Stars: Anna Kendrick, Sam Rockwell, Tim Roth, James Ransone, Anson Mount, Michael Eklund, RZA, Katie Nehra, Douglas M. Griffin | Written by Max Landis | Directed by Paco Cabezas
Hyperactive at the best of times, Martha (Anna Kendrick) has gone full-on manic since her latest breakup. She babbles, parties like a monster, cooks everything in sight – and is looking to do something terrible when she meets Francis (Sam Rockwell). To anyone else, Francis’ approach would come across as creepy, but Martha can’t help but be intrigued. They seem a perfect match: she’s bananas, he’s bananas… except he’s also a professional assassin.
However Francis is a hitman with a cause: he kills the people ordering the hits. Just as Martha begins to realize her new beau wasn’t joking when he said he had to step out for a moment to shoot someone, things start heating up for Francis.
Hyperactive at the best of times, Martha (Anna Kendrick) has gone full-on manic since her latest breakup. She babbles, parties like a monster, cooks everything in sight – and is looking to do something terrible when she meets Francis (Sam Rockwell). To anyone else, Francis’ approach would come across as creepy, but Martha can’t help but be intrigued. They seem a perfect match: she’s bananas, he’s bananas… except he’s also a professional assassin.
However Francis is a hitman with a cause: he kills the people ordering the hits. Just as Martha begins to realize her new beau wasn’t joking when he said he had to step out for a moment to shoot someone, things start heating up for Francis.
- 2/8/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Three Hollywood insiders explained how they got their first big break in the entertainment industry at TheWrap’s Breaking Into the Business event on Wednesday night. Producer Alex Noyer of You Know Films, actress and screenwriter Katie Nehra and veteran casting director Marci Liroff sat down with TheWrap’s Sharon Waxman in Los Angeles to discuss their careers and give advice to college students looking to break into entertainment and media. Nehra, who co-wrote Chris Messina’s 2014 directorial debut “Alex of Venice,” said that her first break came from playwright John Patrick Shanley, who cast her in his play “Sailor’s Song.
- 12/9/2016
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
"I'm on a date, and I like this girl. Can't we do this tomorrow?" Focus World has debuted a trailer for the new romantic comedy Mr. Right, about a lovable goofy girl who ends up with a guy that seems perfect until she discovers he's a hitman gone rogue. We all know how this is going to turn out, right? Of course after some bumps in the road and scary moments, she's going to live happily ever after with him, there's no doubt about it. That's always how these films end. Anna Kendrick stars along with Sam Rockwell, and a fun cast including Tim Roth, Anson Mount, James Ransone, Michael Eklund, Katie Nehra and RZA. Despite my love for these two lead actors, this movie looks as formulaic and bland as can possibly be. Enjoy. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Paco Cabezas' Mr. Right, originally from Yahoo:...
- 2/10/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is eminently relatable in a compassionate, human-scaled movie of the sort that movies have almost forgotten of late. I’m “biast” (pro): I am desperate for stories about women
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Alex’s life is falling apart. Her husband, George (Chris Messina: Palo Alto), has had it with being a stay-at-home father and househusband and has hit the road. Her son, Dakota (Skylar Gaertner: They Came Together), is lonely and needs to make more friends, or so his teachers say. Her Dad (Don Johnson: The Other Woman), who lives with them, is having worrisome trouble with his memory. Her sister, Lily (Katie Nehra), has moved back into help out in George’s absence but could be doing more harm than good. And her work as an environmental lawyer for a tiny storefront activist...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Alex’s life is falling apart. Her husband, George (Chris Messina: Palo Alto), has had it with being a stay-at-home father and househusband and has hit the road. Her son, Dakota (Skylar Gaertner: They Came Together), is lonely and needs to make more friends, or so his teachers say. Her Dad (Don Johnson: The Other Woman), who lives with them, is having worrisome trouble with his memory. Her sister, Lily (Katie Nehra), has moved back into help out in George’s absence but could be doing more harm than good. And her work as an environmental lawyer for a tiny storefront activist...
- 4/20/2015
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Plot: Alex (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a young lawyer with a thriving career whose husband George (Chris Messina) stays home to take care of their son Dakota (Skylar Gaertner) and her middle-aged actor father (Don Johnson). When George walks out on the family, Alex is forced to rely on her father and irresponsible sister Lily (Katie Nehra) for help, while also trying to rebuild her once picture-perfect life. Review: Alex Of Venice is an impressive directorial debut for actor Chris...
- 4/14/2015
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
If you haven't been paying attention to the choices Mary Elizabeth Winstead has been making, maybe it's about time to see what the actress has been up to. Last month she led the excellent cult drama "Faults," and she's on the small screen in the eerie "The Returned." She also gives another solid performance in "Alex Of Venice," and today we have an exclusive clip from the film. Read More: 'Alex Of Venice' Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Don Johnson, And Chris Messina The directorial debut of Chris Messina, who also stars alongside Don Johnson, Derek Luke, Katie Nehra, and Sklar Gaertner, the story follows a workaholic environmental attorney who finds her life shaken up when her husband suddenly leaves the family. As you'll see in this clip, she struggles to put together the choices that have found her on this path. "Alex Of Venice" arrives in limited release on April 17th.
- 4/9/2015
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Summer blockbuster season is just around the corner, but there's no need to wait until then to see a great movie. April brings us a wide variety of women-centric projects, as well as quite a few films helmed and/or written by women.
The month starts off with "Woman in Gold," starring Helen Mirren as a Jewish woman on a journey to recover her family's heirlooms, which was stolen by the Nazis. It's based on a true story, and Mirren roots the film with her powerful presence. "Closer to the Moon" is another WWII-era drama set for an April release, this one based on the crime capers of a group of Jewish resistance fighters a few years after the end of the war. "Marie's Story" is another period piece, centering around the efforts of a 19th-century nun to help a girl born blind and deaf.
There are a few more women-focused dramas being released in April, including the much-buzzed "Clouds of Sils Maria," which garnered Kristen Stewart the prestigious Cesar Award for supporting actress. Stewart has made waves for being the first American actress to win the French award, and the film looks to capitalize on that with its American release. “Félix & Meira" is another award-winner coming out this month. The Best Canadian Feature from the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival aims to make its mark with the story of an unconventional and radical love affair, one that reaches across racial and religious lines. "About Elly" also confronts cultural biases with its depiction of Iran's upper middle class.
"Effie Gray" tackles the sexual politics of the Victorian era, and with a screenplay from Emma Thompson, it's sure to be intriguing as well as quick-witted. Speaking of intriguing, "The Age of Adaline" follows a woman who mysteriously stopped aging eight decades ago. Blake Lively centers the film as Adaline, struggling with love and trust and all the other things that might follow when one lives seemingly forever.
Courteney Cox makes her big-screen directorial debut (the actress has previously directed episodes of "Cougar Town," which she stars in) with "Just Before I Go," and screenwiter Gren Wells makes hers as well with "The Road Within." Director Mia Hansen-løve ("Goodbye First Love") directs Greta Gerwig in "Eden," a look at the rise of French electronic music in the 90s.
