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Tag: Ben Affleck

  • Eight must-watch films to prepare for ‘The Marsh King’s Daughter’

    Eight must-watch films to prepare for ‘The Marsh King’s Daughter’

    Mumbai: Entering the realm of imagination through the pages of a book, accompanied by a soothing beverage, is a source of comfort for many. But, for those who prefer a cinematic experience over reading, movies become the go-to choice. Adaptations of novels often achieve blockbuster status as they breathe life into captivating stories that have already captured the collective imagination. Think of The Harry Potter series, Game of Thrones, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy as prime examples. When it comes to thriller/suspense novels, watching the cinematic rendition often elevates the anticipation. Still unsure? How about we clarify ourselves with a few choice thriller/suspense novel adaptions that became iconic? From the upcoming ‘The Marsh King’s Daughter’ to ‘It’, we’ve curated a list of gripping films, each adapted from a popular novel that’ll keep you on the edge from the very beginning.

    1.   1984 (1984)

    George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece, 1984, is a chilling exploration of a totalitarian society. John Hurt’s portrayal of Winston Smith and Richard Burton’s ominous presence make this adaptation a timeless cautionary tale that’s as relevant today as it was when the novel was written.

    2.   The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

    Based on Thomas Harris’s spine-chilling novel, The Silence of the Lambs stars Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. Foster plays Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee tasked with consulting the brilliant but deranged Dr. Hannibal Lecter, played by Hopkins, to catch a serial killer. This gripping thriller is a masterclass in suspense, with unforgettable performances that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

    3.   A Walk to Remember (2002)

    Based on Nicholas Sparks’ emotional novel, A Walk to Remember is a classic romance that’ll tug at your heartstrings. Mandy Moore and Shane West deliver touching performances as two high school students from different worlds who find love despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

    4.   Gone Girl (2014)

    Gillian Flynn’s psychological thriller, Gone Girl, takes on a new dimension when brought to the big screen by David Fincher. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike’s performances are nothing short of remarkable as they lead you through a web of secrets, lies, and suspense, making it a must-see for anyone who loves a good mystery.

    5.   It (2017)

    Based on Stephen King’s spine-tingling novel, It is a chilling journey into the dark underbelly of Derry, Maine. Starring Bill Skarsgård as the terrifying Pennywise the Dancing Clown, this adaptation captures the essence of the book’s horrors. The Losers’ Club, a group of misfit kids, must confront their deepest fears as they confront an ancient evil that haunts their town.

    6.   Dune (2021)

    Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel, Dune, finally received the cinematic treatment it deserved in this visually stunning adaptation. With a star-studded cast that includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Oscar Isaac, Dune immerses you in the intricate political landscapes and desert worlds of Arrakis. It’s a breathtaking journey through a future where power, politics, and mysticism collide.

    7.   Death on the Nile (2022)

    Agatha Christie’s beloved detective, Hercule Poirot, returns in this adaptation of her classic novel. Kenneth Branagh stars as the brilliant detective who finds himself solving a murder aboard a luxurious Nile River cruise. The star-studded ensemble cast, including Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, and Letitia Wright, adds an extra layer of intrigue to this thrilling masterpiece.

    And Last, but not the least. Here’s the film that inspired this list:

    8.   The Marsh King’s Daughter (2023)

    Finally, the highly anticipated The Marsh King’s Daughter takes the spotlight. In this thrilling adaptation of Karen Dionne’s novel, Daisy Ridley portrays Helena, a woman who must confront her traumatic past when her father, played by Ben Mendelsohn, escapes from prison. As she navigates the wilderness of her childhood, Helena must grapple with her complex emotions, and the film promises to be a rollercoaster of suspense, emotion, and extraordinary performances, just like the novels we’ve explored on this list.

    If you’re a fan of movies adapted from novels, be sure to catch ‘The Marsh King’s Daughter,’ releasing on 3 November 2023, at your nearest PVR INOX cinemas.

