The Skin I Live In

The Skin I Live In, a Spanish-made drama film, details the bizarre account of one surgeon’s nightmare-turned-reality. The film is loosely based on Thierry Jonquet’s novel Tarantula. Described by director Pedro Almodóvar as a “horror movie story without screams and fright”, The Skin I Live In takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotion and sexual deprivation.

Set in Toldeo, Spain, Dr. Ledgard has made a monumental scientific discovery when he cultivates a skin that cannot burn.  To test his many hypothesis’, he has taken captive a young woman whom he frequently conducts experiments on.  While Robert is away on vacation, the son of one of the servants arrives and asks to house him for a few days while he lays low.  On learning knowledge of the female captive, he finds and rapes her.  With impeccable timing, Robert returns to find the servants son raping his captive and without hesitation, kills him.

After the incident, the servant Marilia (Maris Paredes) tells the captive that she is indeed Robert’s father and that the motivation for this experiments stem from his wife’s suicide.  After being burned in a terrible car accident, she took one look at her face and jumped out of a window to her death.  When their daughter Norma (Blanca Suarez) attends her father’s wedding, she is followed by a man to the garden where he attempts to rape her.  She is left unconscious and when she awakes and see’s her father, believes he is her rapist.  Dr. Ledgard then sets out on a journey to find the rapist and make him pay in the most unimaginable way possible.

Directed by Pedro Almodóvar, this is the first collaboration with his former regular cast-mate Banderas in nearly 21 years. Played by the reputable Antonio Banderas, Robert Ledgard seeks to bring his deceased wife back to life in an almost Frankenstien-fashion. The Skin I Live In will engage audiences of all types with its witty storytelling and dark demeanor.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Another Happy Day

Another Happy Day, an American drama film written by Sam Levinson, depicts that brutal reality one family must face when a cluster of conflicting personalities meet for a family member’s wedding. Playing to the viewer’s sympathetic ear regarding family problems, Another Happy Day delves deeply into the internal issues all family’s face, hitting home with its audience.

In the film, Lynn (Ellen Barkin) must face a past she has tried so hard to live down when her son is getting married and she must again see her ex-husband after an extremely messy divorce. To add salt to the wound, she must shield her family from the disturbing news that her other son, Elliot (Erza Miller), has been battling drug rehabilitation for a number of years.

Things only take a turn for the worst when her married, and now divorced son (Michael Nardelli), blames his mother for the separation of his marriage, having not spoken to her in years. Lynn’s daughter, whom she retained custody to in the divorce, has begun dealing with depression and self-mutilation. Finally, Lynn’s mother Doris (Ellen Burstyn) has nothing but passive aggressive contempt for her daughter despite all of the burdens she has to bear. Fearful of both her husband and his new wife Patty (Demi Moore), Lynn must learn to cope with the neurotic tendencies this charmingly unique family has been plagued with while trying to keep her emotional health in good spirits.

Directed by writer Sam Levinson, Another Happy Day brings forward a dark tone to the family dynamic, giving the audience an accurate perception of the inner workings of the hard times family’s face. One of a kind in essence, this film takes a stab at showing how even the most troubled family’s can put aside their problems and come together as family – or die trying.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Real Steel

Real Steel, a recent science fiction film that has been generating buzz as one of the fall’s best action movies, notably for its lifelike motion capture technology.  Based on the 1956 short “Steel” by Richard Matheson, Real Steel gives life to fantastical world of robot fighting, which became a large fad in the 90’s that to this day maintains its loyal fan base.

Set in the year 2020, the realm of sports has been altered; robots have replaced humans in the boxing ring.  Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) makes his living off of gambling in the underground world of robot boxing, but lady luck has not been so kind lately.  Owing various people money, Kenton is down on his luck. Coupled with the fact that his robots seemingly cannot win a match, he decides to try again and is met with receive disturbing new; his ex-girlfriend has died and their son is now homeless.

Initially only taking his son Max (Dakota Goya) on the condition that his Aunt and Uncle pay Charlie $100,000, he begins to develop a relationship with his estranged son.  After losing another fight, Charlie takes Max to scrap yard to collect pieces to create his own robot.  After Max slips, he is saved by the stray limb of a buried robot.  Brining the antiquated machine back to life, they realize that he, Atom, is dated back to 2014 and was made only to take damage, but give little.  Revisiting his days as a world champion boxer, Charlie begins to teach Atom the tricks of the trade and they soon find out that his potential is limitless.

Directed by Shawn Levy, the fast-paced storyline and realistic visuals help bolster the film’s recent release.  The visuals alone are eye-candy, allowing a sneak peek into a possible future reality for the world as technology continues to advance.  Pair that with a great a storyline and you have a film that’s bound to memorize viewers.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Paranormal Activity 3

Very few films have been produced with five-figure budgets to later amass millions of dollars, but the Paranormal Activity franchise has done just that. As one of the most profitable films of the last decade, these supernatural horror films have proved themselves time and time again, as the newest installment, Paranormal Activity 3, remains’ one of falls hottest movies. If the amount of terrified people leaving the theater mid-movie is any indication of the terror-inducing feelings this movie will harbor, proceed with caution!

