Italian actor Carlo Giuffre, star of cinema and theater, has died in Rome after succumbing to a terminal illness, one month shy of his 90th birthday.
Giuffre, born in Naples on Dec. 3, 1928, appeared in more than 90 films throughout his career, becoming a star of both Neapolitan theater as well as Italy’s cult comedies of the 1970s.
He is best known to international audiences for his role as Geppetto in Roberto Benigni’s 2002 film Pinocchio. The pic, which was dubbed for international audiences, was a commercial flop in the U.S. but opened well in its original ...
Giuffre, born in Naples on Dec. 3, 1928, appeared in more than 90 films throughout his career, becoming a star of both Neapolitan theater as well as Italy’s cult comedies of the 1970s.
He is best known to international audiences for his role as Geppetto in Roberto Benigni’s 2002 film Pinocchio. The pic, which was dubbed for international audiences, was a commercial flop in the U.S. but opened well in its original ...
- 11/4/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Flatliners” is the worst reviewed movie of the Fall so far, and one of the worst-reviewed movies of the year. But it’s not the worst reviewed film of all time. Check which ones are, courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes, ranked by number of reviews. “Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” (2002) Average Score: 2.59 # of Reviews: 116 Tomatometer: 0 Cast: Antonio Banderas, Lucy Liu “One Missed Call” (2008) Average Score: 2.48 # of Reviews: 80 Tomatometer: 0 Cast: Shannyn Sossamon, Edwards Burns “Pinocchio” (2002) Average Score: 2.36 # of Reviews: 55 Tomatometer: 0 Cast: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi “A Thousand Words” (2012) Average Score: 3.18 # of Reviews: 54 Tomatometer: 0 Cast: Eddie Murphy, Kerry Washington, Allison Janney “Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2” (2004) Average.
- 9/30/2017
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
“I’m thumpin’! That’s why they call me Thumper!”
Today at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by At&T, Walt Disney Studios announced the addition of “Bambi,” the endearing, timeless tale of a wide-eyed fawn, to the celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection.
“Bambi,” which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, joins the Collection on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on May 23, and on Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on June 6. The Collection release includes a variety of new bonus material, including recordings of Walt Disney discussing the challenges and triumphs during the production of “Bambi;” deleted scenes and characters; stories and effects that “Bambi” had on the Studio, other films and artists; and much, much more. Additionally, the Digital HD release includes an exclusive, heartfelt feature on the incredible artist, Tyrus Wong, who inspired the film’s soft watercolor backgrounds and beautiful palette.
Here’s the Bambi trailer:
Designed...
Today at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by At&T, Walt Disney Studios announced the addition of “Bambi,” the endearing, timeless tale of a wide-eyed fawn, to the celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection.
“Bambi,” which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, joins the Collection on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on May 23, and on Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on June 6. The Collection release includes a variety of new bonus material, including recordings of Walt Disney discussing the challenges and triumphs during the production of “Bambi;” deleted scenes and characters; stories and effects that “Bambi” had on the Studio, other films and artists; and much, much more. Additionally, the Digital HD release includes an exclusive, heartfelt feature on the incredible artist, Tyrus Wong, who inspired the film’s soft watercolor backgrounds and beautiful palette.
Here’s the Bambi trailer:
Designed...
- 5/2/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Exclusive: HanWay boards Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Patrick Stewart, Minnie Driver comedy.
HanWay Films has boarded international sales rights to rom-com The Wilde Wedding, starring Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Patrick Stewart, MinnIe Driver, Jack Davenport and Yael Stone.
The film, currently in post-production, is written and directed by Damian Harris (Deceived) and produced by Moneyball executive producer Andrew Karsch.
Close plays a celebrated actress preparing for her wedding to a renowned English writer (Patrick Stewart) in the presence of both of their families. At the upstate New York wedding, both families get to know each other, leading to surprising results for each generation.
CAA represents domestic rights on the film.
New HanWay Films MD Gabrielle Stewart, formerly of Bloom, said: “The Wilde Wedding is a funny, poignant and utterly delicious meringue of a film! It’s a delight to see Glenn Close and John Malkovich reunited, as they were so memorable in Dangerous Liaisons, and we’re sure...
HanWay Films has boarded international sales rights to rom-com The Wilde Wedding, starring Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Patrick Stewart, MinnIe Driver, Jack Davenport and Yael Stone.
The film, currently in post-production, is written and directed by Damian Harris (Deceived) and produced by Moneyball executive producer Andrew Karsch.
Close plays a celebrated actress preparing for her wedding to a renowned English writer (Patrick Stewart) in the presence of both of their families. At the upstate New York wedding, both families get to know each other, leading to surprising results for each generation.
CAA represents domestic rights on the film.
New HanWay Films MD Gabrielle Stewart, formerly of Bloom, said: “The Wilde Wedding is a funny, poignant and utterly delicious meringue of a film! It’s a delight to see Glenn Close and John Malkovich reunited, as they were so memorable in Dangerous Liaisons, and we’re sure...
- 11/2/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Photo by Sophie BeeIn the display window of a used record store, you can see covers for albums that don’t exist. They bear titles like Flaming Creatures or Heaven and Earth Magic, familiar to aficionados of experimental film, alongside lurid designs by local artist Tom Carey. This exhibit can mean only one thing: the film festival has come to Ann Arbor. Just down the block is the Michigan Theater, which has been operating since 1928. For one week every spring, its spacious main auditorium and cozy screening room host an intimidating array of avant-garde programming. The selections are eclectic in subject matter, submitted from all over the world, and interspersed with recently restored prints of older works. This practice means that no presentation is predictable. The only constant that carries across the festival is the artists’ collective push against the traditional boundaries of their medium.An example of this ethos...
- 4/8/2016
- by Alice Stoehr
- MUBI
Rob Leane Simon Brew Nov 1, 2016
Disney adds Snow White and Mulan to its list of live action takes on its animated features...
You’ve probably noticed the influx of live action fairytales gracing cinemas in recent years. This isn’t about to stop any time soon, since re-spinning a recognisable fantastical yarn with real people instead of animated ones always makes big money for the studio behind it.
See related Crazyhead episode 2 review: A Pine Fresh Scent Crazyhead episode 1 review: A Very Trippy Horse Buffy The Vampire Slayer: an episode roadmap for beginners Wolfblood: Buffy for the Cbbc generation
This process has become so popular that there are currently more of these live action fairytales in production than Marvel Studios, DC Entertainment or Star Wars movies. That’s a lot of films.
