Tickets are now available for Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom, plus a brand new trailer has also dropped for director James Wan’s film. Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa—along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman—return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”
https://www.aquamanmovie.com/
Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to...
https://www.aquamanmovie.com/
Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to...
- 11/21/2023
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Updated, 9:21 a.m.: Warner Bros on Thursday unveiled the first full-length trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the very long awaited sequel to the subaquatic James Wan superhero pic which remains one of DC’s biggest successes.
“Four years ago, I was basically unemployed, a wanderer with no home,” Jason Momoa’s title character proclaims in the segment. “But now, I’m a husband and a father. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He’s now got a job, as well, looking after a kingdom of half a billion as King of Atlantis. But not everything comes easily for him in the sequel, as Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) returns in hopes of taking him out.
Read more about the flick below. Check out the trailer above.
Previously, September 10: A teaser trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was dropped on Sunday showing...
“Four years ago, I was basically unemployed, a wanderer with no home,” Jason Momoa’s title character proclaims in the segment. “But now, I’m a husband and a father. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He’s now got a job, as well, looking after a kingdom of half a billion as King of Atlantis. But not everything comes easily for him in the sequel, as Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) returns in hopes of taking him out.
Read more about the flick below. Check out the trailer above.
Previously, September 10: A teaser trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was dropped on Sunday showing...
- 9/14/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. Tm & © DC Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures/ & © DC Comics
Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa—along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman—return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”
Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family,...
Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa—along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman—return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”
Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family,...
- 9/11/2023
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The teaser for ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ has been released and it shows Jason Momoa back in the DC Universe in the sequel that’s dropping on December 20. The teaser shows the world of Aquaman being torn down to shreds as the evil takeover. The video asset is full of action and displays a top-notch work on the VFX.
The full trailer will be released on Thursday James Wan returns to direct the Aquaman followup with Momoa starring as the titled character alongside Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman, reports Deadline.
The logline of the sequel reads, “Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all.”
“This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident,...
The full trailer will be released on Thursday James Wan returns to direct the Aquaman followup with Momoa starring as the titled character alongside Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman, reports Deadline.
The logline of the sequel reads, “Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all.”
“This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident,...
- 9/11/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Warner Bros. Pictures’ first teaser trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom features Aquaman riding a massive seahorse and Black Manta swearing he’ll defeat the King of Atlantis. The teaser, which arrived along with photos, also confirmed the full trailer will premiere in four days.
Jason Momoa returns as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, Patrick Wilson is Orm, Nicole Kidman is Atlanna, Amber Heard is Mera. Dolph Lundgren returns as King Nereus and Randall Park reprises his role as Dr. Stephen Shin.
Warner Bros. Pictures released this synopsis of the new Aquaman film:
“Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which...
Jason Momoa returns as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, Patrick Wilson is Orm, Nicole Kidman is Atlanna, Amber Heard is Mera. Dolph Lundgren returns as King Nereus and Randall Park reprises his role as Dr. Stephen Shin.
Warner Bros. Pictures released this synopsis of the new Aquaman film:
“Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which...
- 9/11/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Click here to read the full article.
On Wednesday night, a worker-run Twitter account broke the silence on a roughly two and a half year-long organizing effort to unionize music supervisors nationwide.
Declaring that music supervisors — the creatives who select the music and/or facilitate the creation of music that appears in films and TV shows and negotiate for its use — were attempting to form a union, the account @MusicNeedsSupes said, “We’re one of the few in Film and TV that don’t get workers rights under our craft.” The account exhorted users to “stand with our community” after the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which bargains on behalf of major streamers and studios with labor groups, had “refused our ask to grant equal rights.”
The tweet referred to a communication from the AMPTP earlier on Wednesday, declining to voluntarily recognize the group, according to major entertainment crew union IATSE,...
On Wednesday night, a worker-run Twitter account broke the silence on a roughly two and a half year-long organizing effort to unionize music supervisors nationwide.
Declaring that music supervisors — the creatives who select the music and/or facilitate the creation of music that appears in films and TV shows and negotiate for its use — were attempting to form a union, the account @MusicNeedsSupes said, “We’re one of the few in Film and TV that don’t get workers rights under our craft.” The account exhorted users to “stand with our community” after the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which bargains on behalf of major streamers and studios with labor groups, had “refused our ask to grant equal rights.”