The month will also see the release of a few very different documentaries. "The Hand That Feeds" focuses on undocumented immigrants struggling to form an independent union, while "Iris" follows 93-year-old Iris Apfel, a flamboyant New York City fashion icon. "Antarctic Edge: 70° South" is focused on the changing climate of the Antarctic's Peninsula and was made with the collaboration of Rutgers University students and scientists.
We'll also see comedic projects featuring Mary Elizabeth Winstead ("Alex of Venice") and Rose Byrne ("Adult Beginners"). Nia Vardalos returns to the screen with a role in "Helicopter Mom," which promises an outrageous performance from the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star. "Sweet Lorraine" and "Farah Goes Bang" round out the women-centric comedy offerings of the month.
Here are all the women-centric films opening in the month of April. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
April 1
Woman in Gold
"Woman in Gold" is the remarkable true story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, among them Klimt’s famous painting "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I." Together with her inexperienced but plucky young lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), she embarks upon a major battle, which takes them all the way to the heart of the Austrian establishment and the U.S. Supreme Court, and forces her to confront difficult truths about the past along the way.
April 3
The Hand That Feeds (doc) - Co-Written and Co-Directed by Rachel Lears
At a popular bakery café, residents of New York’s Upper East Side get bagels and coffee served with a smile 24 hours a day. But behind the scenes, undocumented immigrant workers face sub-legal wages, dangerous machinery, and abusive managers who will fire them for calling in sick. Mild-mannered sandwich maker Mahoma López has never been interested in politics, but in January 2012 he convinces a small group of his co-workers to fight back.
Risking deportation and the loss of their livelihood, the workers team up with a diverse crew of innovative young organizers and take the unusual step of forming their own independent union, launching themselves on a journey that will test the limits of their resolve. In one roller-coaster year, they must overcome a shocking betrayal and a two-month lockout. Lawyers will battle in back rooms, Occupy Wall Street protesters will take over the restaurant, and a picket line will divide the neighborhood. If they can win a contract, it will set a historic precedent for low-wage workers across the country. But whatever happens, Mahoma and his coworkers will never be exploited again.
Effie Gray - Written by Emma Thompson
In her original screenplay “Effie Gray,” Emma Thompson takes a bold look at the real-life story of the Effie Gray-John Ruskin marriage, while courageously exposing what was truly hiding behind the veil of their public life. Set in a time when neither divorce nor gay marriage were an option, “Effie Gray” is the story of a young woman (Dakota Fanning) coming of age and finding her own voice in a world where women were expected to be seen but not heard. “Effie Gray” explores the roots of sexual intolerance, which continue to have a stronghold today, while shedding light on the marital politics of the Victorian era.
April 8
About Elly
As with director Asghar Farhadi's better-known films, “About Elly” concerns the affluent, well-educated, cultured, and only marginally religious members of Iran's upper-middle class. Elly (Taraneh Alidoosti), a pretty young woman invited as a possible romantic interest for one of the newly single men among this group, disappears suddenly without a trace. The festive atmosphere quickly turns frantic as friends accuse one another of responsibility. Plot-wise, Farhadi's drama has been compared to “L’Avventura”; but the film is less concerned with Elly's disappearance per se than with exploring the intricate mechanisms of deceit, brutality, and betrayal which come into play when ordinary circumstances take a tragic turn.
April 10
Clouds of Sils Maria
At the peak of her international career, Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is asked to perform in a revival of the play that made her famous twenty years ago. But back then, she played the role of Sigrid, an alluring young girl who disarms and eventually drives her boss Helena to suicide. Now she is being asked to step into the other role, that of the older Helena. She departs with her assistant (Kristen Stewart) to rehearse in Sils Maria; a remote region of the Alps. A young Hollywood starlet with a penchant for scandal (Chloë Grace Moretz) is to take on the role of Sigrid, and Maria finds herself on the other side of the mirror, face to face with an ambiguously charming woman who is, in essence, an unsettling reflection of herself.
The Sisterhood of Night - Directed by Caryn Waechter and Written by Marilyn Fu
Based on the short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steven Millhauser, "The Sisterhood of Night" is a story of friendship and loyalty set against the backdrop of a modern-day Salem witch trial. Shot on location in Kingston, NY, the film chronicles a group of girls who have slipped out of the world of social media into a mysterious world deep in the woods. The tale begins when Emily Parris (Kara Hayward) exposes a secret society of teenage girls. Accusing them of committing sexually deviant acts, Emily’s allegations throw their small American town into the national media spotlight. The mystery deepens when each of the accused takes a vow of silence. What follows is a chronicle of three girls’ unique and provocative alternative to the loneliness of adolescence, revealing the tragedy and humor of teenage years changed forever by the Internet age.
Farah Goes Bang - Directed by Meera Menon, Written by Laura Goode and Meera Menon
A road-trip comedy that centers on Farah (Nikohl Boosheri), a twenty-something woman who tries to lose her virginity while campaigning for John Kerry in 2004. Farah and her friends K.J. and Roopa follow the campaign trail to Ohio, seizing this charged moment in their lives and the life of their country.
April 17
Closer to the Moon
Set in 1959 Bucharest, “Closer to the Moon” opens as the crime is hatched and executed by old friends from the WWII Jewish Resistance, who seek to recapture the excitement of their glory days. Led by a chief police inspector (Mark Strong) and a political academic (Vera Farmiga), the quintet also includes a respected history professor (Christian McKay), a hotshot reporter (Joe Armstrong), and a space scientist (Tim Plester). Their postwar influence fading amid an ongoing Stalinist purge of Jews and intellectuals, the disillusioned gang retaliates by hijacking a van delivering cash to the Romanian National Bank, staging the robbery to make it look like a movie shoot. Caught and convicted in a kangaroo court, the culprits, with help from an eyewitness (Harry Lloyd) to the robbery, are forced to reenact their crime in a devious anti-Semitic propaganda film.
Felix & Meira
Winner of Best Canadian Feature at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, “Félix & Meira” is the story of an unconventional romance between two people living vastly different realities mere blocks away from one another. Each lost in their everyday lives, Meira (Hadas Yaron), a Hasidic Jewish wife and mother, and Félix (Martin Dubreuil), a Secular loner mourning the recent death of his estranged father, unexpectedly meet in a local bakery in Montreal's Mile End district. What starts as an innocent friendship becomes more serious as the two wayward strangers find comfort in one another. As Felix opens Meira's eyes to the world outside of her tight-knit Orthodox community, her desire for change becomes harder for her to ignore, ultimately forcing her to choose: remain in the life that she knows or give it all up to be with Félix.
Alex of Venice - Co-Written by Jessica Goldberg and Katie Nehra
In “Alex of Venice,” workaholic environmental attorney Alex Vedder (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is forced to reinvent herself after her husband (Chris Messina) suddenly leaves the family. Dealing with an aging father (Don Johnson) who still aspires to succeed as an actor, an eccentric sister (Katie Nehra), and an extremely shy son (Skylar Gaertner), Alex is bombarded with everything from the mundane to hilariously catastrophic events without a shoulder to lean on. Realizing she will thrive with or without her husband, Alex discovers her hidden vulnerability as well as her inner strength as she fights to keep her family intact in the midst of the most demanding and important case of her career.