We've recently learned that two movies based on or around Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs are now in development at Disney.
Disney adds Snow White and Mulan to its list of live action takes on its animated features...
You’ve probably noticed the influx of live action fairytales gracing cinemas in recent years. This isn’t about to stop any time soon, since re-spinning a recognisable fantastical yarn with real people instead of animated ones always makes big money for the studio behind it.
See related Crazyhead episode 2 review: A Pine Fresh Scent Crazyhead episode 1 review: A Very Trippy Horse Buffy The Vampire Slayer: an episode roadmap for beginners Wolfblood: Buffy for the Cbbc generation
This process has become so popular that there are currently more of these live action fairytales in production than Marvel Studios, DC Entertainment or Star Wars movies. That’s a lot of films.
We've recently learned that two movies based on or around Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs are now in development at Disney.
- 1/21/2016
- Den of Geek
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When to expect all the upcoming live action fairytale movies, including Dumbo, Beauty And The Beast and two Jungle Books…
You’ve probably noticed the influx of live action fairytales gracing cinemas in recent years. This isn’t about to stop any time soon, since re-spinning a recognisable fantastical yarn with real people instead of animated ones always makes big money for the studio behind it.
This process has become so popular that there are currently more of these live action fairytales in production than Marvel Studios, DC Entertainment or Star Wars movies. That’s a lot of films. (A whopping 21 by our count.)
Although it wadsn’t the first movie of this kind, Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland – and its worldwide gross of over a billion dollars – can surely take the credit for kick-starting this trend. Here are all the in-development movies trying to repeat its success,...
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When to expect all the upcoming live action fairytale movies, including Dumbo, Beauty And The Beast and two Jungle Books…
You’ve probably noticed the influx of live action fairytales gracing cinemas in recent years. This isn’t about to stop any time soon, since re-spinning a recognisable fantastical yarn with real people instead of animated ones always makes big money for the studio behind it.
This process has become so popular that there are currently more of these live action fairytales in production than Marvel Studios, DC Entertainment or Star Wars movies. That’s a lot of films. (A whopping 21 by our count.)
Although it wadsn’t the first movie of this kind, Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland – and its worldwide gross of over a billion dollars – can surely take the credit for kick-starting this trend. Here are all the in-development movies trying to repeat its success,...
- 1/21/2016
- by rleane
- Den of Geek
With Hollywood looking for franchises wherever it can find them, it seems mighty odd that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, a highly successful novel with a film adaptation that had Rooney Mara, David Fincher, and James Friggin’ Bond attached, is not already swimming in sequels. The American version of Stieg Larsson’s novel wasn’t exactly a blockbuster, but it made $233 million worldwide on a $90 million budget. It seems like a no-brainer.
Now there’s talk from THR that a sequel could arrive soon enough, but Sony is debating the possibility of turning Larsson’s last two books, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, into a single film. They may even lump in a new novel starring hacker Lisbeth Salander by David Lagercrantz called The Girl in the Spider’s Web. Larsson passed away in 2004, before the books were even...
Now there’s talk from THR that a sequel could arrive soon enough, but Sony is debating the possibility of turning Larsson’s last two books, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, into a single film. They may even lump in a new novel starring hacker Lisbeth Salander by David Lagercrantz called The Girl in the Spider’s Web. Larsson passed away in 2004, before the books were even...
- 4/9/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Has Roberto Benigni taught us nothingc As Disney continues to find ways to revamp their animated filmography with live-action, CG-infested remakes, it has just been announced Disney will make a Pinocchio-inspired live-action feature to arrive at a theater near you soon. No director is attached at the moment, though Peter Hedges (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, About a Boy) signed on to pen a screenplay loosely based on the original tale of a wooden boy who becomes a real boy. Reports suggest this new Pinocchio will, like the original text, focus more on the father-son relationship, which also serves as a look between creator and his creation. Of course, this is not the first time, in animation or live-action, the tale of Pinocchio comes back to the screen. But it's also not the first recent attempt to bring the little boy back to cinematic life. At one point in time...
- 4/8/2015
- by Will Ashton
- Rope of Silicon
It seems a little bit miraculous, but it's true: It was seventy-five years ago today that Disney’s Pinocchio hit theatres.
In honour of the film’s anniversary, we picked out the top ten Disney songs of all-time. It was incredibly hard to pick one song from each movie, and even more difficult to just pick ten songs altogether. Where will Pinocchio fall on the list, and what song did we pick? Based on the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer, "I've Got No Strings" might have a fighting chance.
Here they are -- Disney's ten best songs:
10. “Heigh-Ho” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Disney’s very first ear-worm, the end-of-the-workday sing-along from the Snow White’s mining companions was one of the earliest examples that Disney’s features could not only keep the kids entertained but produce timeless musical moments. Our apologies if this gets stuck in your head,...
In honour of the film’s anniversary, we picked out the top ten Disney songs of all-time. It was incredibly hard to pick one song from each movie, and even more difficult to just pick ten songs altogether. Where will Pinocchio fall on the list, and what song did we pick? Based on the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer, "I've Got No Strings" might have a fighting chance.
Here they are -- Disney's ten best songs:
10. “Heigh-Ho” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Disney’s very first ear-worm, the end-of-the-workday sing-along from the Snow White’s mining companions was one of the earliest examples that Disney’s features could not only keep the kids entertained but produce timeless musical moments. Our apologies if this gets stuck in your head,...
- 2/9/2015
- by Shane McNeil
- Cineplex
20. The Godfather (1972)
Scene: The Horse Head
Video: http://youtu.be/VC1_tdnZq1A
It’s the sweeping epic that eventually spanned three films. But, without the sequels, the first still stands as one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time. The Godfather is a crime drama, a family drama, and a warped version of the American dream. The story focuses on the Corleone family, beginning at the marriage of his daughter, an expansive reception that serves as a wonderful introduction to the characters we would grow to love. Part of this intro is to demonstrate how ruthless the family could be if called to. Vito (Marlon Brando) will grant requests on this day, as it is his daughter’s wedding day. One of those requests comes from Johnny Fontane (Al Martino), Vito’s godson and a professional singer. He wants to land a contested part in a film, so...
