The Gay Life of VinVin

SAMUEL JACKSON: IDEAL VILLAIN TO THE BEST OF SPIES IN “KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE”

Every great action hero needs an ideal villain to make the good vs. evil dynamics work well. In the upcoming highly stylized non-stop action film “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” Samuel Jackson plays the villain role to the hilt as Richmond Valentine, a tech billionaire and disillusioned eco-campaigner whose desire to save the earth at any cost has led him to devise a scheme that will have devastating consequences for everyone.

After Valentine is the Kingsman – an elite group of operatives working outside of the government. Martial in style, they are an altruistic unit that gets things done. “They’re the good guys,” says Colin Firth, who plays Harry, whose Kingsman name is Galahad, named after the Arthurian legend. “We’re living in an age in which we’re very suspicious of our institutions and our governments. Whatever trust we’ve once had has been undermined, so I think it’s interesting to explore the idea that there is an organization with pure motives. One not compromised by the politics and bureaucracy of these institutions. The Kingsmen are the modern-day Knights of the Round Table.” With Harry is newly-recruited spy Eggsy, played by newcomer Taron Egerton. Harry feels responsible for the death of Eggsy’s father, and that he owes the man a debt. When a Kingsman agent is killed, the organization looks for a new recruit. Explains Firth: “When Harry sees that his fallen comrade’s son, Eggsy, is on a fast track to disaster in the way he’s growing up, Harry rises to the challenge of seeing if he can save the boy. That’s partly guilt, but he wants to see if he can mold Eggsy into Kingsman material. He says quite explicitly that being a gentleman has nothing to do with accents or upbringing; it’s something one learns and proves in one’s behavior.”

A voracious comic-book fan, Samuel L. Jackson had already read the books by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons where the film was based when he heard Vaughn was interested in him for the part of Valentine. “The Kingsmen were different kinds of gentleman spies,” he reflects. “I thought the concept was great and I always thought it would make a wonderful film.”

Jackson loved Vaughn and Goldman’s script, and says he immediately understood Valentine’s motivations. “The really crazy thing was that it totally made sense,” he laughs. “The film is full of great visual images, and I felt a thrill taking the ride.”

Valentine’s logic posits that the global population has swelled to uncontrollable levels, so it requires culling. His deadly plan is to produce SIM cards that he will distribute freely around the world, and which will both stimulate aggression and reduce inhibition. They’ll literally cause people to tear each other apart, save for a select few chosen for their intelligence, power and beauty. With protective chips implanted into the heads of these elite, Valentine has rounded them up and transported them to his secret base.

Jackson describes Valentine as a moral, pragmatic man. “He understands that you have to make certain choices in order for things to work, and in order for the world to succeed, sacrifices must be made, and somebody has to be willing to make them.”

Argues Firth: “Valentine is genocidal! He’s a mass murderer and a psychopath. He may have the greater good in his mind but if that involves the death of millions of people, that ideology is unlikely to be shared by the rest of humanity.” Still, he understands why Jackson found a reason for Valentine’s actions. “I think it’s perfectly appropriate that Sam doesn’t see his character as a villain. As actors our job is to inhabit our characters, and you have to see them the way they see themselves – but with my own character’s subjectivity, Valentine is a villain in the classic Bond tradition.”

Agrees Jackson: “We’re playing this cat-and-mouse game, where Harry pretends not to know who Valentine is and Valentine pretends not to know who Harry is, until they actually sit down and say it. Game on; let’s see who comes out victorious.”

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” opens February 18 in theatres nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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“FIFTY SHADES OF GREY” CASTS JAMIE DORNAN, DAKOTA JOHNSON IN ICONIC ROLES

Two relatively unknown actors – Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson – portray the much-coveted roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in Focus Feature's film adaptation of the runaway bestseller, “Fifty Shades of Grey.” And both found overnight stardom in the process as the film is expected to be a global blockbuster.

Rated R-18 (Strictly for Adults) by the MTRCB, the film will be shown without jump cuts but several frames will contain blurs and blocks, covering delicate body parts.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” explores the burgeoning relationship between enigmatic 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and sexually uninitiated college senior Anastasia Steele. It is a love story, but a provocative one that also deals with limits, and particularly, sexual limits—setting them, respecting them, overstepping them—and all of the exploration that can take place therein.

Author E L James knew that two characters had to be just perfect. When asked what it was that drew her to Dornan as Christian Grey, she reflects: “You only have to see Jamie on screen to know the answer to that question. He has a real brooding intensity and presence. And he’s kind of easy on the eye, which helps.”

Director Sam Taylor-Johnson was quite moved to see the actors’ connection and knew she’d found the perfect Christian to her Ana. (Johnson had originally been paired with Charlie Hunnam, but the actor departed the film prior to the start of principal photography). The director says: “Jamie Dornan is a fantastic, perfectly pitched Christian Grey. He brings a lot to this role—an elegance to the character, but he also brings exactly what Christian is, which is that slight one-step-removed mystery. That’s because Jamie has that innately in him already. He’s an extraordinary actor, and he plays Christian Grey exactly as he should be played.”

Dornan boils it down to the task before him: “As an actor, you are looking for parts that will be challenging and different. I’ve never played anyone like Christian before. He’s a very intriguing character with a lot of layers, a lot of depth, and that’s what you want: to portray him in a truthful way on screen.”

For her part, Dakota Johnson reveals that when she found out who was behind the production, she “thought that it sounded promising. I read the books to see if it was something that I could believe in, and if I could find some connection with the story. Then, about a year later, when the time came for the audition, I asked if I could go in for it. After my first audition, I read a few more times, and I was offered the part of Anastasia. There was a sense of wanting to find someone who could bring a bit of lightheartedness and humor to such dramatic material. I think that’s why it worked out for me.”

Johnson’s director explains why her leading lady was so right for the role: “I knew the moment we met Dakota that we found our Anastasia. She provided us the perfect balance of vulnerability, sass, beauty and courage. She has the wit and charm and intelligence of Ana and brings life into that character like I can’t imagine anyone else doing. She is a phenomenal actress and it felt like I was given a gift of being able to present her to the world.”

As the pair entered preproduction, both Johnson and Dornan would have to ready themselves to portray the type of relationship required. Describing the bond that Christian customarily seeks, Dornan states: “The only type of relationship he has ever had is a dominant/submissive one, where he has a partner sign a contract so that he can treat her in the way they have both agreed to. There have always been clear-cut rules, negotiated and signed before any kind of physical relationship begins. Until he meets Anastasia.”

