titled "Jensen" will be funded by P&G, produced by Canada-based Muse Entertainment and air on NBC as a time buy.
Kellie Martin, Brady Smith, Patricia Richardson and LeVar Burton have been tapped to star in "Jensen," written by Monica Macer and to be directed by Douglas Barr.
Set in 1988, it revolves around 12 geniuses who move to an isolated spot in the Allegheny Mountains to form the Jensen Project. For 20 years, the group spend their time inventing ways to fix the world's problems and then share their discoveries freely and anonymously with the world. But when a few decide to take their latest invention, cash in and make names for themselves, it launches a cross-country race...
- 2/21/2010
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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