Rodriguez to Star in New Regency’s Heist Thriller “Widows”

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez is turning to a life of crime…

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican-American actress has joined the cast of New Regency’s heist thriller Widows from British helmer Steve McQueen.

Rodriguez will join Oscar-nominated actress Viola Davis, as well as Cynthia Erivo.

Gone Girl scribe Gillian Flynn co-wrote the script with McQueen, based on the 1983 British miniseries penned by Lynda LaPlante (Prime Suspect).

The story begins when four armed robbers are killed during a failed heist and their surviving widows join forces and resolve to pull off the next raid themselves.

Widows marks McQueen’s first feature since winning the Best Picture Oscar for 12 Years a Slave in 2014.

Rodriguez, who made a name for herself with roles in Universal Pictures’ hit Fast and Furious franchise, has starred in Avatar, Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Retribution. Her other credits include Girlfight, S.W.A.T. and Battle: Los Angeles.

González Iñárritu to Receive Director of the Year Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro González Iñárritu may have a little extra spring in his step after his latest award…

The 51-year-old Mexican film director will receive this year’s Director of the Year Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival‘s 26th annual Awards Gala on January 3.

Inarritu, who has said that Birdman is a semi-autobiographical project, has already received Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice nominations for his co-writing and direction of the project.

He previously received PSIFF‘s Director of the Year Award in 2007 for his work on Babel (2006).

Other previous recipients of the PSIFF prize include Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave (2013), Robert Zemeckis for Flight (2012), Stephen Daldry for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011), David O. Russell for The Fighter (2010), Jason Reitman for Up in the Air (2009), Sean Penn for Into the Wild (2007) and Alexander Payne for Sideways (2004).

“By creating the illusion that the film was shot in one take and directing award-worthy performances by Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone and a star-studded cast, Inarritu,” PSIFF chairman Harold Matzner said in a statement. “Inarritu has created a brilliant and original dark comedy.”

The film festival will run January 2-12.

Gonzalez Iñárritu’s “Birdman” Earns Six London Critics’ Circle Film Awards Nominations

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu’s awards season just keeps getting better…

The 51-year-old Mexican filmmaker’s critically acclaimed film Birdman has picked up six nominations from the London Critics’ Circle.

In addition to earning a nomination in the Film of the Year category as the film’s producer, Gonzalez Iñárritu also picked up two individual nods. He’s up for Director of the Year for helming the dark comedy starring Michael Keaton, as well as Screenwriter of the Year for co-penning the script.

Meanwhile, Birdman lenser Emmanuel Lubezki is nominated in the Technical Achievement Award category for his cinematography on the film.

Gonzalez Iñárritu and Lubezki have earned a lot of love already this awards season, earning recognition from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the Gotham Independent Film Awards.

The awards are voted on by leading print, online and broadcast film critics.

Last year’s top winners, — 12 Years A Slave, Alfonso Cuaron, Cate Blanchett and Chiwetel Ejiofor — were all mirrored at the BAFTA Awards.

This year’s winners will be announced on January 18 in London.

Here’s the list of categories featuring Latino nominees:

FILM OF THE YEAR
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ida
Leviathan
Mr Turner
Nightcrawler
The Theory Of Everything
Under The Skin
Whiplash

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Jonathan Glazer – Under The Skin
Alejandro G Iñárritu – Birdman
Richard Linklater – Boyhood
Mike Leigh – Mr Turner

SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Damien Chazelle – Whiplash
Dan Gilroy – Nightcrawler
Alejandro G Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris & Armando Bo – Birdman
 Richard Linklater – Boyhood

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
’71 – Chris Wyatt, editing
Birdman – Emmanuel Lubezki, cinematography
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes – Joe Letteri, visual effects
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Adam Stockhausen, production design
Inherent Vice – Mark Bridges, costumes
Leviathan – Mikhail Krichman, cinematography
Mr Turner – Dick Pope, cinematography
A Most Violent Year – Kasia Walicka-Maimone, costumes
Under The Skin – Mica Levi, score
Whiplash – Tom Cross, editing

ABC Orders Martinez’s “American Crime” to Series

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Crime apparently does pay for Benito Martinez…

ABC has ordered to series American Crime, which stars the 42-year-old Latino actor.

From ABC Studios, the dark, racially charged drama, starring Timothy Hutton and Felicity Huffman, centers on a young couple in Modesto, California, who are attacked in their home.

