Exclusive: Carrie Preston has boarded John Logan’s untitled feature directorial debut at Blumhouse, which has been billed as a Lgbtqia+ empowerment movie set at a gay conversion camp. The project from the three-time Oscar nominee was previously known as Whistler Camp.
Preston joins the already cast Theo Germaine and Kevin Bacon, the latter who is also serving as executive producer. Jason Blum and Michael Aguilar are producing. Scott Turner Schofield is also serving as EP.
For seven seasons, Preston starred as Arlene Fowler, the sassy red-headed waitress on the hit HBO series True Blood. She won an Emmy playing Elsbeth Tascioni on CBS’ The Good Wife and recurred in the same role on its spinoff The Good Fight. She also recurred for five years on CBS’ Person of Interest playing Grace, the love interest to her real-life husband, Michael Emerson.
Preston can now be seen on TNT’s series Claws as Polly.
Preston joins the already cast Theo Germaine and Kevin Bacon, the latter who is also serving as executive producer. Jason Blum and Michael Aguilar are producing. Scott Turner Schofield is also serving as EP.
For seven seasons, Preston starred as Arlene Fowler, the sassy red-headed waitress on the hit HBO series True Blood. She won an Emmy playing Elsbeth Tascioni on CBS’ The Good Wife and recurred in the same role on its spinoff The Good Fight. She also recurred for five years on CBS’ Person of Interest playing Grace, the love interest to her real-life husband, Michael Emerson.
Preston can now be seen on TNT’s series Claws as Polly.
- 9/27/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
By Peter Belsito.A seemingly casual comedy proceeds methodically to personal disaster and maturation for two New Yorkers.
In Permission directed by Brian Crano, the question is, “What if?”
By that we mean before you — anyone — makes a “permanent” life-setting decision what if (???) one could instead examine alternatives Just to know “they”, i.e., “other choices” are out there and you “lived them”.
What if??? indeed….
A New York couple has been happily living together for a number of years.
On the verge of marriage, a friend suggests that maybe they owe it to themselves to play the field a bit before tying the knot forever. No jealousy, no recriminations, it’s just sex, right?
Will, husband to be played by Dan Stevens is even there and approves of wife to be Anna’s (Rebecca Hall) would-be lover who tries to pick her up at a local bar.
So what...
In Permission directed by Brian Crano, the question is, “What if?”
By that we mean before you — anyone — makes a “permanent” life-setting decision what if (???) one could instead examine alternatives Just to know “they”, i.e., “other choices” are out there and you “lived them”.
What if??? indeed….
A New York couple has been happily living together for a number of years.
On the verge of marriage, a friend suggests that maybe they owe it to themselves to play the field a bit before tying the knot forever. No jealousy, no recriminations, it’s just sex, right?
Will, husband to be played by Dan Stevens is even there and approves of wife to be Anna’s (Rebecca Hall) would-be lover who tries to pick her up at a local bar.
So what...
- 12/5/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
“Mechanic: Resurrection” is a dumb movie. A bag of hammers might provoke more intellectual discussion than the latest from German director Dennis Gansel (“The Wave”). But it’s not oblivious. There’s a faint twinkle in its eye. There’s not a lot happening upstairs, but Gansel and screenwriters Philip Shelby and Tony Mosher are at least willing […]
The post Jason Statham’s Franchise Is Broken Beyond Repair In ‘Mechanic: Resurrection’ [Review] appeared first on The Playlist.
The post Jason Statham’s Franchise Is Broken Beyond Repair In ‘Mechanic: Resurrection’ [Review] appeared first on The Playlist.
- 8/29/2016
- by Will Ashton
- The Playlist
“Tracking Shot” is a monthly featurette here on Ioncinema.com that looks at a dozen or so projects that are moments away from lensing (or in a couple of titles below have been shooting since July). This August we’ve got a good number of projects that will start surfacing as early as next year’s Sundance, Rotterdam and Berlin Film Fests. With Dakota Johnson having been just announced, we’ve got Luca Guadagnino’s long awaited (remake) A Bigger Splash, getting ready for a poolside shoot. Gus Van Sant comes out of the woodworks to move into the woods for Sea of Trees. Sundance alumni Rick Alverson is wrapping up Entertainment, Reed Morano is set to make her directorial debut this mid-August with Meadowland, while Douchebag, Like Crazy, Breathe In‘s Drake Doremus is stationed in Japan for a weighty cast and futuristic tale in Equals. Here are some...
- 8/6/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
We told you back in April that Bryan Fuller‘s pilot for Syfy, High Moon, had gone into production. Four months later they’re announcing lead casting, so I’m trying to not be concerned about the time that’s elapsed, and instead be pleased about this forward momentum.
I love Bryan Fuller‘s work with Our Kind of Shows (Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls and more), so I’d really love to see this one go forward.
Chris Diamantopoulos And Jake Sandvig Sign On For Lead Roles In Syfy’S New Scripted Series Pilot High Moon
New York – August 13, 2013 – Syfy has inked actors Chris Diamantopoulos and Jake Sandvig for starring roles in High Moon, a 90-minute pilot, co-produced by Universal Cable Productions and Lark Productions set to commence shooting August 26 in Vancouver BC. The project is based on the novel “The Lotus Caves” by John Christopher.
High Moon is an imaginative,...
I love Bryan Fuller‘s work with Our Kind of Shows (Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls and more), so I’d really love to see this one go forward.
