Meet Sandra Bullock's character in 'Minions'

Universal and Illumination Entertainment on Tuesday have released a second trailer for the upcoming "Despicable Me" spin-off film, which takes the trio of minions named Kevin, Stuart and Bob to the "largest gathering of super villains anywhere."

Basically a continuation of the first trailer that revealed the origins of the yellow henchmen, the new two-and-a-half minute clip introduces Sandra Bullock's character and main villain of the movie, Scarlet Overkill.

"Scarlet Overkill has fantastic hair, wears great clothes and has a lethal uppercut," said producer Chris Meledandri, head of Illumination Entertainment in a report on USA Today.

"When we turn her loose on the world, she is going to come out standing on top," he added.

Joining the award-winning actress as part of the voice cast of the film are Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney and Steve Coogan.

"Minions" is set to hit theaters on July 10, 2015.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Gravity,' 'Her' share top prize from L.A. film critics

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association named "Gravity" and "Her" as the year's best films on Sunday and chose Bruce Dern, Cate Blanchett and French actress Adele Exarchopoulos for top acting honors in the latest of a series of early awards leading up to Hollywood's biggest prize, the Oscars.

In making their choices, the critics declared ties in three top categories, including best picture, best actress and best supporting actor.

The Los Angeles critics also named Alfonso Cuaron best director for "Gravity," the outer space-set box office hit which also won the awards for best cinematography and best editing.

Earlier this week the New York Film Critics Circle chose "American Hustle," about 1970s con artists forced to work with the FBI, as the year's best film and gave its best actress award to Blanchett, while the National Board of Review named Spike Jonze's "Her" as 2013's best film.

"Her," a quirky love story about a withdrawn Los Angeles writer played by Joaquin Phoenix, and his computer operating system, will be released in selected U.S. theaters later this month.

Best screenplay went to "Before Midnight," written by director Richard Linklater and his two stars, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke.

Dern won best actor for his turn as an ornery old man convinced he has won a fortune in Alexander Payne's "Nebraska."

In one of two acting ties, Exarchopoulos, star of the lesbian love story "Blue is the Warmest Color" and Blanchett, who won raves for Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine," were both named best actress.

"Blue is the Warmest Color" also won the prize for best foreign language film. The French film also won the Cannes Film Festival's top award, the Palme d'Or.

The other acting tie was for best supporting actor, with Jared Leto as a transsexual fighting HIV in "Dallas Buyers Club" and James Franco as a gangster drug dealer in the comic drama "Spring Breakers" sharing the prize.

Lupita Nyong'o was named best supporting actress for "12 Years a Slave."

"Stories We Tell," a Canadian film about myth, memory and family storytellers, won best documentary, and "Ernest & Celestine" took the prize for best animated film.

Best score was won by "Inside Llewyn Davis," while the critics picked "Her" for best production design.

Earlier on Sunday both the Boston Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Online both gave their best picture prize to "12 Years a Slave," another Oscar contender and winner of the Toronto International Film Festival's top prize.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Review: 'Gravity' an incredible lost-in-space adventure

"Gravity" tells of the unenviable situation experienced by medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and her astronaut mission commander Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) when an accidental disaster caused by a shower of satellite debris destroys their space station, leaving them floating in deep space.

Director Alfonso Cuaron has created a masterpiece that knows when to move for excitement and when to stop for meditation. We enjoy the breathtaking ride through the dangerous outer frontiers. We also get to look inwards to the essence of our own minuscule humanity in stark contrast to the vastness of the universe. We will feel agoraphobia and claustrophobia at the same time, while Stone and Kowalski struggle to keep themselves alive.

"Gravity" is not much of a story to be told by mere words, but a story that needs to be experienced best via the medium of film, and all its modern abilities.

This film employs the best of cinematographic technique (by Emmanuel Lubezki), editing efficiency (by Cuaron himself and Mark Sanger), top-of-the-line 3D visual and eerie sound effects to re-create the harshness of outer space. The musical score by Stephen Price can be both soaring and quiet as the scene called for it. I truly see ALL the technical Oscars going to this fantastic team that created the most convincing atmosphere for this film to come to life.

There may be some scientific principles amiss as some incredible coincidences arise to move the story forward. However, we care so much for our two characters that these minor details done in the name of artistic license can be overlooked with no big deal. The film successfully makes us feel emotionally connected with them. We really feel we are out there with them, and we want to escape this scary and hopeless situation with them. Just allow yourself to be immersed in this unique milieu.

Bullock comes up with a precious performance of a lonely person desperately confronting the biggest fears of her life in the bleakest of situations ever. Her range of emotions ran the gamut from fearful despair to hopeful determination. She is front, center and everything this movie is about. She did not lose her sense of humor when we also needed it. This has got to be a Best Actress performance of the highest merit.

Supporting Bullock is Clooney as that believable voice of calm and reassurance we all need. With him there, Ryan felt she can overcome any adversity she faced. His wit and charm carried Ryan through her ordeal, and this was palpable enough to carry the whole audience along the ride with her.

"Gravity" might as well be declared the Best Picture of this award season already. As of now, it can already be considered a lock for the big prize because of its audacity of scope, its technical excellence, its memorable performances, and above all, its images full of artistry and symbolism.

This film needs to be seen on the big screen for the best effect. Watching this in 3D (and most likely, IMAX) will actually further enhance your viewing experience. 10/10.

This review was originally published in the author's blog, "Fred Said."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Bus Crashes on the Set of Sandra Bullock's New Film

There is trouble on the set of Sandra Bullock's latest movie, The Heat.

In a scene that looks right out of her action hit Speed, a city bus slammed into an on-set trailer in the Roxbury section of Boston where the movie, about an FBI agent who teams with a local Boston police officer to take down a Russian mobster, is filming.

The movie costars Melissa McCarthy and is directed by her Bridesmaids director Paul Feig.




At least 11 people were reportedly taken to the hospital after the accident, though none had life-threatening injuries. Photos show a number of people on stretchers being treated by paramedics.




The accident happened outside the Roxbury Municipal courthouse on Warren Ave. at around 9:30 a.m., Boston.com reports.

Reps for Bullock and McCarthy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

source: people.com