The tweet referred to a communication from the AMPTP earlier on Wednesday, declining to voluntarily recognize the group, according to major entertainment crew union IATSE,...
- 6/6/2022
- by Katie Kilkenny
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Guild of Music Supervisors released on Thursday the nominees for the group’s 12th annual awards ceremony, honoring music supervisors in film, television, advertising and video games.
Among the nominees for the film categories are “Being the Ricardos,” “Encanto,” “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” “The Harder They Fall,” “The Tender Bar” and “Tick, Tick… Boom.” Meanwhile, some of the Television nominees include “The Crown,” “Cruel Summer,” and “Genius: Aretha.”
Nominees for music supervision in trailers include “The Matrix Resurrections” and “Spencer,” while video game nominees include “Grand Theft Auto: Online — The Contract” and “FIFA 22.”
As previously announced, Diane Warren will receive the Icon Award, while Mitchell Leib will receive the Legacy Award, which honors “music supervisors who have excelled within the craft of music supervision.”
Read the complete list of nominees below:
Film
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over $25 Million
Mary Ramos – Being The Ricardos...
Among the nominees for the film categories are “Being the Ricardos,” “Encanto,” “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” “The Harder They Fall,” “The Tender Bar” and “Tick, Tick… Boom.” Meanwhile, some of the Television nominees include “The Crown,” “Cruel Summer,” and “Genius: Aretha.”
Nominees for music supervision in trailers include “The Matrix Resurrections” and “Spencer,” while video game nominees include “Grand Theft Auto: Online — The Contract” and “FIFA 22.”
As previously announced, Diane Warren will receive the Icon Award, while Mitchell Leib will receive the Legacy Award, which honors “music supervisors who have excelled within the craft of music supervision.”
Read the complete list of nominees below:
Film
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over $25 Million
Mary Ramos – Being The Ricardos...
- 2/11/2022
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
The Guild of Music Supervisors today unveiled the nominees for its 12th annual award ceremony, celebrating outstanding achievement in the craft of Music Supervision in film, television, games, documentaries, advertising, and trailers, with such notable songwriters and performers as Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Eddie Vedder, Anderson .Paak, Bruno Mars, H.E.R. and Demi Lovato making the cut.
Beyoncé was among those recognized for the Oscar-nominated King Richard song “Be Alive,” with Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, filmmaker Jeymes Samuel and music supervisor Michelle Silverman noted for the song “Guns Go Bang” from The Harder They Fall, and Miranda cited for his Oscar-nominated Encanto song “Dos Oruguitas.” Vedder was nominated alongside Glen Hansard, his performer daughter Olivia and music supervisor Tracy McKnight for the Flag Day tune “My Father’s Daughter,” with Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars among those sharing a nom for the Shang-Chi song “Fire In the Sky.” H.E.
Beyoncé was among those recognized for the Oscar-nominated King Richard song “Be Alive,” with Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, filmmaker Jeymes Samuel and music supervisor Michelle Silverman noted for the song “Guns Go Bang” from The Harder They Fall, and Miranda cited for his Oscar-nominated Encanto song “Dos Oruguitas.” Vedder was nominated alongside Glen Hansard, his performer daughter Olivia and music supervisor Tracy McKnight for the Flag Day tune “My Father’s Daughter,” with Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars among those sharing a nom for the Shang-Chi song “Fire In the Sky.” H.E.
- 2/10/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Nominees for the 12th annual Guild of Music Supervisors (Gms) Awards have been revealed, recognizing the craft of music supervision in film, television, games, advertising and trailers.
Among the film nominees for the 2022 edition of the Gms Awards are “Encanto,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and “Being the Ricardos,” each of which also scored Oscar nominations this week. Television shows that scored nods include “The White Lotus,” “Blindspotting” and “Lovecraft Country.”
Songwriters, artists and music supervisors will be recognized together for the category of best song written and/or recorded for film.
As previously announced, Diane Warren will receive the organization’s prestigious Icon Award, and Mitchell Leib will receive the Legacy Award honoring those music supervisors who have excelled within the craft of music supervision.
The 12th annual ceremony will take place virtually on Sunday, March 20.
Film
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over $25 Million
Mary Ramos – “Being the Ricardos...