  • The Age of Heroes has arrived

    The Age of Heroes has arrived

    Mumbai: Humanity plunges into despair; panic spreads like plague. The death of Superman spells a terrible reign of darkness. Will a band of unlikely allies vanquish supervillain Steppenwolf, as he returns to claim his rightful place as the ruler of this world? Can Batman and his troop of gifted meta-humans defeat this invincible abomination? To find out, tune in to the premiere of the much-awaited, Justice League, only on Sunday, 28th October, 2018 at 12pm and 8pm, only on HBO and HBO HD!

    Justice League brings together an unprecedented situation that calls for an equally exceptional team of warriors. The entry of one of the New Gods, Steppenwolf and his Parademons wreak havoc to collect all ‘Mother Boxes’, as Batman recruits superheroes with the help of Wonder Woman. The movie, much to the delight of die-hard DC fans, introduces champions from different worlds – from Men, to Atlanteans, to Amazonians. That’s the cue for a cocky and self-sufficient Aquaman; The Flash as an impressionable University student with superhuman speed; and a techno-organic Cyborg!

    The impending catastrophe and superhero battles mark a new milestone in the DC Extended Universe. Directed by Zack Snyder, the movie is aplenty with stylistic action, slow-motion shots and visual effects that elevate every combat sequence. The plotline cleverly balances action and drama, peppered with moments of humour.

    HBO and HBO HD is set to elevate movie magic with exciting social and digital fan engagement. Fans too can #JoinTheLeague and become a Superhero! Viewers need to simply visit http://hbosouthasia.com/jointheleague/ to take part in the contest and enter their Desired Superhero Name and Power. The lucky winner will get to watch his or her Superhero avatar featured in a cool animated short movie that will be aired on HBO! The contest will be promoted on air and run on all social media platforms. And the superhero bug never spared anyone! So popular stand-up comedian and superhero fan Sahil Shah will also be sharing his excitement for this contest on his social media pages!

    Check out HBO India on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to know more! Justice League set cash registers ringing worldwide and won millions of hearts. Now it’s your turn to experience the magic only on HBO and HBO HD, on Sunday, 28th October, 2018 at 12pm and 8pm!

  • Halloween comes early on Star World Premiere HD

    Halloween comes early on Star World Premiere HD

    Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition and it seems to have arrived early on Star World Premiere HD. The channel that takes pride in bringing the biggest and most critically acclaimed shows to India is set to premiere the two spookiest shows of television – Ryan Murphy’s Horror Anthology series American Horror Story Season 6 and Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s horror drama The Strain Season 3.

    The vampire drama The Strain is set to return for its third season on 3 September at 11 pm in India and stars Corey Stoll (House of Cards), David Bradley (Argus Filch in the Harry Potter film series and Walder Frey in Game of Thrones) and Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) in the lead roles. The Strain comes from a trilogy of novels written by Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, Hellboy) and Chuck Hogan, who wrote the novel, Prince of Thieves that Ben Affleck used as the basis for The Town.

    Regarding the concept, del Toro sought to de-romanticize vampires, which have been humanized and turned into love interests in recent years. During the launch of the series, del Toro had said: “Vampires have been romanticised. We’ve kind of de-fanged them. I wanted to do this not as a movement, but as an alternative. It is gory, but not gory for the sake of being gory. I would say it’s biologically curious. But the way the vampires breed is truly brutal.”

    The thriller started with an investigation into a mysterious viral outbreak in New York City with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team and his team wage war for the fate of humanity itself. The season three begins with New York City being written off by the federal government, leaving the remaining residents fighting for survival on their own in this battleground.

    Next in the line-up is the much-awaited Season 6 of American Horror Story that will mark its debut on 18 September at 11:30 pm in India. Each year, Ryan Murphy gives television it’s most bafflingly and sinister hour of television with American Horror Story and this year seems even more intriguing as the show creators have kept the theme of forthcoming Season 6 a closely guarded secret. However, the cast-members Evan Peters, Matt Bomer, Leslie Jordan, Cheyenne Jackson, Lady Gaga, Sarah Paulson and Angela Bassett have confirmed their involvement for season6.