Scene: The Horse Head
Video: http://youtu.be/VC1_tdnZq1A
It’s the sweeping epic that eventually spanned three films. But, without the sequels, the first still stands as one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time. The Godfather is a crime drama, a family drama, and a warped version of the American dream. The story focuses on the Corleone family, beginning at the marriage of his daughter, an expansive reception that serves as a wonderful introduction to the characters we would grow to love. Part of this intro is to demonstrate how ruthless the family could be if called to. Vito (Marlon Brando) will grant requests on this day, as it is his daughter’s wedding day. One of those requests comes from Johnny Fontane (Al Martino), Vito’s godson and a professional singer. He wants to land a contested part in a film, so...
- 10/31/2014
- by Joshua Gaul
- SoundOnSight
After the Academy Award for Best Song was won by ‘It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp’ at the 2006 Oscars, host Jon Stewart quipped, ‘For those of you who are keeping score at home, I just want to make something very clear: Martin Scorsese, zero Oscars; Three 6 Mafia, one.’
If the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences specialises in one thing at a sophisticated level no other collaborative body could ever hope to match, it’s giving awards to the wrong people. Sometimes, it almost seems like a deliberate act of petulance. Try finding anyone outside of Robert Zemekis’s immediate family who considers Forrest Gump to be a better picture than Pulp Fiction (one win) or The Shawshank Redemption (IMDb’s Best Film Ever Made; no wins).
In 1999, The 71st Academy Awards became to many people, the apogee of undeserved Oscars and the rabid invective from...
If the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences specialises in one thing at a sophisticated level no other collaborative body could ever hope to match, it’s giving awards to the wrong people. Sometimes, it almost seems like a deliberate act of petulance. Try finding anyone outside of Robert Zemekis’s immediate family who considers Forrest Gump to be a better picture than Pulp Fiction (one win) or The Shawshank Redemption (IMDb’s Best Film Ever Made; no wins).
In 1999, The 71st Academy Awards became to many people, the apogee of undeserved Oscars and the rabid invective from...
- 2/27/2014
- by Cai Ross
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The opening and closing images in the Toy Story trilogy are one and the same: a picture-perfect blue sky with a couple of carefully placed, nonthreatening fluffy clouds in the middle. While both are computer-generated facsimiles, the former is a facsimile of a facsimile: the comforting wallpaper in the bedroom of a little boy named Andy Davis. The latter is closer to the real thing, greeting the teenage Andy as he drives off to college and out of the lives of the toys with whom he populated his imagination for over a decade. As the series opens, the 6-year old Andy, a suburban Christopher Robin of sorts, proves in the confines of his tiny room, overstuffed with plush animals, board games, action figures, and other toys, that his world of make-believe is limitless. As the series closes, Andy ventures into the known unknown of the real world, secretly wished an...
- 2/3/2014
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Odd List Ryan Lambie Simon Brew 5 Dec 2013 - 06:54
Our voyage through history's underappreciated films arrives at the year 2001, and a vintage year for lesser-seen gems...
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C Clarke may have seen 2001 as the year we'd head off to meet alien intelligences in the depths of space, but in reality, its cinematic landscape was dominated by fantasy rather than extra-terrestrials. Rowling and Tolkien dominated the box office, with Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone and The Fellowship Of The Ring earning almost $1bn each, while Monsters, Inc and Shrek thrilled old and young audiences alike.
At the other end of the spectrum of success, 2001 was such a vintage year for movies that we had to whittle our usual selection of 25 films down from an initial selection of more than 40. This is why the decision was made - with heavy heart - to exclude some of our favourite films,...
Our voyage through history's underappreciated films arrives at the year 2001, and a vintage year for lesser-seen gems...
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C Clarke may have seen 2001 as the year we'd head off to meet alien intelligences in the depths of space, but in reality, its cinematic landscape was dominated by fantasy rather than extra-terrestrials. Rowling and Tolkien dominated the box office, with Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone and The Fellowship Of The Ring earning almost $1bn each, while Monsters, Inc and Shrek thrilled old and young audiences alike.
At the other end of the spectrum of success, 2001 was such a vintage year for movies that we had to whittle our usual selection of 25 films down from an initial selection of more than 40. This is why the decision was made - with heavy heart - to exclude some of our favourite films,...
- 12/4/2013
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Jj Abrams is lined up to make a biopic of the cyclist. Send us your front covers, titles, soundtrack and casting suggestions
Lance Armstrong's life is to be dramatised on the big screen. Jj Abrams is set to direct a movie that will take its lead from the forthcoming book Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong by New York Times reporter Juliet Macur.
Abrams did a decent job with Star Trek and Super 8, but we're here to help him out with some suggestions. We want to know your ideas for the film title, tagline, soundtrack and cast members. If you're feeling very creative, email us a mocked-up front cover to gallery@guardian.co.uk and we'll publish the best responses.
Some of your best suggestions
Pinocchio
There Will Be Blood Transfusions
Lord of the Syringes
Fear and Loathing in Le Mans
Epo Brother Where Art Thou...
Lance Armstrong's life is to be dramatised on the big screen. Jj Abrams is set to direct a movie that will take its lead from the forthcoming book Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong by New York Times reporter Juliet Macur.
Abrams did a decent job with Star Trek and Super 8, but we're here to help him out with some suggestions. We want to know your ideas for the film title, tagline, soundtrack and cast members. If you're feeling very creative, email us a mocked-up front cover to gallery@guardian.co.uk and we'll publish the best responses.
Some of your best suggestions
Pinocchio
There Will Be Blood Transfusions
Lord of the Syringes
Fear and Loathing in Le Mans
Epo Brother Where Art Thou...
- 1/22/2013
- by Paul Campbell
- The Guardian - Film News
Chicago – It ain’t over until the fat mammoth sings, and that’s precisely what happens—more or less—in “Ice Age: Continental Drift,” the fourth installment of Blue Sky Studios’ increasingly tedious, decade-old franchise. Why can’t any of Pixar’s rival animation studios come up with a marketable formula better than Celebrities Voicing Animals Delivering Tired Sitcom Dialogue?
Whereas “Madagascar 3” represented this formula operating at its finest, “Ice Age 4” represents its nadir. With 3D visuals on the level of a pop-up book and bored actors mugging their way toward their next easy paycheck, this picture is dead on arrival, yet its particularly brand of badness is more peculiar than one might expect. Just how many kiddie movies have attempted to merge DeMille-level spectacle with booger jokes? Thankfully, not that many.