Cas & Dylan - Written by Jessie Gabe
When 61-year-old self-proclaimed loner and terminally ill Dr. Cas Pepper (Richard Dreyfuss) reluctantly agrees to give 22-year-old social misfit Dyland Morgan (Tatiana Maslany) a very short lift home, the last thing he anticipates is that he will strike her angry boyfriend with his car, find himself on the lam, and ultimately drive across the country with an aspiring young writer determined to help him overcome his own bizarre case of suicide-note writer's block. But as fate would have it, that is exactly what happens. Suddenly Cas's solo one-way trip out West isn't so solo. With Dylan at his side, the two take off on an adventure that will open their eyes to some of life's lessons -- both big and small.
Antarctic Edge: 70° South (doc) - Directed by Dena Seidel
Dena Seidel’s documentary not only offers rare, beautifully shot footage of West Antarctic Pennisula's rapidly changing environment, studying the connections that reveal the concrete impact of climate change; it is also a one-of-a-kind collaboration between the Rutgers University Film Bureau and the Rutgers Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences and contains interviews and insights from some of the world’s leading ocean researchers. It is a fascinating look at their life’s work trying to understand how to maintain our planet.
The Road Within - Written and Directed by Gren Wells
Vincent (Robert Sheehan), a young man with Tourette's syndrome, faces drastic changes after his mother dies. Because his politician father is too ashamed of the disorder to have Vincent accompany him on the campaign, Vincent is shuttled off to an unconventional clinic. There he finds unexpected community with an obsessive-compulsive roommate and an anorexic young woman, and romance eventually -- and uneasily -- follows.
One of Variety's "10 Directors to Watch," screenwriter Gren Wells makes her directorial debut with this ambitious yet light-hearted coming-of-age tale about the potent medicine we all carry within ourselves. The film is packed with a talented ensemble, from emerging talents Zoë Kravitz, Dev Patel, and Sheehan to beloved veterans Kyra Sedgwick and Robert Patrick.
April 23
Sweet Lorraine
The double life of a Methodist minister's wife (played by Tatum O'Neal) catches up to her, as her husband campaigns for mayor in a small New Jersey town.
April 24
Just Before I Go - Directed by Courtney Cox
Ted Morgan (Seann William Scott) has been treading water for most of his life. After his wife leaves him, Ted realizes he has nothing left to live for. Summoning the courage for one last act, Ted decides to go home and face the people he feels are responsible for creating the shell of a person he has become. But life is tricky. The more determined Ted is to confront his demons, to get closure, and to withdraw from his family, the more Ted is yanked into the chaos of their lives. So, when Ted Morgan decides to kill himself, he finds a reason to live.
The Age of Adaline
After miraculously remaining 29-years-old for almost eight decades, Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has lived a solitary existence, never allowing herself to get close to anyone who might reveal her secret. But a chance encounter with charismatic philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reignites her passion for life and romance. When a weekend with his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker) threatens to uncover the truth, Adaline makes a decision that will change her life forever.
Adult Beginners - Co-Written by Liz Flahive (Simultaneously releasing to VOD)
A young, hipster entrepreneur (Nick Kroll) crashes and burns on the eve of his company’s big launch. With his entire life in disarray, he leaves Manhattan to move in with his estranged pregnant sister (Rose Byrne), brother-in-law (Bobby Cannavale), and three-year-old nephew in the suburbs – only to become their manny. Faced with real responsibility, he may finally have to grow up – but not without some bad behavior first.
Eden - Directed and Co-Written by Mia Hansen-løve
The film follows the life of a French DJ who's credited with inventing "French house" or the "French touch," a type of French electronic music that became popular in the 1990s. Greta Gerwig costars. (IMDb)
24 Days - Co-Written by Emilie Frèche
January 20, 2006: After dinner with his family, Ilan Halimi (Syrus Shahidi) gets a call from a beautiful girl who had approached him at work and makes plans to meet her for coffee. Ilan didn't suspect a thing. He was 23 and had his whole life ahead of him. The next time Ilan's family heard from him was through a cryptic online message from kidnappers demanding a ransom in exchange for their son's life. (IMDb)
Helicopter Mom - Directed by Salomé Breziner
An overbearing mom (Nia Vardalos) decides that college would be more affordable if her son were to win an Lgbt scholarship, so she outs him to his entire high school. However, he might not be gay. (Rotten Tomatoes)
April 29
Iris (doc) (Opening in New York City)
"Iris" pairs legendary 87-year-old documentarian Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even in Iris' dotage, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. "Iris" portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art, and people are life's sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment. Despite the abundance of glamour in her current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression.
April 30
Marie’s Story
At the turn of the 19th century, a humble artisan and his wife have a daughter, Marie (Ariana Rivoire), who is born deaf and blind and unable to communicate with the world around her. Desperate to find a connection to their daughter and avoid sending her to an asylum, the Heurtins send fourteen-year-old Marie to the Larnay Institute in central France, where an order of Catholic nuns manage a school for deaf girls. There, the idealistic Sister Marguerite (Isabelle Carré) sees in Marie a unique potential, and despite her Mother Superior's (Brigitte Catillon) skepticism, vows to bring the wild young thing out of the darkness into which she was born. Based on true events, “Marie's Story” recounts the courageous journey of a young nun and the lives she would change forever, confronting failures and discouragement with joyous faith and love. (Film Movement)...
The month starts off with "Woman in Gold," starring Helen Mirren as a Jewish woman on a journey to recover her family's heirlooms, which was stolen by the Nazis. It's based on a true story, and Mirren roots the film with her powerful presence. "Closer to the Moon" is another WWII-era drama set for an April release, this one based on the crime capers of a group of Jewish resistance fighters a few years after the end of the war. "Marie's Story" is another period piece, centering around the efforts of a 19th-century nun to help a girl born blind and deaf.
There are a few more women-focused dramas being released in April, including the much-buzzed "Clouds of Sils Maria," which garnered Kristen Stewart the prestigious Cesar Award for supporting actress. Stewart has made waves for being the first American actress to win the French award, and the film looks to capitalize on that with its American release. “Félix & Meira" is another award-winner coming out this month. The Best Canadian Feature from the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival aims to make its mark with the story of an unconventional and radical love affair, one that reaches across racial and religious lines. "About Elly" also confronts cultural biases with its depiction of Iran's upper middle class.
"Effie Gray" tackles the sexual politics of the Victorian era, and with a screenplay from Emma Thompson, it's sure to be intriguing as well as quick-witted. Speaking of intriguing, "The Age of Adaline" follows a woman who mysteriously stopped aging eight decades ago. Blake Lively centers the film as Adaline, struggling with love and trust and all the other things that might follow when one lives seemingly forever.
Courteney Cox makes her big-screen directorial debut (the actress has previously directed episodes of "Cougar Town," which she stars in) with "Just Before I Go," and screenwiter Gren Wells makes hers as well with "The Road Within." Director Mia Hansen-løve ("Goodbye First Love") directs Greta Gerwig in "Eden," a look at the rise of French electronic music in the 90s.
