Johnny Depp Goes Digital in New ‘Transcendence’ Poster
SourceYahoo! Movies - March 7, 2014
AuthorMatt McDaniel

Everything in modern filmmaking is making the transition from analog to digital: sound, editing, visual effects, cinematography. And soon, maybe even our movie stars.

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Everything in modern filmmaking is making the transition from analog to digital: sound, editing, visual effects, cinematography. And soon, maybe even our movie stars.

That's how it looks in the new poster for "Transcendence," the upcoming science fiction thriller with its roots in the real theories of how man and machine may someday come together. Depp plays Dr. Will Caster, a brilliant scientist working towards the singularity — or what he calls "transcendence" — where computers become so advanced they can perfectly replicate or even exceed the capacity of a human brain.

When an anti-technology activist shoots Dr. Caster to derail his research, his wife (Rebecca Hall) insists on making him the first subject of the experiment. But her efforts to keep his intelligence alive after his body dies creates a new and unpredictably dangerous form of life.

"Transcendence" marks the directorial debut of Wally Pfister, who is the Oscar-winning cinematographer of Christopher Nolan's films "Inception," "The Prestige" and "The Dark Knight" trilogy. And while his film takes place on the edge of the technological frontier, Pfister still prefers to do some things the old-fashioned way. Pfister has always insisted on shooting with film and not digital cameras.

"Transcendence" open April 18.

Exclusive: Tyler Labine & Lucy Punch Have A First Date Kiss In Clip From ‘Someone Marry Barry’
SourceIndie Wire - February 13, 2014
AuthorKevin Jagernauth

Sometimes, two great performers are all you need to make a movie engaging, and in the romantic comedy “Someone Marry Barry” that’s the case with talented comic actors Tyler Labine and Lucy Punch. And just in time for Valentine’s Day, we have a clip that highlights the start of a raunchy relationship.

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Sometimes, two great performers are all you need to make a movie engaging, and in the romantic comedy "Someone Marry Barry" that's the case with talented comic actors Tyler Labine and Lucy Punch. And just in time for Valentine's Day, we have a clip that highlights the start of a raunchy relationship.

In the film, Labine plays the titular Barry, whose boundary-free antics has been making life a living hell for his three best friends, so they come up with a solution: set him up with a girl who will tolerate his rude, obnoxious behaviour. But they get more than they bargained for when Barry starts seeing Melanie, who is equally unguarded with her thoughts, emotions and bodily emissions. And in this clip, we see how famously the pair get one as they say goodbye at the end of their first date, with a conversation that covers such topics as masturbation and yeast infections.

"Someone Marry Barry" is now playing in limited release and is available on VOD starting today.

New ‘Transcendence’ Trailer Finds Johnny Depp A Little Artificial-Intelligence Happy
SourceHuffington Post - February 12, 2014

“This isn’t evolution. It’s an abomination,” Morgan Freeman informs Johnny Depp in the new trailer for “Transcendence.” It looks like the velvet-voiced sage is going head-to-head with the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star in the forthcoming artificial-intelligence thriller. Depp plays Dr. Will Caster, a researcher who’s working to create a sentient machine that surpasses human intelligence. Naturally, he’s up against a motherload of opposition. When Caster faces death and wants to become a part of that machinery, even his wife (Rebecca Hall) and best friend (Paul Bettany) think he’s gone too far.

“Transcendence” opens April 18. It’s directed by Wally Pfister, who is known for his cinematography work on Christopher Nolan’s movies. Watch the new trailer here.

Take My Bro, Please: ‘Someone Marry Barry,’ a Gross-Out Rom-Com
SourceThe New York Times - February 12, 2014
AuthorNeil Genzlinger

For a gross-out movie, “Someone Marry Barry” has a respectable number of genuinely funny moments. Over all, it’s still kind of crass and lowbrow, showing a particular obsession with flatulence, but there’s a good-heartedness to it that somehow overrides your gut instinct to stop watching.

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For a gross-out movie, “Someone Marry Barry” has a respectable number of genuinely funny moments. Over all, it’s still kind of crass and lowbrow, showing a particular obsession with flatulence, but there’s a good-heartedness to it that somehow overrides your gut instinct to stop watching.