    Ryan Murphy had hinted on the Season 6 during an interview last fall, “We’re doing something we’ve never done before on a show where we’re doing two different groups of writer’s rooms. Some of our writers will be bouncing around, but a whole different group is coming in late August. The next thing we’re crafting up is very, very different than [Season 5]. Not smaller. Not just not opulent. More rogue and more dark.”

    This year also marks many firsts for the series as it is the first time that the series is making a debut outside of October in its history and it is the first season to not release a subtitle, before the premiere, since its launch!

  • Halloween comes early on Star World Premiere HD

    Halloween comes early on Star World Premiere HD

    Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition and it seems to have arrived early on Star World Premiere HD. The channel that takes pride in bringing the biggest and most critically acclaimed shows to India is set to premiere the two spookiest shows of television – Ryan Murphy’s Horror Anthology series American Horror Story Season 6 and Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s horror drama The Strain Season 3.

    The vampire drama The Strain is set to return for its third season on 3 September at 11 pm in India and stars Corey Stoll (House of Cards), David Bradley (Argus Filch in the Harry Potter film series and Walder Frey in Game of Thrones) and Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) in the lead roles. The Strain comes from a trilogy of novels written by Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, Hellboy) and Chuck Hogan, who wrote the novel, Prince of Thieves that Ben Affleck used as the basis for The Town.

    Regarding the concept, del Toro sought to de-romanticize vampires, which have been humanized and turned into love interests in recent years. During the launch of the series, del Toro had said: “Vampires have been romanticised. We’ve kind of de-fanged them. I wanted to do this not as a movement, but as an alternative. It is gory, but not gory for the sake of being gory. I would say it’s biologically curious. But the way the vampires breed is truly brutal.”

    The thriller started with an investigation into a mysterious viral outbreak in New York City with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team and his team wage war for the fate of humanity itself. The season three begins with New York City being written off by the federal government, leaving the remaining residents fighting for survival on their own in this battleground.

    Next in the line-up is the much-awaited Season 6 of American Horror Story that will mark its debut on 18 September at 11:30 pm in India. Each year, Ryan Murphy gives television it’s most bafflingly and sinister hour of television with American Horror Story and this year seems even more intriguing as the show creators have kept the theme of forthcoming Season 6 a closely guarded secret. However, the cast-members Evan Peters, Matt Bomer, Leslie Jordan, Cheyenne Jackson, Lady Gaga, Sarah Paulson and Angela Bassett have confirmed their involvement for season6.

    Ryan Murphy had hinted on the Season 6 during an interview last fall, “We’re doing something we’ve never done before on a show where we’re doing two different groups of writer’s rooms. Some of our writers will be bouncing around, but a whole different group is coming in late August. The next thing we’re crafting up is very, very different than [Season 5]. Not smaller. Not just not opulent. More rogue and more dark.”

    This year also marks many firsts for the series as it is the first time that the series is making a debut outside of October in its history and it is the first season to not release a subtitle, before the premiere, since its launch!

  • Ben Affleck’s ‘Gone Girl’ to release in India on Diwali

    Ben Affleck’s ‘Gone Girl’ to release in India on Diwali

    NEW DELHI: Gone girl by David Fincher starring Ben Affleck will be released in the India on 23 October after a phenomenal American box office opening and rave reviews by expert critics.
     
    With staggering positive reviews the movie has already got bumper box office numbers in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) territories with numbers expected to grow even further.

    Gone Girl, based on a best-selling novel by Gillian Flynn, earned strong reviews from critics, with an 87 per cent positive rating on review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.

     
    Affleck stars as a writer who is caught in a media circus when his wife goes missing and the police suspect he is responsible.