The month will also see the release of a few very different documentaries. "The Hand That Feeds" focuses on undocumented immigrants struggling to form an independent union, while "Iris" follows 93-year-old Iris Apfel, a flamboyant New York City fashion icon. "Antarctic Edge: 70° South" is focused on the changing climate of the Antarctic's Peninsula and was made with the collaboration of Rutgers University students and scientists.
We'll also see comedic projects featuring Mary Elizabeth Winstead ("Alex of Venice") and Rose Byrne ("Adult Beginners"). Nia Vardalos returns to the screen with a role in "Helicopter Mom," which promises an outrageous performance from the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star. "Sweet Lorraine" and "Farah Goes Bang" round out the women-centric comedy offerings of the month.
Here are all the women-centric films opening in the month of April. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
April 1
Woman in Gold
"Woman in Gold" is the remarkable true story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, among them Klimt’s famous painting "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I." Together with her inexperienced but plucky young lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), she embarks upon a major battle, which takes them all the way to the heart of the Austrian establishment and the U.S. Supreme Court, and forces her to confront difficult truths about the past along the way.
April 3
The Hand That Feeds (doc) - Co-Written and Co-Directed by Rachel Lears
At a popular bakery café, residents of New York’s Upper East Side get bagels and coffee served with a smile 24 hours a day. But behind the scenes, undocumented immigrant workers face sub-legal wages, dangerous machinery, and abusive managers who will fire them for calling in sick. Mild-mannered sandwich maker Mahoma López has never been interested in politics, but in January 2012 he convinces a small group of his co-workers to fight back.
Risking deportation and the loss of their livelihood, the workers team up with a diverse crew of innovative young organizers and take the unusual step of forming their own independent union, launching themselves on a journey that will test the limits of their resolve. In one roller-coaster year, they must overcome a shocking betrayal and a two-month lockout. Lawyers will battle in back rooms, Occupy Wall Street protesters will take over the restaurant, and a picket line will divide the neighborhood. If they can win a contract, it will set a historic precedent for low-wage workers across the country. But whatever happens, Mahoma and his coworkers will never be exploited again.
Effie Gray - Written by Emma Thompson
In her original screenplay “Effie Gray,” Emma Thompson takes a bold look at the real-life story of the Effie Gray-John Ruskin marriage, while courageously exposing what was truly hiding behind the veil of their public life. Set in a time when neither divorce nor gay marriage were an option, “Effie Gray” is the story of a young woman (Dakota Fanning) coming of age and finding her own voice in a world where women were expected to be seen but not heard. “Effie Gray” explores the roots of sexual intolerance, which continue to have a stronghold today, while shedding light on the marital politics of the Victorian era.
April 8
About Elly
As with director Asghar Farhadi's better-known films, “About Elly” concerns the affluent, well-educated, cultured, and only marginally religious members of Iran's upper-middle class. Elly (Taraneh Alidoosti), a pretty young woman invited as a possible romantic interest for one of the newly single men among this group, disappears suddenly without a trace. The festive atmosphere quickly turns frantic as friends accuse one another of responsibility. Plot-wise, Farhadi's drama has been compared to “L’Avventura”; but the film is less concerned with Elly's disappearance per se than with exploring the intricate mechanisms of deceit, brutality, and betrayal which come into play when ordinary circumstances take a tragic turn.
April 10
Clouds of Sils Maria
At the peak of her international career, Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is asked to perform in a revival of the play that made her famous twenty years ago. But back then, she played the role of Sigrid, an alluring young girl who disarms and eventually drives her boss Helena to suicide. Now she is being asked to step into the other role, that of the older Helena. She departs with her assistant (Kristen Stewart) to rehearse in Sils Maria; a remote region of the Alps. A young Hollywood starlet with a penchant for scandal (Chloë Grace Moretz) is to take on the role of Sigrid, and Maria finds herself on the other side of the mirror, face to face with an ambiguously charming woman who is, in essence, an unsettling reflection of herself.
The Sisterhood of Night - Directed by Caryn Waechter and Written by Marilyn Fu
Based on the short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steven Millhauser, "The Sisterhood of Night" is a story of friendship and loyalty set against the backdrop of a modern-day Salem witch trial. Shot on location in Kingston, NY, the film chronicles a group of girls who have slipped out of the world of social media into a mysterious world deep in the woods. The tale begins when Emily Parris (Kara Hayward) exposes a secret society of teenage girls. Accusing them of committing sexually deviant acts, Emily’s allegations throw their small American town into the national media spotlight. The mystery deepens when each of the accused takes a vow of silence. What follows is a chronicle of three girls’ unique and provocative alternative to the loneliness of adolescence, revealing the tragedy and humor of teenage years changed forever by the Internet age.
Farah Goes Bang - Directed by Meera Menon, Written by Laura Goode and Meera Menon
A road-trip comedy that centers on Farah (Nikohl Boosheri), a twenty-something woman who tries to lose her virginity while campaigning for John Kerry in 2004. Farah and her friends K.J. and Roopa follow the campaign trail to Ohio, seizing this charged moment in their lives and the life of their country.
April 17
Closer to the Moon
Set in 1959 Bucharest, “Closer to the Moon” opens as the crime is hatched and executed by old friends from the WWII Jewish Resistance, who seek to recapture the excitement of their glory days. Led by a chief police inspector (Mark Strong) and a political academic (Vera Farmiga), the quintet also includes a respected history professor (Christian McKay), a hotshot reporter (Joe Armstrong), and a space scientist (Tim Plester). Their postwar influence fading amid an ongoing Stalinist purge of Jews and intellectuals, the disillusioned gang retaliates by hijacking a van delivering cash to the Romanian National Bank, staging the robbery to make it look like a movie shoot. Caught and convicted in a kangaroo court, the culprits, with help from an eyewitness (Harry Lloyd) to the robbery, are forced to reenact their crime in a devious anti-Semitic propaganda film.
Felix & Meira
Winner of Best Canadian Feature at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, “Félix & Meira” is the story of an unconventional romance between two people living vastly different realities mere blocks away from one another. Each lost in their everyday lives, Meira (Hadas Yaron), a Hasidic Jewish wife and mother, and Félix (Martin Dubreuil), a Secular loner mourning the recent death of his estranged father, unexpectedly meet in a local bakery in Montreal's Mile End district. What starts as an innocent friendship becomes more serious as the two wayward strangers find comfort in one another. As Felix opens Meira's eyes to the world outside of her tight-knit Orthodox community, her desire for change becomes harder for her to ignore, ultimately forcing her to choose: remain in the life that she knows or give it all up to be with Félix.
Alex of Venice - Co-Written by Jessica Goldberg and Katie Nehra
In “Alex of Venice,” workaholic environmental attorney Alex Vedder (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is forced to reinvent herself after her husband (Chris Messina) suddenly leaves the family. Dealing with an aging father (Don Johnson) who still aspires to succeed as an actor, an eccentric sister (Katie Nehra), and an extremely shy son (Skylar Gaertner), Alex is bombarded with everything from the mundane to hilariously catastrophic events without a shoulder to lean on. Realizing she will thrive with or without her husband, Alex discovers her hidden vulnerability as well as her inner strength as she fights to keep her family intact in the midst of the most demanding and important case of her career.