Tyler Labine is Barry, a lunk who lacks the social filters most of us have and is thus constantly embarrassing his three best friends (Thomas Middleditch, Hayes MacArthur and Damon Wayans Jr.). They decide that the best way to solve this persistent problem is to find a wife for Barry, so that he can become her problem.

That leads to some matchmaking scenes, including a speed-dating sequence, that look borrowed from a zillion other movies of this ilk. But things perk up once Barry meets Melanie (Lucy Punch), a female version of himself in terms of inappropriateness.

Mr. Labine and Ms. Punch find a workable comic chemistry, and the script by Rob Pearlstein (who also directed) gives Barry’s buddies some amusing bits as well. There’s nothing sophisticated or groundbreaking here, but the movie is a moderately good entry in the bro-grows-up genre.

Johnny Depp’s ‘Transcendence’ Gets New Trailer
SourceVariety - February 12, 2014
AuthorDave McNary

Warner Bros. has released the a second official trailer for Johnny Depp’s sci-fier “Transcendence,” two months before its April 17 opening.

Depp portrays a researcher who is uploaded into a computer in the near future after being shot by an anti-technology terrorist group RIFT — Revolutionary Independence From Technology. “My mind has been set free,” Depp explains.

Paul Bettany, Rebecca Hall and Morgan Freeman also star, with Wally Pfister helming and Alcon producing and financing in association with DMG Entertainment. Producers are Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove, Kate Cohen, Marisa Polvino, Annie Marter, David Valdes and Aaron Ryder.

The experiment apparently goes wrong as an ultra-serious Freeman intones, “If we don’t stop him, it will be the end of mankind as we know it.”

VIEW HERE

Hot Trailer: Johnny Depp in ‘Transcendence’
SourceDeadline Hollywood - February 12, 2014

Johnny Depp stars as an AI professor who uploads his consciousness into the digital ether when his body dies in Transcendence, the directorial debut of Oscar-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister. Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Kate Mara, and Morgan Freeman co-star in the sci-fi thriller from a Black List script by Jack Paglen. Nolan and Emma Thomas are exec producers. Transcendence is the first product of a partnership between Alcon Entertainment and Beijing-based DMG Entertainment to finance, produce, and distribute films, and was brought to Alcon by Straight Up Films’ Kate Cohen and Marisa Polvino, who are also producing. Warner Bros releases the pic April 17. Here’s the new trailer.

‘Someone Marry Barry’ (2014) Review
SourceWorking Author - February 8, 2014
AuthorRené S. Garcia, Jr.

Comedy is hard to do for two main reasons: First, comedy isn’t universal. Appreciation for comedy varies much more wildly than it does for other genres of entertainment, like action or horror for example. Second, comedic bits and gags have greater diminishing returns when repeated than action or horror sequences do. So while martial arts fights and murdered teenagers never get old, comedy has to keep evolving and trying different approaches to remain relevant. Someone Marry Barry exemplifies this concept, offering a little bit of the old shock comedy of recent years while exploring relatively new territory in humor. The result is something refreshing and unique that’s worth any comedy-seeker’s time.

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Comedy is hard to do for two main reasons: First, comedy isn’t universal. Appreciation for comedy varies much more wildly than it does for other genres of entertainment, like action or horror for example. Second, comedic bits and gags have greater diminishing returns when repeated than action or horror sequences do. So while martial arts fights and murdered teenagers never get old, comedy has to keep evolving and trying different approaches to remain relevant. Someone Marry Barry exemplifies this concept, offering a little bit of the old shock comedy of recent years while exploring relatively new territory in humor. The result is something refreshing and unique that’s worth any comedy-seeker’s time.

Barry Burke (Tyler Labine) epitomizes the one guy in every group who manages to say and do the most inappropriate thing in any given situation. He’ll dredge up embarrassing stories during eulogies, masturbate to the thought of his friend’s girlfriend, talk to the boss about how hot his daughter is, and more. The bigger problem is that Barry doesn’t realize the havoc his actions cause, and while he may have been a fun time for his friends, Desmond (Damon Wayans, Jr.), Rafe (Hayes MacArthur), and Kurt (Thomas Middleditch), when they were kids, the guys can no longer tolerate Barry as adults. They decide that the only way to rid themselves of Barry, without killing him, is to get him a wife. Unfortunately, all of their initial attempts fail, until Barry meets Melanie Miller (Lucy Punch). The problem, however, is that Melanie is just as inappropriate as Barry, and that’s definitely too much for the guys to handle.