Ana is both a typical and an atypical college senior: She’s a studious, clever English literature major who still parties, but is physically inexperienced because she’s not found the right partner. Johnson reflects on Ana’s developing singular tastes: “Her reaction, when Christian reveals the type of relationship he’s interested in pursuing, is something that’s surprising. Normally, you’d think that a girl who has never been exposed to any of that sort of relationship would run away, thinking that he’s the most messed-up person she’s ever met. But, Ana doesn’t. Instead, her reaction is to try and understand it.”

Christian rushes to assumptions about Ana when they meet, when Ana steps in for her ill roommate to interview him for her campus newspaper. She is less than prepared, for either the interview or the reactions she elicits from this enigmatic billionaire. Dornan explains: “Ana’s uncomfortable and awkward. He’s all about control and precision, but she turns all of that on its head. He’s attracted to her, but she affects him in a far more profound way and much deeper than he’s experienced before. Essentially, the story is about two people who have fallen in love and face massive hurdles that are stopping them from having a ‘regular’ relationship.”

Johnson reveals what millions of readers have discovered and devoured: “The danger of it, and I think this is exciting, is that the story has all of the components of a thriller; you don’t know what’s going to happen. Is she going to be okay with this difficult thing to grasp? Will she be able to reconcile herself to it for Christian? Will she be able to change that much and love him despite this? Will he be able to do the same for her?”

Opening across the Philippines on Feb. 11, “Fifty Shades of Grey” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures. The film has been classified Rated R-18 (Strictly for Adults) by the MTRCB.

DISCLAIMER AND NOTICE:

This movie was classified as is and in its entirety with noticeable BLURS and SCREEN BLOCKS introduced by the film producer prior to its submission for review.

The public is advised of some scenes of nudity, strong and/or sexual language, and sexual aberrational behavior with elements of bondage, dominance, sadism and masochism.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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KILLING MACHINE FOR VALENTINE IN “KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE”

Model turned actress Sofia Boutella who has graced catwalks, appeared in music videos and danced on Madonna’s tour, has slowly been making the move to film and was thrilled to land a significant role alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Firth in “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”

Directed by blockbuster filmmaker Matthew Vaughn who is also known for his astute judgement in casting new and upcoming actors for lead notable roles casts Boutella as the unbeatable henchman of a villain against an elite group of spies in “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”

Kingsman is an elite organization of operatives working outside of the government. Martial in style, they are an altruistic unit that gets things done. “They’re the good guys,” says Colin Firth, who plays Harry, whose Kingsman name is Galahad, named after the Arthurian legend. “We’re living in an age in which we’re very suspicious of our institutions and our governments. Whatever trust we’ve once had has been undermined, so I think it’s interesting to explore the idea that there is an organization with pure motives.”

Firth, who takes on the role of Harry, feels responsible for the death of Eggsy’s father, and that he owes the man a debt. When a Kingsman agent is killed, the organization looks for a new recruit. When Harry sees that his fallen comrade’s son, Eggsy, is on a fast track to disaster in the way he’s growing up, Harry rises to the challenge of seeing if he can save the boy. That’s partly guilt, but he wants to see if he can mold Eggsy into Kingsman material.

Every good spy needs a suitably evil villain, and in Samuel L. Jackson’s Valentine, the genre may well have discovered its most maniacal antagonist. A billionaire genius, whose plan to “save the world” involves wiping out the human race, Valentine is forged in the mold of classic spy movie bad guys. But the tech-savvy entrepreneur is also inspired by the world’s newest superpowers: the CEOs of giant media conglomerates and tech behemoths.

A classic villain needs an unforgettable henchman, and Valentine has Gazelle (Boutella), a beautiful, super-smart double amputee with deadly running blades. She’s a killing machine. “She’s called Gazelle because she’s in total control of her legs,” explains Sofia Boutella, who takes on the role. “Gazelle wears prosthetics that, when she’s fighting, unleash razor sharp blades, which makes her very dangerous.”

“It was a trip,” she says. “I used to dance, but I stopped two and a half years ago, and I’ve since done many auditions, with much waiting and struggling. To wake up one day and get this part – which just came out of nowhere – was mind-blowing to me. I feel blessed to be a part of the film.” Working with Samuel L. Jackson was one of the highlights for Boutella. “He’s so impressive,” she explains. “Sam has such a big energy and I was drawn into it. I admire him so much. On the first day of rehearsal I was just staring. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s my turn to speak now, sorry!’” She notes the stunt training for the film was intense. “They taught me Thai boxing, Taekwondo, and how to work with cables. Gazelle uses her legs to kill, so I had to learn different types of kicks. I’d never done anything like it before.”

A post-Valentine’s group-date movie, “Kingsman: The Secret Service” opens February 18 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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“THEORY OF EVERYTHING” EXCLUSIVE AT AYALA MALLS CINEMAS FEBRUARY 25

One of the year's multi-awarded films, Universal Pictures' “The Theory of Everything,” the extraordinary story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide starting February 25.

Nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor (Eddie Redmayne), Best Actress (Felicity Jones) and Best Adapted Screenplay, the film is an inspiring biopic of renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde.

Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking (Redmayne) received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. With Jane (Jones) fighting tirelessly by his side, Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing he now has precious little of – time. Together, they defy impossible odds, breaking new ground in medicine and science, and achieving more than they could ever have dreamed.

The film is based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, by Jane Hawking, and is directed by Academy Award winner James Marsh (“Man on Wire”).

Screenwriter and producer Anthony McCarten has long been fascinated by Professor Hawking, in particular the time and effort it took for the severely physically compromised man to write his seminal book. "He has illuminated physics for the world, and there is a sense of the profound in all his work," says McCarten. "That was enhanced by Stephen's own physical situation, which only allowed him to compose his communications at the agonizing rate of one word per minute; here, in one man, was an unprecedented juxtaposition of extraordinary mental prowess and extraordinary physical incapacity.

"His mind continued to open up one frontier after another in relentless exploration, so he was contracting yet also expanding which was apt for a man whose life is devoted to studying the universe."

McCarten was moved to read Jane Hawking's memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen. He discovered "a marvelous love story between two people, incredibly intense and challenged in the extreme: first by the physical decline, and then by the advent of fame in their lives. When news of his imminent death proved exaggerated, and two years became 10, then 20, their situation demanded that their love take bold and unorthodox forms if it was to survive. Theirs was a love story without precedent."

Producer Lisa Bruce remarks, "A lot of people don't even think about Stephen Hawking's domestic life, much less know that he walked and talked, and they certainly don't know that he fathered children. When you look deeper into his life, you see so much more than just the genius: you find a father, a husband, and under it all an eternal optimist.

