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FRIDAY THE 13TH

Starring: Jared Padalecki, Derek Mears, Amanda Righetti, Danielle Panabaker and Aaron Yoo

Directed by: Marcus Nispel

Rated R for strong bloody violence, some graphic sexual content, language and drug material

By John Delia

I must admit, I’m a sucker for slasher films and Producer Michael Bay’s remake of Friday the 13th hits the top of my list. While you may find a lot of similar things from the original, no one can create violence like Michael Bay. With today’s CGI and special effects and make-up the realism comes pouring off the screen. If you are into getting frightened by a tall guy in a ski mask who roams a scary wood and creates a lot of blood, then this film should provide you with those kinds of thrills.
Searching for his missing sister, Clay Miller (Padalecki) heads up to the eerie woods of legendary Crystal Lake, where he stumbles on the creaky remains of rotting old cabins behind moss-covered trees. And that's not the only thing lying in wait under the brush. Against the advice of police and cautions from the locals, Clay pursues what few leads he has in the search for his missing sister, Whitney (Righetti), with the help of Jenna (Panabaker), a young woman he meets among a group of college kids up for an all-thrills weekend. But they are all about to find much more than they bargained for. Little do they know, they've entered the domain of one of the most terrifying specters in American film history -- the infamous killer who haunts Crystal Lake, armed with a razor-sharp machete... Jason Voorhees (Mears).
The star of this film is the direction and cinematographer that give you bird’s eye and close up views of all the action. Relentless with shots that make you jump, even when you are anticipating the action, Nispel (Texas Chain Saw Massacre) shows it all. His scenes are very bloody, very scary and mostly gory, but that is what the movie is all about. The plotline probably sucks as the only suspense comes from waiting to see the next kill, but again, isn’t the mayhem the real story?
Now I am not an advocate of slasher movies, and I can only take maybe one or two per year out of the hundreds of all genre movies that I see. But when one like this comes along, my fright meter wants to be jiggled till the dial goes off the end. That’s what Friday the 13th did for me. I gladly am thankful that I do not live in a mountain home or in a secluded forest, as I would be looking over my shoulder for a long time.
The film is rated R and contains some very explicit nudity and sex, adult language and the killings are very brutal and graphic so if your mom says to take your little brother or sister along, make sure they are settled in with a responsible adult watching Coraline or any other G or PG film. If you take your girlfriend to this one make sure you have a leather jacket on or you will probably have to explain the claw marks on your arms.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Friday the 13th is high on the fear and gore meter, and probably a treat for slasher film lovers. (3.5 of 5 Palm Trees)

THE INTERNATIONAL

Starring: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Brían F. O’Byrne

Directed by: Tom Tykwer

Rated R for some sequences of violence and language

By John Delia

Filled with gripping suspense, action and awesome photography The International is a must see for adults who like a good realistic modern day thriller. Direction by Tykwer, acting by Owen and cinematography by Frank Griebe puts this film on top of my 2009 list.
Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Watts) are determined to bring to justice one of the world’s most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, Salinger and Whitman follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk, as their targets will stop at nothing – even murder – to continue financing terror and war. When Salinger and Whitman get close to breaking the bank, all hell breaks loose.
Although it is early in the year for judging acting performances, Clive Owen is starting to make his move to top of the male acting food chain. His screen presence has been making a statement for a long time in films like Sin City, Closer, Children of Men, Derailed and Shoot ‘Em Up, with The International he proves his worth as the relentless international cop who pulls no punches in a quest to take down the biggest bank in the world. In the opening scene you see Owen looking at you with his hypnotic stare at the camera for several seconds, moments later he is this passionate character trying to save a friend. His acting ability reminds me of Michael Caine in Funeral in Berlin or Maximilian Schell in The Odessa File while they were on there way up.
Tykwer’s direction coupled with Griebe’s photography is impeccable, guiding the camera in and out of the action. Taking long shots of Berlin, Milan, New York and Istanbul he adds amazing visuals to the mix of action and intrigue. His ‘war’ scene in the Guggenheim Museum in New York should go down as one of the best action sequences in a decade.
The film is rated R for some sequences of violence and language so use caution when deciding to take immature youngsters to see the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good film for those who like films that thrill. (4 of 5 Palm Trees)











In The International, a gripping thriller, Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are determined to bring to justice one of the world’s most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, Salinger and Whitman follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets will stop at nothing – even murder – to continue financing terror and war. Directed by Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) from an original screenplay written by Eric Warren Singer, The International was shot on location in Germany and throughout Europe.