Chris Diamantopoulos And Jake Sandvig Sign On For Lead Roles In Syfy’S New Scripted Series Pilot High Moon
New York – August 13, 2013 – Syfy has inked actors Chris Diamantopoulos and Jake Sandvig for starring roles in High Moon, a 90-minute pilot, co-produced by Universal Cable Productions and Lark Productions set to commence shooting August 26 in Vancouver BC. The project is based on the novel “The Lotus Caves” by John Christopher.
High Moon is an imaginative,...
- 8/14/2013
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
Music seems to come and go in waves. While one specific genre may always be present, it isn’t necessarily in the common mind. For instance, folk music. It has been around in different forms for generations, and has had that name since the 19th century, but its level of popularity is always changing. For instance, in the 1960′s, singers such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Paul Simon shared in a massive folk music revival. They had their roots in traditional folk but brought a contemporary feel to it.
Now today too a similar thing is happening. With the recent success of groups such as the Lumineers, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, the Maccabees, and particularly Mumford & Sons (who took home the Grammy Award for Album of the Year), folk music – or at least a new subgenre of it – is more popular than it’s been in decades.
So naturally,...
Now today too a similar thing is happening. With the recent success of groups such as the Lumineers, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, the Maccabees, and particularly Mumford & Sons (who took home the Grammy Award for Album of the Year), folk music – or at least a new subgenre of it – is more popular than it’s been in decades.
So naturally,...
- 4/19/2013
- by J.D. Westfall
- Obsessed with Film
The Plants vs. Zombies sequel isn’t ready for release yet, but PopCap is offering the original game for free on iOS devices. This offer is only available for a limited time, so make sure you have downloaded the game before February 28th. If you haven’t played Plants vs. Zombies since it was originally released, here are details on updates from the latest version:
“Greetings zombie fighters. The zombies have invaded en masse and the fiends have denied you the use of sunflowers! Can you battle through 4 levels of zombie hordes using a limited amount of sun and prevail in a desperate last stand? Should you succeed, an even tougher challenge awaits you with Last Stand Endless. Grab the new Hammer Time, Still Standing and Stuff of Legends achievements while you’re at it. And try out some powerful new mallets to give those pesky Gargantuars a good whacking!
“Greetings zombie fighters. The zombies have invaded en masse and the fiends have denied you the use of sunflowers! Can you battle through 4 levels of zombie hordes using a limited amount of sun and prevail in a desperate last stand? Should you succeed, an even tougher challenge awaits you with Last Stand Endless. Grab the new Hammer Time, Still Standing and Stuff of Legends achievements while you’re at it. And try out some powerful new mallets to give those pesky Gargantuars a good whacking!
- 2/22/2013
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Dark Sky Films has announced that they are producing and distributing Jason R. Miller’s directorial debut, Unidentified. We’ve also been provided with the first photos from the movie.
Dark Sky Films, a unit of Mpi Media Group, today announced that it will produce and distribute Unidentified, a sci-fi thriller written and directed by Jason R. Miller*, story by Eddie Mui, Parry Shen and Jason R. Miller. Principal photography is currently underway.
Unidentified marks the feature directorial debut of Jason R. Miller, co-producer and second unit director of the horror films Hatchet 2 and Frozen.
The movie is an original mix of sci-fi-thriller and horror. During a wild weekend in Las Vegas, four young friends get into trouble with a loan shark and must skip town in a hurry. But gambling problems may be the least of their worries after they get stranded in the Nevada desert. One of the...
Dark Sky Films, a unit of Mpi Media Group, today announced that it will produce and distribute Unidentified, a sci-fi thriller written and directed by Jason R. Miller*, story by Eddie Mui, Parry Shen and Jason R. Miller. Principal photography is currently underway.
Unidentified marks the feature directorial debut of Jason R. Miller, co-producer and second unit director of the horror films Hatchet 2 and Frozen.
The movie is an original mix of sci-fi-thriller and horror. During a wild weekend in Las Vegas, four young friends get into trouble with a loan shark and must skip town in a hurry. But gambling problems may be the least of their worries after they get stranded in the Nevada desert. One of the...
- 11/14/2012
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Some new horror is on the way from Jason Richard Miller, and we couldn't be happier to see what types of horror this lovable lunatic can dole out from the director's chair. Read on for all the latest including the first stills!
From the Press Release
Dark Sky Films, a unit of Mpi Media Group, today announced that it will produce and distribute Unidentified, a sci-fi thriller written and directed by Jason R. Miller, story by Eddie Mui, Parry Shen and Jason R. Miller. Principal photography is currently under way.
Unidentified marks the feature directorial debut of Jason R. Miller, co-producer and second unit director of the horror films Hatchet II and Frozen.
The movie is an original mix of sci-fi thriller and horror. During a wild weekend in Las Vegas, four young friends get into trouble with a loan shark and must skip town in a hurry. But gambling...
From the Press Release
Dark Sky Films, a unit of Mpi Media Group, today announced that it will produce and distribute Unidentified, a sci-fi thriller written and directed by Jason R. Miller, story by Eddie Mui, Parry Shen and Jason R. Miller. Principal photography is currently under way.
Unidentified marks the feature directorial debut of Jason R. Miller, co-producer and second unit director of the horror films Hatchet II and Frozen.
The movie is an original mix of sci-fi thriller and horror. During a wild weekend in Las Vegas, four young friends get into trouble with a loan shark and must skip town in a hurry. But gambling...