"But, for me, the most powerful element of this story was the sense that he would never have achieved what he did without a partner like Jane."

The marriage would evolve and adapt while Stephen made significant strides in his work. Bruce notes, "Jane and Stephen's relationship in this movie spans 25 years, as we seem them achieve things the most able bodied among us can't even imagine. On that level, it's unique. At the same time, what is completely universal is loving and caring for someone."

McCarten asserts, "For them to have marched through that difficult terrain together and had a marriage that lasted decades was nothing less than a triumph. Stephen and Jane both show us all what human beings are capable of when they set their minds to something. But in writing the script, I had to allow for showing their moods and frustrations that were completely understandable. Our film celebrates Stephen, but it doesn't try to mythologize him; he had very strong negative emotions about the loss of his physical powers and we show that, as well as the highs and lows of the marriage. `The Theory of Everything' is as much about the physics of love as it is about the love of physics."

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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FELICITY JONES EARNS OSCAR BEST ACTRESS NOMINATION FOR “THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING”

British thespian Felicity Jones is one of five Oscar Best Actress nominees this year, and she accomplishes this feat with a magnificent portrayal of real-life character, Jane Hawking, in Universal Pictures' “The Theory of Everything.”

Also starring fellow Academy Award-nominee Eddie Redmayne, the film is an inspiring biopic of renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student, Jane.

To portray Jane Hawking, the filmmakers needed an actress who would face less physical challenges but any number of psychological ones, incarnating the emotions of a pillar of strength.

Director James Marsh notes that "Jane's beats in the story are all emotional ones. I felt that Felicity Jones would match up well with Eddie Redmayne as actors, which she did, and as a director I found the collaboration with her to be exciting.

"There were many difficult scenes where Eddie would be exposed physically and Felicity would be emotionally exposed. She had to show paradoxical feelings, and that's tough to do. All at once, she needed to convey what it was like to love someone who is suffering from a debilitating illness as well as the burdens it put on her as a lover and on her career."

Jones admired the script's "empathy for human beings. As an actor, I was glad to have the opportunity to play a character across many years."

Screenwriter and producer Anthony McCarten notes, "Felicity built a deep characterization of Jane, treading a precarious path between frailty and strength."

Poring over both script and memoir, the actress made a point of meeting with Jane Hawking early on. "She is someone who never gave up," offers Jones. "She dedicated her life to Stephen but at the same time retained her own sense of identity. It was important for her to be recognized in her own right, which is why she continued on with her studies while caring for him and raising a family. What this woman accomplished!"

McCarten notes, "Jane met with Felicity several times, and I know that impacted her portrayal. Felicity would convey how much Jane had going on just under the surface the rich, roiling internalized emotions. For her to do such scenes over and over again got her into the mindset of Jane's powerful ability to hold things together.

"I feel that Felicity captured the Jane I have come to know. There's an authenticity and a discipline to her portrayal that mirror Jane's own strengths."

The love between Jane and Stephen is at the heart of the movie, and the effectiveness of the latter half of the story is enhanced by the glow of the initial romance, particularly the May Ball sequence which is the film's beautiful centerpiece. Marsh explains, "Their marriage later gets complicated, so we have to believe how madly in love Stephen and Jane were from the start. There had to be great vulnerability and tenderness on both sides."

Jones states, "I believe there was an immediate sexual attraction between Stephen and Jane, but at the same time there was a meeting of the minds. I think they challenged each other as well; there was a competitiveness between them, which often happens between two people who are quite intelligent and quite different and all of that helped bond them together."

“The Theory of Everything” is nominated five times in this year's Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking (Redmayne) received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. With Jane (Jones) fighting tirelessly by his side, Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing he now has precious little of – time. Together, they defy impossible odds, breaking new ground in medicine and science, and achieving more than they could ever have dreamed.

“The Theory of Everything” will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide starting February 25. The film is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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EDDIE REDMAYNE, BOUND FOR OSCAR GLORY WITH “THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING”?

He already won Best Actor prizes in the recent British Academy, Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe awards. That's why Eddie Redmayne is considered to be the favorite to win the Oscar next week for his riveting performance as astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in Universal Pictures' inspiring biopic “The Theory of Everything.”

To be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide starting Feb. 25, “The Theory of Everything” is nominated five times in this year's Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress (Felicity Jones) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

In the film, once a healthy, active young man, Hawking received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. With Jane (Jones) fighting tirelessly by his side, Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing he now has precious little of – time. Together, they defy impossible odds, breaking new ground in medicine and science, and achieving more than they could ever have dreamed.

Producer Lisa Bruce notes on their leading man, "Eddie had a relentless intensity from day one. It was truly amazing to watch his evolution as he captured the many layers of both the Stephen we think we know as well as the man behind the image."

Redmayne remarks, "When I read the script I was astonished at what this man has experienced, and done, since 1963. It was one of the most inspiring things I'd ever read. Stephen Hawking is an icon of hope.

"But this movie is also about the human being behind the icon,” the actor continues. “When we meet him in this story, he is 21, and so vibrant and athletic. He goes on to live a full life with a twinkle in his eye, and continues to do so. There are different sides to him: the wit, the brilliance, the stubbornness...I got the impression that he had a rock star personality."

In further researching the subjects' lives, Redmayne learned that the professor came from a solidly intellectual family, while Jane Wilde's decision to pursue an academic career was still considered a brave choice for a woman back in the 1960s. "They were very different people, both extraordinary yet polar opposites," he says. "The idea of two human beings completing one another and defying all the odds I found compelling and oh, was it romantic!"

The challenge of the physical demands required to play Stephen Hawking loomed large. As Redmayne's friend and co-star Charlie Cox said when Redmayne told him about the role, "You have no option but to give it 3,000%."

Accordingly, Redmayne parsed even the smallest details on the man he would be portraying. He notes, "Jane discusses in her book how Stephen had incredibly expressive eyebrows. That was something I spent months in front of a mirror working on.

"When I met Stephen, I noticed how 'yes' is sort of a smile and 'no' is almost a grimace, yet they only manifest in a couple of the facial muscles for him, so I learned how to isolate those."

Redmayne adds, "The production surrounded me with an extraordinary team. Director James Marsh encouraged everyone to collaborate, and gave me the freedom to work closely with the different departments. One of the great thrills of doing this role was working with people who are at the top of their game. We were all of us taking on something we'd never done before which was quite special."

Vocal coach Julia Wilson Dickson and movement director Alex Reynolds were brought in early on by the filmmakers to work with Redmayne. Reynolds coordinated with the actor just how the various degenerative stages of motor neuron disease would be fully expressed on screen as called for in the script.