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

Starring: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter, Joan Cusack, John Goodman Kristin Scott Thomas, Julie Haggerty and John Lithgow.

Directed by: P.J. Hogan

Rated PG for some mild language and thematic elements

By John Delia

It may be a chick flick, but Confessions of a Shopaholic is also a great date film, as long as the male half keeps his credit card at home. I found the film fun to watch, especially the great CGI with the Mannequins. If you are a woman, have little shopping resistances, and heavy credit card debt, there are a lot of lessons to learn here.
Rebecca Bloomwood (Fisher) has been running from debt collectors for some time, especially since she cannot seem to avoid a department store window. If and item is by a top designer and on sale, she just has to have it. One thing is wrong with this picture; she doesn’t have the job of her dreams to afford her sprees. Always wanting to write for a top fashion magazine, Rebecca finally gets an opportunity for an interview with the editor. On her way to the interview she sees a green scarf on sale and after a lot of finagling, she gets it, but the stop over causes her to miss her one big opportunity. Down and out, someone tips her off that a business magazine owned by the same company is looking for someone. Rebecca realizes if she gets this job she can work her way up to her dream. When she finds out that part of the finagling involved lying to her new editor (Dancy), many more fibs lead her into some very funny situations.
I like Isla Fisher, actually she reminds me of one of my favorite actresses, Amy Adams (Enchanted, Doubt). Isla gives an impressive performance as the out-of-control shopaholic, making the character believable, interesting and in a way heroic (to many women). I loved the scene where Rebecca fights over a pair of Pravda boots and another where she has to talk her way out of a Finnish conversation. But she shines most when everything comes crashing down around her and she has to try to pick up the pieces.
In support, Dancy makes a great managing editor for the business magazine. His intuition on hiring Rebecca slowly changes into second thoughts after a snafu that puts a dim light on his publication. And Ritter as Rebecca’s best friend provides some hilarious interaction when she has to deal with Rebecca’s lack of cash.
Direction by Hogan is pinpoint perfect, getting his characters to pull off the kind of comedy that makes you feel good. I have to admit, I’m not a lover of chick flicks, but this one had a great premise and at last something for the males to LAUGH at.
The film is rated PG for some mild language but should be ok for pre teens and mature youngsters.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Confessions is a good situation comedy that most all the family will like; at least the women for sure. (3.5 of 5 Palm Trees)

LIONSGATE® PULLS IN LEE DANIELS’ SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL TRIPLE AWARD WINNER PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE





OPRAH WINFREY AND TYLER PERRY ALIGN WITH LIONSGATE® IN AN UNPRECEDENTED PARTNERSHIP



Studio Acquires North American Distribution Rights From Smokewood Entertainment Group And Reunites With Academy Award® Winning Monster’s Ball Producer Daniels





SANTA MONICA, CA (February 2, 2009) – LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), a leading next generation studio, announced today that it has acquired North American distribution rights to 2009 Sundance Film Festival sensation PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE. Directed by Lee Daniels (SHADOWBOXER), PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, only the third film in Festival history to do so. Star Mo’Nique was honored with a Special Jury Prize for acting. PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE was produced by Daniels, and Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness under their Smokewood Entertainment Group (S.E.G.) banner; Lisa Cortés and Tom Heller were executive producers. The screenplay was written by Damien Paul, based on Sapphire’s 1996 book. PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE stars newcomer Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe, Paula Patton (DEJA VU), Mo’Nique (SHADOWBOXER), Grammy® Award-winning artist Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd (“30 Rock”) and Grammy® Award-winning artist Lenny Kravitz. The deal marks the second collaboration between Lionsgate and Daniels, who produced the studio’s Academy Award®-winning MONSTER’S BALL. The announcement was made by Jason Constantine, Lionsgate President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions.


In an unprecedented partnership, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry will support Lionsgate's distribution of PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE, through their respective motion picture companies, Harpo Films and 34th Street Films. It will be the first film affiliated with Perry’s 34th Street banner.



“PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE is an extraordinary film about taking hold of life; to watch it is to be galvanized and uplifted,” said Constantine. “MONSTER’S BALL introduced Lee as a gifted producer; we believe PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE firmly establishes him as one of America’s finest directors.”