- 11/14/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
By Allen Gardner
The Samurai Trilogy (Criterion) Director Hiroshi Inagaki’s sprawling epic filmed from 1954-56 is an early Japanese Technicolor masterpiece, rivaling the scope of filmmakers like David Lean and Luchino Visconti. Toshiro Mifune, Japan’s greatest actor, stars as real-life swordsman, artist and writer Musashi Miyamoto, following his growth from callow youth to disciplined warrior. The three films: the Oscar winning “Musashi Miyamoto,” “Duel at Ichijoji Temple,” and “Duel at Ganryu Island” are an incredible story of human growth, tender love and sublime, blood-soaked action. Not to be missed. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interviews with translator and historian William Scott Wilson; Trailers. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
The 39 Steps (Criterion) Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 story of spies, conspiracies and sexual tension put him on the map on both sides of the Pond. Robert Donat stars as an innocent thrust into a deadly plot alongside a cool blonde (Madeleine Carroll...
The Samurai Trilogy (Criterion) Director Hiroshi Inagaki’s sprawling epic filmed from 1954-56 is an early Japanese Technicolor masterpiece, rivaling the scope of filmmakers like David Lean and Luchino Visconti. Toshiro Mifune, Japan’s greatest actor, stars as real-life swordsman, artist and writer Musashi Miyamoto, following his growth from callow youth to disciplined warrior. The three films: the Oscar winning “Musashi Miyamoto,” “Duel at Ichijoji Temple,” and “Duel at Ganryu Island” are an incredible story of human growth, tender love and sublime, blood-soaked action. Not to be missed. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interviews with translator and historian William Scott Wilson; Trailers. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
The 39 Steps (Criterion) Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 story of spies, conspiracies and sexual tension put him on the map on both sides of the Pond. Robert Donat stars as an innocent thrust into a deadly plot alongside a cool blonde (Madeleine Carroll...
- 7/9/2012
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
As regular readers already know, we'll pretty much watch anything with the talented Rebecca Hall, and while her choices can sometimes be spotty ("Lay The Favorite," "A Bag Of Hammers") she's always a worthwhile presence. And thus our interest in the period-horror piece "The Awakening," which on the face of it looks fairly standard but as the trailer reveals, promises to be something with a bit more meat on its bones.
Co-starring Dominic West and Imelda Staunton, the story centers on Florence Cathcart (Hall), an author and professional ghost debunker in post-World War One London, who's approached by a teacher (West) at a boy's boarding school, who believes his charges are being tormented by an honest-to-god ghost. Florence packs her scientific kit and seemingly finds a rational explanation, but soon finds her skepticism challenged. Behind the camera there's some strong talent as well, with "A Single Man" DoP Eduard Grau...
Co-starring Dominic West and Imelda Staunton, the story centers on Florence Cathcart (Hall), an author and professional ghost debunker in post-World War One London, who's approached by a teacher (West) at a boy's boarding school, who believes his charges are being tormented by an honest-to-god ghost. Florence packs her scientific kit and seemingly finds a rational explanation, but soon finds her skepticism challenged. Behind the camera there's some strong talent as well, with "A Single Man" DoP Eduard Grau...
- 6/29/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Dramas and comedies shouldn’t require the suspension of disbelief that a science fiction or horror film does, but that’s what the dramedy A Bag of Hammers requires in the end. There are many points you have to concede to the film as it tells the story of two best friends who steal for a living and ultimately become the ersatz parents of a young boy, but it’s undeniably huge heart and the amusing antics and dialogue from actors Jason Ritter and Jake Sandvig make that easier to do than it is for many other films. A Bag of Hammers might not be perfect, but it’s just charming enough to push it from being bearable to being modestly enjoyable.
Read more...
Read more...
- 6/25/2012
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Welcome back to This Week In DVD! It seems the long national nightmare is over, as through no small part of our own, This Week In Blu-ray has been found alive and well after 76 grueling days. It was just two weeks ago that we made a plea for the safe return of Neil Miller’s column, and now we’ve gotten just that. Give it a read, and don’t let the fact that he’s wrong about A Bag of Hammers turn you away. As always, if you see something you like, click on the image to buy it. The Sarah Silverman Program: The Complete Series Sarah Silverman brings her particular brand of crass, crazy and oddly sexy humor to Comedy Central with this series that follows her daily adventures alongside her sister Laura, her big, orange, gay neighbors Brian and Steve, her dog Doug, and an affable officer of the law named Officer Jay. Sarah...
- 6/19/2012
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: June 19, 2012
Price: DVD $24.98, Blu-ray $29.98
Studio: Mpi
Two law-breaking goofballs are forced to turn into responsible grownups in the 2011 independent comedy A Bag of Hammers.
Buddies Ben (Jason Ritter, The Dry Land) and Alan (Jake Sandvig, Easy A) are twenty-something L.A. slackers who make money through a valet-parking scam (they park cars at funerals, then steal them) and by leasing their rental house next door. Their new tenant is a stressed-out single mom, Kelsey (Carrie Preston, TV’s True Blood), who’s struggling to pay her bills and support her precocious, street-smart 12-year-old son (Chandler Canterbury, Knowing).
Ben and Alan strike up a friendship with Kelsey, but Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall, The Town) comes to believe that the boy may be a neglected latchkey kid. Mel’s intervention to remedy that situation sets off a chain of events that leads the guys to invent...
Price: DVD $24.98, Blu-ray $29.98
Studio: Mpi
Two law-breaking goofballs are forced to turn into responsible grownups in the 2011 independent comedy A Bag of Hammers.
Buddies Ben (Jason Ritter, The Dry Land) and Alan (Jake Sandvig, Easy A) are twenty-something L.A. slackers who make money through a valet-parking scam (they park cars at funerals, then steal them) and by leasing their rental house next door. Their new tenant is a stressed-out single mom, Kelsey (Carrie Preston, TV’s True Blood), who’s struggling to pay her bills and support her precocious, street-smart 12-year-old son (Chandler Canterbury, Knowing).