At its core, Someone Marry Barry is a romantic comedy, which means that – in many significant ways – audiences can expect prototypical story beats. Boy is going meet girl, lose girl and then try to get girl back. Where the film distinguishes itself, however, is in the type of characters that are involved in the relationship. The two leads are so outrageous, they could only be made for each other. For example, when Barry confesses to farting while sharing a cab with Melanie, she isn’t repulsed. Instead, she criticizes him for having such a weak fart and then tries to outdo him. Who else could be with either of these two people?

Tyler Labine and Lucy Punch give two of the more natural performances in a film about two jackasses falling in love with each other. As a result, the two come off as charismatic in their own ways. The performances truly portray Barry and Melanie as two eccentrics who don’t behave the way they do out of mean spiritedness, but rather due to a light sociopathic streak in both of them. Best of all, the two actors are fully committed to their roles, to the point that it wouldn’t surprise if half their dialogue turned out to be adlibbed. Both Labine and Punch have played their fair share of quirky characters in the past, and they continue to flex their acting and comedy chops here, handily carrying the film.

Predictability does rear its ugly head throughout the film, but that’s almost unavoidable given the genre. Nevertheless, it’s hard not to feel a little impatience when watching any of the subplots involving the three friends who want to get rid of Barry. Their stories are more or less necessary for the overall film to work, but because they don’t get much screen time, it’s easy to see how they’re going to resolve later in the movie.Someone Marry Barry would have been better served if the group of friends had been consolidated into one character, which would have made for a more poignant experience for audiences, but this is a minor concern at best.

Someone Marry Barry is a reliable choice for anyone who enjoys comedies. It isn’t dark or mean or even too shocking – despite seeing some scrotum and a sculpture of a penis. Just don’t go into this movie thinking it’s a romantic comedy in the traditional sense. Technically, the film has romance and comedy, but a date movie it ain’t.

‘Someone Marry Barry’ – Red Band Trailer
Sourcebreak.com - January 30, 2014

This raunchy movie proves that there really is someone for everyone. What’s the most despicable couple you know that are “made” for each other?

VIEW TRAILER HERE

Exclusive Interview: Nick Stahl on ‘Away from Here’
SourceCraveOnline - December 17, 2013
AuthorFred Topel

Nick Stahl is back with a new movie, a drama about a serious subject matter premiering on VOD Tuesday. In Away from Here, Stahl plays James, a man returning from a six year prison sentence for statutory rape. He’d had an affair with one of his high school students. When he returns, he gets a job at a diner and begins a new relationship with a waitress (Alicia Witt), but his old secrets still threaten to come out. We got to speak with Stahl by phone for the new movie, his first since a difficult period in which he entered and left rehab a number of times. Stahl was very contemplative in our interview and took his time answering questions, and we were happy to listen. (more…)

Nick Stahl is back with a new movie, a drama about a serious subject matter premiering on VOD Tuesday. In Away from Here, Stahl plays James, a man returning from a six year prison sentence for statutory rape. He’d had an affair with one of his high school students. When he returns, he gets a job at a diner and begins a new relationship with a waitress (Alicia Witt), but his old secrets still threaten to come out. We got to speak with Stahl by phone for the new movie, his first since a difficult period in which he entered and left rehab a number of times. Stahl was very contemplative in our interview and took his time answering questions, and we were happy to listen.

Crave Online: Was avoiding self-pity a challenge with this role? Because I was impressed that you did.

Nick Stahl: It’s an interesting question. I guess I hadn’t really considered that in a way so maybe that’s a good thing that it didn’t come across. I guess I didn’t consider it. Maybe that’s sort of how the character came across naturally, but I think when he gets out of prison, I think he is grateful to be out. I can only imagine coming out of a situation like that, there’s a lot of gratitude that you now have a life first and foremost, that you have freedom. That probably takes precedence. I think the gratitude is pretty evident in he doesn’t care if he gets any kind of job, a menial job, a modest place, few possessions. I think this is all great for this guy. So that’s how to me it naturally read on the page.
What sort of character work or rehearsal were you able to do on Away From Here?