Blu-ray Rating: 1.5/5.0
In this cheery “Ice Age” entry, our heroes are running for their lives as they find...
Whereas “Madagascar 3” represented this formula operating at its finest, “Ice Age 4” represents its nadir. With 3D visuals on the level of a pop-up book and bored actors mugging their way toward their next easy paycheck, this picture is dead on arrival, yet its particularly brand of badness is more peculiar than one might expect. Just how many kiddie movies have attempted to merge DeMille-level spectacle with booger jokes? Thankfully, not that many.
Blu-ray Rating: 1.5/5.0
In this cheery “Ice Age” entry, our heroes are running for their lives as they find...
- 1/2/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
You’ve got kids at home, or maybe you’re a kid at heart or maybe you just like monster movies and horror movies and classic science fiction and you love animation of all types. This autumn must have been either a blessing or a curse for you. There are three films that more than likely would have tickled your fancy; ParaNorman, Hotel Transylvania and Frankenweenie. This is quite the cavalcade of animated spook pictures to have released theatrically. You might expect one a year and your wallet probably can only handle one. Maybe you could even do two if two kiddie monster flicks presented themselves, but three movies… three heavily advertised, marketable, seemingly funny movies with big name stars attached either the director seat or in the voice over position in one year. You must be wondering which witch is which… that is to say you wanna know what’s worth watching and why.
- 10/19/2012
- by Jimmy Terror
- The Liberal Dead
Actor's latest comedy rated at 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, ranking it alongside such epic fails as Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
Is it possible to prove which is the worst film of all time? Maybe not, but the Rotten Tomatoes reviews aggregator is as good a measuring device as any, and the new Eddie Murphy comedy, A Thousand Words, has achieved a remarkable 0% rating as of Monday morning.
While an unexpectedly positive review may arrive from some hitherto overlooked corner of the film-reviewing universe, A Thousand Words has drawn a solid 39 negative reviews out of 39 on the site.
Naysayers range from the established media, such as Claudia Puig of USA Today – "The concept is unoriginal, the scenarios aren't funny, and its message is banal" – to the blogosphere (Brian Tallerico of HollywoodChicago.com: "Only the most masochistic connoisseurs of the truly awful need check it out"). Everyone, it seems, is...
Is it possible to prove which is the worst film of all time? Maybe not, but the Rotten Tomatoes reviews aggregator is as good a measuring device as any, and the new Eddie Murphy comedy, A Thousand Words, has achieved a remarkable 0% rating as of Monday morning.
While an unexpectedly positive review may arrive from some hitherto overlooked corner of the film-reviewing universe, A Thousand Words has drawn a solid 39 negative reviews out of 39 on the site.
Naysayers range from the established media, such as Claudia Puig of USA Today – "The concept is unoriginal, the scenarios aren't funny, and its message is banal" – to the blogosphere (Brian Tallerico of HollywoodChicago.com: "Only the most masochistic connoisseurs of the truly awful need check it out"). Everyone, it seems, is...
- 3/12/2012
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Downton Abbey Season Two ($49.99 BluRay; PBS)
Poldark The Complete Collection ($79.99; Acorn) -- Don't tell my mother, but Downton Abbey has swiftly declined from a pale imitation of the original Upstairs Downstairs to a pale imitation of Falcon Crest. She's enjoying the show but I quickly switched from eagerness to see if the second season could build on the over-praised first to laughter at its foolishness to boredom. The first season lifted entire plot lines from U/D (and shamelessly from Mrs. Miniver) but it was fun. This season it has gone completely off the rails, with episodes ending with soap-like revelations (complete with "da-dum!" foreboding musical cues), characters behaving utterly without rhyme or reason from one moment to the next. Why, for example, has Isobel Crawley gone from a sensible if blunt woman to a blithering idiot? The plot twists come so fast and furious all you can do is laugh.
Poldark The Complete Collection ($79.99; Acorn) -- Don't tell my mother, but Downton Abbey has swiftly declined from a pale imitation of the original Upstairs Downstairs to a pale imitation of Falcon Crest. She's enjoying the show but I quickly switched from eagerness to see if the second season could build on the over-praised first to laughter at its foolishness to boredom. The first season lifted entire plot lines from U/D (and shamelessly from Mrs. Miniver) but it was fun. This season it has gone completely off the rails, with episodes ending with soap-like revelations (complete with "da-dum!" foreboding musical cues), characters behaving utterly without rhyme or reason from one moment to the next. Why, for example, has Isobel Crawley gone from a sensible if blunt woman to a blithering idiot? The plot twists come so fast and furious all you can do is laugh.
- 2/9/2012
- by Michael Giltz
- Aol TV.
As Oscar season approaches and odds are weighed, "The Artist" has become the favorite to win. But we've been here before: in 1999, "Life is Beautiful" -- another foreign-born film redistributed as an American awards success by Harvey Weinstein -- stormed the Academy Awards. Which makes you wonder: Is 'Artist' star -- and potential Best Actor winner -- Jean Dujardin the new Roberto Benigni?
The animated Italian actor made history twice during the 71st Academy Awards: he was the first male performer in a non-English-speaking role to win the gold and, when "Life is Beautiful" won for Best Picture, he freaked out. Like, really freaked out. And we've never really forgotten it since.
Unfortunately, Benigni's seat-walking cheer-fest did not yield a fruitful career, post-"Life is Beautiful." He went on to star in two not-so-warmly received films ("Pinocchio" and "The Tiger and the Snow"), while also appearing in a segment of...
The animated Italian actor made history twice during the 71st Academy Awards: he was the first male performer in a non-English-speaking role to win the gold and, when "Life is Beautiful" won for Best Picture, he freaked out. Like, really freaked out. And we've never really forgotten it since.
Unfortunately, Benigni's seat-walking cheer-fest did not yield a fruitful career, post-"Life is Beautiful." He went on to star in two not-so-warmly received films ("Pinocchio" and "The Tiger and the Snow"), while also appearing in a segment of...
- 1/10/2012
- by Jessie Heyman
- Huffington Post
As Oscar season approaches and odds are weighed, "The Artist" has become the favorite to win. But we've been here before: in 1999, "Life is Beautiful" -- another foreign-born film redistributed as an American awards success by Harvey Weinstein -- stormed the Academy Awards. Which makes you wonder: Is 'Artist' star -- and potential Best Actor winner -- Jean Dujardin the new Roberto Benigni?
