We've seen the spawn of Satan in such films as Rosemary's Baby and The Omen, and bad seeds have frequently tickled and terrified audiences. Child saviors haven't been as prevalent in the movies. But in The Seeker, based on the popular children's novel The Dark Is Rising, we have the story of a child chosen by the forces of light to battle evil spirits; the fate of the earth hangs in the balance. With some quasi-religious overtones, the film might have a built-in audience, though it's not going to make much of a dent in the Harry Potter franchise.
The opening cleverly thrusts us into an ultra-contemporary world of cell phones and high-tech malls where Will Stanton (Alexander Ludwig) is not quite at home. The youngest of six sons in an American family transplanted to England, Will is not comfortable with his peers. To make matters worse, he keeps seeing flocks of ravens that want to claw his flesh. Eventually, he learns that he has a mission to save the world from dark forces that intend to wreak havoc. His nemesis is a threatening figure called the Rider (Christopher Eccleston), but he also has a group of allies known as the Old Ones who instruct him in his supernatural powers and guide him on his otherworldly quest.
Seeker is well cast with a mix of British and American actors. Ian McShane, who often is cast as a Satanic figure, here plays Will's spiritual guide, and he lends stature and dignity to the battle between good and evil. Eccleston exudes malevolent power, and he has fun playing the Rider's alter ego, a bumbling English doctor. The young actors who play Will's siblings have a natural ease on camera, and Ludwig is inherently likable, capturing the character's befuddlement as well as his innate decency.
Yet the film plods along without a lot of excitement or inspiration. There's one scary sequence with an army of snakes led by an albino cobra, but a lot of other scenes depend on elaborate CGI effects that aren't all that thrilling. Another problem is that the plot requires young Will to go through a series of trials to find the six signs that will enable him to save the world, and there simply isn't enough variety in these ordeals. The movie's one surprise twist will be pretty transparent to anyone above the age of 6.
Although the film is extremely well photographed by Joel Ransom, it fails to build a sense of mounting terror. The denouement is completely predictable, which might be satisfying to young viewers who haven't seen a lot of movies. For the rest of us, Seeker is a ho-hum exercise in mysticism and hocus-pocus.
THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING
20th Century Fox and Fox-Walden
Marc Platt Prods.
Credits:
Director: David L. Cunningham
Screenwriter: John Hodge
Based on the novel by: Susan Cooper
Producer: Marc Platt
Executive producers: Ron Schmidt, Adam Siegel
Director of photography: Joel Ransom
Production designer: David Lee
Music: Christophe Beck
Costume designer: Vin Burnham
Editors: Geoffrey Rowland, Eric A. Sears
Cast:
Will Stanton: Alexander Ludwig
The Rider: Christopher Eccleston
Merriman Lyon: Ian McShane
Miss Greythorne: Frances Conroy
Dawson: James Cosmo
Old George: Jim Piddock
Maggie Barnes: Amelia Warner
John Stanton: John Benjamin Hickey
Mary Stanton: Wendy Crewson
Gwen Stanton: Emma Lockhart
Max Stanton: Gregory Smith
Running time -- 99 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
The opening cleverly thrusts us into an ultra-contemporary world of cell phones and high-tech malls where Will Stanton (Alexander Ludwig) is not quite at home. The youngest of six sons in an American family transplanted to England, Will is not comfortable with his peers. To make matters worse, he keeps seeing flocks of ravens that want to claw his flesh. Eventually, he learns that he has a mission to save the world from dark forces that intend to wreak havoc. His nemesis is a threatening figure called the Rider (Christopher Eccleston), but he also has a group of allies known as the Old Ones who instruct him in his supernatural powers and guide him on his otherworldly quest.
Seeker is well cast with a mix of British and American actors. Ian McShane, who often is cast as a Satanic figure, here plays Will's spiritual guide, and he lends stature and dignity to the battle between good and evil. Eccleston exudes malevolent power, and he has fun playing the Rider's alter ego, a bumbling English doctor. The young actors who play Will's siblings have a natural ease on camera, and Ludwig is inherently likable, capturing the character's befuddlement as well as his innate decency.