There wasn’t a whole lot of time. A lot of times with independent films like this, you really don’t have a ton of time in rehearsals. You’ve got to work with what you’re given, but that’s kind of the beauty sometimes of these movies as well because a lot of it’s kind of organic and there’s something natural that just comes out of that kind of style of moviemaking. Something really cool can happen.
Is it a real treat when you can just do scenes with one other actor?

Yeah, that’s what I like to do most I would say. The scenes that are just face to face, two person scenes, you really get to play off somebody and react to somebody. That’s just kind of what it’s all about to me, so that’s my favorite stuff to do.
Was the theme of forgiveness important to you to explore?

All of those themes in this movie were I think what were so interesting and really powerful about this story. Ultimately, it’s self-forgiveness because whether or not these people that surrounded these two characters were forgiving, for me, for James I think there was something in him that he was carrying shame. Like you said, although he was trying to move on with his life, while he wasn’t necessarily pitying himself, he was carrying some demons. When he returned home, this was all reignited. So I very much understood and related to all of it. I think it’s a real universal theme that was touched on in the script.
Your fans are very happy to see you back in a movie. Is Away From Here a comeback movie for you?

I don’t know, I hope people get a chance to see it. It’s cool that it’s getting a chance to come out in this way, but for me I’m not doing a lot of work right now. I’m sort of focusing on life stuff and things are going good, so I’m not really looking a lot into the future at the moment. That’s sort of what’s necessary for me, so a lot of what I’m focusing on really is my daughter, my family and things like that. If that’s the case, that’s awesome. I love films and acting. That’s what I’ve always done. It’s really all that I know how to do, so that would be fantastic and I’d love to do it in the future. Hopefully, yes.

CraveOnline: I’m really happy to hear you’re in such a good place. I realize you did some TV episodes too. Did Away From Here come first, or did you do the shows and then this?

Nick Stahl: We filmed this first.
One thing we like to do at CraveOnline is talk about your classic work also. I first saw you inThe Man Without a Face. Was that a big deal both for your big screen debut and Mel Gibson establishing himself as the director we know he became?

Yeah, that’s really what started a lot of it for me. I had done a couple TV movies the couple years previous, starting when I was about 10 but that was my first feature film. That was really the first movie I did where I was like, “Hey, maybe I can really do this and keep doing it.” I loved doing it so it was very encouraging. I could really do something I loved to do. So yes, that was really fun at that age to do something like that.
With The Thin Red Line, we hear actors’ stories about the process of working with Terrence Malick. What was your experience?

It was great. He’s a really amazing guy. I grew up a lot on that movie. I was 17 years old. There was a lot of older actors I respected for so long working on it, so I was just trying to learn a lot and I was learning a lot. At the same time, growing up a little bit. I was turning from a teenager into adulthood a bit so it was a transformative time for me. Malick was a really interesting guy, really great to work with.
What can you tell us about American Dream?

American Dream is the story of two brought to American kids like young guys who are trying to invest their money into this scheme basically. They’re being extorted by this guy and he sort of ruins their life, and that’s me. It’s not really a feel good movie of the year but it’s Janusz Kaminski’s new movie.
So it’s a dark character?

It’s a dark character, it is, and sort of sadistic kind of bad guy.

‘Transcendence’: First Look at Johnny Depp’s mind-melding techno-thriller
SourceEntertainment Weekly - December 12, 2013
AuthorKeith Staskiewicz

If the shot above looks exceptionally (or Inception-ally) familiar, it might be because it’s from the first film directed by Wally Pfister, Christopher Nolan’s longtime cinematographer. In Transcendence, which hits ­theaters April 18, Depp plays a computer scientist (below) ­studying “the singularity,” the point at which artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence. “It’s a very timely subject as we find we have to update the software on our cell phones before we can even make a call,” says Pfister. Depp’s character literally gets uploaded into the mainframe, becoming a ghost in the machine (above, with costars Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, and Rebecca Hall) after he’s attacked by anti-technology activists. It’s an out-there premise, even if the film’s star is looking uncharacteristically tame. “I don’t think we’ve seen him this way in a long time,” says Pfister, laughing. “Just a pair of glasses on and a pretty normal haircut.”