Ben and Alan strike up a friendship with Kelsey, but Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall, The Town) comes to believe that the boy may be a neglected latchkey kid. Mel’s intervention to remedy that situation sets off a chain of events that leads the guys to invent...
- 6/1/2012
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
We're just gonna say it: Jason Ritter is the nicest guy ever. Sure, he also happens to be crazy talented, but it's pretty clear that much of the heartfelt depth he gives to his roles comes from his naturally kind disposition -- which might be why he is one of the rare actors who can transition seamlessly from crime mysteries (NBC's short-lived "The Event") to dramedies (the series "Parenthood," also on NBC) to indie films, like his latest, "A Bag of Hammers."
Jason plays Ben, a silk-bathrobe-wearing car thief who has gotten "on the property ladder" early with his Bff and partner in crime, Alan (Jake Sandvig). When they rent their income property to a struggling single mom, however, they end up a wee bit (read: a whole lot) in over their heads. We chatted with Jason about the possibility of fatherhood, what makes Rebecca Hall so posh and why he's a proud Prius owner.
Jason plays Ben, a silk-bathrobe-wearing car thief who has gotten "on the property ladder" early with his Bff and partner in crime, Alan (Jake Sandvig). When they rent their income property to a struggling single mom, however, they end up a wee bit (read: a whole lot) in over their heads. We chatted with Jason about the possibility of fatherhood, what makes Rebecca Hall so posh and why he's a proud Prius owner.
- 5/11/2012
- by Elizabeth Durand
- NextMovie
There are ample pleasures of the half-movie. Features of the half-film include a lack of b-plot, a meandering tone, haphazard scenes, and a barely feature-length runtime. The reasons why productions result in half-movies usually come from vastly re-written scripts, overrunning schedules and/or eclipsing an allotted budget, but they tend to fade away into obscurity. “A Bag Of Hammers,” which opens in theaters showing actual whole movies this Friday, features a few likable actors and a strong score from Johnny Flynn, and so it qualifies as a breezy diversion of sorts. But is it a movie?
Ben and Alan are a couple of twentysomething cons who run a series of scams landing somewhere south of sustainable. While they lift cars from the bereaved at funerals and flip them for profit, they somehow manage to keep maintenance on a couple of homes, including providing support to Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall...
Ben and Alan are a couple of twentysomething cons who run a series of scams landing somewhere south of sustainable. While they lift cars from the bereaved at funerals and flip them for profit, they somehow manage to keep maintenance on a couple of homes, including providing support to Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall...
- 5/11/2012
- by Gabe Toro
- The Playlist
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp return with their eighth collaboration together this weekend as Dark Shadows hits theatres and attempts to chip away at The Avengers. Early reviews have not been particularly kind, but the box office power of Johnny Depp should count for something, right? All of the other new releases are smaller films in select theatres, including Girl in Progress starring Eva Mendes, Hick starring Chloe Moretz and Blake Lively, and Bobcat Goldthwait's dark comedy God Bless America. What will you be watching this weekend? Do you think Dark Shadows will sink or swim? Dark Shadows Girl in Progress (limited) God Bless America (limited) Hick (limited) The Road (limited) Where Do We Go Now? (limited) Tonight You're Mine (limited) A Bag of Hammers (limited)
For More Daily Movie Goodness, Visit Filmjunk.Com!
For More Daily Movie Goodness, Visit Filmjunk.Com!
- 5/11/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
You don't have to be a movie genius to know who will rule the box office this weekend. With "The Avengers" wiping the floor with every other blockbuster ever, audiences will likely continue to assemble. However, if you think there's a little too much life in the Joss Whedon opus, its weekend competitor, "Dark Shadows," might be more to your taste. This weekend, Tim Burton's vampiric comedy is the only new release going head-to-head against the action juggernaut. So! Let's take a look at this David vs. Goliath tale, and the box-office predictions, in Moviefone's Weekend Movie Preview. Nationwide Releases "Dark Shadows" What's the story? Based on the 1960s gothic television soap, "Dark Shadows" follows imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), who awakens from a 200-year slumber to settle a score with a jealous witch. Box-office prediction: While "Dark Shadows" may not have enough muscle to take out "The Avengers,...
- 5/10/2012
- by Jessie Heyman
- Moviefone
Title: A Bag of Hammers Mpi Media Group Director: Brian Crano Screenwriter: Brian Crano, Jake Sandvig Cast: Jason Ritter, Rebecca Hall, Jake Sandvig, Chandler Canterbury, Carrie Preston Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 4/19/12 Opens: May 11, 2012 This well-meaning but innocuous comedy-drama featuring Brian Crano’s TV-style direction and which is co-written by him and one of the principal performers is a story about redemption and emotional growth. However the pace is sluggish, the situations absurd, and the actors go about their roles mechanically in an underwritten script. Ben (Jason Ritter) and Alan (Jake Sandvig) have been buddies for years, living in the same California home adjacent to unemployed single mother [ Read More ]...
- 4/20/2012
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Somehow this movie has completely slipped past my radar, which is rather bizarre. The Perfect Age Of Rock 'N' Roll has an interesting and promising cast, a killer soundtrack, and an solid, if not terribly unique premise (this is taken from a PR flak's email, so forgive the tone):
World famous rock star Spyder (Kevin Zegers) has achieved fame and fortune with a smash hit debut album. This blinding success however, is built on the Faustian pact that capitalized on the genius of his long lost childhood best friend and band mate, Eric Genson (Jason Ritter). Now Spyder retreats to his small hometown after his sophomore effort flops. Reconnecting with Eric after a seven year estrangement, the two recall their youthful ambitions and reexamine the choices they've made. Accompanied by the band's ambitious, fiery manager (Taryn Manning), the legendary music impresario August West (Peter Fonda) and a raucous crew of musicians,...