Yet the film plods along without a lot of excitement or inspiration. There's one scary sequence with an army of snakes led by an albino cobra, but a lot of other scenes depend on elaborate CGI effects that aren't all that thrilling. Another problem is that the plot requires young Will to go through a series of trials to find the six signs that will enable him to save the world, and there simply isn't enough variety in these ordeals. The movie's one surprise twist will be pretty transparent to anyone above the age of 6.
Although the film is extremely well photographed by Joel Ransom, it fails to build a sense of mounting terror. The denouement is completely predictable, which might be satisfying to young viewers who haven't seen a lot of movies. For the rest of us, Seeker is a ho-hum exercise in mysticism and hocus-pocus.
THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING
20th Century Fox and Fox-Walden
Marc Platt Prods.
Credits:
Director: David L. Cunningham
Screenwriter: John Hodge
Based on the novel by: Susan Cooper
Producer: Marc Platt
Executive producers: Ron Schmidt, Adam Siegel
Director of photography: Joel Ransom
Production designer: David Lee
Music: Christophe Beck
Costume designer: Vin Burnham
Editors: Geoffrey Rowland, Eric A. Sears
Cast:
Will Stanton: Alexander Ludwig
The Rider: Christopher Eccleston
Merriman Lyon: Ian McShane
Miss Greythorne: Frances Conroy
Dawson: James Cosmo
Old George: Jim Piddock
Maggie Barnes: Amelia Warner
John Stanton: John Benjamin Hickey
Mary Stanton: Wendy Crewson
Gwen Stanton: Emma Lockhart
Max Stanton: Gregory Smith
Running time -- 99 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 10/5/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Babel" and "The Departed" were both named best edited feature film, drama, at the 57th Annual ACE Eddie Awards, held Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. It was only the second tie in the history of the awards, presented by the American Cinema Editors.
The previous tie occurred in 1989 when "Rain Man" tied with "Mississippi Burning".
"Babel" was edited by Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise, while "The Departed" was edited by Thelma Schoonmaker.
The best edited feature film, comedy or musical, winner was Virginia Katz for "Dreamgirls".
"An Inconvenient Truth", edited by Jay Cassidy and Dan Sweitlik, took best edited documentary honors.
Television winners included Dean Holland and David Rogers for "The Office"; Kate Sanford for "The Wire"; Conrad Gonzalez, Keith Henderson and Stephen Michael for "Friday Night Lights"; Trevor Waite for "Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act, Part 1" and Geoffrey Rowland, Eric Sears, Bryan Horne, David Handman, and Mitchell Danton for "The Path to 9/11: Part 2."
The Student Editing Competition winner was Alex Lamb of Chapman University.
Director Quentin Tarantino received the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year honor presented to him by Daryl Hannah.
The previous tie occurred in 1989 when "Rain Man" tied with "Mississippi Burning".
"Babel" was edited by Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise, while "The Departed" was edited by Thelma Schoonmaker.
The best edited feature film, comedy or musical, winner was Virginia Katz for "Dreamgirls".
"An Inconvenient Truth", edited by Jay Cassidy and Dan Sweitlik, took best edited documentary honors.
Television winners included Dean Holland and David Rogers for "The Office"; Kate Sanford for "The Wire"; Conrad Gonzalez, Keith Henderson and Stephen Michael for "Friday Night Lights"; Trevor Waite for "Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act, Part 1" and Geoffrey Rowland, Eric Sears, Bryan Horne, David Handman, and Mitchell Danton for "The Path to 9/11: Part 2."
The Student Editing Competition winner was Alex Lamb of Chapman University.
Director Quentin Tarantino received the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year honor presented to him by Daryl Hannah.
- 2/19/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Members of the American Cinema Editors have cut together an assembly of 10 nominees in two film categories for next month's 2007 Eddie Awards recognizing outstanding editing.
Making the dramatic feature film cut are Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise for Babel, Stuart Baird for Casino Royale, Thelma Schoonmaker for The Departed, Lucia Zucchetti for The Queen and the triumvirate of Clare Douglas, Christopher Rouse and Richard Pearson for United 93.