The animated Italian actor made history twice during the 71st Academy Awards: he was the first male performer in a non-English-speaking role to win the gold and, when "Life is Beautiful" won for Best Picture, he freaked out. Like, really freaked out. And we've never really forgotten it since.
Unfortunately, Benigni's seat-walking cheer-fest did not yield a fruitful career, post-"Life is Beautiful." He went on to star in two not-so-warmly received films ("Pinocchio" and "The Tiger and the Snow"), while also appearing in a segment of...
The animated Italian actor made history twice during the 71st Academy Awards: he was the first male performer in a non-English-speaking role to win the gold and, when "Life is Beautiful" won for Best Picture, he freaked out. Like, really freaked out. And we've never really forgotten it since.
Unfortunately, Benigni's seat-walking cheer-fest did not yield a fruitful career, post-"Life is Beautiful." He went on to star in two not-so-warmly received films ("Pinocchio" and "The Tiger and the Snow"), while also appearing in a segment of...
- 1/10/2012
- by Jessie Heyman
- Moviefone
Day 2 of the Film Critics' Workshop now under way at the Yamagata International Film Festival finds our English-language participants considering a new Japanese film, the turbulent era of 1960s Japanese television documentaries, and the place of the film critic in an age when documentary production is booming and when more and more people are relying on Twitter to publicize and find out about films.
Children of Light: Tachikawa Kazuya’s Never Let Me Go
The sun rises over rice paddies. Skillful fingers expertly pare daikon. These opening shots establish a distinctly Japanese sense of home with visual economy. “Home for Children of Light” is a small foster care facility in rural Saitama. An institution, but also a family. Never Let Me Go (Tonaru hito) is Tachikawa Kazuya’s document of life at the home.
Tachikawa’s ear is carefully attuned. The steady chop of the knife slightly precedes the transition from outdoor to indoor.
Children of Light: Tachikawa Kazuya’s Never Let Me Go
The sun rises over rice paddies. Skillful fingers expertly pare daikon. These opening shots establish a distinctly Japanese sense of home with visual economy. “Home for Children of Light” is a small foster care facility in rural Saitama. An institution, but also a family. Never Let Me Go (Tonaru hito) is Tachikawa Kazuya’s document of life at the home.
Tachikawa’s ear is carefully attuned. The steady chop of the knife slightly precedes the transition from outdoor to indoor.
- 10/10/2011
- MUBI
The last time I saw Roberto Benigni, he said he wanted to make love to me. To be fair, he wanted to make love to everybody watching the 1999 Academy Awards after he’d won his second Oscar of the night for Life is Beautiful. But since that night, when the Italian Chaplin was officially crowned by Hollywood, his profile has retreated. His directorial follow-up, 2002′s Pinocchio, was an expensive flop that bombed completely on this side of the Atlantic. He appeared briefly in Jim Jarmusch’s Coffee and Cigarettes in 2003, and he hasn’t starred in any film since 2005′s Iraq War film,...
- 5/11/2011
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW.com - PopWatch
As Woody Allen prepares to arrive in Cannes with his latest film Midnight in Paris, he is confirming some casting reports about his next film, to be shot in Rome, which he calls "a comic picture, an out-and-out comedy." Speaking to USA Today [1] he offered that quote, said that reports pegging the film's title as The Wrong Picture were, uh, wrong, and confirming that he would indeed appear in the film. And he also confirmed Deadline [2]'s report that Roberto Benigni would play a part in the movie. We don't know what that part will be, but he'll join Penelope Cruz, Ellen Page, Jesse Eisenberg and Alec Baldwin. Roberto Benigni built a big European audience with comic roles in Italy and a small Us audience thanks to appearances in films like Down By Law. But he broke into the mainstream in a big way with comic Holocaust film Life is Beautiful,...
- 5/7/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Italian funnyman famous for 'Holocaust comedy' Life is Beautiful has reportedly been offered part in Midnight in Paris follow-up
He is best known outside Italy for an exuberant appearance at the 1998 Oscars, where his film Life Is Beautiful picked up three Oscars. Now Roberto Benigni is set to make a belated return to the big screen after being cast in Woody Allen's next film, Deadline reports.
The as-yet-untitled project will be shot in Italy, but Benigni is so far the sole Italian casting choice. The movie will also feature The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg – surely an actor destined to play an Allen cypher at some point in his career – along with Penélope Cruz, Ellen Page and Alec Baldwin.
Benigni has only appeared fleetingly on film since the success of Life is Beautiful, his bittersweet drama about a father who pretends their life in a Nazi concentration camp is...
He is best known outside Italy for an exuberant appearance at the 1998 Oscars, where his film Life Is Beautiful picked up three Oscars. Now Roberto Benigni is set to make a belated return to the big screen after being cast in Woody Allen's next film, Deadline reports.
The as-yet-untitled project will be shot in Italy, but Benigni is so far the sole Italian casting choice. The movie will also feature The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg – surely an actor destined to play an Allen cypher at some point in his career – along with Penélope Cruz, Ellen Page and Alec Baldwin.
Benigni has only appeared fleetingly on film since the success of Life is Beautiful, his bittersweet drama about a father who pretends their life in a Nazi concentration camp is...
- 5/6/2011
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Woody Allen.s next ensemble piece, which we recently told you would be set in Rome, is about to get a little more Italian. As the prolific director prepares to open the Cannes Film Festival with his current picture, Midnight In Paris, Deadline reports that Allen .will land. Oscar-winning writer-director Roberto Benigni for his next cast, which already includes Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page, Penelope Cruz and Alec Baldwin. The site goes on to say that Allen could make an announcement regarding Benigni.s involvement in the picture when Paris opens Cannes later this month. Though Allen and Benigni both lay claim to the prestigious title of Oscar winner, the former.s career has remained steady while the latter.s largely tanked. After nabbing a Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the 1997 concentration camp drama Life Is Beautiful, Benigni directed and starred in an ill-fated Pinocchio tale and then promptly...
- 5/5/2011
- cinemablend.com
What do you get when you combine the magic of Disney, the camera of Annie Leibovitz and some of the biggest stars in Hollywood? Well, you get a stellar collection of photographs by Annie Leibovitz. The Disney Dream Portrait Series is an ad campaign featuring a collection of iconic portraits by the famed photographer recreating scenes and portraying beloved characters from classic Disney films. The famous Disney characters are as easily recognizable as the stars portraying them and are truly marvelous and enchanting to behold.