World famous rock star Spyder (Kevin Zegers) has achieved fame and fortune with a smash hit debut album. This blinding success however, is built on the Faustian pact that capitalized on the genius of his long lost childhood best friend and band mate, Eric Genson (Jason Ritter). Now Spyder retreats to his small hometown after his sophomore effort flops. Reconnecting with Eric after a seven year estrangement, the two recall their youthful ambitions and reexamine the choices they've made. Accompanied by the band's ambitious, fiery manager (Taryn Manning), the legendary music impresario August West (Peter Fonda) and a raucous crew of musicians,...
- 7/19/2011
- by TK
Mpi Media Group has acquired North American rights to "A Bag of Hammers," an offbeat comedy from first-time director Brian Caro. The film stars Jason Ritter, Jake Sandvig and Rebecca Hall. The company plans to release the film theatrically this August, followed by DVD and VOD. Below find the full release: For Immediate Release Mpi Media Group Acquires ‘A Bag Of Hammers’Starring Jason Ritter And Jake Sandvig Late Summer Theatrical ...
- 5/24/2011
- Indiewire
Brian Crano's first feature A Bag Of Hammers premiered just a few weeks ago in Austin at the SXSW Film Festival, where I saw it and instantly fell in love (with the film, not Crano - sorry, dude, that just might be too creepy). A Bag Of Hammers follows two misfit best friends, Ben and Allan (played by Jason Ritter and Jake Sandvig, respectively), who get by doing no good. They're thrown a bag of hammers when they take a mother and fatherless boy under their wings.
Read more on SXSW 2011 Interview: A Bag Of Hammers co-writer/director Brian Crano...
Read more on SXSW 2011 Interview: A Bag Of Hammers co-writer/director Brian Crano...
- 3/29/2011
- by Chase Whale
- GordonandtheWhale
Brian Cano, the filmmaker behind the SXSW-selected A Bag of Hammers describes his two leading men Ben (Jason Ritter) and Alan (co-writer Jake Sandvig) as ‘the last people you would want to leave your car with, much less your kid.’ Alas, while stealing cars through their fake valet service, Ben and Alan end up caring for Kelsey (Chandler Canterbury), a young boy with a negligent, if well-meaning mother (Carrie Preston). Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall) provides the only voice of reason in this world of impulsive men.Cano noted that ‘their (Ben and Alan’s) whole lifestyle is about suppressing anything that’s difficult or real. (…) It’s really about people repressing until they can’t anymore.’ Cano uses the archetype of the stunted male but subverts it by giving them a conscience, agency and compassion. This film had its world premiere at SXSW in Austin where I met...
- 3/29/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
I think I can safely say IFC covered the crap out of South by Southwest 2011. Stephen Saito and I reviewed over fifteen films and interviewed over forty filmmakers during our ten days in Austin. That's way more films covered than hours either of us slept. Here now is a complete archive of everything we did: reviews, video interviews, and print interviews. At the bottom, you'll also find mine and Stephen's picks for the five best films at this year's SXSW. Enjoy. I know we did.
Reviews
"Attack the Block," directed by Joe Cornish
"The Beaver," directed by Jodie Foster
"Bellflower," directed by Evan Glodell
"Bridesmaids," directed by Paul Feig
"Convento," directed by Jarred Alterman
"The Fp," directed by The Brothers Trost
"The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," directed by Morgan Spurlock
"Insidious," directed by James Wan
"Last Days Here," directed by Don Argott and Demian Fenton
"The Other F Word," directed by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins
"Paul,...
Reviews
"Attack the Block," directed by Joe Cornish
"The Beaver," directed by Jodie Foster
"Bellflower," directed by Evan Glodell
"Bridesmaids," directed by Paul Feig
"Convento," directed by Jarred Alterman
"The Fp," directed by The Brothers Trost
"The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," directed by Morgan Spurlock
"Insidious," directed by James Wan
"Last Days Here," directed by Don Argott and Demian Fenton
"The Other F Word," directed by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins
"Paul,...
- 3/23/2011
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
Rating: 4/5
Director: Brian Crano
Writers: Brian Crano, Jake Sandvig
Cast: Jason Ritter, Jake Sandvig, Chandler Canterbur, Rebecca Hall, Carrie Preston, Carrie Preston, Amanda Seyfried
Alan and Ben are a pair of slackers who pay rent by working valet at funerals. No, wait, wait that’s very incorrect. Alan and Ben are a pair of slackers who pay rent by boosting cars while posing as valet employees at funerals. Sounds morbid and cruel, but A Bag Of Hammers is actually a bag of charm.
Read more on SXSW 2011 Review: A Bag Of Hammers…...
Director: Brian Crano
Writers: Brian Crano, Jake Sandvig
Cast: Jason Ritter, Jake Sandvig, Chandler Canterbur, Rebecca Hall, Carrie Preston, Carrie Preston, Amanda Seyfried
Alan and Ben are a pair of slackers who pay rent by working valet at funerals. No, wait, wait that’s very incorrect. Alan and Ben are a pair of slackers who pay rent by boosting cars while posing as valet employees at funerals. Sounds morbid and cruel, but A Bag Of Hammers is actually a bag of charm.
Read more on SXSW 2011 Review: A Bag Of Hammers…...