Redmayne obtained permission to visit MND patients both at a clinic and at home. He explains, "I felt I had the responsibility of portraying this as a real condition." The actor counted himself as fortunate to be able to meet with Stephen as well, and straight away "apologized to Professor Hawking for having chosen to study art history."

Since there is no existing documentation of Stephen in the early stages of deterioration, Redmayne and Reynolds consulted with a doctor who specialized in motor neuron disease to more precisely chart the progression. Redmayne also shared the research with Wilson Dickson. To carry the findings over for the 48 day shoot, Redmayne created a climbing numbers chart that would gauge how advanced the MND was in a particular scene a method which proved invaluable since, like most feature films, “The Theory of Everything” was not shot in sequence.

"Eddie prepared for months, to be ready to give multiple levels of performance," marvels producer and screenwriter Anthony McCarten. "He had to be aware on any given day for a scene, 'Is this stage four of my voice?' 'Does this mean stage three of my body?'

"He would go from 'a 4.3 day' for one day's work to, for a scene set 10 years earlier and filming the next day, 'a 2.7 day.' Each day required all of his talent, discipline, and intelligence."

Marsh availed himself of the chart as "a sacred text, because it demonstrated what was possible and not possible for Stephen at a moment in time. This had a big impact on how [director of photography] Benoit Delhomme shot a scene, and on how we framed it.

"We were sensitive to Eddie's ability to engage the audience with no more than just a cast of his eyes and a small shift of the body. This is not easy for an actor to pull off, and it came at a physical cost to him. Every day he was in some sort of stress position that he had to maintain for hours at a stretch, while still projecting and making the character emerge out of the disability."

McCarten states, "Watching Eddie day after day on the shoot, I would see not him but rather Stephen Hawking."

Marsh concludes, "As impressive as the technical elements of Eddie's performance are, that he brings it all to emotional life is even more so."

“The Theory of Everything” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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TALENTED ACTORS ANNA KENDRICK AND JEREMY JORDAN STAR IN “THE LAST FIVE YEARS”

“The Last Five Years” movie musical is about to debut in Philippine cinemas this February 18 starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. This adaptation of the hit Broadway musical of the same title 'The Last Five Years' is a musical deconstruction of a love affair and a marriage taking place over a five year period. Jamie (Jordan), a young, talented up-and-coming Jewish novelist falls in love with Cathy (Kendrick), a Shiksa Goddess and struggling actress. The film, told almost entirely through song and a beautiful pop music score, portrays an honest, heartbreaking, often funny, exploration of love and its consequences on individual identity.

Their love story is told using an intercutting timeline device where all of Cathy’s songs begin at the end of their marriage to the beginning of their love affair, while Jamie’s songs start at the beginning of their love affair to the end of their marriage.

“The Last Five Years” movie opened to warm acclaim citing that Kendrick belts her way through Cathy’s songs with strong vocal technique and owns every note. Likewise, Jeremy Jordan is a vocal powerhouse who soars through the score. Both actors bring the emotional weight when it’s required but also the perfect amount of young energy and sexual passion to their characters thanks to LaGravenese’s direction.

Anna Kendrick has a slew of projects that showcase her impressive range of talent. She was the lead in the hit comedy-musical, “Pitch Perfect.” The song Cups, which she performed in the film has gone multiplatinum, and is one of Billboards top songs of 2013.Recognized for her work on screen and stage, Anna Kendrick was nominated for an Oscar in her breakout role in “Up in the Air.” For her role as "Dinah" in "High Society" on Broadway, Anna Kendrick was nominated for a Tony Award (second youngest ever), a Drama Desk Award, and a Fany Award (best actress featured in a musical). Her spectacular performance landed her the Drama League and Theatre World Award.

Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan starred in NBC’s musical drama “Smash” as Jimmy Collins, a music composer who is creating a current-day rock musical along with his music partner Kyle Bishop (Andy Mientus) in Brooklyn. At Ithaca College, he earned a BFA with honors in performance theatre. In 2009, he got his professional start in New York as the understudy to the lead in Broadway’s “Rock of Ages.” Jeremy then went on to star as ‘Tony’ in Broadway’s revival of “West Side Story.” In 2011, Jeremy starred as ‘Clyde Barrow’ in the new Broadway musical, “Bonnie & Clyde” by Frank Wildhorn and Don Black at the Schoenfeld Theatre. Further, Jeremy starred alongside Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton in the Warner Bros. film “Joyful Noise,” (2012) directed by Todd Graff. He also originated the role of ‘Jack Kelly’ in the Tony-nominated Broadway show, “Newsies.” Jeremy was nominated for ‘Best Actor in a Musical’ for his leading role in the Disney musical.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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ANIMATED SHORT “FROZEN FEVER” TO PLAY WITH “CINDERELLA”

Disney has just released the first images from the animated short “Frozen Fever.”

The upcoming “Frozen” sequel short—which will play in front of the live-action “Cinderella” — has Elsa (Idina Menzel) trying to throw a big, birthday bash for Anna (Kristen Bell). However, it turns out the cold can bother Elsa, and the way she experiences the symptoms is different than everybody else. “Elsa doesn’t get a cold in the usual way,” co-director Jennifer Lee tells USA Today. “She’s special. Surprising things occur that wreak a little havoc.” Lee and co-director Chris Buck promise other surprises as well.

Olaf (Josh Gad), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), and Sven will also be coming back for the festivities as they’ve become part of this unusual family.

And if you were just starting to get “Let It Go” out of your head, consider yourself warned: Oscar-winning composers Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez have written up another catchy tune.

A live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, “Cinderella” brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually-dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation.

The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.” She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her.

And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit. Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman steps forward and, armed with a pumpkin and a few mice, changes Cinderella’s life forever.

“Cinderella” will be released in the Philippines on Thursday, March 12, through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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“THOR'S” KENNETH BRANAGH DIRECTS NEW LIVE-ACTION “CINDERELLA”

Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh (“Thor”) directs Disney’s “Cinderella,” a live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, bringing to life the timeless images from the studio’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually-dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation.

The film stars: Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett as the wicked but misunderstood stepmother; Lily James (“Downton Abbey”) as the loving and kind-hearted Ella, a young woman whose spirit can’t be broken; Richard Madden (“Game of Thrones”) as the dashing and thoughtful Kit, who initially hides his true identity as the Prince from Ella; and two-time Academy Award nominee Helena Bonham Carter as the Beggar Woman and Ella’s fabled guardian, the Fairy Godmother.

