Review: 'The Color of Time' starring James Franco, Jessica Chastain, Mila Kunis, and More

Imagine you're an NYU film student and, amazingly, you're going to be working on a feature film with Jessica Chastain, James Franco, and Mila Kunis. Pretty awesome, right? Now imagine their disappointment to learn the film would be another of Franco's "passion projects" nobody will ever want to watch. That's the case with The Color of Time, a biographical impression of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, CK Williams, directed by twelve of Franco's students as a narrative recreation of his work. It makes sense that fledgling talents would be a little unsure stylistically, much like their teacher, but the result is disjointed and trivial, and probably should have stayed in the classroom.

Hopping around in time to follow Williams at various life stages, he's played by a handful of actors including Franco and Henry Hopper. Taking the counter-intuitive route, a straight narrative is opted for rather than some kind of anthology with Williams' poems serving as the throughline. None of it amounts to much other than a series of bland flashbacks with sparse dialogue, and apparently Franco must have taught an extensive course on Terrence Malick. Right down to Chastain prancing in the grass under sun-drenched skies as Williams' angelic mother, her scenes are basically a shot-for-shot homage to The Tree of Life. Unfortunately, the other periods in Williams' life turn out much the same with each director aping the style of a different filmmaker they've probably long admired. It's distracting, especially if the ultimate goal is to put us closer in touch with Williams' elegant words. The Color of Time  is essentially a series of cinematic postcards; beautiful but meaningless.

Also starring Zach Braff as Williams' best friend, Mila Kunis as his bubbly wife, plus an appearance by Bruce Campbell, there's certainly a wealth of talent here and they all bring a soulfulness to their performances. Best of all may be Kunis, who brings a levity and lightness that cuts through the droll mood. Fans of Williams who have found his poetry inspiring and profound will wish for more experienced directors who could bring that into being on screen. It's possible that in this group is the next Quentin Tarantino or Terrence Malick, but they aren't ready for the big leagues yet and The Color of Time is proof of that.

 Rating: 1.5 out of 5

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Yet Another Trailer for 'Jupiter Ascending' starring Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, and Eddie Redmayne

Does it seem like we've had about five or six trailers for the Wachowskis' Jupiter Ascending? Well, that's because we have. The sci-fi film saw its release date bumped from last summer to next February, which may explain the need to try and keep it fresh in our minds. The actual result is fatigue for a film that doesn't come out for another three months.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about it right now is that two of its stars, Channing Tatum and Eddie Redmayne, are both deep in the Oscar race this year for their dramatic performances in Foxcatcher and The Theory of Everything. Here's the official synopsis for Jupiter Ascending, which sounds like more of the Wachowskis telling an intergalactic love story. Guess they didn't learn from Cloud Atlas, but at least this one has 100% more Sean Bean.

From the streets of Chicago to the far-flung galaxies whirling through space, “Jupiter Ascending” tells the story of Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), who was born under a night sky, with signs predicting she was destined for great things. Now grown, Jupiter dreams of the stars but wakes up to the cold reality of a job cleaning other people’s houses and an endless run of bad breaks. Only when Caine (Channing Tatum), a genetically engineered ex-military hunter, arrives on Earth to track her down does Jupiter begin to glimpse the fate that has been waiting for her all along—her genetic signature marks her as next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos.

Jupiter Ascending opens February 6th 2015.  
 
Bande-annonce : Jupiter : Le Destin de L'Univers - VOST (4) by Première

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New Trailer for James Franco's 'The Color of Time' with Mila Kunis and Jessica Chastain

Formerly titled Tar, James Franco's The Color of Time is another experimental endeavor that may or may not pan out as he hoped. Franco enlisted twelve New York University film students to piece together a comprehensive look at the life and times Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, C.K. Williams, and the result is a melodic, star-studded affair that resembles the work of Terrence Malick.

Franco emptied out the Rolodex and called up Mila Kunis, Jessica Chastain, Bruce Campbell, Henry Hopper, and Zach Braff to appear in the film about Williams (played by Franco) as he prepares for a reading in New York City while haunted by memories of the past. It may have been a better idea to craft an anthology rather than a single narrative because even in this brief footage it seems a little disjointed. However there's a lot of talent in front of the camera, and who knows, maybe a new superstar filmmaker will emerge out of it.

The Color of Time hits VOD on December 2nd, followed by a brief theatrical run on December 19th.