Among the film nominees for the 2022 edition of the Gms Awards are “Encanto,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and “Being the Ricardos,” each of which also scored Oscar nominations this week. Television shows that scored nods include “The White Lotus,” “Blindspotting” and “Lovecraft Country.”
Songwriters, artists and music supervisors will be recognized together for the category of best song written and/or recorded for film.
As previously announced, Diane Warren will receive the organization’s prestigious Icon Award, and Mitchell Leib will receive the Legacy Award honoring those music supervisors who have excelled within the craft of music supervision.
The 12th annual ceremony will take place virtually on Sunday, March 20.
Film
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over $25 Million
Mary Ramos – “Being the Ricardos...
- 2/10/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMAs) have announced the nominees in the Visual Media categories.
Showcasing the best and brightest in musical creation for visual media, the 5th Annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMAs) will be held at The Fonda Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday, November 4, 2014.
The 2014 HMMAs welcome back celebrity hosts including Oscar nominated actor Eric Roberts, former Matchbox 20 member Adam Gaynor, acclaimed Director/Writer/Producer Andy Fickman and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Verdine White. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Education Through Music – Los Angeles (Etmla). Honorees, performers, and special guests to be announced.
The field of entrants were narrowed down to final nominees by the Hmma advisory board and selection committee. The winners will be voted upon by music-media industry professionals comprised of select members of the Society of Composers and Lyricists (Scl), The Television Academy, the AMPAS Music Branch, Naras, performing rights organizations,...
Showcasing the best and brightest in musical creation for visual media, the 5th Annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMAs) will be held at The Fonda Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday, November 4, 2014.
The 2014 HMMAs welcome back celebrity hosts including Oscar nominated actor Eric Roberts, former Matchbox 20 member Adam Gaynor, acclaimed Director/Writer/Producer Andy Fickman and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Verdine White. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Education Through Music – Los Angeles (Etmla). Honorees, performers, and special guests to be announced.
The field of entrants were narrowed down to final nominees by the Hmma advisory board and selection committee. The winners will be voted upon by music-media industry professionals comprised of select members of the Society of Composers and Lyricists (Scl), The Television Academy, the AMPAS Music Branch, Naras, performing rights organizations,...
- 10/9/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Somehow over the years the Hollywood Music in Media Awards have escaped me. The event's fifth annual slate of nominees were announced today, and it's a pretty standard assortment of names we've been considering at the forefront of this year's Best Original Score Oscar race, from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to Hans Zimmer to the ubiquitous Alexandre Desplat. The nominees were chosen by an "Hmma advisory board and selection committee," and winners will be voted upon by "music-media industry professionals comprised of select members of the Society of Composers and Lyricists, The Television Academy, the AMPAS Music Branch, Naras, performing rights organizations, film music journalists and music executives," according to the press release. You might raise your eyebrow at something like "Interstellar" being on here when it hasn't been screened for these purposes (or much at all, for that matter). The nominations are also based on hearing music via...
- 10/8/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Successful music video and commercial director David Dobkin, like bosses Ridley and Tony Scott before him, makes a notable feature debut with "Clay Pigeons", a quirky, darkly comedic thriller.
While the logistics of character motivation don't appear to be particularly embraced by fellow newcomer Matt Healy's playful script, the gathered ensemble of indie faves (including Janeane Garofalo, Vince Vaughn and Joaquin Phoenix) makes it all quite entertaining.
Recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Gramercy release should hit the specialty market target while establishing Dobkin as one to watch.
Set in the fictional, comatose town of Mercer, Mont., the seamy intrigue kicks in early with laconic protagonist Clay Bidwell (Phoenix) finding himself staring into a gun barrel being trained on him by his best buddy Earl (Gregory Sporleder). Seems Earl has some pretty convincing evidence that Clay's been carrying on with his very willing wife, but rather than kill him, he plans to use Clay's gun to do himself in, thereby intending to frame him for his apparent murder.
With Earl having successfully carried out his deed, the panic-stricken Clay runs to the newly widowed Amanda (Georgina Cates) for help, but she makes it very clear she wants no part in the whole situation other than to resume their Wednesday afternoon trysts. Left to his own devices, Clay will make the first of many bad decisions.
Just when it seems things couldn't get any worse, along comes Lester Long (Vaughn), a swaggering James Dean wannabe with a greasy, ingratiating manner and a fake laugh who's intent on being Clay's new best friend at any cost.