Kenneth Branagh is a multi-faceted artist and one of the most respected filmmakers working today. In addition to his acclaimed skills as a director (a Best Director Oscar® nomination and Best Director BAFTA Award for “Henry V”), he is a talented actor, writer and producer as well. But it was his passion for story-telling and his ability to find humanity in every situation which made him the ideal choice to bring this story to life.

“I had never considered directing a fairy tale,” he says, “But I was captivated by the power of the story and thought I was in sync with the visual artistry that was being developed.” According to producer Allison Shearmur, “’Cinderella’ is the ultimate story of good triumphing over despair and tragedy, and that is something to which we can all relate.”

Writing a screenplay which would effectively balance the essence of the animated film while making it appealing and relevant to today’s audiences, lay in the capable hands of screenwriter Chris Weitz. Like Branagh, Weitz is also an accomplished actor, producer and director, and was intrigued with the prospect of giving audiences a glimpse into the backgrounds and motivations of each character, showing them to be more complex.

“We’re not doing a revisionist version of ‘Cinderella,’” says Weitz, “She does what the character did in the fairy tale, but for a modern audience it’s very hard to figure out why she doesn’t run away and go to social services or something like that. The question was how to embody what we thought was great and beautiful about the story and the heroine, and for us it was a tremendous sense of purpose and honor and fortitude that you don’t see often in heroes these days.”

Branagh continues, “In the script, we tried to make absolutely clear that we were presenting a girl whose life would not be dependent on or defined by a man arriving.

Her life would not be dependent on or defined by glamorous or expensive things arriving. Also, this girl would not be defined by having some easily available magical or supernatural force, like a fairy godmother, as an omnipotent, omniscient agent who would take care of everything. The Fairy Godmother helps of course, but as in life, things are mostly up to the individual. Cinderella rises to the challenge.”

“Cinderella” will be released in the Philippines on March 12, through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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A PERFECT POST-VALENTINE’S MOVIE DATE - “THE LAST FIVE YEARS”

Anna Kendrick whose stars shot to worldwide acclaim with her viral performance in “Pitch Perfect” will next be seen in the latest romantic musical “The Last five Years” opposite Jeremy Jordan.

Based on the acclaimed musical of the same name by Tony Award winning composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown, “The Last Five Years,” directed to film by Richard LaGravenese is a musical deconstruction of a love affair and a marriage taking place over a five year period. Jamie (Jordan), a young, talented up-and-coming Jewish novelist falls in love with Cathy (Kendrick), a Shiksa Goddess and struggling actress. The film, told almost entirely through song and a beautiful pop music score, portrays an honest, heartbreaking, often funny, exploration of love and its consequences on individual identity.

The musical where the movie was based was staged by Flickering Light Productions that had two fantastic runs at The Cultch and Studio 1398. It also competed in Theatre BC's Greater Vancouver Zone Festival. After a week of amazing shows, the cast and crew emerged with 6 awards; including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Lighting, Best Backstage Cooperation, Runner-Up to Best Production, and People's Choice Best Production. After being invited to compete at Theatre BC's Provincial Mainstage Theatre Festival, “The Last Five Years” took home a Thespian Award for Best Technical Sound, and a special Thespian Award for Best Musical.

In the Philippines, the musical was also staged during the second half of 2014, produced by 9 Works Theatrical that was directed by Robbie Guevara starring Nikki Gil and Joaquin Valdes.

Save the date and a date when “The Last Five Years” opens this February 18 in cinemas nationwide.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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A LOVE WORTH REMEMBERING IN “THE LAST FIVE YEARS”

Richard LaGravenese, known for his affective helming of romantic drama and comedy movies such as “P.S. I Love You,” “Paris Je T’aime,” “Living Out Loud” and “Beautiful Creatures,” as well as “Freedom Writers” adapts hit musical play to film - “The Last Five Years starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan.

“The Last Five Years” is based on the work of Tony award winning composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown and centers around the tumultuous relationship of Jamie, a writer, and Cathy, an aspiring actress, over the course of five years. While Jamie tells his story in chronological order, Cathy tells her story backwards—and the two tales meet in the middle. The musical originally opened off-Broadway in 2002, starring Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott.

In the Philippines, it was also staged in 2003 by Actor’s Actors Inc. starring Audie Gemora and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and was staged again in Manila recently (2014) by 9 Works Theatrical for the company’s 5th anniversary where Nikki Gil and Joaquin Valdes starred.

Kendrick for her part on playing Cathy shares that whatever the couple had gone through trying to save their marriage, she feels like it’s not about terrible people being together but a relationship that wasn’t meant to work out. “Obviously circumstance is always a factor, but I think they're doomed because they fall in love really young and they are sort of becoming adults really quickly. Usually, it doesn't work that way, but in their case, the money and the apartment comes before the emotional maturity, and then you sort of rush into adulthood and you're like, "Oh, I don't actually have the communication tools to work on this relationship with you," explains Kendrick.

LaGravenese further explains that, "The Last Five Years" was a musical in 2002 and it's a deconstruction of a marriage. I was thinking of it as this generation's "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" which is a French film by Jacques Demy from the late '60s, it was part of the New Wave and it was all sung—although that was more of an operatic dialogue singing whereas "The Last Five Years" has individual songs—but it too is sort of a love affair, an examination of it. Because I have the characters sing to each other as opposed to the audience in monologue style, the backward and forward chronology changed a bit. It's probably a bit more clear that all the girl's songs go from the end to the beginning [of their relationship] and all the guy's songs go from the beginning to the end when it's on stage. But for me the movie was more of a mosaic as opposed to linear backward and forward. It really is "scenes from a marriage" with music.

A love affair to remember, “The Last Five Years” will open February 18 in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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A WORLD OF HORROR BEHIND OUR SCREENS: “POLTERGEIST” (3D)

FIRST-LOOK PHOTOS and TRAILER REVEAL

The first two photos and first trailer of “Poltergeist” (3D) have just been revealed by 20th Century Fox. Legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi (“Spiderman,” “Evil Dead”, “The Grudge”) and director Gil Kenan (“Monster House”) contemporize the classic tale about a family whose suburban home is haunted by evil forces. When the terrifying apparitions escalate their attacks and hold the youngest daughter captive, the family must come together to rescue her before she disappears forever. Starring Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jared Harris and Jane Adams.

"Whenever someone approaches material that's so beloved, there's a reflexive reaction to be worried," says Kenan in recent interviews. "It's a responsibility we take very seriously. We're working to make a Poltergeist film that lives up to the original's legacy."