- 3/20/2011
- by Chase Whale
- GordonandtheWhale
A Bag of Hammers has a good heart, containing funny and sweet moments, but when I walked out, I found myself disliking it. A lot. It’s one of those quirky indie dramedies that you would find at Sundance, filled with quirky people doing quirky things in a quirky situation. Sometimes, there’s a good balance struck and then sometimes it can get unbearable. A Bag of Hammers falls in the latter part of this category, especially the final act.
Jason Ritter and Jake Sandvig (who also co-wrote the movie) star as best friends Ben and Alan, who make their living posing as a valet service and stealing the cars of the bereaved for profit. Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall) chastises them for this, as she herself works a real job at a breakfast diner where she has to do a little dance every time she greets a customer.
Jason Ritter and Jake Sandvig (who also co-wrote the movie) star as best friends Ben and Alan, who make their living posing as a valet service and stealing the cars of the bereaved for profit. Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall) chastises them for this, as she herself works a real job at a breakfast diner where she has to do a little dance every time she greets a customer.
- 3/17/2011
- by Jonathan Sullivan
- The Film Stage
Submarine Entertainment have released the debut trailer for indie-drama A Bag of Hammers.
Directed by Brian Crano (Rubberheart), A Bag of Hammers premiered at SXSW festival earlier this week to warm reviews from critics.
The film stars Jason Ritter (Swimfan), Jake Sandvig (Easy A), Rebecca Hall (Please Give), Chandler Canterbury (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ), Carrie Preston (Doubt) and Todd Louiso (High Fidelity).
Synopsis: A comedy about two misfit best friends incapable of growing up, whose direction is tested by an abandoned child, worn beyond his years; together they invent the family they’ve always needed.
A Bag of Hammers does not yet have a distributor but, thanks to the positive reviews, it could be one of the festival’s next pick ups.
Check out the trailer below:
Iframe Embed for Youtube
Source: The Playlist...
Directed by Brian Crano (Rubberheart), A Bag of Hammers premiered at SXSW festival earlier this week to warm reviews from critics.
The film stars Jason Ritter (Swimfan), Jake Sandvig (Easy A), Rebecca Hall (Please Give), Chandler Canterbury (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ), Carrie Preston (Doubt) and Todd Louiso (High Fidelity).
Synopsis: A comedy about two misfit best friends incapable of growing up, whose direction is tested by an abandoned child, worn beyond his years; together they invent the family they’ve always needed.
A Bag of Hammers does not yet have a distributor but, thanks to the positive reviews, it could be one of the festival’s next pick ups.
Check out the trailer below:
Iframe Embed for Youtube
Source: The Playlist...
- 3/16/2011
- by Jamie Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
There's a peculiar inconsistency in the tone of A Bag Of Hammers. It starts out as a snide, whimsical buddy comedy, lulling audiences into a false sense of alt-bromance cleverness, before abruptly dropping the bottom out and letting the dirty real world force its way in. In some ways, it's refreshing and keeps you on your toes. On the other hand, the shift are so total and, at times, harsh, that it makes their incongruity stick out a little too much.
Let's start at the beginning. A Bag Of Hammers, directed by Brian Crano in his first full-length film, is about two winsome slackers and small-time con artists -- Ben (Jason Ritter) and Alan (Jake Sandvig). They're good-natured, generally sweet guys who spend their days posing as valets at funerals, and the stealing the cars. The rest of their time is spent hanging out with their reprobate friend who fences the cars for them,...
Let's start at the beginning. A Bag Of Hammers, directed by Brian Crano in his first full-length film, is about two winsome slackers and small-time con artists -- Ben (Jason Ritter) and Alan (Jake Sandvig). They're good-natured, generally sweet guys who spend their days posing as valets at funerals, and the stealing the cars. The rest of their time is spent hanging out with their reprobate friend who fences the cars for them,...
- 3/14/2011
- by TK
"I wrote this part for you."
I'm fascinated by the phenomenon of writers writing parts for specific actors. It makes sense: a character needs a voice when you're writing it, so you imagine it being someone's specific voice. But that also seems like a potentially insulting situation. "Hey, I wrote this part for you in my movie: it's about this junkie who beats up homeless people for kicks. You'd basically just be playing yourself! You have to do it!"
"A Bag of Hammers" writers Brian Crano (also director) and Jake Sandvig (also co-star) wrote Rebecca Hall's part in the film specifically for her -- no, she's not a homeless abusing junkie -- which led to a fun conversation about that very topic. We also spoke about the film, its complex mix of tones, and how that can make it tough to talk about with the press. Oh and hats made out of waffles.
I'm fascinated by the phenomenon of writers writing parts for specific actors. It makes sense: a character needs a voice when you're writing it, so you imagine it being someone's specific voice. But that also seems like a potentially insulting situation. "Hey, I wrote this part for you in my movie: it's about this junkie who beats up homeless people for kicks. You'd basically just be playing yourself! You have to do it!"
"A Bag of Hammers" writers Brian Crano (also director) and Jake Sandvig (also co-star) wrote Rebecca Hall's part in the film specifically for her -- no, she's not a homeless abusing junkie -- which led to a fun conversation about that very topic. We also spoke about the film, its complex mix of tones, and how that can make it tough to talk about with the press. Oh and hats made out of waffles.
- 3/13/2011
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
...Or we should say "Cheat Sheets" since this year's SXSW Film Festival boasts over 140 films, requiring more than just one page to cover every single one of the narrative and documentary features that will be playing in Austin from March 11th through 19th. While the festival has already provided a very helpful schedule to flip through and Pdf of the screening grid online, consider this your quick hit guide to all the features at the festival - every title leads to its corresponding festival page in addition to links to trailers, official sites, filmmakers' Facebook pages and Twitter accounts so you can follow the action from the festival or from home.
