60 Films Set for 13th New York Asian Film Festival Opening June 27: Film Society Lincoln Center

Brian Brooks from the Film Society Lincoln Center writes: “The international premiere of Alan Mak and Felix Chong’s crime thriller Overheard 3 will open the New York Asian Film Festival on June 27. The 13th edition of the festival will showcase 60 features, including 20 North American, six U.S., and 11 New York premieres, in addition to filmmaker and celebrity guests from Asia and Australia, announced the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Subway Cinema, in association with the Japan Society, on Friday…

In addition to screenings, NYAFF will honor a host of actors from various Asian countries. Chinese director Jimmy Wang Yu will receive the 2014 Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award. He has set the template for modern kung-fu movies with The Chinese Boxer (1970), and was instrumental in kicking off the swordfighting (wuxia) movie craze with his star-making performance in Chang Cheh’s The One Armed-Swordsman (1967). His recent roles include Peter Chan’s Wu Xia (aka Dragon, 2011) and Chung Mong-hong’s art-house slasher Soul (2013).

This year’s Star Asia Award recipients will include Hong Kong’s award-winning Queen of Comedy and most bankable actress Sandra Ng, who has starred in over 100 movies, as well as Korea’s Sol Kyung-gu, whose career career has spanned both high art (Oasis) and mass-appeal blockbusters (Cold Eyes). The inaugural The Celebrity Award will be presented to Park Joong-hoon, who’s been Korea’s top leading man since the 1980s (Lee Myung-se’s Nowhere to Hide), and has recently taken the director’s chair with Top Star (2013).”

The lineup is massive and can be perused in detail at the Film Society of Lincoln Center website.

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Roland Emmerich to Direct Stargate Reboot: Comingsoon.net

Since there is truly no originality in the biz right now anyway, I choose to celebrate the bringing back of a franchise that puts a big, fat smile on my face.

Coming Soon writes: “On the heels of yesterday’s update on the status of director Roland Emmerich’s much-anticipated Independence Day sequel comes some exciting news about another one of Emmerich’s 1990s sci-fi hits. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, together with Emmerich and Dean Devlin, are partnering to launch a new feature film trilogy that reimagines 1994’s Stargate. The announcement was made today by Gary Barber, MGM’s Chairman and CEO. Emmerich, who directed and co-wrote the original film with Devlin, is confirmed to direct and Devlin will produce…

Barber said, “We couldn’t be more excited to once again partner with Roland and Dean, the world-class creators of the original ‘Stargate,’ to bring their reinvigorated vision of this wildly popular property to audiences of multiple generations.” He added, “’Stargate’ is one of the biggest titles in MGM’s vast library, and we look forward to adding this great franchise to our slate.”

“The ‘Stargate’ universe is one that we missed terribly, and we cannot wait to get going on imagining new adventures and situations for the trilogy. This story is very close to our hearts, and getting the chance to revisit this world is in many ways like a long lost child that has found its way back home,” said Emmerich and Devlin.”

Read more from Comingsoon here.

Peeping Tom Star: Karlheinz Böhm-Obituary-The Guardian (UK)

Peeping Tom was a career defining moment for its director Michael Powell. Once a beloved, innovative director of British films such as The Red Shoes, The Life and Times of Colonel Blimp and A Matter of Life and Death, Powell released Peeping Tom, a film about a film-obsessed serial killer which met a deafening backlash in the UK, ending his illustrious career.

The film is a superb and chilling chronicle of madness brought on by abuse and how it twists one’s psyche into sometimes dangerous directions and Karlheinz Bohm performance as the madman is skillful, while emotionally detached and strangely relatable. While ruining Powell’s career, it expanded Bohm’s, ushering him into more English-speaking roles and a wider audience.

Karlheinz Bohm died at the age of 86 and The Guardian penned a fitting goodbye for an actor with a long and varied career.

Ronald Bergan writes: “Among contrasting roles in the career of the actor Karlheinz Böhm, who has died aged 86, were a romantic portrayal of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria in the hugely popular trio of Sissi films (1955, 1956, 1957), the creepy title role in Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom (1960) and unsympathetic characters in the films of Rainer Werner Fassbinder in the 1970s. In addition, as befitted the son of the great Austrian conductor Karl Böhm and the soprano Thea Linhard, he portrayed Schubert in Blossom Time (1958) and Beethoven in The Magnificent Rebel (1962).”

Read his full obituary here.