Mirroring the key aspects of the original has been a major consideration of Kenan and producer Sam Raimi. The reboot features a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist David Lindsay-Abaire and is led onscreen by Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt as the parents.

The Bowen family finds itself in a paranormal world of hurt when they move into a suburban fixer-upper, which is in worse need of spiritual cleansing. Kenan says he found his key central girl, Madison, in 8-year-old Kennedi Clements, whom he calls "a force of nature." Like the original, television is a conduit from the spirit world. But in 2015, the screens are bigger, packing more menace. And there are screens throughout the house.

"Unlike the traditional horror film, I wanted to put together a cast to give weight and reality to these characters. It's the way to anchor the family," says Kenan. "It's such an emotional story at the core. Parents fighting to get their child back from the beyond."

"The original film commented on how we've let television get out of control, babysitting our kids," says Raimi. "It's only gotten worse with the handheld portable devices. Screens are everywhere."

Once the spiritual invasion overwhelms, the Bowens seek help from a respected supernatural researcher and clairvoyant (Jared Harris). But they really come together and rely on each other.

"The thing that keeps them a family is what they have to draw on, to stay sane, and also to win Madison back," says Kenan. "The film is super-scary. And it's scary on its own terms. I am excited to finally be able to share that with the world."

"Poltergeist" (3D) invades theaters in the Phils. this July 23 from 20th Century Fox.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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MIND-BLOWING SPECTACLE WHEN “INSURGENT” OPENS IN CINEMAS THIS MARCH 19

The second instalment in the highly-successful young adult book phenomenon “The Divergent Series: Insurgent” translates to the big screen with returning cast including Golden Globe®-nominee Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, Academy Award®-winners Kate Winslet and Octavia Spencer, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Maggie Q and Mekhi Phifer, based on author Veronica Roth’s New York Times best-seller of the same name.

“The second film in the Divergent franchise takes the story and action to another level and we were able to blend gripping performances and mind-blowing spectacle to create a unique event on screen," said producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher. “We cannot wait to share this experience with audiences around the world.”

Directed by Robert Schwentke and written by Brian Duffield, Akiva Goldsman and Mark Bomback - “The Divergent Series: Insurgent” raises the stakes for Tris as she searches for allies and answers in the ruins of a futuristic Chicago. Tris (Woodley) and Four (James) are now fugitives on the run, hunted by Jeanine (Winslet), the leader of the power-hungry Erudite elite. Racing against time, they must find out what Tris’s family sacrificed their lives to protect, and why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them. Haunted by her past choices but desperate to protect the ones she loves, Tris, with Four at her side, faces one impossible challenge after another as they unlock the truth about the past and ultimately the future of their world.

Wherein Veronica Roth’s “Divergent” book series has already sold nearly 30 million copies around the world, “Insurgent” likewise poises to outgross the first Divergent film that grossed nearly $300 million at the global box office. The third and fourth installments in the franchise, Allegiant Parts 1 and 2, are slated for (U.S.) release on March 18, 2016 and March 24, 2017, respectively.

In the Philippines, the countdown has begun as March 19 nears when cinemas nationwide opens screens for the most awaited spectacle of the year that is “Insurgent.”

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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MasterChef is commencing its inaugural Asia-wide search for talented cooks! They are looking for anyone who is 18 years old and above, passionate about food, bursting with personality, and relish a challenge like no other.

MasterChef is an international cookery series, is made in over 40 countries, and is aired in at least 200 territories. 2015 marks the first time this highly anticipated culinary competition is launched for an entire region, pitting cooks not only against each other in a country-wide search, but on a regional basis. This means that not only does the cook have to exemplify the best they can be on a national level, they will also need to pit all their skills and knowledge against candidates from all over the whole of Asia. The stakes just got a lot higher.

The competition is open to all home cooks, but does draw a line at professionals as it charts a journey of individuals who are now choosing to change their lives, to pursue food with a passion.

Go to www.masterchefasia.com for more information.

Good luck! Make our country proud!

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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“CINDERELLA” CHARACTERS COME TO LIFE LIKE NEVER BEFORE

The beloved characters in the fairytale “Cinderella” are fully-realized and fleshed-out in Disney's new live-action feature for today's audiences.Watch the film's new, full-trailer here below.

Director Kenneth Branagh explains, “I liked the challenge of working with these great actors to bring as much detail and fun – and humanity – to their fairy tale characters as possible. I was excited to have the chance to retell a classic story in a way which would be both appealing and have meaning for modern audiences, and to have the support of Disney and some of the world’s most creative filmmaking talents.”

Let's find out how the familiar characters are re-interpreted with their descriptions below.

Ella (Lily James). A beautiful young woman with a gentle spirit, Ella finds joy in the simplest of things. She was raised in a caring and stable home and has a pure heart, a loving nature and is kind and generous to those around her. Despite the cruelty and abuse she is subjected to from her stepmother and her daughters, Ella continues to remain positive and steadfast, finding strength in the words of her late mother to “have courage and always be kind.”

The Prince (Richard Madden). The Prince is dashing, intelligent and thoughtful, a kindred spirit to Ella. He loves his father and hopes to one day rule as effectively, and is young and passionate and full of suggestions. Having just returned from war, the Prince now sees there is strength in pacification. The King’s views are more traditional however, and he is hesitant to listen to his son’s ideas.

The Stepmother (Cate Blanchett). The stepmother has had her share of broken dreams, which have left her bitter and full of regret. She longs to have a life that is taken care of from a financial point of view and a happy future for her daughters, but is jealous of any affection her husband bestows on Ella, resenting her for her youth, beauty and charm. Following the death of her husband, the financial pressures and panic cause the stepmother’s jealousy to grow, which manifests itself through cruelty and contempt directed at her stepdaughter.

The Stepsisters, Anastasia and Drisella (Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera). Ella’s stepsisters, Anastasia and Drisella, have lived lives of comfort and privilege but are ill-mannered, boorish and unappreciative of all they’ve been given. Both are physically attractive and try to put forth a pleasant and well-groomed exterior, but in truth they are sometimes ugly on the inside. Lacking self-confidence and desperate for their mother’s approval, both girls are envious of Ella’s beauty and grace, neither of which they possess, which causes them to treat her unkindly.

The Fairy Godmother/Beggar Woman (Helena Bonham Carter). The Fairy Godmother is a delightfully-eccentric old woman who cares for Ella and longs to see her happy. But she is forgetful and is easily frazzled. She first presents herself to Ella as a disheveled beggar woman searching for food, and is immediately treated with kindness.