Meanwhile, there will be plenty of action during these next two weeks on IFC.com where, in addition to our live video page, Matt Singer (@mattsinger) and I (@mfrushmore) will be filing reviews and interviews throughout the film festival.
Meanwhile, there will be plenty of action during these next two weeks on IFC.com where, in addition to our live video page, Matt Singer (@mattsinger) and I (@mfrushmore) will be filing reviews and interviews throughout the film festival.
- 3/9/2011
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
The South by Southwest Film Festival announced its feature film line-up Wednesday, piling heaps of cinematic goodness on an already stellar program that includes Jodie Foster’s The Beaver, Duncan Jones’ Source Code, Ti West’s The Innkeepers, Conan O’Brien’s tour documentary, and the latest Simon Pegg-Nick Frost comedy, Paul, with Seth Rogen.
Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) returns to the festival with her latest film, Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried, after the writer-director spoke on a screenwriting panel in 2009.
Plus a few favorites from the Sundance Film Festival last month, like Tom McCarthy’s Win Win, Morgan Spurlock’s The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and Max Winkler’s Ceremony.
I’m extremely excited, even if I’m already having flashbacks to intense sleep deprivation. Like the last two years, I’ll be on the ground covering as much of the festival as I can within the packed 9 days of screenings,...
Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) returns to the festival with her latest film, Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried, after the writer-director spoke on a screenwriting panel in 2009.
Plus a few favorites from the Sundance Film Festival last month, like Tom McCarthy’s Win Win, Morgan Spurlock’s The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and Max Winkler’s Ceremony.
I’m extremely excited, even if I’m already having flashbacks to intense sleep deprivation. Like the last two years, I’ll be on the ground covering as much of the festival as I can within the packed 9 days of screenings,...
- 2/3/2011
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
‘Tapping into the cultural zeitgeist,’ at SXSW 2011
Austin, Texas – The SXSW 2011 Feature Film Lineup was unveiled Wednesday afternoon. The festival lineup will consist of 130 features, in nine full days of programming, promising to deliver a film-going experience unlike previous years.
With a reputation for taking chances on relatively unknown filmmakers, the SXSW panel of judges carefully picked 130 films from 1,792 feature-length film submissions, (1,323 U.S. and 469 international). The program consists of 60 World Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 16 U.S. Premieres.
The main competition categories return with eight Narrative Features, and eight Documentary Features, both competing for their respective Grand Jury Prize. New for films in competition this year, are awards for screenplay, editing, cinematography, music, and acting.
(The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week.)
Here are a few of the Features to be screened, among many others.
Narratives:
The Beaver (World Premiere)
Dir.
Austin, Texas – The SXSW 2011 Feature Film Lineup was unveiled Wednesday afternoon. The festival lineup will consist of 130 features, in nine full days of programming, promising to deliver a film-going experience unlike previous years.
With a reputation for taking chances on relatively unknown filmmakers, the SXSW panel of judges carefully picked 130 films from 1,792 feature-length film submissions, (1,323 U.S. and 469 international). The program consists of 60 World Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 16 U.S. Premieres.
The main competition categories return with eight Narrative Features, and eight Documentary Features, both competing for their respective Grand Jury Prize. New for films in competition this year, are awards for screenplay, editing, cinematography, music, and acting.
(The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week.)
Here are a few of the Features to be screened, among many others.
Narratives:
The Beaver (World Premiere)
Dir.
- 2/3/2011
- by Albert Art
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Readers of Sound On Sight can be sure that we will indeed be covering the SXSW Film Festival once again. As previously reported, Duncan Jones’ latest film Source Code is opening the festival and there will also be premieres for the documentary Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, Greg Mottola’s Paul, and Jodie Foster’s The Beaver. Now the full line-up has been announced it is incredible.
Hit the jump to check out the line-up, and be sure to visit our site during the event.
The 2011 SXSW Film Festival runs from March 11 – 19th in Austin, Texas.
SXSW Film Announces 2011 Features Lineup
Austin, Texas – February 2, 2011 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers.
Hit the jump to check out the line-up, and be sure to visit our site during the event.
The 2011 SXSW Film Festival runs from March 11 – 19th in Austin, Texas.
SXSW Film Announces 2011 Features Lineup
Austin, Texas – February 2, 2011 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers.
- 2/3/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
"Win Win," starring Paul Giamatti, left, and Alex Shaffer, will screen at SXSW
Aimée Lagos’ thriller “96 Minutes,” starring Brittany Snow; Chris Eyre’s “A Year in Mooring” and “American Animal” from writer-director Matt D’Elia are among the films that will screen in competition at next month’s South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
These films will be joined in the Headliners section by Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan in Tom McCarthy’s “Win Win,” Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” Rainn Wilson in “Super” and others previously announced including Jodie Foster’s “The Beaver,” Greg Mottola’s “Paul,” the documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” from director Rodman Flender, and the opening-night world premiere of Duncan Jones’ “Source Code.”
The following are highlights from the lineup announced Wednesday, with descriptions provided by the festival.
Narrative Feature Competition “96 Minutes”
Director, Writer: Aimée Lagos
Four young lives. One night. One terrifying event.