Filmography
1953: Salto Mortale
1955: Sissi – director: Ernst Marischka
1956: Sissi – Die junge Kaiserin
1956: ‘Die Ehe des Dr. med. Danwitz
1957: Sissi – Schicksalsjahre einer Kaiserin
1957: Das Schloß in Tirol
1957: Blaue Jungs
1958: Man müßte nochmal zwanzig sein
1959: La Paloma – director: Paul Martin
1958: Das Dreimäderlhaus
1958: The Stowaway
1958: That Won’t Keep a Sailor Down
1960: Peeping Tom – director: Michael Powell
1960: Der Gauner und der liebe Gott
1961: Die vier apokalyptischen Reiter
1962: Schicksals-Sinfonie
1962: The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm
1963: Come Fly with Me : Baron Franz Von Elzingen
1969: Traumnovelle
1973: Martha – director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
1974: Faustrecht der Freiheit – director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
1974: Effi Briest – director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
1975: Mutter Küsters Fahrt zum Himmel – director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
1980: Ringstraßenpalais – TV series
2009: Oben – voice only

‘Adjustment Bureau’ Director to Helm Bruce Lee Biopic (Variety)

Variety’s Dave McNary broke news about Adjustment Bureau‘s helmer George Nolfi becoming attached to the Bruce Lee biopic Birth of the Dragon.  McNary goes further to state, “The film will be produced by QED topper Bill Block, Groundswell CEO Michael London, Janice Williams, Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen Rivele. Kelly Mullen of Groundswell exec produces.

London told Variety that producers are aiming to begin shooting next spring. Nolfi will first work on the TV series “The Legion.”

The film is inspired by the true story of Bruce Lee’s historic 1965 duel with Wong Jack Man, China’s most famous kung fu master at a time when San Francisco’s Chinatown was controlled by Hong Kong Triads.”

We know already that Nolfi can direct action and based on his history penning several screenplays, such as The Bourne Ultimatum, The Sentinel and Timeline, the film should enjoy a rich narrative foundation as well.

Gareth Evans’ ‘The Raid 2’ Gets A Blu-ray Birthday

 

Distributed stateside by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Gareth Evans‘ monster hit The Raid 2 is slated for release on July 8th on both Blu-ray and DVD.   I imagine that all of the hammer-wielding, pole breaking and cement slapping action will translate well to television screens; however, nothing quite compares to seeing this film in a packed theater where the audience reaction grows from a giggly grumble to an eruption of shouting and applause.  So if you haven’t had the chance to catch this while it’s still enjoying a theatrical run, do so before it’s too late.  You won’t be sorry.

Iko Uwais reprises his role as Rama and the narrative begins shortly after where The Raid left off.  In order to keep his wife and child safe, Rama is persuaded, rather forcefully, to enter prison as an undercover agent to infiltrate the local mob syndicate.  The film would be a mighty bore if everything went as planned…  Poor Rama, the guy really can’t catch a break.

No word yet on extras but there are bound to be updates before the release date.  Get your hands on a copy here.

 

Released On This Day: Martin Scorsese on “Dial M For Murder”

On this day back in 1954, Alfred Hitchcock‘s masterpiece Dial M For Murder was released in theaters in it’s original 3-D format.  The initial run was brief and a new “flat” (non 3-D) version emerged which enjoyed a more conventional theatrical stay.   It has since been awarded several re-releases including a healthy dose of 3-D screenings, one of which I was lucky enough to attend.

At one screening in particular held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills on June 19th of last year, Martin Scorsese introduced the film with thoughts on his history with the film and Hitchcock’s use of the 3-D format.  Presented by The Academy, it’s definitely worth a look.

 

Release Date for ‘Recollection’, A Book Remembering Sharon Tate

Usually when one speaks and remembers Sharon Tate, they speak of her tragic death at the hands of Mansion family members.  A new book called Recollection, which is authored by Sharon’s sister Debra Tate, takes a decidedly different approach.  It shifts the focus away from her horrific end to celebrate the successes she experienced in her life and career, such as her early and prolific modeling career, marriage to film director Roman Polanski and her appearance in numerous films and television shows including The Fearless Vampire Killers, Valley of the Dolls and The Beverly Hillbillies.

The narrative of her life is displayed through images and essay recollections from those who were near and/or dear to her.  Contributors include Jane Fonda, Joan Collins, Bert Stern and Elke Sommer.  Recollections includes an introduction from Roman Polanksi.

Available on June 10th from Running Press, the book should prove to be an interesting read for anyone interested not only in fashion icons, but also 60’s youth-driven cinema.

Get all the information your heart desires about the publication from the press website, here.