Exclusive: UK firm 101 Films International has acquired worldwide sales rights (excluding North America) for Marlene, and will launch the drama feature in Toronto this week.
Directed and produced by Wendy Hill-Tout (Bloodthirsty), who co-wrote the script with Cathy Ostlere, and co-produced by Michael Peterson (Lloyd the Conqueror), Marlene is billed as “the untold harrowing story of one woman’s fight for truth and justice – to exonerate Steven Truscott who was sentenced to hang for the murder of a 12-year-old classmate.”
Kristin Booth (Defendor), Grey Bryk (Saw V), Maxim Roy (Regenesis) and Ryan Northcott star, along with Julia Sarah Stone and Dempsey Bryk, who play young Marlene and Steven, respectively.
The synopsis reads: “Marlene Truscott is Canada’s Erin Brockovich, an ordinary housewife who fought for justice and for her husband Steven Truscott to be exonerated from a crime he didn’t commit. The Truscott story became an...
Directed and produced by Wendy Hill-Tout (Bloodthirsty), who co-wrote the script with Cathy Ostlere, and co-produced by Michael Peterson (Lloyd the Conqueror), Marlene is billed as “the untold harrowing story of one woman’s fight for truth and justice – to exonerate Steven Truscott who was sentenced to hang for the murder of a 12-year-old classmate.”
Kristin Booth (Defendor), Grey Bryk (Saw V), Maxim Roy (Regenesis) and Ryan Northcott star, along with Julia Sarah Stone and Dempsey Bryk, who play young Marlene and Steven, respectively.
The synopsis reads: “Marlene Truscott is Canada’s Erin Brockovich, an ordinary housewife who fought for justice and for her husband Steven Truscott to be exonerated from a crime he didn’t commit. The Truscott story became an...
- 9/8/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Robin Williams would have turned 69 years old today. The late comedy legend and actor passed away in August 2014. Today, in honor of Williams' birthday, fans have taken to Twitter to share tributes to the Good Will Hunting and Mrs. Doubtfire star.
Zelda Williams, the daughter of Robin Williams, actress, director and daughter of Robin Williams, took to Twitter to remember her father on his birthday. Specifically, to honor his memory, she revealed that she would be donating money to homeless shelters, while making a joke about the nature of the number 69, which is how old her father would have been.
"Today would've been Dad's 69th birthday, so to honor him (& that glorious number), I will be donating $69.69 to as many local homeless shelters as I can. Join me if you like, but regardless, know I am wishing you all at least one hearty, immature belly laugh on Dad today"
Following her initial post,...
Zelda Williams, the daughter of Robin Williams, actress, director and daughter of Robin Williams, took to Twitter to remember her father on his birthday. Specifically, to honor his memory, she revealed that she would be donating money to homeless shelters, while making a joke about the nature of the number 69, which is how old her father would have been.
"Today would've been Dad's 69th birthday, so to honor him (& that glorious number), I will be donating $69.69 to as many local homeless shelters as I can. Join me if you like, but regardless, know I am wishing you all at least one hearty, immature belly laugh on Dad today"
Following her initial post,...
- 7/21/2020
- by Ryan Scott
- MovieWeb
Film review: 'Mystery, Alaska'
A not-so-mysterious misfire, Hollywood Pictures' gruff, grandiose hockey movie was filmed almost two years ago as one of the more ballyhooed "runaway" productions -- the filmmakers built a fictional Alaskan town in a gorgeous alpine valley in Alberta, Canada.
"Mystery, Alaska", co-written and -produced by hockey fan/player and king of the TV world David E. Kelley, is a hybrid of sports movies and TV sitcoms with little originality and few surprises or memorably rough edges, except a few of those swear words about which Kevin Costner has made such a fuss.
Skating into theaters with an underdog's chance of equaling the boxoffice performance of Disney's puck-centric "Mighty Ducks" films, "Mystery" has all-star teams behind and in front of the camera. But like so many underachieving squads in the sports world -- often with sky-high player salaries like a certain local baseball team -- the sure-fire formula for success proves weak when the execution is sloppy.