The Color of Time by Teaser-Trailer.com

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'Jupiter Ascending' Booted Down to the Bad Part of 2015

Let's be honest here, the Wachowskis are a bit of a gamble right now. Warner Bros. dropped a lot of coin on their ambitious headscratcher, Cloud Atlas, only to be rewarded with pitiful domestic returns. In truth, everything they've done outside of The Matrix movies have been met with lukewarm critical response and poor box office, and it was beginning to look like the same might happen with Jupiter Ascending, another epic sci-fi film that had zero buzz despite big stars in Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that Warner Bros. has decided to take action.

Jupiter Ascending has been punted from its July 18th perch all the way down to February 6th 2015, generally a time reserved for low-budget horrors and other flicks studios are trying to quietly do away with. For evidence one only needs to look at the lesser competition it will face opposite the sketchy Johnny Depp adventure comedy, Mortdecai; the long-delayed and forgotten YA adaptation Seventh Son; and Run All Night, just another another generic Liam Neeson action film from Jaume Collet-Serra.

On the plus side, Jupiter Ascending probably has a better shot to be a hit, but it has to sting that Warner Bros. had such little confidence in it.

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Snap Judgments Review: 'The Angriest Man in Brooklyn' Starring Robin Williams and Mila Kunis

Robin Williams plays The Angriest Man in Brooklyn in the latest film from director Phil Alden Robinson. Co-starring Mila Kunis, Melissa Leo, and Peter Dinklage, the story centers on an angry man who tries to fix the mistakes of the past when a doctor having a bad day mistakenly informs him he'll die in 90 minutes.

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn is available now On Demand and in theaters. Check out my Snap Judgments review below and find even more Cinema Royale content here.

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Channing Tatum Needs Firepower in New 'Jupiter Ascending' Trailer

Somewhat under the radar as part of the summer slate is Jupiter Ascending, which is weird to say considering the film is directed by the Wachowskis. Normally their films dominate the headlines but after the flop that was Cloud Atlas, they've understandably been pushed into the background. The film stars Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis, with the latter playing a regular woman who learns she is intergalactic royalty, a fact which drives the current ruler to want her dead. The latest trailer offers up only small bits of new footage, but what it does do is put an emphasis on the villain played by Eddie Redmayne.

Jupiter Ascending opens July 18th and co-stars Sean Bean, Bae Doona, Douglas Booth, and James D'Arcy.


Jupiter Ascending - Bande-annonce Officielle #3 - VOST (HD) by Reviewer.fr

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First Trailer for 'The Angriest Man in Brooklyn' Starring Robin Williams and Mila Kunis

Need a lesson on why it pays to be nice, then check out this trailer for The Angriest Man in Brooklyn. Robin Williams, who has played some dark characters over the years, plays a guy who isn't just having a bad day, but a bad life, and he's quick to take out his anger on the world. Another typically awful day gets worse when he rages out at his doctor (Mila Kunis), who informs him he has 90 minutes left to live. Stunned by the news, he goes racing around Brooklyn like a crazy person trying to fix all his past wrongs, while his doc tries to find him and fix her mistake.

It certainly looks like a step up from the dismal films Williams made last year, like that unfortunate misfire The Big Wedding. At the very least it gives him the chance to work with a talented supporting cast of Peter Dinklage, Hamish Linklater, Melissa Leo, and Kunis, while giving director Phil Alden Robinson his first project since 2002's The Sum of All Fears.

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn hits VOD and theaters May 23rd.

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New Trailer and Character Posters for The Wachowskis' 'Jupiter Ascending'

The Wachowskis haven't exactly been hit-makers since Neo destroyed the Matrix, but as their box office has dwindled the budgets haven't come down. Their films remain really expensive risks for any studio, especially after the whole Cloud Atlas debacle, and if Jupiter Ascending turns out to be a failure who knows what the siblings will do next.

A new trailer for Jupiter Ascending has been released, along with a couple of character posters featuring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis. The intergalactic fable tells the story of a lowly janitor who has the same genetic line as the queen of the galaxy, maker her a threat to the throne. Tatum plays the bounty hunter sent to kill her, but he decides to save her instead. It sounds a lot like Snow White and the Huntsman, and the Wachowskis would probably be happy if this film made half as much money.

Jupiter Ascending blasts off on July 25th.


Jupiter Ascending - Trailer / Bande-Annonce #2 [VO|HD1080p] by Team Lyricis

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Amanda Seyfried to Star in 'Ted 2'; Mila Kunis Has Reduced Role

Uh oh, has Ted finally come between John and Lori's relationship for the last time? Seth MacFarlane has begun casting his sequel to Ted, hoping to capitalize on the vulgar R-rated flick's unexpected  $500M success. And while we know Mark Wahlberg will obviously be back to join his thunder buddy, he'll have to get used to a different female lead.