Meanwhile, astute FBI Agent Dale Shelby (Garofalo) has been sniffing around investigating the disappearances of a number of local women, and despite assurances to the contrary from the fatherly town sheriff (Scott Wilson), Clay's looking to be a prime suspect.
While Healy's script ultimately offers surprisingly few surprises, there's a nicely warped sense of irrelevance to the proceedings -- a body pops up in the middle of a fishing expedition with a minimum of histrionics; the narcoleptic sheriff's deputy (Vince Vieluf) is actually named Deputy Barney -- that keep things blackly amusing.
Among the standout performances in the uniformly able cast are heavies Vaughn and Cates, who play their nasty characters with relish. Vaughn lays on the smarm factor thickly while actress Cates ("An Awfully Big Adventure") sheds her customarily refined British accent for her take-no-prisoners, cold-hearted hussy role.
Behind-the-camera, music videographer-turned-cinematographer Eric Edwards ("To Die For", "Cop Land") bathes the picture in what can best be described as sun-drenched noir. Composer John Lurie's idiosyncratic score blends nicely with the similarly eclectic song selection by Mary Ramos and Michelle Kuznetsky, which runs the gamut from Pat Boone and Elvis Presley to Lyle Lovett and Sister Hazel.
CLAY PIGEONS
Gramercy
Director: David Dobkin
Screenwriter: Matt Healy
Producers: Ridley Scott, Chris Zarpas
Executive producers: Tony Scott, Guy East, Nigel Sinclair
Director of photography: Eric Edwards
Production designer: Clark Hunter
Editor: Stan Salfas
Costume designer: Laura Goldsmith
Music supervisors: Mary Ramos, Michelle Kuznetsky
Music: Rod Lurie
Casting: Risa Bramon Garcia, Randi Hiller
Color/stereo
Cast:
Lester Long: Vince Vaughn
FBI Agent Dale Shelby: Janeane Garofalo
Clay Bidwell: Joaquin Phoenix
Amanda: Georgina Cates
Sheriff Mooney: Scott Wilson
Earl: Gregory Sporleder
Deputy Barney: Vince Vieluf
Agent Reynard: Phil Morris
Running time -- 104 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
While the logistics of character motivation don't appear to be particularly embraced by fellow newcomer Matt Healy's playful script, the gathered ensemble of indie faves (including Janeane Garofalo, Vince Vaughn and Joaquin Phoenix) makes it all quite entertaining.
Recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Gramercy release should hit the specialty market target while establishing Dobkin as one to watch.
Set in the fictional, comatose town of Mercer, Mont., the seamy intrigue kicks in early with laconic protagonist Clay Bidwell (Phoenix) finding himself staring into a gun barrel being trained on him by his best buddy Earl (Gregory Sporleder). Seems Earl has some pretty convincing evidence that Clay's been carrying on with his very willing wife, but rather than kill him, he plans to use Clay's gun to do himself in, thereby intending to frame him for his apparent murder.
With Earl having successfully carried out his deed, the panic-stricken Clay runs to the newly widowed Amanda (Georgina Cates) for help, but she makes it very clear she wants no part in the whole situation other than to resume their Wednesday afternoon trysts. Left to his own devices, Clay will make the first of many bad decisions.
Just when it seems things couldn't get any worse, along comes Lester Long (Vaughn), a swaggering James Dean wannabe with a greasy, ingratiating manner and a fake laugh who's intent on being Clay's new best friend at any cost.
Meanwhile, astute FBI Agent Dale Shelby (Garofalo) has been sniffing around investigating the disappearances of a number of local women, and despite assurances to the contrary from the fatherly town sheriff (Scott Wilson), Clay's looking to be a prime suspect.
While Healy's script ultimately offers surprisingly few surprises, there's a nicely warped sense of irrelevance to the proceedings -- a body pops up in the middle of a fishing expedition with a minimum of histrionics; the narcoleptic sheriff's deputy (Vince Vieluf) is actually named Deputy Barney -- that keep things blackly amusing.
Among the standout performances in the uniformly able cast are heavies Vaughn and Cates, who play their nasty characters with relish. Vaughn lays on the smarm factor thickly while actress Cates ("An Awfully Big Adventure") sheds her customarily refined British accent for her take-no-prisoners, cold-hearted hussy role.
