In today’s film news roundup, Isabela Merced get cast opposite Jason Momoa, “Starbright” gets financing and Afm announces its speakers.
Casting
Isabela Merced, formerly Isabela Moner, has come on board to portray the daughter of Jason Momoa in his upcoming revenge thriller “Sweet Girl” for Netflix.
Momoa will play a devastated man who vows to bring justice to the people responsible for his wife’s death while protecting his daughter, who is the only family he has left. “Sweet Girl” is written by Gregg Hurwitz, Philip Eisner and Will Staples. Brian Mendoza will direct. Momoa, Brad Peyton and Jeff Fierson are producing for Netflix.
Merced starred as the lead in Paramount’s “Dora and the Lost City of Gold,” which grossed more than $60 million domestically. Production of the “Sweet Girl” will take place in Pittsburgh.
Merced, who recently changed her name from Isabela Moner to honor her late Peruvian grandmother,...
Casting
Isabela Merced, formerly Isabela Moner, has come on board to portray the daughter of Jason Momoa in his upcoming revenge thriller “Sweet Girl” for Netflix.
Momoa will play a devastated man who vows to bring justice to the people responsible for his wife’s death while protecting his daughter, who is the only family he has left. “Sweet Girl” is written by Gregg Hurwitz, Philip Eisner and Will Staples. Brian Mendoza will direct. Momoa, Brad Peyton and Jeff Fierson are producing for Netflix.
Merced starred as the lead in Paramount’s “Dora and the Lost City of Gold,” which grossed more than $60 million domestically. Production of the “Sweet Girl” will take place in Pittsburgh.
Merced, who recently changed her name from Isabela Moner to honor her late Peruvian grandmother,...
- 10/22/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Good intentions and nice production values aside, "Frontline" is an awkwardly rendered war psycho-drama sabotaged by unfocused direction, a nonsensical script and uneven performances.
Screened at the Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival, this "Thin Red Line"-esque take on World War I will unlikely make it to the theatrical front line, finding itself dispatched directly to the video battlefield.
Jason London ("Dazed and Confused") plays Robert, a soldier, deserter and coward who runs smack dab over enemy lines, unwittingly presenting himself as a gift to the Germans.
Robert nevertheless attempts a getaway when his captors come across a downed German biplane and its seriously wounded pilot, Ludwig Haig (Lenny Von Dohlen), who happens to be a revered flying ace.
While Robert's escape bid proves futile, he strikes an odd friendship with Haig, as well as with mysterious and beautiful Catherine (Rya Kihlstedt), which raises the ire of crazed Capt. Wolfgang Mueller (John Savage), himself smitten with the unreciprocating French woman.
When it appears she likes Robert better, the jealous captain flies into a rage, stabs the American and takes Catherine and a small band of disillusioned soldiers deep into a thicket, which symbolizes an increasingly surreal journey into the heart of darkness.
Robert survives and goes after Catherine and company, as various hallucinatory images pop up along the way.
With its obvious thematic nods to "Apocalypse Now", "Frontline" wants to be more than your average war picture, but the harder it tries to reach for meaning in a world where meaning has been turned on its ear, the more ludicrous it becomes.
Director Quinton Peeples has a talent for artful composition, but it's at the expense of effective storytelling and basic character interaction.
Speaking of characters, the film offers a generous selection of really bad German accents that at least distract from the shaky performances, led by Savage's clenched grimaces.
On the encouraging side, "Frontline" looks and sounds a lot bigger than its budget with some fine, vivid camera work from Keith Smith, resourceful period touches from production designer Wendy Samuels and a rich, multilayered score by Lawrence Shragge.
FRONTLINE
Showcase Entertainment
in association with Arthur Chang/Kingman Films
Director: Quinton Peeples
Producer: Arthur Chang
Screenwriters: Joseph Bitonti & Francesco Lucente
Executive producer: Peter Rosten
Director of photography: Keith Smith
Production designer: Wendy Samuels
Editors: Danny Spahire and Ila Von Hasperg-Abelson
Music: Lawrence Shragge
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ludwig Haig: Lenny Von Dohlen
Capt. Wolfgang Mueller: John Savage
Robert: Jason London
Catherine: Rya Kihlstedt
Running time -- 95 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Screened at the Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival, this "Thin Red Line"-esque take on World War I will unlikely make it to the theatrical front line, finding itself dispatched directly to the video battlefield.
Jason London ("Dazed and Confused") plays Robert, a soldier, deserter and coward who runs smack dab over enemy lines, unwittingly presenting himself as a gift to the Germans.
Robert nevertheless attempts a getaway when his captors come across a downed German biplane and its seriously wounded pilot, Ludwig Haig (Lenny Von Dohlen), who happens to be a revered flying ace.
While Robert's escape bid proves futile, he strikes an odd friendship with Haig, as well as with mysterious and beautiful Catherine (Rya Kihlstedt), which raises the ire of crazed Capt. Wolfgang Mueller (John Savage), himself smitten with the unreciprocating French woman.
When it appears she likes Robert better, the jealous captain flies into a rage, stabs the American and takes Catherine and a small band of disillusioned soldiers deep into a thicket, which symbolizes an increasingly surreal journey into the heart of darkness.
Robert survives and goes after Catherine and company, as various hallucinatory images pop up along the way.
With its obvious thematic nods to "Apocalypse Now", "Frontline" wants to be more than your average war picture, but the harder it tries to reach for meaning in a world where meaning has been turned on its ear, the more ludicrous it becomes.
Director Quinton Peeples has a talent for artful composition, but it's at the expense of effective storytelling and basic character interaction.
Speaking of characters, the film offers a generous selection of really bad German accents that at least distract from the shaky performances, led by Savage's clenched grimaces.
On the encouraging side, "Frontline" looks and sounds a lot bigger than its budget with some fine, vivid camera work from Keith Smith, resourceful period touches from production designer Wendy Samuels and a rich, multilayered score by Lawrence Shragge.
FRONTLINE
Showcase Entertainment
in association with Arthur Chang/Kingman Films
Director: Quinton Peeples
Producer: Arthur Chang
Screenwriters: Joseph Bitonti & Francesco Lucente
Executive producer: Peter Rosten
Director of photography: Keith Smith
Production designer: Wendy Samuels
Editors: Danny Spahire and Ila Von Hasperg-Abelson
Music: Lawrence Shragge
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ludwig Haig: Lenny Von Dohlen
Capt. Wolfgang Mueller: John Savage
Robert: Jason London
Catherine: Rya Kihlstedt
Running time -- 95 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 3/22/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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