By Amanda Ack, Film Critic The Grandmaster is probably a wonderful movie, but I wouldn’t know. I didn’t see it. Instead, I saw a brutally butchered version of Wong Kar Wai’s action masterpiece. For its U.S. release, 22 minutes were cut, scenes were rearranged, and unnecessary details were added to adjust the film for American…
Apocalyptic comedy strikes gold in theaters
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic The World’s End is quite possibly the best comedy of the year so far. It is also the saddest. Directed by Sean of the Dead and Hot Fuzz helmer Edgar Wright, it’s got razor-sharp wit and sight gags in spades, but it never shies away from going darker and digging…
Characters make coming of age film enjoyable for critic
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic The characters in Whit Stillman’s Metropolitan are quite possibly the most profoundly irritating bunch of post-adolescent brats I’ve ever seen onscreen. They’re spoiled, selfish, and snotty, with chips on their shoulders and fluff in their brains. By rights, the film should be too grating to sit through. There’s something about…
Film series opens with war film
The Oklahoma City University Film Institute will begin their series on Sept. 22 in the Kerr McGee Auditorium, located in the Meinders School of Business. The first film presented will be “Lore”, a film about the 1945 collapse of the German Resistance during World War II. The movie follows five children, all with Nazi parents…
Entertainment news round-up for Sept. 5
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Variety has selected its 10 Actors to Watch list for 2013. Highlights include Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station), Lea Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Color), and Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis). Profiles of the 10 actors will appear in print on October 8. For the rest of the list, click…
Performance scheduled in Norick Art Center
By Ally Hansen, Staff Writer OCU’s final Out of the Box show, Sight Unseen, is scheduled to run in the Norick Art Center at the end of this semester. Drew Feldman, acting senior, is directing the show. The show will be in the Norick Art Center because of the play’s unique relationship to art. The…
Alan Arkin cast in ‘Million Dollar Arm’
By Amanda Ack Alan Arkin has joined the cast of Disney’s upcoming baseball drama “Million Dollar Arm.” Jon Hamm will also star in the film. For more information on the project, click here.
Jim Carrey to star in ‘Ricky Stanicky’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Jim Carrey is set to star in Summit Entertainment’s upcoming “Ricky Stanicky.” Steve Oedekerk will write and direct the film. For more information on the project, click here.
Julian Sands joins ‘Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” actor Julian Sands has joined the cast of “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.” The film is Richard Alfieri’s adaptation of his play of the same name. For more information on the project, click here.
Anne Hathaway in talks for ‘Interstellar’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Anne Hathaway is in negotiations to join the cast of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming “Interstellar.” Hathaway would star opposite Matthew McConaughey. For more information on the project, click here.
Zoe Saldana in talks to join ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Zoe Saldana is in negotiations to join the cast of Marvel’s upcoming “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Saldana would play “Gamora.” For more information on the project, click here.
Mads Mikkelsen, Bryan Cranston and Rebel Wilson join ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Mads Mikkelsen, Bryan Cranston and Rebel Wilson will lend their voices to DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming “Kung Fu Panda 3.” Returning actors from the franchise’s previous films include Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, and and Seth Rogen. For more information on the project, click here.
Dan Stevens in talks for ‘Swallows and Amazons’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic “Downton Abbey” actor Dan Stevens is in negotiations to star in Charles and Thomas Guard’s upcoming “Swallows and Amazons.” The film is based on Arthur Ransome’s book of the same name. For more information on the project, click here.
Liam Hemsworth to star in ‘The Raven’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Liam Hemsworth is in final negotiations to star in Ricardo de Montreuil’s upcoming “The Raven.” The film is based on de Montreuil’s short film of the same name. For more information on the project, click here.
Layoffs underway at Disney
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Disney has begun laying off around 150 employees at Walt Disney Studios. The company plans to rely more on its Marvel, Pixar, and LucasFilm banners. For more information, click here.
Allison Janney in talks for ‘Tammy’
By Amanda Ack Allison Janney is in negotiations to join the cast of Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone’s upcoming “Tammy.” Janney would play McCarthy’s mother. For more information on the project, click here.
Richard Linklater in talks to helm ‘A Walk in the Woods’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Richard Linklater is in negotiations to direct “A Walk in the Woods,” a film adaptation of Bill Bryson’s travel memoir of the same name. Robert Redford is set to produce and star in the picture. For more information on the project, click here.
Leonardo DiCaprio to produce HBO’s ‘Gorbachev’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Leonardo DiCaprio is set to produce HBO Films’ upcoming “Gorbachev.” Mikhail Gorbachev himself has served as a consultant on the project. For more information, click here.
Kellan Lutz to star in ‘Hercules 3D’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Kellan Lutz has signed on to play the lead role in Renny Harlin’s upcoming “Tarzan 3D.” The film will begin shooting in Bulgaria next month. For more information on the project, click here.
Production of ‘Mass’ explores universal themes of faith, doubt
The Wanda L. Bass School of Music and Canterbury Choral Society are preparing to present Leonard Bernstein’s Mass.
Queen Elizabeth receives honorary BAFTA
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic The British Academy of Film and Television Arts honored Queen Elizabeth with an honorary award at a ceremony on Friday. The organization honored Queen Elizabeth for her support of filmmaking in the UK. For more information, click here.
Omar Sy joins ‘Candy Store’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic French actor Omar Sy has joined the cast of Stephen Gaghan’s upcoming action-thriller “Candy Store.” Sy will play the film’s villain. For more information on the project, click here.
‘Gatsby’ soundtrack revealed
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic The soundtrack list for Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming “The Great Gatsby” has been released. The movie will feature songs by Jay-Z and Lana Del Rey. For the full tracklist, click here.
Legendary film critic passes away
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Film critic Roger Ebert died on April 5. He was 70 years old. For more information on Ebert’s life and career, click here.
Jessica Chastain signs on to ‘Crimson Peak’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Jessica Chastain is the latest addition to the cast of Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming “Crimson Peak.” Other actors in the film will include Emma Stone, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Charlie Hunnam. For more information on the project, click here.
Bradley Cooper joins ‘Jane Got a Gun’
By Amanda Ack, Film Critic Bradley Cooper has signed on to play the villain in Gavin O’Connor’s upcoming Western “Jane Got a Gun.” Other actors already cast in the film include Natalie Portman and Joel Edgerton. For more information on the project, click here.