Set back in the 80’s when the two main characters, Katie (Chloe Csengery) and Kristi (Jessica Tyler Brown) are young children, the plot seeks to explain the strange occurrences that take place in the first two films. Problems start to arise when a newlywed couple begins to see abnormalities in their young daughter. Dennis (Christopher Nicholas Smith) begins to set up cameras around the house despite his wife’s (Lauren Bittner) objection.

As he begins to discover the existence of Kristi’s “imaginary” friend, Dennis slowly starts to convince his wife that something might be wrong with their children. The plot thickens as the family chronology begins to bring up some questions involving cult-like behavior. In the end, death befalls the members of this unfortunate family as the evil lives on with the children.

Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, Paranormal Activity 3 has set countless records including best midnight release for a horror film, best opening day for a horror film, highest opening for any film in October and highest opening for a film in the fall, as well as setting a record for the franchise. Paranormal Activity 3 seems to be paving roads for a new genre of horror story.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

The Iron Lady

In recent years, movies depicting historical representations have amassed a large following, with movies such as The Kings Speech dominating box offices worldwide. At the end of this year, Meryl Streep, one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actresses, will attempt to embody one of England’s most talked-about Prime Minister’s of the last century; Margaret Thatcher. The Iron Lady, set to premier at the end of 2011 for limited audiences in U.S., depicts that inner struggles and external battles Margaret Thatcher faced on her winding journey to become the first female Prime Minister of The United Kingdom.

The film takes place in a series of flashbacks, detailing the events prior to her election as Prime Minister. Structured as a biographical film, the motion picture aims to portray Thatcher as a fighter, who made grave sacrifices for the power she so sought. Facing oppression from her husband Denis Thatcher (Jim Broadbent), Thatcher proceeds with her political agenda at the expense of her family.

The film focuses heavily on the Falklands War with Argentina when Thatcher fervently defended British sovereignty of the island. In the latter stages of her seat as leader of Britain, her most loyal cabinet member, Geoffrey Howe (Anthony Head), begins to doubt her questionable policies and disappointingly resigns, commencing the downfall of her role as Prime Minister.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, The Iron lady looks to be another stunning historical depiction brought back to life on the big screen. With the grandiosity of Streep’s acting and the esteemed career of one of the most influential female leaders of our time, these “Iron Ladies” look like they will not disappoint.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Coriolanus – A New Take on a Shakespeare Classic

In a modern day spin on the Shakespeare classic, Coriolanus tells the story of a war hero who is deceived by his people in the most unimaginable way.  Gaius Marcius Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes), a seasoned war veteran, returns to his country greeted by a warm reception, being branded a hero by his citizens. After a time of peace post-return, enemies around him arise and attempt to brand him a rouge traitor, accusing him of treason.  Being subjected to the vile sentiment from the city of Rome, whose freedom he risked his life to protect, Coriolanus vows vengeance, strategically partnering with his sworn enemy, Tullus Aufidius (Gerald Butler).

Academy award winner Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox and Jessica Chastain round out the list of prominent actors staring in this 2012 feature film.  Premiering Out of Competition at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival, the film made it’s opening at the 2011 Belgrade International Film Festival. The choice to open in Belgrade was largely due to the fact that the majority of the filming took place in Serbia.

Making his directorial debut, Ralph Fiennes produces a wonderful adaptation of the Shakespearean classic through beautiful cinematography and a well-versed plot.  Shakespeare, one of the most noted playwrights of all time, has produced play upon play of masterful talent, making tragedies a forerunner among genre ranks. Coriolanus has captured the downtrodden elegance of Shakespeare’s vision flawlessly, tailoring it today’s unrest among international affairs and creating characters and plots that hold their own under the great expectations of Shakespeare’s play.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

My Week With Marilyn

My Week With Marilyn, an upcoming British drama, tells the story of one of the world’s most stunningly tragic icons; Marilyn Monroe.  In the summer of 1956, Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) finds herself filming The Prince and The Showgirl co-staring Sir Laurence Oliver (Kenneth Branagh) in the bustling city of London.  A virgin to the English capital, Monroe befriends an assistant, a London native, on the set of her film who promises to show her the hidden treasures of the city.  Although also on her honeymoon with playwright and new husband Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott), Monroe takes a week off with her new acquaintance to escape the pressures and expectations of Hollywood.

Based on a true story, the film focuses on the accounts of Colin Clarke (Eddie Redmayne), the assistant on the British movie set, who spends an entire week with Monroe in the late 50’s.  Intimidated by her God-like fame, at first he is memorized like so much of the world, but begins to see her on a more personal level as his sympathetic character reaches out to her.  Being bogged down by a daunting workload and mind-boggling fame, Monroe seeks an escape and finds one in the humble assistant.  After spending an unforgettable week together, Clarke becomes infatuated with her, hoping she will give up her hectic lifestyle to be with him.  In the end, he struggles to understand if Marilyn was ever really in love with him to begin with.