In the comedy feature heat, the nominees are Mark Livolsi for The Devil Wears Prada, Virginia Katz for Dreamgirls, Pamela Martin for Little Miss Sunshine, Craig Wood and Stephen Rivkin for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," and Dana Glauberman for Thank You for Smoking.
In the documentary competition, the nominees are Jay Cassidy and Dan Swietlik for An Inconvenient Truth, Patrick McMahon and Carrie Goldman for Baghdad ER and Samuel D. Pollard for Part 1 of Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts."
The nominees for miniseries or motion picture for noncommercial television are Beverley Mills for HBO's Elizabeth I, Part 1, Curtiss Clayton and Lee Percy for HBO's Mrs. Harris, and Trevor Waite for A&E's "Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act, Part 1."
Best-edited miniseries or motion picture for commercial television earned nominations for Sue Blainey, Sarah Boyd and Stephen Semel for ABC's Lost: Live Together, Die Alone, Geoffrey Rowland, Eric Sears, Bryan Horne, David Handman and Mitchell Danton for ABC's "The Path to 9/11, Part Two," and Heather Persons for TNT's The Ron Clark Story.
In the half-hour series for television race, the contenders are Jon Corn for HBO's Entourage: Sorry Ari, Lance Luckey for NBC's My Name Is Earl: Number One, and Dean Holland and David Rogers for NBC's The Office: Casino Nights.
The one-hour series nominees for commercial television are Leon Ortiz-Gil for Fox's 24: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Conrad Gonzalez, Keith Henderson and Steve Michael for NBC's Friday Night Lights: Pilot, and Edward Ornelas for ABC's "Grey's Anatomy: It's the End of the World."
All eight film, television and documentary category winners will be disclosed during the editors' 57th annual awards ceremony Feb.
Making the dramatic feature film cut are Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise for Babel, Stuart Baird for Casino Royale, Thelma Schoonmaker for The Departed, Lucia Zucchetti for The Queen and the triumvirate of Clare Douglas, Christopher Rouse and Richard Pearson for United 93.
In the comedy feature heat, the nominees are Mark Livolsi for The Devil Wears Prada, Virginia Katz for Dreamgirls, Pamela Martin for Little Miss Sunshine, Craig Wood and Stephen Rivkin for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," and Dana Glauberman for Thank You for Smoking.
In the documentary competition, the nominees are Jay Cassidy and Dan Swietlik for An Inconvenient Truth, Patrick McMahon and Carrie Goldman for Baghdad ER and Samuel D. Pollard for Part 1 of Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts."
The nominees for miniseries or motion picture for noncommercial television are Beverley Mills for HBO's Elizabeth I, Part 1, Curtiss Clayton and Lee Percy for HBO's Mrs. Harris, and Trevor Waite for A&E's "Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act, Part 1."
Best-edited miniseries or motion picture for commercial television earned nominations for Sue Blainey, Sarah Boyd and Stephen Semel for ABC's Lost: Live Together, Die Alone, Geoffrey Rowland, Eric Sears, Bryan Horne, David Handman and Mitchell Danton for ABC's "The Path to 9/11, Part Two," and Heather Persons for TNT's The Ron Clark Story.
In the half-hour series for television race, the contenders are Jon Corn for HBO's Entourage: Sorry Ari, Lance Luckey for NBC's My Name Is Earl: Number One, and Dean Holland and David Rogers for NBC's The Office: Casino Nights.
The one-hour series nominees for commercial television are Leon Ortiz-Gil for Fox's 24: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Conrad Gonzalez, Keith Henderson and Steve Michael for NBC's Friday Night Lights: Pilot, and Edward Ornelas for ABC's "Grey's Anatomy: It's the End of the World."
All eight film, television and documentary category winners will be disclosed during the editors' 57th annual awards ceremony Feb.
- 1/16/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Members of the American Cinema Editors have cut together an assembly of 10 nominees in two film categories for next month's 2007 Eddie Awards recognizing outstanding editing.