Penelope Cruz and Jeff Bridges as Belle and the Beast transformed in Beauty and the Beast.
Where a moment of beauty lasts forever.
Beyonce as Alice, Lyle Lovett as the March Hare and Oliver Platt as the Mad Hatter in Alice In Wonderland.
Where wonderland is your destiny.
Gisele Bundchen as Wendy Darling, Tina Fey as Tinkerbell and Mikhail Baryshnikov as that eternal boy Peter...
Penelope Cruz and Jeff Bridges as Belle and the Beast transformed in Beauty and the Beast.
Where a moment of beauty lasts forever.
Beyonce as Alice, Lyle Lovett as the March Hare and Oliver Platt as the Mad Hatter in Alice In Wonderland.
Where wonderland is your destiny.
Gisele Bundchen as Wendy Darling, Tina Fey as Tinkerbell and Mikhail Baryshnikov as that eternal boy Peter...
- 3/4/2011
- Cinelinx
I still have horrific flashbacks of Roberto Benigni prancing around in his version of Pinocchio, but I guess enough people have moved on and it's time for a (hopefully) much better take. Deadline has broken the exclusive story that Guillermo Del Toro will be developing a new stop-motion animated version of Pinocchio. He'll be teaming up with The Jim Henson Company and Pathe on the production,...
- 2/17/2011
- by Travis Hopson
- Punch Drunk Critics
Variety is reporting that Warner Brothers plan to bring Pinocchio back to the big screen in a new live-action adventure.
The article claims that Dan Jinks and Nick Nanell will produce through their Dan Jinks Co. banner while Brian Fuller has been tapped for script writing duties.
Reportedly inspired by Tim Burton’s box office juggernaut Alice in Wonderland, Jinks claims to have found a fresh way of approaching the character previously brought to life by Disney in 1940, adding:
“Pinocchio is one of the most emotional fairytales, I’m over the moon at the opportunity to play with all the characters in this box with a large-scale re-telling.”
Pinocchio was last seen onscreen in 2002, a project for which Roberto Benigni starred and directed. This followed a failed attempt to develop a feature at Warner Bros., which Francis Ford Coppola attempted to produce before the project stalled.
Lampooned by the Shrek franchise,...
The article claims that Dan Jinks and Nick Nanell will produce through their Dan Jinks Co. banner while Brian Fuller has been tapped for script writing duties.
Reportedly inspired by Tim Burton’s box office juggernaut Alice in Wonderland, Jinks claims to have found a fresh way of approaching the character previously brought to life by Disney in 1940, adding:
“Pinocchio is one of the most emotional fairytales, I’m over the moon at the opportunity to play with all the characters in this box with a large-scale re-telling.”
Pinocchio was last seen onscreen in 2002, a project for which Roberto Benigni starred and directed. This followed a failed attempt to develop a feature at Warner Bros., which Francis Ford Coppola attempted to produce before the project stalled.
Lampooned by the Shrek franchise,...
- 9/18/2010
- by Steven Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In 2002, Roberto Benigni followed up his Oscar winning film Life is Beautiful with a live-action adaptation of Pinocchio. To this day it is one of the few films on Rotten Tomatoes to receive more than fifty critiques and yet maintain a 0% rating. As a reference point, even Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, the asshats behind movies like Date Movie and Epic Movie, usually manage at least 2%. Yet, for some reason, somebody thinks that doing another live action version of Pinocchio is a good idea. Variety reports that Warner Bros. has hired Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me) to script a new version of the film. The project will be produced by Dan Jinks who says that he was inspired by Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland to get the project going. Details about the project are limited, but Jinks says that they have "found a fresh approach that's going...
- 9/17/2010
- cinemablend.com
"Pushing Daisies" creator Bryan Fuller has been hired to write a live-action "Pinocchio" movie for Warner Bros. The project was inspired by the astounding success of Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," which earned over $1 billion globally. In the movie, inventor Gepetto creates a wooden marionette called Pinocchio. His wish that Pinocchio be a real boy is unexpectedly granted by a fairy, who assigns Jiminy Cricket to act as Pinocchio's "conscience" and keep him out of trouble. Jiminy is not too successful in this endeavor and most of the film is spent with Pinocchio deep in trouble. The beloved long-nosed character was first introduced to movie audiences by Walt Disney in 1940. He was last seen on the big screen in a 2002 adaptation directed by and starring Roberto Benigni.
- 9/17/2010
- WorstPreviews.com
Here is a twist. Disney, known for their classic animated feature of Pinocchio, is not adapting a live-action version of the classic tale. Instead, it’s Warner Bros. and they are looking to bring “Pinocchio” to life in a live-action feature through producer Dan Jinks with Bryan Fuller tapped to script.
Jinks told Daily Variety that he was inspired by Disney and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and is using that as a staple to begin work on a new version of famed story of “Pinocchio,” a wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy. Walt Disney produced the first feature version of the story with his 1940 feature animated film. According to Variety, who reported the news, Francis Ford Coppola tried producing a live action “Pinocchio” in the early 1990s at Warner Bros., but the project stalled and led to legal issues between the director and the studio.
Jinks told Daily Variety that he was inspired by Disney and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and is using that as a staple to begin work on a new version of famed story of “Pinocchio,” a wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy. Walt Disney produced the first feature version of the story with his 1940 feature animated film. According to Variety, who reported the news, Francis Ford Coppola tried producing a live action “Pinocchio” in the early 1990s at Warner Bros., but the project stalled and led to legal issues between the director and the studio.
- 9/17/2010
- by Kevin Coll
- FusedFilm
There were a lot of bad movies released during the past decade. That’s not anything that distinguishes the aughts from any other decade before it, but then most of these movies were bad in the usual, torturous ways. There is, of course, a lot of room for debate over these picks and readers should be aware that for my own sanity (sorry Rob Schneider), I purposefully skipped many top contenders. Without further ado, in descending order, our worst 15: The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) I’m not a fan of movies about really stupid people behaving stupidly, and that’s all that happens in this smoldering pile of TV adapted junk. Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott indulge their worst instincts in a laugh free assemblage of moronic Southern stereotypes and car crashes that’s like a horrible, Z grade 80s comedy nightmare come to life. It’s even got Burt Reynolds. Lady in the Water...