Deadline reports that Amanda Seyfried, who has a role in MacFarlane's comedy-western A Million Ways to Die in the West, will star in Ted 2 and not Mila Kunis. MacFarlane and his co-writers made a "creative decision" to reduce Kunis' role greatly, or possibly even remove her character entirely. The story stresses this wasn't due to a falling out between Kunis and MacFarlane, and that they remain good friends. Still, this is a move that will raise a few eyebrows.

Ted 2 is expected to hit theaters on June 26th 2015. 

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First Trailer for The Wachowskis 'Jupiter Ascending' with Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis

There's no denying that The Wachowskis aimed large with Cloud Atlas, gathering an A-list cast for a big sci-fi epic that touched on multiple themes. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to get audiences to care very much ,and not even the directors' track record did anything to help. So what do they do next? Take on something smaller and more grounded? Not hardly. They're heading back out into deep space for Jupiter Ascending, and the first trailer has arrived.

Starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis, the film resembles an intergalactic version of Snow White and the Huntsman. Kunis plays Jupiter Jones, a poor woman who is destined to change the universe. Tatum, in rather silly guy-liner, plays Caine, a genetically-altered mercenary sent to Earth to kill her, but winds up protecting her instead. Well, it's definitely not Speed Racer. The Wachowskis are going ambitious again, and even though it appears to be a mix of action and large ideas similar to The Matrix, will that be enough to turn their fortunes around?

Co-starring Eddie Redmayne, Sean Bean (who will probably die), James D'Arcy, Bae Doona, and Douglas Smith, Jupiter Ascending opens July 25th 2014.


Jupiter Ascending by Teaser-Trailer.com

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Clive Owen, Mila Kunis, and Marion Cotillard On New 'Blood Ties' Posters

Guillaume Canet and James Gray's sprawling 1970s crime epic Blood Ties still doesn't have a release date in the U.S., but it's due to hit France later this month. Starring Clive Owen and Billy Crudup as brothers on opposing sides of the law, the story kicks into high gear when one is released from prison and refuses to walk the straight and narrow path. The film was met with mixed reviews out of Cannes despite a cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana, Matthias Schoenaerts, and James Caan, all of whom feature on a bunch of newly released character posters.

Noted in some critics' reviews as being perhaps too big and sprawling for its own good, the runtime has been slashed by nearly 20 minutes over the last few months. So if it ever does get U.S. distribution, and with a cast like that it surely will, the shorter cut is probably the one we'll receive. Blood Ties opens in France on October 30th.

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First synopsis for The Wachowskis' 'Jupiter Ascending' as filming begins

What we know about The Wachowski Siblings' next big sci-fi film, Jupiter Ascending, has it sounding like a futuristic version of Snow White and the Huntsman. Probably not a bad idea to stick with something familiar if they're going to bounce back from the disastrous returns on Cloud Atlas, and having Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis in the two leads certainly doesn't hurt. But these are The Wachowskis, after all, and nothing is ever quite as simple as it appears to be.

Filming on Jupiter Ascending has begun, and now we're getting a fuller plot synopsis, along with the complete casting that includes Sean Bean (think he'll get killed in this too?), Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth, Tuppence Middleton, Doona Bae, James D'Arcy, and Tim Pigott-Smith. Production will continue until June in the U.K., then to Chicago before hitting theaters on July 25th 2014. Check out the plot below....

From the streets of Chicago to far flung galaxies whirling through space, Jupiter Ascending was conceived and written by the Wachowskis, who are also directing. Award-winning producer Grant Hill, with whom the writer/directors have collaborated since “The Matrix” Trilogy, is producing the film together with the Wachowskis. Roberto Malerba and Bruce Berman are serving as executive producers. 

Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) was born under a night sky, with signs predicting that she was destined for great things. Now grown, Jupiter dreams of the stars but wakes up to the cold reality of a job cleaning toilets and an endless run of bad breaks. Only when Caine (Channing Tatum), a genetically engineered ex-military hunter, arrives on Earth to track her down does Jupiter begin to glimpse the fate that has been waiting for her all along – her genetic signature marks her as next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos.

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The Wachowskis' 'Jupiter Ascending' lands in theaters summer 2014

Cloud Atlas turned out to be quite the high-profile, very expensive failure for The Wachowskis. It's not their first, and considering the chances they like to take it probably won't be the last. The set back hasn't stopped them from jumping right back into sci-fi with Jupiter Ascending, and now we know when the film will touch down in theaters.