Aimée Lagos’ thriller “96 Minutes,” starring Brittany Snow; Chris Eyre’s “A Year in Mooring” and “American Animal” from writer-director Matt D’Elia are among the films that will screen in competition at next month’s South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
These films will be joined in the Headliners section by Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan in Tom McCarthy’s “Win Win,” Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” Rainn Wilson in “Super” and others previously announced including Jodie Foster’s “The Beaver,” Greg Mottola’s “Paul,” the documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” from director Rodman Flender, and the opening-night world premiere of Duncan Jones’ “Source Code.”
The following are highlights from the lineup announced Wednesday, with descriptions provided by the festival.
Narrative Feature Competition “96 Minutes”
Director, Writer: Aimée Lagos
Four young lives. One night. One terrifying event.
- 2/3/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
"Win Win," starring Paul Giamatti, left, and Alex Shaffer, will screen at SXSW
Aimée Lagos’ thriller “96 Minutes,” starring Brittany Snow; Chris Eyre’s “A Year in Mooring” and “American Animal” from writer-director Matt D’Elia are among the films that will screen in competition at next month’s South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
These films will be joined in the Headliners section by Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan in Tom McCarthy’s “Win Win,” Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” Rainn Wilson in “Super” and others previously announced including Jodie Foster’s “The Beaver,” Greg Mottola’s “Paul,” the documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” from director Rodman Flender, and the opening-night world premiere of Duncan Jones’ “Source Code.”
The following are highlights from the lineup announced Wednesday, with descriptions provided by the festival.
Narrative Feature Competition “96 Minutes”
Director, Writer: Aimée Lagos
Four young lives. One night. One terrifying event.
Aimée Lagos’ thriller “96 Minutes,” starring Brittany Snow; Chris Eyre’s “A Year in Mooring” and “American Animal” from writer-director Matt D’Elia are among the films that will screen in competition at next month’s South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
These films will be joined in the Headliners section by Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan in Tom McCarthy’s “Win Win,” Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” Rainn Wilson in “Super” and others previously announced including Jodie Foster’s “The Beaver,” Greg Mottola’s “Paul,” the documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” from director Rodman Flender, and the opening-night world premiere of Duncan Jones’ “Source Code.”
The following are highlights from the lineup announced Wednesday, with descriptions provided by the festival.
Narrative Feature Competition “96 Minutes”
Director, Writer: Aimée Lagos
Four young lives. One night. One terrifying event.
- 2/3/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
The South By Southwest Film Conference and Festival announced this year's features lineup. The festival takes place March 11-19 in Austin, Texas.
There are a total of 130 features screening this year including 60 world premieres, 12 North American premieres and 16 U.S. premieres! This year the a total of 1,792 feature-length films were submitted, which is the most ever.
There are going to be some amazing films shown this yea. Opening night kicks off with Duncan Jones' Source Code (Moon). The fest rolls on with Jodie Foster‘s The Beaver, Greg Mottola‘s Paul, Sundance Grand Prize doc winner How to Die in Oregon, Errol Morris‘ Tabloid, Victoria Mahoney‘s Yelling to the Sky, Azazel Jacob‘s Terri. There will also be a special screening of Catherine Hardwicke‘s Red Riding Hood.
The Midnight and SXFantastic sections will be announced with the shorts program next week.
See the complete lineup below via...
There are a total of 130 features screening this year including 60 world premieres, 12 North American premieres and 16 U.S. premieres! This year the a total of 1,792 feature-length films were submitted, which is the most ever.
There are going to be some amazing films shown this yea. Opening night kicks off with Duncan Jones' Source Code (Moon). The fest rolls on with Jodie Foster‘s The Beaver, Greg Mottola‘s Paul, Sundance Grand Prize doc winner How to Die in Oregon, Errol Morris‘ Tabloid, Victoria Mahoney‘s Yelling to the Sky, Azazel Jacob‘s Terri. There will also be a special screening of Catherine Hardwicke‘s Red Riding Hood.
The Midnight and SXFantastic sections will be announced with the shorts program next week.
See the complete lineup below via...
- 2/2/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
The South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) just announced their entire 2011 feature film lineup, and there’s isn’t a lot of note, with regards to this blog’s focus.
Titles you should be aware of – all of which we’ve previously profiled on Shadow And Act – include, Victoria Mahoney’s feature film debut, Yelling To The Sky (which will actually make its world debut at the Berlin Film Festival later this month); plus Blacktino, the first feature film from writer/director Aaron Burns, a self-described “blacktino nerd from Austin, Texas,” who got his start at Robert Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios doing visual effects; Benda Bilili, a documentary about a band of homeless, disabled Congolese; and last, but not least, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, a documentary about the black man that happens to be the man behind the puppet (which also played at Sundance).
There might be...
Titles you should be aware of – all of which we’ve previously profiled on Shadow And Act – include, Victoria Mahoney’s feature film debut, Yelling To The Sky (which will actually make its world debut at the Berlin Film Festival later this month); plus Blacktino, the first feature film from writer/director Aaron Burns, a self-described “blacktino nerd from Austin, Texas,” who got his start at Robert Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios doing visual effects; Benda Bilili, a documentary about a band of homeless, disabled Congolese; and last, but not least, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, a documentary about the black man that happens to be the man behind the puppet (which also played at Sundance).
There might be...
- 2/2/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
The South by Southwest Film Festival has announced their features lineup for the 2011’s Festival, which will take place March 11th to the 19th in Austin Texas. Read the full press release after the jump. SXSW Film Announces 2011 Features Lineup Austin, Texas – February 2, 2011 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers. The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week. “This is the most exciting moment for us. After a fantastic festival of discovery in 2010, we can finally unveil the line up for this year’s event,” says Film Conference and Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “SXSW prides itself on taking chances, sifting for...
- 2/2/2011
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.