Matt Skokie, a war vet, was killed, and his wife, Lily, is unconscious, barely hanging on. Both sets of parents are at her bedside hoping for a miracle while four suspects are about to be arrested. The case sends shock waves into the community stirring up tensions across racial lines in this gritty drama.

Benito Martinez, best known for hisroles on Sons of Anarchy, Supernatural and The Shield, portrays Alonzo Gutierrez.

Martinez’s costars W. Earl Brown, Richard Cabral, Penelope Ann Miller, Elvis Nolasco and Johnny Ortiz.

American Crime was written, directed and produced by John Ridley (12 Years A Slave).

González Iñárritu’s Black Comedy “Birdman” to be Released in October

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s next project will be migrating to theaters in October…

Fox Searchlight co-president Stephen Gilula has announced that the 50-year-old Mexican filmmaker’s Birdman will open in theaters on Friday, October 17.

The film isn’t expected to complete post-production until late May or early June, with producers it eyeing fall festivals for its premiere.

It’s González Iñárritu’s first black comedy, following the Academy Award-nominated director’s dramatic films Amores perros (2000), 21 Grams (2003), Babel (2006) and Biutiful.

“It’s the heart of the fall, and a great time historically for us with films like Sideways, 12 Years A Slave, and historically Slumdog Millionaire and Black Swan,” Gilula tells Deadline.com. “We’ve had great success launching films at festivals, but this hasn’t been screened for anyone, despite the speculation. Alejandro is famous for his meticulous work in post-production, and this film is unusual for him in that is has some visual effects, and an unusual sound design. The most important thing is to make sure that the film is right.”

The film has an all-star cast that includes Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone and his muse Naomi Watts, who appeared in the director’s Babel and 21 Grams.

Keaton plays a washed up actor who once played an iconic superhero who tries to mount a stage play despite his dysfunction and the dysfunction of others in his repertoire.

Inarritu wrote the film with Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo.

Cuaron Named Best Director at the Britain’s Empire Awards

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

There seems to be no stopping Alfonso Cuaron when it comes to picking up prizes…

The 52-year-old Mexican filmmaker, who took home two Academy Awards earlier this month, was named Best Director at the Jameson Empire Awards for helming the Sandra Bullock-starrer Gravity.

The mastermind behind the 3D sci-fi film beat out The World’s End’s Edgar Wright, Captain Phillips’ Paul Greengrass, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug’s Peter Jackson and 12 Years A Slave’s Steve McQueen for the honor.

In addition, Cuaron’s Gravity was named Best Film. It beat out 12 Years a Slave, Captain Phillips, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire to win the coveted award.

The 2014 Jameson Empire Awards were held Sunday, March 30 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The Empire Awards are an accolade bestowed by Empire, Britain’s biggest selling film magazine, to recognize excellence of professionals in the local and global film industry. The awards are voted for by readers of the magazine and in an annual ceremony

Here’s a look at the complete list of Empire Award winner:

The Legend of Our Lifetime: Tom Cruise
The Action Hero of Our Lifetime: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Empire Icon: Hugh Jackman
Empire Hero: Simon Pegg
Empire Inspiration: Paul Greengrass
Best Male Newcomer: Aidan Turner (“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”)
Best Female Newcomer: Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”)
Best Horror: “The Conjuring”
Best Comedy: “Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa”
Best Thriller: “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”
Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy: “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”
Best Supporting Actor: Michael Fassbender (“12 Years a Slave”)
Best Supporting Actress: Sally Hawkins (“Blue Jasmine”)
Best British Film: “The World’s End”
Best Actress: Emma Thompson (“Saving Mr. Banks”)
Jameson Best Actor: James McAvoy (“Filth”)
Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron (“Gravity”)
Best Film: “Gravity”

Peña to Star in the Heist Thriller “Triple Nine”

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña is heading back to the force…

The 36-year-old Mexican American actor, who earned a Spirit Award nomination for his performance in the police drama End of Watch, will star in the heist thriller Triple Nine.

Directed by John Hillcoat, the drama centers on a crew of dirty cops that is blackmailed by the Russian mob to execute a virtually impossible heist. The only way to pull it off is to manufacture a 999, police code for “officer down.” Their plan is turned upside down when the unsuspecting rookie officer they set up to die foils the attack, triggering a breakneck, action-packed finale filled with double-crosses, greed and revenge.

In addition to Peña, the film’s all-star cast includes Fruitvale Station’s Michael B. Jordan, Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, Warm Bodies’ Teresa Palmer and Gal Gadot, 12 Years A Slave‘s Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck and Kate Winslet.