- 12/14/2009
- by Robert Levin
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
SYDNEY -- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire swept all before it at the international boxoffice during the weekend, conjuring up a mighty $95.4 million from more than 9,400 prints in 42 markets and taking its estimated international cumulative total to $207 million in just 11 days. The film opened in an additional 23 markets, notching up records in many of those. In Italy, it grossed an estimated $9.4 million from 855 prints, making it the biggest opening to date, toppling the record held by Pinocchio. In Spain, it amassed an estimated $8 million from 527 prints, the second-biggest opening as well as the best Potter opening so far; the same was true for Brazil, where the film grossed an estimated $4.1 million from 550 prints. Japan opened with an estimated $14.3 million from 851 prints, including previews, ranking it as the fifth-highest opening of all time.
- 11/27/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SYDNEY -- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire swept all before it at the international boxoffice during the weekend, conjuring up a mighty $95.4 million from more than 9,400 prints in 42 markets and taking its estimated international cumulative total to $207 million in just 11 days. The film opened in an additional 23 markets, notching up records in many of those. In Italy, it grossed an estimated $9.4 million from 855 prints, making it the biggest opening to date, toppling the record held by Pinocchio. In Spain, it amassed an estimated $8 million from 527 prints, the second-biggest opening as well as the best Potter opening so far; the same was true for Brazil, where the film grossed an estimated $4.1 million from 550 prints. Japan opened with an estimated $14.3 million from 851 prints, including previews, ranking it as the fifth-highest opening of all time.
- 11/27/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
ROME -- Despite an unprecedented opening weekend roll-out for Roberto Benigni's new film The Tiger and the Snow, the box office take was nearly half that expected, due in large part to a weekend of protest that shut down Italian cinemas all day Friday. With distribution on 754 screens officially -- an Italian record -- and the marquee name of Benigni, there was speculation that The Tiger and the Snow could have broken Italy's opening weekend box office record. But despite coming in first over the weekend, Tiger garnered just 3.1 million ($3.7 million) in three days -- less than half that of his previous film Pinocchio which brought in over 7 million ($8.4 million). Pinocchio was widely panned by critics and was a box office flop in the United States.
- 10/17/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
ROME -- Despite an unprecedented opening weekend rollout for Roberto Benigni's new film The Tiger and the Snow, the boxoffice take was nearly half that expected, due in large part to a weekend of protest that shut down Italian cinemas all day Friday. With distribution on 754 screens -- an Italian record -- and the marquee name of Benigni, there was speculation that The Tiger and the Snow could have broken Italy's opening weekend boxoffice record. But despite coming in first over the weekend, Tiger garnered just 3.1 million ($3.7 million) in three days -- less than half that of his previous film Pinocchio, which brought in more than 7 million ($8.4 million). Pinocchio was widely panned by critics and was a boxoffice flop in the U.S.
- 10/17/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Italian Oscar winner Roberto Benigni has pulled his voice from the English-language version of his hit new movie Pinocchio because he isn't happy with the dub. Rat Race star Breckin Meyer will now voiceover Benigni's part in the classic fantasy fable, which has already broken cinema records in Italy. Life Is Beautiful star Benigni spent two weeks working on the voiceovers, but wasn't satisfied with them. The actor also pulled his wife Nicoletta Braschi's voice from the project - her role as The Blue Fairy will now be voiced by Glenn Close. Other English-speaking stars brought in to dub the film include Queen Latifah and Eddie Griffin.
- 12/5/2002
- WENN
The contest for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar got a little tougher this year, as the Academy released a list of the official international contenders on Tuesday . a record-breaking 54, three more than last year's tally. In fact, this year's list was a wee bit late, as the Academy debated the eligibility of three films: the U.K.'s Hindi-language The Warrior; Hong Kong's The Touch (starring Michelle Yeoh); and Afghanistan's Fire Dancer. Of the three, only Fire Dancer made the cut, as Yeoh's Touch contained more English than Mandarin, and The Warrior was nixed since Hindi is not a language indigenous to the British Isles, nor was it about the Hindi community in the U.K. (it was replaced with the Welsh Eldra). Also, Palestine's award-winning romance Divine Intervention was ruled ineligible, as the Academy does not recognize Palestine as a nation. Other finalists include Italy's Pinocchio, Mexico's The Crime of Father Amaro, France's 8 Women, Finland's The Man Without a Past, Russia's House of Fools and Sweden's Lilja 4-Ever. The final five will be announced on Feb. 11, along with all the other nominations.
- 12/4/2002
- IMDbPro News
Maybe if he's good, he'll become a real movie star . er, boy! Variety reports that Breckin Meyer (Kate & Leopold) will dub the voice of Roberto Benigni in the Italian star's Pinocchio, which is being released in a dubbed version in the U.S. Benigni had originally planned to do the voice-over himself, but after two weeks of working on the dubbing, failed to come up with a version that he and distributor Miramax found satisfactory. Other actors on board to provide voices for the comedy are Glenn Close (as the Blue Fairy, played by Benigni's wife Nicoletta Braschi), Cheech Marin, Kevin James, Queen Latifah, and Eddie Griffin. Pinocchio is scheduled for a Christmas release.
- 12/4/2002
- IMDbPro News
BERLIN -- Falcom Media Group, the Swiss distribution company set up earlier this year by former Highlight executive Andreas Fallscheer, on Mondayannounced a deal with Bertelsmann subsidiary Universum Film that will see Falcom set up its own DVD and video label for German-speaking territories. The first titles to be released under the new label will include Mimic 2, Chuck Norris actioner McCourd and science fiction feature Absolon, starring Christopher Lambert. Falcom also has German-language rights to Roberto Benigni's live-action Pinocchio, the David Zucker-directed comedy The Guest and German-language feature Der Wixxer (The Wanker).
- 11/19/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio is Italy's official candidate for the foreign-language film Oscar, the country's motion picture association, ANICA, said Tuesday. Italy's submission raises the precedent-making possibility that, if the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates Pinocchio in the foreign-language-film category, two versions of the same film could end up competing in this year's Oscar race: The 108-minute Italian-language version would compete for foreign film, while a slightly different, dubbed-into-English version, which opens in the United States on Christmas Day, would be eligible to compete in other categories. Miramax Films will release Pinocchio, which stars and was directed by Benigni, in the United States in a dubbed version featuring rapper-actor Queen Latifah as the Dove, Cheech Marin as the Fox and David Suchet as Geppetto. Benigni's classic rendition of the fable, written by Carlo Collodi, is set to open Christmas Day in more than 2,000 theaters. The popular Italian actor-director said Tuesday that, after some testing, he and Miramax have decided that he will not dub his own voice in English -- contrary to an earlier announcement. Benigni said an English-language actor is now being selected to deliver his lines as Pinocchio. Miramax could not confirm that development.