Behind-the-camera, music videographer-turned-cinematographer Eric Edwards ("To Die For", "Cop Land") bathes the picture in what can best be described as sun-drenched noir. Composer John Lurie's idiosyncratic score blends nicely with the similarly eclectic song selection by Mary Ramos and Michelle Kuznetsky, which runs the gamut from Pat Boone and Elvis Presley to Lyle Lovett and Sister Hazel.
CLAY PIGEONS
Gramercy
Director: David Dobkin
Screenwriter: Matt Healy
Producers: Ridley Scott, Chris Zarpas
Executive producers: Tony Scott, Guy East, Nigel Sinclair
Director of photography: Eric Edwards
Production designer: Clark Hunter
Editor: Stan Salfas
Costume designer: Laura Goldsmith
Music supervisors: Mary Ramos, Michelle Kuznetsky
Music: Rod Lurie
Casting: Risa Bramon Garcia, Randi Hiller
Color/stereo
Cast:
Lester Long: Vince Vaughn
FBI Agent Dale Shelby: Janeane Garofalo
Clay Bidwell: Joaquin Phoenix
Amanda: Georgina Cates
Sheriff Mooney: Scott Wilson
Earl: Gregory Sporleder
Deputy Barney: Vince Vieluf
Agent Reynard: Phil Morris
Running time -- 104 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 9/17/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
PARK CITY, Utah -- A 10-year-old girl's attempt to dig herself out of the rut of her small-town life is the uplifting and bittersweet subject matter of "Digging to China", Timothy Hutton's directorial debut, which received an ecstatic welcome in its world premiere during the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival.
For those of you who recall the young heroine's plucky resolve in "Fly Away Home", this tale of one young girl's repeated attempts to reach beyond the dimensions of her unchallenging school and dimwitted home life should strike similar chords of sympathy and admiration.
In this '60s-set saga, Evan Rachel Wood stars as Harriet, a rambunctious and inquisitive girl who lives with her alcoholic mother (Cathy Moriarty) and man-crazy older sister Mary Stuart Masterson). They run a tiny tourist motel outside a small burg and, after school, there's not much in the way of stimulation for the precocious Harriet. She takes interest, however, in a mentally disabled young man, Ricky (Kevin Bacon) who, along with his mother, comes to stay at the motel. It's Ricky's last week alone with his mother, who has terminal cancer, before he must be institutionalized. Harriet takes him under her wing, and the two tend to connect in a completely intuitive, child-like way. Not surprisingly, the adults are wary about where this may lead.
Freckled with the openness of child-like searching, "Digging to China" is a stirring story of how two friends, Harriet and Ricky, come to enjoy and understand a world that seems structured against them. Their transcendent, dreamy projects, like digging a hole in the ground to reach China, are expressions of their need to escape from their own humdrum, constricted existences; in a sense, both are greatly limited, Ricky by his mental and emotional disability and Harriet by the mere fact that she is a kid and restricted by the small thinking of her elders.
Although the narrative sometimes slackens to a somewhat cutesy dimension, mainly in some neo-"Rain Man"-ish scenes, Hutton has maintained a remarkable balance in his story telling. The film never resorts to saccharine heart-tuggings and Hutton is always true to the fact that the child-like dreams and energies are in direct conflict with a harsher, stronger world. Most wonderfully, he imbues the strong story with a coating of this child-like naivete and energy that, by itself, overcomes the awful adult aspects of everyday existence.
It's young Even Rachel Wood's grainy and heady performance that keeps "China" clearly on the story map. She brings both a confidence as well as a serene, kid-ish clamor to her portrayal that takes you into the best, hidden reaches of your own child-like wonderment. Bacon's studied performance as the disabled Ricky is commendable, while Masterson is well-cast as Harriet's primary adult supervisor. Moriarty is credible as Harriet's blowzy, somewhat batty, mother.
Technical contributions under Hutton's fine hand are wonderfully wrought, particularly cinematographer Jorgen Persson's richly shaded scopings, which clue us to the vibrant inner world of this remarkable little girl.