Said Daniels, “I know from my MONSTER’S BALL experience that PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE has found the best home possible. I’m really looking forward to working again with smart, innovative friends at Lionsgate.”



Commented Winfrey, “I’ve never seen anything like it. The moment I saw PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE, I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to encourage other people to see this movie. The film is so raw and powerful - it split me open.”



Added Perry, “I am honored to join Oprah Winfrey and Lionsgate in releasing Lee Daniels’ exceptional film. I was immensely moved by PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE, and wanted to do whatever I could to help others share in its redemptive experience. Lionsgate is the ideal studio to shepherd this artistically courageous film to market.”



“We like to work with filmmakers who harness instinct and vision to compelling projects, creating motion pictures that resonate emotionally with an audience. That is why we chose PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE,” said Sarah Siegel-Magness, managing partner of S.E.G.



PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE is the second film directed by Daniels, following 2006’s SHADOWBOXER. Daniels made motion picture history with his first film as a producer, MONSTER’S BALL, becoming the first African-American sole producer of an Academy AwardÒ-winning, substantial critical and box office success. The film garnered Halle Berry the 2002 Academy Award® for Best Actress and also received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Daniels subsequently produced the award-winning drama THE WOODSMAN and the recent TENNESSEE, which was funded by S.E.G. in its first collaboration with Lee Daniels Entertainment. S.E.G. fully financed PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE.



The deal was negotiated by Eda Kowan, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Wendy Jaffe, Executive Vice President Business & Legal Affairs, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, and Constantine on behalf of Lionsgate; Cinetic sold the film and negotiated the deal on behalf of S.E.G. and Lee Daniels in close collaboration with attorneys Roger Arar and Craig Emanuel at Loeb & Loeb, Sloss Eckhouse Brennan, and Jonathan Gray of Gray Krauss.





FILM SYNOPSIS (Courtesy Of Sundance Institute)

With sheer audacity and utter authenticity, director Lee Daniels tackles PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE and creates an unforgettable film that sets a new standard for cinema of its kind. Precious Jones (Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe) is a high-school girl with nothing working in her favor. She is pregnant with her father’s child - for the second time. She can’t read or write, and her schoolmates tease her for being fat. Her home life is a horror, ruled by a mother (Mo’Nique) who keeps her imprisoned both emotionally and physically. Precious’s instincts tell her one thing: if she’s ever going to break from the chains of ignorance, she will have to dig deeply into her own resources. Don’t be misled - PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE is not a film wallowing in the stillness of depression; instead, it vibrates with the kind of energy derived only from anger and hope. The entire cast are amazing; they carry out a firestorm of raw emotion. Daniels has drawn from them inimitable performances that will rivet you to your seat and leave you too shocked to breathe. If you passed Precious on the street, you probably wouldn’t notice her. But when her story is revealed, as Daniels does in this courageous film, you are left with an indelible image of a young woman who - with creativity, humor, and ferocity - finds the strength to turn her life around.





ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is the leading next generation studio with a major presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company is leveraging its content leadership and marketing expertise through a series of partnerships that include the operation of the FEARNet branded VOD and Internet horror channel with Sony and Comcast, the expected fall 2009 launch of a epix, the new premium entertainment channel with partners Viacom, Paramount Pictures and MGM, investment in the leading young men's digital distribution platform Break.com, ownership of the premier independent television syndication company Debmar-Mercury and an alliance with independent filmed entertainment production and distribution company Roadside Attractions. Lionsgate also has forged partnerships with leading content creators, owners and distributors in key territories around the world, including Televisa in the U.S. and Latin America, StudioCanal in the UK, Hoyts and Sony in Australia and Eros International in India.



On January 5, 2009, Lionsgate announced its plan to acquire the TV Guide Network and TVGuide.com. The deal is expected to close on February 28, 2009.



The Company has generated more than $450 million at the North American theatrical box office in the past 12 months and has forged leadership positions in television and home entertainment with the production of such critically-acclaimed television series as “Weeds” and “Mad Men,” the distribution of “Tyler Perry's House of Payne,” “Family Feud,” “South Park,” “Trivial Pursuit” and “The Dead Zone,” and nearly 7% market share and the industry's leading box office-to-DVD conversion rate in home entertainment. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with entrepreneurial innovation and original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.



www.lionsgate.com