Making the dramatic feature film cut are Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise for Babel, Stuart Baird for Casino Royale, Thelma Schoonmaker for The Departed, Lucia Zucchetti for The Queen and the triumvirate of Clare Douglas, Christopher Rouse and Richard Pearson for United 93.
In the comedy feature heat, the nominees are Mark Livolsi for The Devil Wears Prada, Virginia Katz for Dreamgirls, Pamela Martin for Little Miss Sunshine, Craig Wood and Stephen Rivkin for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," and Dana Glauberman for Thank You for Smoking.
In the documentary competition, the nominees are Jay Cassidy and Dan Swietlik for An Inconvenient Truth, Patrick McMahon and Carrie Goldman for Baghdad ER and Samuel D. Pollard for Part 1 of Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts."
The nominees for miniseries or motion picture for noncommercial television are Beverley Mills for HBO's Elizabeth I, Part 1, Curtiss Clayton and Lee Percy for HBO's Mrs. Harris, and Trevor Waite for A&E's "Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act, Part 1."
Best-edited miniseries or motion picture for commercial television earned nominations for Sue Blainey, Sarah Boyd and Stephen Semel for ABC's Lost: Live Together, Die Alone, Geoffrey Rowland, Eric Sears, Bryan Horne, David Handman and Mitchell Danton for ABC's "The Path to 9/11, Part Two," and Heather Persons for TNT's The Ron Clark Story.
In the half-hour series for television race, the contenders are Jon Corn for HBO's Entourage: Sorry Ari, Lance Luckey for NBC's My Name Is Earl: Number One, and Dean Holland and David Rogers for NBC's The Office: Casino Nights.
The one-hour series nominees for commercial television are Leon Ortiz-Gil for Fox's 24: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Conrad Gonzalez, Keith Henderson and Steve Michael for NBC's Friday Night Lights: Pilot, and Edward Ornelas for ABC's "Grey's Anatomy: It's the End of the World."
All eight film, television and documentary category winners will be disclosed during the editors' 57th annual awards ceremony Feb.
Making the dramatic feature film cut are Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise for Babel, Stuart Baird for Casino Royale, Thelma Schoonmaker for The Departed, Lucia Zucchetti for The Queen and the triumvirate of Clare Douglas, Christopher Rouse and Richard Pearson for United 93.
In the comedy feature heat, the nominees are Mark Livolsi for The Devil Wears Prada, Virginia Katz for Dreamgirls, Pamela Martin for Little Miss Sunshine, Craig Wood and Stephen Rivkin for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," and Dana Glauberman for Thank You for Smoking.
In the documentary competition, the nominees are Jay Cassidy and Dan Swietlik for An Inconvenient Truth, Patrick McMahon and Carrie Goldman for Baghdad ER and Samuel D. Pollard for Part 1 of Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts."
The nominees for miniseries or motion picture for noncommercial television are Beverley Mills for HBO's Elizabeth I, Part 1, Curtiss Clayton and Lee Percy for HBO's Mrs. Harris, and Trevor Waite for A&E's "Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act, Part 1."
Best-edited miniseries or motion picture for commercial television earned nominations for Sue Blainey, Sarah Boyd and Stephen Semel for ABC's Lost: Live Together, Die Alone, Geoffrey Rowland, Eric Sears, Bryan Horne, David Handman and Mitchell Danton for ABC's "The Path to 9/11, Part Two," and Heather Persons for TNT's The Ron Clark Story.
In the half-hour series for television race, the contenders are Jon Corn for HBO's Entourage: Sorry Ari, Lance Luckey for NBC's My Name Is Earl: Number One, and Dean Holland and David Rogers for NBC's The Office: Casino Nights.
The one-hour series nominees for commercial television are Leon Ortiz-Gil for Fox's 24: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Conrad Gonzalez, Keith Henderson and Steve Michael for NBC's Friday Night Lights: Pilot, and Edward Ornelas for ABC's "Grey's Anatomy: It's the End of the World."
All eight film, television and documentary category winners will be disclosed during the editors' 57th annual awards ceremony Feb.
- 1/12/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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