Cas & Dylan - Written by Jessie Gabe
When 61-year-old self-proclaimed loner and terminally ill Dr. Cas Pepper (Richard Dreyfuss) reluctantly agrees to give 22-year-old social misfit Dyland Morgan (Tatiana Maslany) a very short lift home, the last thing he anticipates is that he will strike her angry boyfriend with his car, find himself on the lam, and ultimately drive across the country with an aspiring young writer determined to help him overcome his own bizarre case of suicide-note writer's block. But as fate would have it, that is exactly what happens. Suddenly Cas's solo one-way trip out West isn't so solo. With Dylan at his side, the two take off on an adventure that will open their eyes to some of life's lessons -- both big and small.
Antarctic Edge: 70° South (doc) - Directed by Dena Seidel
Dena Seidel’s documentary not only offers rare, beautifully shot footage of West Antarctic Pennisula's rapidly changing environment, studying the connections that reveal the concrete impact of climate change; it is also a one-of-a-kind collaboration between the Rutgers University Film Bureau and the Rutgers Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences and contains interviews and insights from some of the world’s leading ocean researchers. It is a fascinating look at their life’s work trying to understand how to maintain our planet.
The Road Within - Written and Directed by Gren Wells
Vincent (Robert Sheehan), a young man with Tourette's syndrome, faces drastic changes after his mother dies. Because his politician father is too ashamed of the disorder to have Vincent accompany him on the campaign, Vincent is shuttled off to an unconventional clinic. There he finds unexpected community with an obsessive-compulsive roommate and an anorexic young woman, and romance eventually -- and uneasily -- follows.
One of Variety's "10 Directors to Watch," screenwriter Gren Wells makes her directorial debut with this ambitious yet light-hearted coming-of-age tale about the potent medicine we all carry within ourselves. The film is packed with a talented ensemble, from emerging talents Zoë Kravitz, Dev Patel, and Sheehan to beloved veterans Kyra Sedgwick and Robert Patrick.
April 23
Sweet Lorraine
The double life of a Methodist minister's wife (played by Tatum O'Neal) catches up to her, as her husband campaigns for mayor in a small New Jersey town.
April 24
Just Before I Go - Directed by Courtney Cox
Ted Morgan (Seann William Scott) has been treading water for most of his life. After his wife leaves him, Ted realizes he has nothing left to live for. Summoning the courage for one last act, Ted decides to go home and face the people he feels are responsible for creating the shell of a person he has become. But life is tricky. The more determined Ted is to confront his demons, to get closure, and to withdraw from his family, the more Ted is yanked into the chaos of their lives. So, when Ted Morgan decides to kill himself, he finds a reason to live.
The Age of Adaline
After miraculously remaining 29-years-old for almost eight decades, Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has lived a solitary existence, never allowing herself to get close to anyone who might reveal her secret. But a chance encounter with charismatic philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reignites her passion for life and romance. When a weekend with his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker) threatens to uncover the truth, Adaline makes a decision that will change her life forever.
Adult Beginners - Co-Written by Liz Flahive (Simultaneously releasing to VOD)
A young, hipster entrepreneur (Nick Kroll) crashes and burns on the eve of his company’s big launch. With his entire life in disarray, he leaves Manhattan to move in with his estranged pregnant sister (Rose Byrne), brother-in-law (Bobby Cannavale), and three-year-old nephew in the suburbs – only to become their manny. Faced with real responsibility, he may finally have to grow up – but not without some bad behavior first.
Eden - Directed and Co-Written by Mia Hansen-løve
The film follows the life of a French DJ who's credited with inventing "French house" or the "French touch," a type of French electronic music that became popular in the 1990s. Greta Gerwig costars. (IMDb)
24 Days - Co-Written by Emilie Frèche
January 20, 2006: After dinner with his family, Ilan Halimi (Syrus Shahidi) gets a call from a beautiful girl who had approached him at work and makes plans to meet her for coffee. Ilan didn't suspect a thing. He was 23 and had his whole life ahead of him. The next time Ilan's family heard from him was through a cryptic online message from kidnappers demanding a ransom in exchange for their son's life. (IMDb)
Helicopter Mom - Directed by Salomé Breziner
An overbearing mom (Nia Vardalos) decides that college would be more affordable if her son were to win an Lgbt scholarship, so she outs him to his entire high school. However, he might not be gay. (Rotten Tomatoes)
April 29
Iris (doc) (Opening in New York City)
"Iris" pairs legendary 87-year-old documentarian Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even in Iris' dotage, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. "Iris" portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art, and people are life's sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment. Despite the abundance of glamour in her current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression.
April 30
Marie’s Story
At the turn of the 19th century, a humble artisan and his wife have a daughter, Marie (Ariana Rivoire), who is born deaf and blind and unable to communicate with the world around her. Desperate to find a connection to their daughter and avoid sending her to an asylum, the Heurtins send fourteen-year-old Marie to the Larnay Institute in central France, where an order of Catholic nuns manage a school for deaf girls. There, the idealistic Sister Marguerite (Isabelle Carré) sees in Marie a unique potential, and despite her Mother Superior's (Brigitte Catillon) skepticism, vows to bring the wild young thing out of the darkness into which she was born. Based on true events, “Marie's Story” recounts the courageous journey of a young nun and the lives she would change forever, confronting failures and discouragement with joyous faith and love. (Film Movement)...
- 4/1/2015
- by Tory Kamen and Becca Rose
- Sydney's Buzz
Mary Elizabeth Winstead starts her life for the second time in a trailer for Alex of Venice.
The drama film is directed by The Mindy Project's Chris Messina, who also stars as a stay-at-home dad who leaves his family.
His ex-wife Alex (Winstead) tries to move on with her life and find love again with a new boyfriend (Derek Luke) with the help of her family.
Don Johnson appears as Alex's pot-smoking hippie father, while Glory Daze actress Julianna Guill portrays Alex's wild child sister.
Playwright Jessica Goldberg collaborated on Alex of Venice's screenplay with Messina, Half Nelson actress Katie Nehra and Little Miss Sunshine actor Justin Shilton.
Alex of Venice opens on April 17 in the Us.
The drama film is directed by The Mindy Project's Chris Messina, who also stars as a stay-at-home dad who leaves his family.
His ex-wife Alex (Winstead) tries to move on with her life and find love again with a new boyfriend (Derek Luke) with the help of her family.
Don Johnson appears as Alex's pot-smoking hippie father, while Glory Daze actress Julianna Guill portrays Alex's wild child sister.
Playwright Jessica Goldberg collaborated on Alex of Venice's screenplay with Messina, Half Nelson actress Katie Nehra and Little Miss Sunshine actor Justin Shilton.
Alex of Venice opens on April 17 in the Us.
- 3/13/2015
- Digital Spy
Chris Messina’s directorial debut, Alex Of Venice, stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as a young mother faced with a huge life change when her husband steps out on the family. After its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, early buzz orbiting the pic has complimented Messina’s confident transition behind the camera.
Pegged as a “fresh slate” style of indie, the film traces the story of Winstead’s go-getter career woman, Alex, who is dumbfounded when her husband (played by Messina) decides he’s had enough of playing house. Co-starring Don Johnson, Derek Luke, Katie Nehra, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Skylar Gaertner, the movie packs a weighty dramatic punch by the looks of this first trailer.