Warner Bros. is slating the film for a summer date of July 25th 2014, where it will grapple with Dwayne Johnson's Hercules. Starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Sean Bean, and Eddie Redmayne, the story is basically a futuristic Snow White and the Huntsman. Kunis plays a poor Russian immigrant who shares the same genetic make-up as the immortal Queen of the Universe. The Queen's rule threatened, a bounty hunter is tasked with killing the girl, only to have them fall in love and go on the run instead.

With that cast and a slightly less confusing plot than Cloud Atlas, The Wachowskis could very well bounce back in a major way. But what if fans don't take to Jupiter Ascending, either? Will studios start to think differently about giving them such creative and budgetary freedom?

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Channing Tatum confirms he'll star in The Wachowski's 'Jupiter Ascending'

Judged rather unfairly as little more than hunky piece of meat for most of his career so far, Channing Tatum has come a long way in shedding the persona others have crafted for him. He's done tremendous work on three vastly different movies this year in Haywire, The Vow, and 21 Jump Street, scoring two mega-hits in the process. He's begun to dabble in the behind-the-scenes sides of the business by producing the indie comedy Ten Year and an upcoming Peter Pan flick, and this summer will have him revisiting his old life as a dancer in Magic Mike.

With The Wachowskis(The Matrix) looking to jump back into the world of science fiction with their next film, Jupiter Ascending, Tatum has been in their crosshairs to star since March. Mila Kunis was confirmed for it about a month later, and Tatum's name has been attached but never really made official. Just prior to last night's MTV Movie Awards, where he and the ab-tastic Magic Mike gang made Elizabeth Banks a very happy lady, he confirmed that Jupiter Ascending is next on the list, and he seems pretty excited...

Tatum: "Yes, absolutely. It's going to be a crazy action movie from the [directors] of 'The Matrix.' They're going to reinvent the wheel as far as action goes, all over again."

This comes just a few days after supposed plot details were leaked online, with Tatum playing an alien bounty hunter sent to kill a Russian immigrant(Kunis) whose genetic perfection threatens the Queen of the Universe. Of course he ultimately refuses, and love blossoms between him and his intended target. None of that has been made official yet, so take it with a grain of salt.

Apparently there's an offer being floated to Joseph Gordon-Levitt to be in the film as well, as if the thought of The Wachowskis returning to the genre they revolutionized isn't enough. For Tatum, this is a smart move, because you know the goal will be to turn this into a franchise of some sort, and he'd be at the forefront of it. Of course we said the same thing about G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and Paramount went out of their to lessen his role in the sequel.  [MTV]

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Robin Williams, Mila Kunis, and Melissa Leo to lead 'The Angriest Man in Brooklyn'

The transition from jovial funnyman to dark, edgy roles began for Robin Williams back in a classic episode of Homicide: Life on the Street, for which he earned an Emmy nomination. It's still the best episode of that great series, in my opinion, and ever since I find Williams more convincing in things like World's Greatest Dad and One Hour Photo than light-hearted comedies. It's hard to get a gauge on what the tone of his next film will be, but whatever the case he'll have a ton of talent surrounding him.

Williams, Mila Kunis, Melissa Leo(who was also in that episode of Homicide), Peter Dinklage, and James Earl Jones will all star in The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, a comedy from director Phil Alden Robinson(Field of Dreams). This'll be Robinson's first major feature since 2002's The Sum of All Fears. The story involves a stand-in doctor who mistakenly tells an obnoxious patient he only has 90 minutes left to live. Her comments send the patient on a contrite tour of the city to right all of the wrongs in his life, while she tries desperately to find him.

I'm assuming Williams is the guy, with Kunis probably as the doctor who screwed up. This has potential, although the script by Daniel Taplitz(Breakin' All the Rules) gives me some pause. Filming is set to begin in Brooklyn this September. [Screen Daily]

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Mila Kunis confirmed for The Wachowski's 'Jupiter Ascending'

So...what do we know about The Wachowski's Jupiter Ascending? Not a hell of a lot, really. We know it'll take them back into the realm of sci-fi, where they've found most of their success. And that's....well, pretty much it. Last month a report surfaced that Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum were the first two names sought to be a part of it, and now one of those has been confirmed.

While attending CinemaCon, Mila Kunis revealed to MTV that she is on board. The Wachowskis are putting the finishing touches on Cloud Atlas, their sprawling historical/sci-fi flick featuring an ensemble cast including Hugh Grant, Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, James D'Arcy, and Jim Sturgess in multiple roles.

Speed Racer was the last film The Wachowskis directed, and it was good if a mind-numbingly chaotic.