Open Road Films, which just completed a deal to pre-buy domestic distribution rights on Triple Nine, plans to release the film in 2015.

Lubezki Wins American Society of Cinematographers Award for “Gravity”

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

The (Oscars) future looks bright for Emmanuel Lubezki…

The Mexican cinematographer took home an ASC Award at the 28th annual American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Achievement Awards on Saturday at the Hollywood & Highland Ray Dolby Ballroom.

Lubezki earned the prize in the in the theatrical motion picture category for lensing Alfonso Cuarón’s 3D sci-fi thriller Gravity.

He topped a field of nominees that included Sean Bobbitt for 12 Years a Slave, Barry Ackroyd for Captain Phillips, Philippe Le Sourd for The Grandmaster, Bruno Delbonnel for Inside Llewyn Davis, Phedon Papamichael for Nebraska and Roger Deakins for Prisoners.

It’s the third ASC feature award for Lubezki, who previously won for Children of Men and The Tree of Life.

The win puts Lubezki in some select company. In the event’s 28-year history, only one cinematographer, the late Conrad Hall, won the feature category an unprecedented four times. And, Lubezki now joins fellow nominee Deakins as the only cinematographers with three wins in the category.

Also this year, Lubezki received his sixth Oscar nomination, and is vying for his first Academy Award.

Here’s a complete list of winners:

Film
Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC, Gravity

One-hour Episodic Television Series:
Jonathan Freeman, ASC, HBO’s Game of Thrones, “Valar Dohaeris”

Television Movie/Miniseries:
Jeremy Benning, CSC, National Geographic Channel’s Killing Lincoln

Half-Hour Episodic Series:
Blake McClure, Comedy Central’s Drunk History, “Detroit”

Spotlight Award
Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski, Ida

Cuarón Wins Directors Guild of America Award for “Gravity”

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

The prizes just keep coming for Alfonso Cuarón…

The 52-year-old Mexican filmmaker took home the top honor at the 66th annual Directors Guild of America Awards, held Saturday.

Cuarón, who won his first-ever Producers Guild of America Award last weekend, was announced as the final winner of the night for his critically acclaimed work helming the 3D sci-fi thriller Gravity.

He beat out Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), David O. Russell (American Hustle), Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips) and Martin Scorsese (Wolf of Wall Street) for the DGA Award.

During a special presentation to Cuarón, Gravity star Sandra Bullock made a few jokes about Cuaron’s thick accent during shooting, but then praised him for his bravery and imagination.

“You not only gave me a once in a lifetime opportunity but you gave it to me when I thought I had nothing left to offer as an actor,” she said.

Cuarón is now considered the frontrunner to take home the Oscar for Best Director at this year’s upcoming Academy Awards, where he’s up for three awards.

Cuarón Wins First-Ever Producers Guild of America Award

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Alfonso Cuarón has made history at the Producers Guild of America Awards…

The 52-year-old Mexican filmmaker not only picked up the first PGA Award of his career, but Cuarón is also part of a historic tie.

For the first time in its 25-year history, the Producers Guild of America bestowed its top prize on two films during Sunday’s awards ceremony.

Cuarón’s 3D sci-fi thriller Gravity and Steve McQueen‘s historical epic 12 Years a Slave both won the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for outstanding producer of theatrical motion pictures at the show, which took place at the Beverly Hilton.

For the past six years, every feature film chosen by the Producers Guild for its top honor has gone on to be named the best picture at the Academy Awards.

Even though a tie at the Oscars is unlikely, the first-time PGA split keeps the Academy Awards race wide open in one of the tightest three-way battles in years. It may have been shut out by the producers, but David O. Russell‘s con caper American Hustle is also still very much in the running following a week of big showings at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

In the television categories, AMC‘s Breaking Bad won for best episodic drama, while ABC‘s Modern Family scored the win for best episodic comedy. HBO‘s Behind the Candelabra won in the longform category.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures (TIE):
Gravity
12 Years a Slave

Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures:
We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks

Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:
Frozen

David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Longform Television (TV Movies and Miniseries):
Behind the Candelabra

Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama:
Breaking Bad

Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy:
Modern Family

Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television:
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Outstanding Producer of Competition Television:
The Voice

Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television:
The Colbert Report

Outstanding Sports Program:
SportsCenter

Outstanding Children’s Program:
Sesame Street

Outstanding Digital Series:
Wired: What’s Inside

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: 12 Years a Slave