Winstead has surfaced in recent years as a truly stellar character actress. Able to deftly switch between schlocky genre roles (Quentin Tarantino’s Deathproof) and weightier subject matter (Smashed), the actress is on a roll with this latest turn.
Pegged as a “fresh slate” style of indie, the film traces the story of Winstead’s go-getter career woman, Alex, who is dumbfounded when her husband (played by Messina) decides he’s had enough of playing house. Co-starring Don Johnson, Derek Luke, Katie Nehra, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Skylar Gaertner, the movie packs a weighty dramatic punch by the looks of this first trailer.
Winstead has surfaced in recent years as a truly stellar character actress. Able to deftly switch between schlocky genre roles (Quentin Tarantino’s Deathproof) and weightier subject matter (Smashed), the actress is on a roll with this latest turn.
- 2/23/2015
- by Gem Seddon
- We Got This Covered
A family lives in the tranquil bliss of Venice, California, but not all is as it seems. Workaholic mom is keeping the family afloat, organized and on track, but her much more relaxed husband (played by Chris Messina, who also makes his directorial debut here) throws her and the family for a loop when he asks for a break that could turn into something more. Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Don Johnson, Derek Luke, Katie Nehra, and Skylar Gaertner, “Alex Of Venice” is a look at how a mother copes when a family suddenly implodes. Here’s a synopsis that was provided during the Tribeca Film Festival last year where the movie debuted: In the directorial debut from Chris Messina, Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives a heartwarming performance as an environmental attorney who finds her workaholic regimen thrown into flux when her husband, George (Messina), asks for a break. For Alex, George...
- 2/23/2015
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Inspire Entertainment is expanding with the addition of manager Ali Forman to the company.
Forman will be working closely with Inspire Entertainment partner Jason Spire on existing Inspire Entertainment clients as well as a select group of clients she will be bringing with her from Impression Entertainment.
“I am thrilled to have Ali join the company. Working with a like-minded, hard-working dear friend is a dream,” said Spire.
Also Read: ‘A Most Violent Year’ Named Top Film by National Board of Review
Inspire Entertainment has quickly become one of the “go-to” boutique management/production companies in the business, having managed...
Forman will be working closely with Inspire Entertainment partner Jason Spire on existing Inspire Entertainment clients as well as a select group of clients she will be bringing with her from Impression Entertainment.
“I am thrilled to have Ali join the company. Working with a like-minded, hard-working dear friend is a dream,” said Spire.
Also Read: ‘A Most Violent Year’ Named Top Film by National Board of Review
Inspire Entertainment has quickly become one of the “go-to” boutique management/production companies in the business, having managed...
- 1/9/2015
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
• Joaquim de Almeida (Fast Five) has signed on to play the male lead opposite Sandra Bullock in David Gordon Green’s Our Brand Is Crisis. Zoe Kazan (What If) has also signed on for the political dramedy. In addition to Bullock, they’re joining Scoot McNairy, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Mackie, and Ann Dowd. The film is based on Rachel Boynton’s 2005 documentary of the same name, which explored American political campaign strategies in Bolivia. Green’s film stars Bullock as “Calamity” Jane Bodine, a retired American political consultant, with de Almeida as Castillo, the former president of Bolivia who is running for office again.
- 10/11/2014
- by C. Molly Smith
- EW - Inside Movies
Exclusive: Hell On Wheels star Anson Mount has joined the cast of Mr. Right, the hitman action romance starring Anna Kendrick as girl unlucky in love and Sam Rockwell as the assassin she accidentally falls for. Filming begins next week in New Orleans under helmer Paco Cabezas (Neon Flesh), who’s directing from a script by Chronicle‘s Max Landis.
Mount will play Richard Cartigan, a member of a New Jersey crime syndicate who’s jockeying to become head of the family. Also joining Mount alongside Rockwell, Kendrick, Tim Roth, RZA,and James Ransone in the cast are Michael Eklund (Bates Motel, The Call) as the tattooed thug Johnny Howl, and Katie Nehra (Alex Of Venice), who’ll play the bookish roommate to Kendrick’s Martha.
The Amasia Entertainment and Circle of Confusion film is produced by Michael Helfant, Bradley Gallo, Lawrence Mattis, and Rick Jacobs. Stephen Emery and Landis are exec producers.
Mount will play Richard Cartigan, a member of a New Jersey crime syndicate who’s jockeying to become head of the family. Also joining Mount alongside Rockwell, Kendrick, Tim Roth, RZA,and James Ransone in the cast are Michael Eklund (Bates Motel, The Call) as the tattooed thug Johnny Howl, and Katie Nehra (Alex Of Venice), who’ll play the bookish roommate to Kendrick’s Martha.
The Amasia Entertainment and Circle of Confusion film is produced by Michael Helfant, Bradley Gallo, Lawrence Mattis, and Rick Jacobs. Stephen Emery and Landis are exec producers.
- 10/10/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Madame Bovary
Millennium Entertainment is closing a deal to acquire U.S. rights to the Sophie Barthes-directed "Madame Bovary" starring Mia Wasikowska, Paul Giamatti, and Ezra Miller.
The French period film focuses on two years of the life of the beautiful wife of a small-town doctor. She engages in extra marital affairs in an attempt to advance her social status. [Source: Deadline]
Just Before I Go
Starz has secured the North American rights to Courteney Cox's dark comedy feature directorial debut "Just Before I Go". Seann William Scott, Rob Riggle, Garret Dillahunt, Kate Walsh, David Arquette and Olivia Thirlby star.
David Flebotte's script follows a suicidal man who encounters a few surprises as he heads back to his home town and prepares to shuffle off his mortal coil. [Source: Screen]
The Last 5 Years
RADiUS-twc has scored North American rights to the Toronto world premiere film "The Last 5 Years" starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan.
Millennium Entertainment is closing a deal to acquire U.S. rights to the Sophie Barthes-directed "Madame Bovary" starring Mia Wasikowska, Paul Giamatti, and Ezra Miller.
The French period film focuses on two years of the life of the beautiful wife of a small-town doctor. She engages in extra marital affairs in an attempt to advance her social status. [Source: Deadline]
Just Before I Go
Starz has secured the North American rights to Courteney Cox's dark comedy feature directorial debut "Just Before I Go". Seann William Scott, Rob Riggle, Garret Dillahunt, Kate Walsh, David Arquette and Olivia Thirlby star.
David Flebotte's script follows a suicidal man who encounters a few surprises as he heads back to his home town and prepares to shuffle off his mortal coil. [Source: Screen]
The Last 5 Years
RADiUS-twc has scored North American rights to the Toronto world premiere film "The Last 5 Years" starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan.
- 9/6/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Exclusive: Screen Media Films acquired worldwide rights to Alex Of Venice, the directing debut of Chris Messina. He stars in the film with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Don Johnson, Derek Luke, and Katie Nehra. According to Screen Media president Suzanne Blach, the pic will be released via multiplatform early next year after playing the Deauville, Napa Valley and Hollywood film festivals.