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The Wachowskis offer Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis the leads in 'Jupiter Ascending'

With The Wachowskis putting the finishing touches on their multi-tiered, star studded adaptation of Cloud Atlas, attention has recently turned to their next project. In October we learned it would be Jupiter Ascending, a mysterious sci-fi film that the siblings are doing their damndest to keep under wraps. In January we thought Natalie Portman would be making her first post-baby jump back into acting with in the film, having worked with the Wachowskis before on V for Vendetta. However with her signing up for two Terrence Malick movies this year that plan has fallen through.

Plan B is pretty damn good, though, with Deadline reporting offers have been made to Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum for the two leads. Kunis hasn't totally capitalized on bounce she got after Black Swan, but she's set for a pretty big year with the Mark Wahlberg/Seth MacFarlane comedy, Ted, due out in July. She'll also star opposite James Franco next year in Oz The Great and Powerful. Tatum has been all over the place, with three movies out this year already and two of them, 21 Jump Street and The Vow, proving to be huge hits.

So much secrecy has me thinking we're looking at something on the same creative level as The Matrix. Hopefully we'll find out more about it if/when Tatum and Kunis sign on the dotted line. Whatever the case, that is one attractive duo. Just sayin'.

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Lee Daniels wants Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Hugh Jackman, John Cusack, and Mila Kunis for 'The Butler'

 
Let's say this about Lee Daniels, the dude has some close friends in some pretty high places. It's served him well so far, with Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry throwing their weight behind his debut film, Precious, helping push it and co-star Mo'nique to Academy Awards recognition a couple of years ago. While his plan for Selma, a Martin Luther King biopic may have stalled for the time being, Daniels more than made up for it with The Paperboy, a noir crime thriller based on the Pete Dexter novel. He managed to get Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, John Cusack, and Nicole Kidman for that one, but if you can believe it Daniels appears set to aim even higher for his next film.

Last year, Daniels signed on to direct The Butler, based on the inspiring story of Eugene Allen, a butler who worked for the White House for over 30 years and under eight different Presidents. Over that time he witnessed the world change from a unique inside perspective. Initially set to be developed by Columbia Pictures, the film is now being financed independently, and if Daniels has his way in the casting department he'll have no problem finding backers. THR reports that Winfrey, Cusack, David Oyelowo, Hugh Jackman, and Mila Kunis are all circling the project, with Oyelowo planned for the lead role. In what could be a strange decision, Winfrey would reportedly play Allen's wife. Winfrey's a touch old for the part, being more than twenty years older than Oyelowo. Unless, and this is a distinct possibility, Winfrey is playing the character at a later stage of her life.

In an intriguing and inspired move, Kunis is being looked at to play Jackie Kennedy, with Cusack as Richard Nixon. Jackman's role is unclear, but he'd make for a hell of a John F. Kennedy. Oyelowo, who also co-stars in The Paperboy, was set to appear alongside Jackman in Daniels' MLK biopic.

The story comes from a series of Washington Post story from Will Haygood, published just after the election of President Barack Obama. Danny Strong(Recount, Game Change) wrote the first draft of the script, with Daniels currently doing rewrites. If Winfrey signs on, it'll be her first on screen role since 1998.

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Red Band trailer time: Friends with Benefits, starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis

Screen Gems has released the new trailer from Will Gluck's follow-up to Easy A, Friends with Benefits. As you can no doubt tell from the title, it's about two friends who decided to add a whole new dimension to their relationship and start bangin'. The desired goal, as is always the case in these situations is to not ruin the friendship in the process. Haven't we learned anything from Seinfeld and years of male/female interaction? It's just not possible.

The friends in question are the disgustingly attractive duo of Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. The comedy co-stars Emma Stone(obviously a Gluck favorite now), Woody Harrelson, Patricia Clarkson, and Andy Samberg. I seriously wanted to hate this trailer, but dammit all if it ain't sexy to watch Kunis drop the "F" bomb.  Let's just hope Gluck has as masterful a command of the sex issue this time around as he did with Easy A.

Friends with Benefits is due in theaters on July 22nd, 2011.

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Trailer Time: Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman

We're finally getting a look at the Darren Aronofsky's next film, Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman. To say it's about as far away from his last film, The Wrestler, is an understatement. Portman stars alongside Vincent Cassel(Eastern Promises) and Mila Kunis(Forgetting Sarah Marshall), in a story about a bitter rivalry between two ballerinas trying out for the lead role in a production of Swan Lake. It's obvious from the very beginning that there's a lot more to it than that, and at the end of the trailer something very sinister is clearly going on. 

Black Swan is due out on December 1st, 2010. Consider this one on my Must See list for the rest of the year.

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