Director Jay Roach has made summer megahit "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" since "Mystery" wrapped in early 1998, and Kelley recently made Emmy history by winning top awards for "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal". So their somewhat-tardy-to-the-parade movie has nothing to lose -- which is lucky for all involved because it won't impress many critics favorably or stick around long in theaters.
Screenwriters Kelley and Sean O'Byrne take their time introducing the film's central premise -- a legendary town of hockey players is set up by one of their own to play an "exhibition" game against the National Hockey League's New York Rangers -- but the road to the big climax is bumpy, and the characters are the usual motley assortment of ignoble Main Streeters.
Leading the ensemble pack is Russell Crowe as the sheriff and record holder for most years playing in the "Saturday game", a weekly ritual that inspires reporter Hank Azaria to write a Sports Illustrated story that brings the town much fame and an offer to host the Rangers in a heavily publicized, televised game of "pond hockey."
Mary McCormack ("True Crime") is the local girl who married Crowe's stable guy, but Azaria's scheming showoff is her former beau and continues to flirt when she sends out steadily more wavering vibes of fulfillment and permanence in her life in the sticks.
The leisurely paced, episodic scenario affords measurable time for about a dozen characters to undergo major changes during the buildup to and playing of the game, including Colm Meaney as the hockey-obsessed mayor and Lolita Davidovich as his cheating wife; Ron Eldard as the team's Don Juan and the cause of its problems; Ryan Northcott as the superstar rookie who briefly replaces Crowe's veteran on the ice and who has a joyfully turbulent romantic initiation with sweetheart Rachel Wilson, whose father (Burt Reynolds) is the town's bearish judge and reluctant coach.
Making a relatively early exit is Maury Chaykin (not having a good year following his prominent role in disastrous Cannes opener "Barber of Siberia") as a lawyer who makes an impassioned plea on behalf of the town when the game is nearly canceled. His character pays the price for being the messenger of Kelley and O'Byrne's ongoing corn chowder of pride, humility and overblown theatrics.
Other "Mystery" cast members of note include Michael McKean as a jumpy, foul-mouthed salesman; Kevin Durand as the team's gentle Goliath; and Judith Ivey as the wife of Reynolds' judge-coach.
Appearing in only a few scenes, Mike Myers is a hoot as a guest commentator on the broadcast of the final game, which includes spirited contributions from Little Richard and NHL vets Jim Fox, Doug McLeod and Phil Esposito playing themselves. While there is the usual compression of long periods of play during which nothing happens into a few brief scenes of crowd-pleasing scoring action, the game's function in rallying the spirits of the outmatched but determined Alaskans (and the audience) is decidedly dragged out, forcing curt resolutions for the many plot lines.
MYSTERY, ALASKA
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Hollywood Pictures presents
a Baldwin/Cohen-Rocking Chair production
Director: Jay Roach
Screenwriters: David E. Kelley, Sean O'Byrne
Producers: David E. Kelley, Howard Baldwin
Executive producer: Dan Kolsrud
Director of photography: Peter Deming
Production designer: Rusty Smith
Editor: Jon Poll
Costume designer: Deena Appel
Music: Carter Burwell
Casting: Linda Lowy, John Brace
Color/stereo
Cast:
John Biebe: Russell Crowe
Donna Biebe: Mary McCormack
Charles Danner: Hank Azaria
Judge Walter Burns: Burt Reynolds
Mayor Scott Pitcher: Colm Meaney
Mary Jane Pitcher: Lolita Davidovich
Bailey Pruitt: Maury Chaykin
"Skank" Marden: Ron Eldard
Stevie Weeks: Ryan Northcott
Marla Burns: Rachel Wilson
Mr. Walsh: Michael McKean
"Tree" Lane: Kevin Durand
Joanne Burns: Judith Ivey
Running time -- 118 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
"Mystery, Alaska", co-written and -produced by hockey fan/player and king of the TV world David E. Kelley, is a hybrid of sports movies and TV sitcoms with little originality and few surprises or memorably rough edges, except a few of those swear words about which Kevin Costner has made such a fuss.