The King (Derek Jacobi). A much-loved and successful ruler, the King is proud of his son and wants to see him happy and leading a fulfilling life. But his health is failing, and while needing to ensure the Kingdom will be in good hands once he is gone, is firmly set in his ways and cautious about making any changes.

The Grand Duke (Stellan Skarsgård). The Grand Duke is a pragmatic and calculating ally of the royal family. To him, marriage is nothing more than a business arrangement, and he believes the Prince should marry someone politically valuable to the royal family. He feels it is his duty to prevent the Prince from finding – and marrying – Ella, and teams up with her stepmother to make sure it does not happen.

The Captain (Nonso Anozie). The Captain is advisor and best friend to the Prince. Intelligent, loyal and dignified, he is responsible for the Prince’s safety and well-being, and does so with quiet nobility.

Too bad I missed this Speedo event that was held last Wednesday night at Glorietta. I wasn't feeling well so I decided to just head home after work.

But luckily the very talented makeup artist Cici Tanchanco took photos of the hunks who walked on the runway that night and shared it on her Facebook. Thank you, Cici! Teehee!

I love the guy in a black tank top. What's his name? He kinda looks familiar.

Hunky Syrian male model Basel. I'll try to blog more about him next time.

Bagay much, Cici! CHOZ! Ahihihihihihihi! Her forever crush Marx Topacio.

Ikaw na! I dunno this guy's name. I'm so not updated anymore as far as the modeling scene is concerned.

Anyhow, below are Cici's contact details in case you're in need of professional makeup services. Again, she's really highly recommended. Take it from me.

See you soon, Cici!

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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“FOCUS” TRAILER, POSTERS STEAL ATTENTION

Warner Bros. Pictures has just revealed the main poster, character banners and the new trailer for Will Smith's con artist movie “Focus.” Watch the trailer here:

“Focus” also stars Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Rodrigo Santoro (the “300” films) and Gerald McRaney (TV’s “House of Cards”).

Smith stars as Nicky, a seasoned master of misdirection who becomes romantically involved with novice con artist Jess (Robbie). As he’s teaching her the tricks of the trade, she gets too close for comfort and he abruptly breaks it off. Three years later, the former flame—now an accomplished femme fatale—shows up in Buenos Aires in the middle of the high stakes racecar circuit. In the midst of Nicky’s latest, very dangerous scheme, she throws his plans for a loop…and the consummate con man off his game.

“Focus” is written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (“Crazy, Stupid, Love.”).

Opening across the Philippine on February 25, 2015, “Focus” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

♥ Mwah! ♥

X.O.X.O.
VinVin

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“CRAZY STUPID LOVE” DIRECTORS BACK WITH “FOCUS”

Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (“Crazy, Stupid, Love”) are back with Warner Bros. Pictures' new con artist movie “Focus” starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Rodrigo Santoro (the “300” films) and Gerald McRaney (TV’s “House of Cards”).

In the film, Nicky (Smith) is a seasoned master of misdirection who becomes romantically involved with novice con artist Jess (Robbie). As he’s teaching her the tricks of the trade, she gets too close for comfort and he abruptly breaks it off. Three years later, the former flame—now an accomplished femme fatale—shows up in Buenos Aires in the middle of the high stakes racecar circuit. In the midst of Nicky’s latest, very dangerous scheme, she throws his plans for a loop…and the consummate con man off his game.

In the following interview, the directors talk about deception coexisting with love and what cast members Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Rodrigo Santoro impressively brought to the film.

Question: This is your second film involving the world of con artists and sleight-of-hand, after “I Love You Phillip Morris.” What about it fascinates you and inspired you to make “Focus”?

Glenn Ficarra: Cons are about trust, but they’re on opposite sides of the trust spectrum—one is when you earn false trust and the other requires absolute trust—so the question is: can they coexist?

John Requa: Can you find true love and trust in this world and this currency of lies. We got really interested in exploring that concept in a movie about four years ago. We would call it ‘The Con Artist Love Story.’ No matter what else we were doing, we kept playing with it, and it evolved into this notion of having the first part of the movie being about a rookie con artist falling in love with a pro, and the second half about them coming back together when she’s not a rookie anymore.

Q: In “Focus,” the rookie is Jess, played by Margot Robbie, and the pro is Nicky, played by Will Smith.

Glenn Ficarra: Yes, Nicky is the dominant force in the first half of the movie, and Jess takes that role in the second half. They each have their hands on the control stick in different parts of the film, so you see the story from two different perspectives.

Q: Can you talk about the title, “Focus,” and how that idea is woven into the film?

Glenn Ficarra: The movie is about con artists and their ability to draw focus away from a crime towards something else, and we explore that on a number of levels. On the simple level of pick-pocketing, how do you distract someone and pull a wallet or watch out of their pocket? But, in a larger sense, how do you make someone think that one thing is happening, when, in fact, another thing has already happened? On the emotional level as well: how can you use prewiring of the human brain for love to manipulate and use someone? So, that notion of focus was central to everything we’re exploring, big and small, in this story.

Q: What was it like to work with Will on this film?

Glenn Ficarra: He’s a joy. He’s a really good person, ever-interesting, ever-hungry—he’s always on the hunt to win.

John Requa: Transcendent. Not only is he a tremendous actor and incredibly professional, he’s a lot of fun. He’s like a big brother.

Q: What qualities does Will bring to the character of Nicky?

Glenn Ficarra: It’s the idea that the Will Smith we all know is this charismatic, smiling, nice guy. That’s so easy for him to embody in a character, but what if it was all an act? That really appealed to us, the idea of having that quality unfold in the first half of the movie as just something he turned on whenever it was convenient. Then, as you watch Nicky unravel over the course of the second half of the movie, you still love him, even when though he does some bad things.

John Requa: This is essentially a movie about two criminals—these fast and charming people who you’ll love even though they’re doing crimes. It’s tricky stuff, but Will and Margot fit the bill.

Q: What was it about Margot Robbie that resonated with you for the role of Jess?

John Requa: We auditioned a lot of incredibly talented women, and she came in and she just blew our socks off. Everybody. She walked out of the room and that was it. We knew our job was finished and that’s good. Hopefully she would say yes. [Laughs] It was nothing more complex than that. She blew us away.

Glenn Ficarra: And the chemistry between Margot and Will was so clear. It was undeniable. As John said, we auditioned a lot of women and started specifying types—she should do this and she should do that—and ultimately we said, ‘Look, let’s just get the best person for the part and take it from there.’

Q: You’ve previously worked with Rodrigo Santoro on “I Love You Phillip Morris.” Did you always have him in mind to play Garriga?

John Requa: Yeah, from the very beginning.