- 11/13/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Deadly storms and gale-force winds took somewhat of a toll at the weekend boxoffice in Europe, but several high-profile standard-bearers managed to hold strong in a market absent significant newcomers. Most of the major studios are vying to move in and get their backlogs played off before the deluge of year-end powerhouses headed by Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the new James Bond installment. For the second week in a row, the Rob Cohen-directed double-agent thriller XXX emerged as the biggest international scorer, followed by Red Dragon, Signs, Minority Report, The Bourne Identity and Lilo & Stitch. Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio is still going strong in Italy, holding on to the top spot for the third consecutive week by edging out the debut of Red Dragon. Pinocchio pulled in $2.7 million (market cume: $19.3 million) from 531 screens to Red Dragon's $2.3 million from 326, but Hannibal Lecter beat Pinocchio's per-screen average.
- 10/29/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The overseas boxoffice had a good weekend in widely scattered markets, thanks in part to school holidays in a number of key territories. XXX, Signs and Minority Report led the weekend moviegoing parade, and Roberto Benigni's homemade Pinocchio continued to excite Italian audiences. Other titles getting attention here and there in a normally slow period of the year were The Bourne Identity, Lilo & Stitch, Red Dragon, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and The Tuxedo. XXX, with No. 1 openings in 12 markets," emerged as the weekend champion, amassing a sizzling $18.2 million from an estimated 4,500 screens in 43 markets. The Rob Cohen-directed action thriller hit the top in the United Kingdom, $5.3 million (with previews) from 607 screens; Germany, $4.5 million from 937; and Spain, $2.3 million from 453.
- 10/22/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- In the wake of Miramax Films Los Angeles president Mark Gill's decision to step down Tuesday, the mini-major said co-topper Harvey Weinstein will be "personally involved in marketing upcoming releases," including such high-profile year-end projects as Gangs of New York, Chicago, Frida, Pinocchio and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. The company added that senior vp marketing Jason Cassidy will work closely with Weinstein on managing the transition. Said Weinstein: "We have the highest respect for Mark's skills and abilities. Mark has been a valuable part of Miramax's marketing efforts over the past eight years while making important contributions on various acquisitions and in fostering the production of Frida. " Gill's departure comes as Miramax is about to plunge into Oscar season, during which the company customarily expends extraordinary energy on promoting its leading releases. The departure also follows several recent exits at the company that have thinned out its marketing and publicity ranks. The company also has recently seen several lower-level departures in the production and development areas.
- 10/16/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A couple of new highly promoted entries and a few established standard-bearers, as well as holidays in a number of countries, stirred up the overseas boxoffice a bit during a traditionally dull period of the year. Red Dragon, following closely on its domestic feast, gobbled up the United Kingdom with $4.9 million (including previews) from 428 sites, taking over the No. 1 spot in the market. But the Silence of the Lambs prequel did not come close to matching the massive success of its predecessor, Hannibal, which took in $9.2 million on its opening U.K. weekend. It may not have been a record bow, but it's hailed as a vigorous takeoff for the Anthony Hopkins starrer in the international market. Meanwhile, Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio broke boxoffice records in Italy, pulling in $8.9 million on its opening weekend, according to figures from distributor Medusa. The Oscar-winning actor-director's rendition of the classic Italian fable marks the country's widest release, having gone out on 940 of Italy's 3,000 screens.
- 10/15/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
ROME -- Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio broke Italian boxoffice records, pulling in 7.915 million ($7.8 million) on its opening weekend, according to estimates announced by distributor Medusa on Sunday. The Oscar-winning actor-director's classic rendition of the Italian puppet-boy fable marks the country's widest release, having gone out on 940 of Italy's 3,000 screens. It is also the first local picture to be projected here digitally, albeit in just a half-dozen theaters. Italy's previous opening weekend record belonged to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring which had debuted in 700 copies and pulled in 7.6 million ($7.5 million) last January.
- 10/14/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With its release in Italy coming Friday, the high-octane publicity machine for Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio has kicked into top gear, with the Italian actor-director making his first promotional press appearance before the film's record-breaking rollout on about one-third of the country's cinema screens. "Very rarely have we seen such an extraordinary anticipation for a film. I can only be happy about this. This is great," Benigni -- who is the film's director and also stars as the popular puppet who becomes a human boy -- told Italian reporters during a news conference Friday in Rome. Italian distributor Medusa has increased the number of screens on which Pinocchio will debut Friday in Italy from 860 -- as originally announced -- to 900 in order "to accommodate requests that have been pouring in from exhibitors all over the country," producer Elda Ferri said. Italy has about 3,000 screens in total.
- 10/7/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
ROME -- In retelling the Italian fable Pinocchio, director-actor Roberto Benigni follows the basic outline of Carlo Collodi's 1883 book and creates the first Italian film version of this worldwide best seller produced for the international movie marketplace. Unlike the 1940 Walt Disney Co. animated feature, which uprooted Pinocchio from Italy and dressed the boy puppet in lederhosen and a feathered hat, Benigni's Pinocchio is set in 19th century rural Italy, a land of cobblestoned villages and Tuscan hillsides. Yet many key scenes take place in such fairy-tale settings as the Blue Fairy's castle, Il Paese dei Balocchi (Toy Town) and the inside of a giant shark's belly. The flavor is fablelike and also unquestionably Italian thanks to the lavish sets created by Danilo Donati, who worked with Benigni on Life Is Beautiful.
- 10/7/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Beloved Oscar-winner Roberto Benigni's new movie Pinocchio is set to break records across his native Italy when it opens in almost 30 per cent of the country's cinema screens. The film, based loosely on Carlo Collodi's puppet fairytale, will open on a record 860 screens on October 11. The owners of one particular single-screen theatre, which has been closed for 20 years, have even offered to re-open the cinema if they can show the film there on opening night. Producer Elda Ferri says, "Requests have come from all over Italy. Even tiny theatres in small towns want to run it." Ironically, the locals of Collodi in Tuscany, which was named as a tribute to the author, will have to travel to see their favorite son's greatest work - because there's no cinema in the village.
- 10/2/2002
- WENN
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