Skating into theaters with an underdog's chance of equaling the boxoffice performance of Disney's puck-centric "Mighty Ducks" films, "Mystery" has all-star teams behind and in front of the camera. But like so many underachieving squads in the sports world -- often with sky-high player salaries like a certain local baseball team -- the sure-fire formula for success proves weak when the execution is sloppy.
Director Jay Roach has made summer megahit "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" since "Mystery" wrapped in early 1998, and Kelley recently made Emmy history by winning top awards for "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal". So their somewhat-tardy-to-the-parade movie has nothing to lose -- which is lucky for all involved because it won't impress many critics favorably or stick around long in theaters.
Screenwriters Kelley and Sean O'Byrne take their time introducing the film's central premise -- a legendary town of hockey players is set up by one of their own to play an "exhibition" game against the National Hockey League's New York Rangers -- but the road to the big climax is bumpy, and the characters are the usual motley assortment of ignoble Main Streeters.
Leading the ensemble pack is Russell Crowe as the sheriff and record holder for most years playing in the "Saturday game", a weekly ritual that inspires reporter Hank Azaria to write a Sports Illustrated story that brings the town much fame and an offer to host the Rangers in a heavily publicized, televised game of "pond hockey."
Mary McCormack ("True Crime") is the local girl who married Crowe's stable guy, but Azaria's scheming showoff is her former beau and continues to flirt when she sends out steadily more wavering vibes of fulfillment and permanence in her life in the sticks.
The leisurely paced, episodic scenario affords measurable time for about a dozen characters to undergo major changes during the buildup to and playing of the game, including Colm Meaney as the hockey-obsessed mayor and Lolita Davidovich as his cheating wife; Ron Eldard as the team's Don Juan and the cause of its problems; Ryan Northcott as the superstar rookie who briefly replaces Crowe's veteran on the ice and who has a joyfully turbulent romantic initiation with sweetheart Rachel Wilson, whose father (Burt Reynolds) is the town's bearish judge and reluctant coach.
Making a relatively early exit is Maury Chaykin (not having a good year following his prominent role in disastrous Cannes opener "Barber of Siberia") as a lawyer who makes an impassioned plea on behalf of the town when the game is nearly canceled. His character pays the price for being the messenger of Kelley and O'Byrne's ongoing corn chowder of pride, humility and overblown theatrics.
Other "Mystery" cast members of note include Michael McKean as a jumpy, foul-mouthed salesman; Kevin Durand as the team's gentle Goliath; and Judith Ivey as the wife of Reynolds' judge-coach.
Appearing in only a few scenes, Mike Myers is a hoot as a guest commentator on the broadcast of the final game, which includes spirited contributions from Little Richard and NHL vets Jim Fox, Doug McLeod and Phil Esposito playing themselves. While there is the usual compression of long periods of play during which nothing happens into a few brief scenes of crowd-pleasing scoring action, the game's function in rallying the spirits of the outmatched but determined Alaskans (and the audience) is decidedly dragged out, forcing curt resolutions for the many plot lines.
MYSTERY, ALASKA
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Hollywood Pictures presents
a Baldwin/Cohen-Rocking Chair production
Director: Jay Roach
Screenwriters: David E. Kelley, Sean O'Byrne
Producers: David E. Kelley, Howard Baldwin
Executive producer: Dan Kolsrud
Director of photography: Peter Deming
Production designer: Rusty Smith
Editor: Jon Poll
Costume designer: Deena Appel
Music: Carter Burwell
Casting: Linda Lowy, John Brace
Color/stereo
Cast:
John Biebe: Russell Crowe
Donna Biebe: Mary McCormack
Charles Danner: Hank Azaria
Judge Walter Burns: Burt Reynolds
Mayor Scott Pitcher: Colm Meaney
Mary Jane Pitcher: Lolita Davidovich
Bailey Pruitt: Maury Chaykin
"Skank" Marden: Ron Eldard
Stevie Weeks: Ryan Northcott
Marla Burns: Rachel Wilson
Mr. Walsh: Michael McKean
"Tree" Lane: Kevin Durand
Joanne Burns: Judith Ivey
Running time -- 118 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 9/27/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.