With a star-studded cast, including Judi Dench, Emma Watson, and Dominic Cooper, My Week With Marilyn promises to deliver a captivating performance.  Michelle Williams spent over six months reading diaries, letters, biographies, poems, and notes about and from Monroe to better understand her character’s depth to bring one of Hollywood’s most iconic darlings to life.  She also spent countless hours looking at photographs, reviewing film recordings, listening to audio excerpts even rehearsed with a choreographer to perfect Monroe’s signature walk.

My Week With Marilyn stays true to form, director Simon Curtis ensures, using the same set from The Prince and The Showgirl and even Monroe’s own personal dressing room.  Bringing to life one of the world’s most cherished celebrities can be an overwhelming feat, but My Week With Marilyn captivates one man’s story with this phoneme effortlessly. The idolatry of a female actress may be unparalleled even to this day, making this film one of the season’s must-see.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Carnage

Carnage is a film about two couples who agree to sit down together and talk like civilized adults after their sons had a rather barbaric fight at school, where one of the sons knocked out two of the other boy’s teeth with a stick.

The parents of the injured boy, Michael (John C. Reilly) and Penelope (Jodie Foster), invite the offender’s parents,  Alan (Christoph Waltz) and Nancy (Kate Winslet), to their apartment, and both parties try to resolve the matter on their own. But, things become intensified when alcohol starts to loosen their formalities, and the result is a hysterical montage of verbal lashings and drunken rantings that veer far from adult-like behavior.

Skillfully staged in the living room of an apartment in Brooklyn, 78-year old Director Roman Polanski proves that small spaces are not a hindrance to making good movies. And critics apparently agree, as Carnage has been receiving a great deal of positive reviews. Though the story is not extremely intricate or diverse – the film is magnificently acted with this star-studded cast.

The film is Polanski’s adaptation of Yasmina Reza’s award-winning play, God of Carnage, and it is 80 minutes of fast-paced, clever repartee that will, surprisingly, leave you feeling glad you watched it.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

Warrior

Warrior is film about how two estranged brothers, who both enter a fighting tournament for different reasons yet end up being forced to address their relationship with each other as well as with their estranged father along the way. The youngest brother, Tommy Riordan (Tom Hardy), is an ex-Marine who has recently returned home to Pittsburgh from combat; his older brother, Brendan Conlon (Joel Edgerton), is a married man with a family, who works as a high school physics teacher; and, their father, Paddy Conlon (Nick Nolte), is a former alcoholic who has become a born-again Christian.

In the film, Tommy has no interest in reconciling with his father, but he does want something from him… his help; Tommy wants to compete in Sparta, a winner-takes-all mixed martial arts (MMA) tournament, and he asks his father to be his trainer. Brendan, on the other hand, is struggling with paying his mortgage, and if he doesn’t figure something out in three weeks, it will be foreclosed upon by the bank. Desperately in need of money, Brendan returns to his former profession as a MMA fighter and asks his old friend, Frank Campana (Frank Grillo), to train him for the same fight that his brother is entering.

Both Tommy and Brendan are able to fight off the toughest MMA fighters throughout the competition. Tommy – the more physical – prefers to wrestle and brutally knock-out his opponents, while Brendan uses his skills in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to defeat his opponents via submission. In the end, the two brothers come head to head in the final fight, and they are forced to confront their past, themselves, and their severed family ties.

Directed and produced by Gavin O’Connor, Warrior is not just about fighting for a physical prize…the interweaving of tangled broken relationship creates an emotional battle that is equally intense. It’s amazing how a film so full of adrenaline can also bring you to tears, but Warrior does, indeed, captivate you on many levels.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an adaptation of the first novel of the late Stieg Larsson’s wildly popular trilogy and is produced by Columbia Pictures. This is actually the second adaptation of the book.  The original version was produced in Sweden, where the books are set, and became a phenomenal hit in 2009, just like the books. Both films revolve around the same story, but the endings differ.

Investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is commissioned by the uncle of Harriet Vanger to write a chronicle of their influential family.  The condition is that it must include the events surrounding Harriet’s death because her uncle believes she was murdered 40 years ago by a member of their own family.

Mikael brings on computer genius Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) as his research assistant. Lisbeth is an unusual girl and to many, her tough, dark persona is off-putting, but her investigative and technological savvy cannot be denied.  They are an unlikely pair, but together they unravel the truth behind Harriet’s death, even though some of the family members take extreme measures, including attempted murder, to set them off track.

Directed by David Fincher, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is receiving a lot of opposing opinions from fans of the book and of the Swedish version of the movie. Some think that Fincher’s adaptation is an unnecessary remake of a perfectly done film. Others are thankful that a version for the English speaking world has come out. There’s a lot of anticipation, but no one will be able to determine which version is better until the film debuts.

Rebecca Wang – Producer
Rebecca Wang Entertainment