Winstead plays a workaholic environmental attorney forced to reinvent herself after her husband (Messina) bails. Add an aging father (Johnson) who’s still an aspiring actor, an eccentric sister (Nehra) and an extremely shy son (Sklar Gaertner), the lawyer is up against it but grows through adversity.
Pic’s produced by Electric City Entertainment’s Jamie Patricof and Lynette Howell, executive produced by Samantha Housman and Louise Runge, and co-produced by Crystal Powell. Preferred Content brokered the deal.
Winstead plays a workaholic environmental attorney forced to reinvent herself after her husband (Messina) bails. Add an aging father (Johnson) who’s still an aspiring actor, an eccentric sister (Nehra) and an extremely shy son (Sklar Gaertner), the lawyer is up against it but grows through adversity.
Pic’s produced by Electric City Entertainment’s Jamie Patricof and Lynette Howell, executive produced by Samantha Housman and Louise Runge, and co-produced by Crystal Powell. Preferred Content brokered the deal.
- 9/5/2014
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline
Chris Messina's Alex of Venice is going nationwide, thanks to Screen Media Films. The Mindy Project actor's directorial debut follows the gradual unraveling of a woman’s life after her husband suddenly leaves her with their 10-year-old son and her aging father. It stars Messina, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Don Johnson, Derek Luke and Katie Nehra. The title played at the Tribeca, Seattle and San Francisco film festivals, and will continue on the festival circuit with stops at the Deauville, Napa Valley and Hollywood film festivals before hitting theaters and on demand day-and-date in early 2015. "Alex of Venice
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- 9/4/2014
- by Ashley Lee
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The distributor has taken world rights to Electric City Entertainment’s drama starring Chris Messina, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Don Johnson, Derek Luke and Katie Nehra.
Messina makes his feature directorial debut on the drama, which premiered earlier this year at Tribeca and will makes several more stops on the festival circuit prior to a day-and-date theatrical and VOD launch in the first half of 2015.
Wanstead plays a workaholic environmental attorney who must reinvent herself after her husband leaves.
Screen Media negotiated the deal with Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content.
Directors Daniel Junge and Bryan Storkel will partner with Lionsgate and Netflix to distribute their pastor cage fighting documentary Fight Church. The filmmakers have also launched a partnership with Morgan Spurlock’s company Warrior Poets to develop a reality series based on the film. Lionsgate acquired VOD rights for North America and will premiere the film on September 16 on iTunes and other digital platforms. Netflix acquired...
Messina makes his feature directorial debut on the drama, which premiered earlier this year at Tribeca and will makes several more stops on the festival circuit prior to a day-and-date theatrical and VOD launch in the first half of 2015.
Wanstead plays a workaholic environmental attorney who must reinvent herself after her husband leaves.
Screen Media negotiated the deal with Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content.
Directors Daniel Junge and Bryan Storkel will partner with Lionsgate and Netflix to distribute their pastor cage fighting documentary Fight Church. The filmmakers have also launched a partnership with Morgan Spurlock’s company Warrior Poets to develop a reality series based on the film. Lionsgate acquired VOD rights for North America and will premiere the film on September 16 on iTunes and other digital platforms. Netflix acquired...
- 9/3/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Screen Media Films has acquired worldwide rights to Chris Messina's directorial debut “Alex of Venice,” in which Messina stars alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Don Johnson, Derek Luke and Katie Nehra. “Alex of Venice” is a drama that follows a workaholic environmental attorney named Alex Vedder (Winstead) who's forced to reinvent herself after her husband (Messina) suddenly leaves the family. Dealing with an aging father (Johnson) who still aspires to succeed as an actor, an eccentric sister (Nehra) and an extremely shy son (Sklar Gaertner), Alex is bombarded with everything from the mundane to hilariously catastrophic events without a shoulder to.
- 9/3/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
2014 Tribeca Film Festival winners were announced Friday, as chosen by the various juries, with the Israeli film Zero Motivation earning top honors including the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature.
Zero Motivation writer/director Talya Lavie also won the Nora Ephron Prize for her film, a dark comedy about female Israeli soldiers.
“We believe a new, powerful, voice has emerged,” the jury said about Lavie.
Best Actor in a Narrative Feature went to Paul Schneider, who stars in Goodbye to All That, the directorial debut from Junebug scribe Angus MacLachlan.
“This performance reminded us that even in the most ordinary settings, our lives can summon extraordinary humor, pain, awkwardness, and if we earn it… dignity,” the jury remarked.
Complete List of Winners:
Best Narrative Feature: Zero Motivation – Talya Lavie
Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film: Paul Schneider – Goodbye To All That
Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film: Valeria Bruni...
Zero Motivation writer/director Talya Lavie also won the Nora Ephron Prize for her film, a dark comedy about female Israeli soldiers.
“We believe a new, powerful, voice has emerged,” the jury said about Lavie.
Best Actor in a Narrative Feature went to Paul Schneider, who stars in Goodbye to All That, the directorial debut from Junebug scribe Angus MacLachlan.
“This performance reminded us that even in the most ordinary settings, our lives can summon extraordinary humor, pain, awkwardness, and if we earn it… dignity,” the jury remarked.
Complete List of Winners:
Best Narrative Feature: Zero Motivation – Talya Lavie
Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film: Paul Schneider – Goodbye To All That
Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film: Valeria Bruni...
- 4/25/2014
- Uinterview
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, star of Chris Messina’s directorial debut Alex of Venice, spoke with Uinterview about her role in the film along with her co-stars Derek Luke and Katie Nehra.
The actors each gave Uinterview some insight into their characters, and revealed what they believed was at the core of the film.
Winstead plays the lead, Alex, an environmental lawyer and mother of one, whose husband, played by Messina, leaves her at the beginning of the film. Winstead revealed that her character is forced to redefine herself as “a mother, and a lawyer, and a sister, and a daughter and a new woman.”
"It’s just sort of her, I guess, sort of dealing with all of these relationships, and some new relationships, and some old relationships, and trying to figure out her new life,” Winstead added.
For Nehra, who plays Alex’s sister, Lily, said that she found...
The actors each gave Uinterview some insight into their characters, and revealed what they believed was at the core of the film.
Winstead plays the lead, Alex, an environmental lawyer and mother of one, whose husband, played by Messina, leaves her at the beginning of the film. Winstead revealed that her character is forced to redefine herself as “a mother, and a lawyer, and a sister, and a daughter and a new woman.”
"It’s just sort of her, I guess, sort of dealing with all of these relationships, and some new relationships, and some old relationships, and trying to figure out her new life,” Winstead added.
For Nehra, who plays Alex’s sister, Lily, said that she found...
- 4/25/2014
- Uinterview
Chris Messina premiered his directorial debut Alex of Venice at the Tribeca Film Festival, and told Uinterview that he had a good friend help him direct the scenes he acted in.
Messina, who currently stars as Danny Castellano on The Mindy Project, pulled double duty on the Alex of Venice set as director and actor. The new director opened up about working on both sides of the camera in an exclusive interview with Uinterview.
“It’s hard to do, but I love doing it,” Messina said when asked about making the transition from acting to directing.
Messina also revealed that finishing the film in post-production was extremely difficult because he was back at work on The Mindy Project. Messina said he would be on set all day and then work on Alex of Venice on the side, essentially working “two full time jobs.”