Glenn Ficarra: We didn’t want a kind of mustache-twirling Spaniard, and Rodrigo is just so welcoming and real. He’s an excellent actor, and he rarely gets to be funny, so we thought it would be fun to see him in this role.

WILL SMITH, A CON ARTIST WHO NEVER LOSES “FOCUS”

Global superstar Will Smith headlines Warner Bros. Pictures' “Focus,” a slick heist film with a sophisticated vibe in which the stakes start out high and get exponentially higher.

Smith stars as Nicky Spurgeon who is all charm and ease, a cool, smooth operator with a million-dollar smile and perfectly understated style. Just don’t turn your back on him…don’t let him steal your focus for a second.

Enter Jess Barrett (Margot Robbie), a gorgeous young woman with flirty blonde locks and a wiggle in her short skirt, looking to get in the con game. She’s got all the right equipment, but she’s green. She just needs a guiding hand to show her all the right moves.

Nicky’s masterful cons take them from snowy New York to sunny New Orleans to one of South America’s most exquisite cities, Buenos Aires. Toss in the year’s ultimate football match and the exceedingly competitive world of car racing and all together it’s a formula for high-octane action, adventure and romance.

“I loved ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.,’” Smith states, “so when I heard that John Requa and Glenn Ficarra were working on another screenplay, I was excited to get in anywhere that I fit in. And when I read the screenplay, I thought it was a brilliant combination of comedy, drama, psychology and intrigue. It demanded a wide spectrum of behavior. As an actor, I was inspired by the challenge of it.”

A jack-of-all-trades by trade, Smith's character, Nicky, was raised in the world of deception. He’s left his family behind, but nevertheless continues on in the family business, from neatly picking pockets to expertly running the long con, and everything in between.

“Nicky is one of the smartest, most dysfunctional people you’ll ever meet,” says Smith. “He understands human nature and human behavior—there are very few people with that level of depth and comprehension. But he got his heart broken when he was little, and he has not yet learned to use his powers for good.”

According to Ficarra, “When we first thought about casting Nicky, we thought it would be great if Will Smith—who we all know is an affable, charming guy—would be interested in playing this man who can draw anybody in, but underneath it’s all an act. Behind the facade he shows to the world lies cool calculation. We really wanted to see Will take Nicky on.”

Requa says, “Will is a great actor, and also a great improviser, both in the traditional sense but especially when it comes to finding small, subtle improvisations within the context of the written dialogue that aid the other actors in a scene. He’s very giving of himself, and he shapes his performance to provide the others what they need for their performance as well. In essence, he already understands how a confidence artist operates.”

Smith conveys with a smile, “Glenn and John, as a directing team, are like loving parents who used to own a casino and a strip club. They always want to make sure that their children are in good spirits, are working hard to keep the family business alive, and want their children to be just intoxicated enough to do the best work of their lives.”

Co-star Margot Robbie credits Smith’s generous nature for their instant rapport. “Will’s the best. He’s hilarious, he has such a positive presence and he’s so accommodating and lovely. I actually forgot that he has such a high profile and huge fan base—until we got to Argentina and suddenly there were thousands of people outside the trailer on our first day of shooting there!”

MARGOT ROBBIE, FROM "WOLF OF WALL STREET" TO “FOCUS”

She captivated audiences with her gripping on-screen presence in Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street,” in which she stared as the female lead opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. Now, Australian actress Margot Robbie heats up the screen with Will Smith in Warner Bros. Pictures' engrossing heist film, “Focus.”

In the film, Nicky (Smith) is a seasoned master of misdirection who becomes romantically involved with novice con artist Jess (Robbie). As he’s teaching her the tricks of the trade, she gets too close for comfort and he abruptly breaks it off. Three years later, the former flame—now an accomplished femme fatale—shows up in Buenos Aires in the middle of the high stakes racecar circuit. In the midst of Nicky’s latest, very dangerous scheme, she throws his plans for a loop…and the consummate con man off his game.

“The script immediately caught my attention,” Robbie recalls. “It was funny and dramatic with touching emotional scenes but also a really engaging and intricate plot. There was just so much going on, both on the surface and beneath. I thought it was brilliant that this pair of thieves might fall in love in a world where there’s no room for it, where trust is just a tool to manipulate people, to steal from them.”

Nicky is a master at discerning the weakness of any mark. That is, until he stumbles across a weakness of his own: Jess. Having first made her acquaintance briefly in New York, he takes her on as part of his crew in New Orleans, where the alcohol flows, the crowds swell, and an abundance of cash, watches, jewels, electronics, and much more become easy pickings for those schooled in exploiting the peccadilloes of others. Eager to please, Jess is a quick learner and executes her assignments like an old pro.

Robbie says she relished the part. “Jess is a dream. She has such an arc in the film, starting out as one sort of girl—inexperienced, sort of a diamond-in-the-rough—and ending up in a completely different place, and that was so much fun to play.”

Producer Denise Di Novi says Robbie and Smith played well off each other from the start. “I’ve made a lot of films that depend on chemistry between the two leads, and it’s always a nail biter until you get those first few days under your belt. Will is so dynamic, and when Margot walked into the room, they sparked to each other, the banter was immediate. She was fearless, confident, and not at all intimidated, and, Will being Will, he loved that.”

“I think Will and I had the right sort of energy for the characters from the start,” Robbie allows. “We got along right away, and that made it easy to goof around and improvise. It was a very fast friendship.”

The actress credits Smith’s generous nature for their instant rapport. “Will’s the best. He’s hilarious, he has such a positive presence and he’s so accommodating and lovely. I actually forgot that he has such a high profile and huge fan base—until we got to Argentina and suddenly there were thousands of people outside the trailer on our first day of shooting there!”

“Margot is fantastic,” Smith reciprocates. “She is the perfect little Energizer Bunny. I’ve always prided myself on having the most energy on any set; I like to keep the workplace fun and upbeat. In my 20-plus years in this business, Margot was the first person that made me tap out with entertaining the crew and keeping the workplace spirits ablaze.”

Requa calls Robbie “a force of nature,” adding, “we were instantly taken by her. She’s intelligent and driven, which was perfect for her character, and when she came into the room, she just lit everything up. It was effortless from that point forward.”

Margot Robbie is currently preparing to star as Harley Quinn opposite Will Smith and Jared Leto in David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad,” based on the DC Comics’ team of super villains.

She recently wrapped production on David Yates’ “Tarzan,” starring opposite Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christoph Waltz. Robbie plays the role of Jane Porter, the beloved wife of Tarzan. The film is set to release July 1, 2016.

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