DIGGING TO CHINA
Moonstone Entertainment
In association with
Davis Entertainment Classics
& the Ministry of Film
An Alan Mruvka/Marilyn Vance/
John Davis/J.Todd Harris production
A Film by Timothy Hutton
Producers: Marilyn Vance,
Alan Mruvka, John Dais, J. Todd Harris
Director: Timothy Hutton
Screenwriter: Karen Janszen
Executive producers: Etchie Stroh, David T. Friendly
Director of photgraphy: Jorgen Persson
Production designer: Robert De Vico
Music: Cynthia Millar
Music producer/conductor: Elmer Bernstein
Music supervisors: Michelle Kuznetsky, Mary Ramos
Editor: Dana Congdon
Costume designer: Mary Zophres
Color/stereo
Harriet Frankovitz: Evan Rachel Wood
Ricky: Kevin Bacon
Gwen: Mary Stuart Masterson
Mrs. Frankovitz: Cathy Moriarty
Running time -- 100 minutes...
For those of you who recall the young heroine's plucky resolve in "Fly Away Home", this tale of one young girl's repeated attempts to reach beyond the dimensions of her unchallenging school and dimwitted home life should strike similar chords of sympathy and admiration.
In this '60s-set saga, Evan Rachel Wood stars as Harriet, a rambunctious and inquisitive girl who lives with her alcoholic mother (Cathy Moriarty) and man-crazy older sister Mary Stuart Masterson). They run a tiny tourist motel outside a small burg and, after school, there's not much in the way of stimulation for the precocious Harriet. She takes interest, however, in a mentally disabled young man, Ricky (Kevin Bacon) who, along with his mother, comes to stay at the motel. It's Ricky's last week alone with his mother, who has terminal cancer, before he must be institutionalized. Harriet takes him under her wing, and the two tend to connect in a completely intuitive, child-like way. Not surprisingly, the adults are wary about where this may lead.
Freckled with the openness of child-like searching, "Digging to China" is a stirring story of how two friends, Harriet and Ricky, come to enjoy and understand a world that seems structured against them. Their transcendent, dreamy projects, like digging a hole in the ground to reach China, are expressions of their need to escape from their own humdrum, constricted existences; in a sense, both are greatly limited, Ricky by his mental and emotional disability and Harriet by the mere fact that she is a kid and restricted by the small thinking of her elders.
Although the narrative sometimes slackens to a somewhat cutesy dimension, mainly in some neo-"Rain Man"-ish scenes, Hutton has maintained a remarkable balance in his story telling. The film never resorts to saccharine heart-tuggings and Hutton is always true to the fact that the child-like dreams and energies are in direct conflict with a harsher, stronger world. Most wonderfully, he imbues the strong story with a coating of this child-like naivete and energy that, by itself, overcomes the awful adult aspects of everyday existence.
It's young Even Rachel Wood's grainy and heady performance that keeps "China" clearly on the story map. She brings both a confidence as well as a serene, kid-ish clamor to her portrayal that takes you into the best, hidden reaches of your own child-like wonderment. Bacon's studied performance as the disabled Ricky is commendable, while Masterson is well-cast as Harriet's primary adult supervisor. Moriarty is credible as Harriet's blowzy, somewhat batty, mother.
Technical contributions under Hutton's fine hand are wonderfully wrought, particularly cinematographer Jorgen Persson's richly shaded scopings, which clue us to the vibrant inner world of this remarkable little girl.
DIGGING TO CHINA
Moonstone Entertainment
In association with
Davis Entertainment Classics
& the Ministry of Film
An Alan Mruvka/Marilyn Vance/
John Davis/J.Todd Harris production
A Film by Timothy Hutton
Producers: Marilyn Vance,
Alan Mruvka, John Dais, J. Todd Harris
Director: Timothy Hutton
Screenwriter: Karen Janszen
Executive producers: Etchie Stroh, David T. Friendly
Director of photgraphy: Jorgen Persson
Production designer: Robert De Vico
Music: Cynthia Millar
Music producer/conductor: Elmer Bernstein
Music supervisors: Michelle Kuznetsky, Mary Ramos
Editor: Dana Congdon
Costume designer: Mary Zophres
Color/stereo
Harriet Frankovitz: Evan Rachel Wood
Ricky: Kevin Bacon
Gwen: Mary Stuart Masterson
Mrs. Frankovitz: Cathy Moriarty
Running time -- 100 minutes...
- 1/26/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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