While many actors-turned-directors have described directing themselves as challenging,...
Messina, who currently stars as Danny Castellano on The Mindy Project, pulled double duty on the Alex of Venice set as director and actor. The new director opened up about working on both sides of the camera in an exclusive interview with Uinterview.
“It’s hard to do, but I love doing it,” Messina said when asked about making the transition from acting to directing.
Messina also revealed that finishing the film in post-production was extremely difficult because he was back at work on The Mindy Project. Messina said he would be on set all day and then work on Alex of Venice on the side, essentially working “two full time jobs.”
While many actors-turned-directors have described directing themselves as challenging,...
- 4/25/2014
- Uinterview
You may know and love Chris Messina from his acting work. He's been in a long list of films - Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Argo to name a few - but has reached new levels of renown with his role as Danny Castellano on The Mindy Project. But after almost two decades in Hollywood, Chris is tackling new ground: he's directed his first film. It's called Alex of Venice and recently had the honor of debuting at the Tribeca Film Festival. Chris visited our New York studio to discuss the project alongside the film's cowriter and costar Katie Nehra. Plus, Chris dished on the upcoming Mindy finale. On Allie: Joe Fresh top and Apc skirt...
- 4/24/2014
- by Allie Merriam
- Popsugar.com
Having premiered this past Saturday at the Tribeca Film Festival, actor-director-producer Chris Messina's "Alex of Venice" is already receiving a warm welcome from critics and the general public alike. The film is a nuanced family drama centering around the titular Alex (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), an environmental lawyer whose stay-at-home husband George (Messina, in a small but distinctive performance) takes a leave of absence and in turn leaves her to pick up the pieces. Those pieces include their young son (Skylar Gaertner) in the bloom of his first crush, her former-tv star father (Don Johnson) grappling with aging beyond his mindset, the return of her flakey, newly rehabbed sister (co-screenwriter Katie Nehra), and a promisingly empowering work-related romance (a melt-worthy Derek Luke). Messina is already a familiar face. His acting credits run the gamut from rom coms ("Made of Honor," "Julie & Julia") to indie fare ("Away We Go," "Celeste & Jesse Are Forever") to HBO.
- 4/24/2014
- by Diana Drumm
- Indiewire
When actresses and audiences alike lament the lack of interesting roles for—and movies about—women as central characters, “Alex of Venice” should be held up as a shining example of what could be. The independent feature, which premiered this week at the Tribeca Film Festival, stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“Smashed,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”) as the title character, whose tenuous grasp on her multitasking life is rocked when her husband (Chris Messina, who also directed) announces he is leaving. Alex is a mother, she’s an environmental lawyer, and she’s also caring for her aging actor father (played by Don Johnson in a much-buzzed-about cameo), who’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. As she navigates her new (single) life, Alex dances around a romantic entanglement with her legal adversary (Derek Luke), and she fiercely tries to keep her 10-year-old son’s world grounded. Alex’s sister Lily (Katie Nehra,...
- 4/22/2014
- by Kristin McCracken
- The Playlist
The 13th Tribeca Film Festival has announced its complete lineup for next month’s New York celebration, which runs April 16-27. Culled from more than 6,000 submissions, Tribeca 2014 includes 55 world premieres, 37 first-time filmmakers, and 22 female directors. Half the slate had been announced on Tuesday, with Spotlight, Midnight, and Storyscapes films unveiled today, as well as special screenings. “Spotlight and special screenings are an especially dynamic aspect of this year’s program, both in range of styles and stories,” said Genna Terranova, Tribeca’s director of programming. “Many films feature real-life personalities who’ve accomplished extraordinary feats, while in other films we...
- 3/6/2014
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
It’s with his previous acting gig on the microscopic, Sundance preemed 28 Rooms (produced by Lynette Howell – Jamie Patricof’s business partner at their current prod. house) that certainly allowed for his creative input to shine thru, and land him his first directing gig. Production began in July for the still untitled drama which brings back the amazing Elizabeth Winstead (from Smashed). Chris Messina does double duty here with Julianna Guill, Don Johnson and Derek Luke in the fold as well. It’ll be tight to meet the deadline – but not impossible.
Gist: Written by Jessica Goldberg, Katie Nehra and Justin Shilton, this is about a workaholic attorney, Alex (Winstead) is forced to reinvent her life after her husband suddenly leaves. Now faced with the humdrum and sometimes catastrophic events that permeate the fabric of our lives, Alex discovers both a vulnerability and inner strength she had not yet tapped...
Gist: Written by Jessica Goldberg, Katie Nehra and Justin Shilton, this is about a workaholic attorney, Alex (Winstead) is forced to reinvent her life after her husband suddenly leaves. Now faced with the humdrum and sometimes catastrophic events that permeate the fabric of our lives, Alex discovers both a vulnerability and inner strength she had not yet tapped...
- 11/21/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Nicole Richie and Joel Madden took their tots, Sparrow and Harlow, to a pumpkin patch in Sherman Oaks, CA, on Saturday to prepare for Halloween. The family stocked up on an assortment of colorful pumpkins and gourds while carrying their barefoot kids through the patch. Nicole is back in La after taking a girls-only trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, a few weeks ago to celebrate her 32nd birthday. Nicole wore a bikini while hanging around the pool with a group of girlfriends, including model Kelly Sawyer and designer Katie Nehra. During her trip south of the border, Nicole made a new friend while on the airplane and posted the hilarious video on Twitter last week. The fashion designer recorded an Instagram video with a very happy and possibly drunk passenger, who told Nicole that she was drinking "Bloody Marys . . . and a Corona" on the plane. "I'll have what she's having,...
- 10/7/2013
- by Maria Mercedes Lara
- Popsugar.com
Nicole Richie slipped into a nude-colored bikini to hang by the pool in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Sunday. She showed off her tiny frame while sunbathing with a group of friends, including Kelly Sawyer and designer Katie Nehra. The girls snapped selfies while relaxing near the beach, and Nicole even let a server in on the fun by including him in a candid photo. Nicole is currently on a girls-only weekend in Cabo to celebrate her 32nd birthday, which was on Saturday. She took to Instagram to share a photo of chocolate-covered strawberries spelling out "happy birthday" as well as a snap of her stylish beach essentials. In honor of Nicole's big day, we took a trip down memory lane with her epic transformation over the years and highlighted her most hilarious tweets. View Slideshow ›...
- 9/23/2013
- by Brittney Stephens
- Popsugar.com
Thirty-two never looked better! Nicole Richie was spotted in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on Sunday, where she was snapped showing off her bangin' bod in a nude bikini near the beach. The mother of two flaunted her tiny frame in a strapless swimsuit while celebrating her 32nd birthday over the weekend with a group of galpals, which included Kelly Sawyer, Katie Nehra, Masha Gordon, Hilary Tisch, Simone Harouche and Katherine Power. Richie appeared to be having a blast with her girlfriends, snapping selfies while sipping on drinks as they enjoyed some R&R in honor of Joel Madden's missus. The stunning star also took to Instagram on her 32nd birthday to share a photo with her fans, posting a pic...
- 9/23/2013
- E! Online
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