     
    It stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon. The film had its world premiere on opening night of the 52nd New York Film Festival on 26 September. It had its American theatrical release on 3 October.

     
    The film examines dishonesty in the media, and the economy’s effects on marriage, and appearances.

    The film opened the 52nd New York Film Festival, receiving high profile press coverage and early positive reviews.

     

    Flincher is the film-maker behind The Social Network and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

     
    Published in 2012, Flynn’s novel has sold more than six million copies. Earlier this year, she was commissioned by the Hogarth Shakespeare project to rewrite The Bard’s tragedy Hamlet.

     

  • First film to be shot in 6K and re-framed in 5K

    First film to be shot in 6K and re-framed in 5K

    NEW DELHI: David Fincher’s Gone Girl is the first feature film anywhere in the world to be shot entirely in 6K (with the Red Dragon) and the first studio feature film to be entirely edited on Adobe Premiere Pro CC.  

     

    Though the film was shot in 6K, it was re-framed for 5K. “Shooting in 6K, we had a large amount of Red media content to be converted and reviewed,” post engineer Jeff Brue said in a NVIDIA case study. “This, combined with a need for an ability during editorial for every shot to be reframed, posed a unique challenge.”    

    Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike and Neil Patrick Harris, the film is based on a novel by Gilian Flynn who has himself written the screenplay. With his wife’s disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it’s suspected that he may not be innocent. 

     

    It was also the first to use NVIDIA’s new Quadro K5200 GPU—which has double the memory and 30 per cent faster performance than its predecessor—in its workflow, according to the National Association of Broadcasters (US).    

     

    The NVIDIA GPU technology was used to convert the footage to DPX at “blazingly fast” speeds, according to Brue.  “The NVIDIA Quadro 5200 was extremely performant in the production by allowing the playback and real time downscaling of 6K to 4K—something that was crucial to ensuring the best post production experience,” Brue added.  

  • Cameras roll on ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’

    Cameras roll on ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’

    MUMBAI: Filming is underway on Warner Bros Pictures’ ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’, an adventure from director Zack Snyder, starring Henry Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, and Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman.

     

    The film also stars Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane returning from ‘Man of Steel’, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, and Holly Hunter in a role newly created for the film.

     

    It is written by Chris Terrio from a screenplay by David S. Goyer.  Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E Uslan, Wesley Coller, David S Goyer and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.

     

    The film will be mostly shot at Michigan Motion Picture Studios and on location in and around Detroit, Michigan; Illinois; Africa; and the South Pacific.

     

    Set to open worldwide on 6 May 2016, it is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Batman characters created by Bob Kane, and Wonder Woman created by

  • ‘Gone Girl’ trailer finally released

    ‘Gone Girl’ trailer finally released

    MUMBAI: First shown at CinemaCon, the teaser trailer of David Fincher’s next film Gone Girl starring Ben Affleck and Neil Patrick Harris has finally been released online for the mass public.

     

    Having spent eight weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list at #1, Gone Girl – the principal suspense comes from an uncertainty about the main character, Nick Dunne, and whether he killed his wife, Amy Dunne when the latter goes missing on the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary.

     

    The book has a 3.93 rating based on 441, 306 ratings on Goodreads. The book is a “pathological, twisted freak-show of a relationship so demented that it leaves wanting for more”!

     

    Hairspray screenwriter Leslie Dixon read the manuscript of the novel in 2011 and brought it to the attention of Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line, Legally Blonde) in December of that year. Soon after, Academy Award winning actress Reese Witherspoon swopped in and bought the rights to the film adaptation of the blockbuster hit. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Witherspoon was drawn to the script because of its strong female character and its use of multiple perspectives and non-linear structure.

     

    In January of 2013, it was announced that Witherspoon will only be producing, and will not be starring in the film. By May, Golden Globe Award winning director David Fincher (The Social Network, The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo) was attached to the project with another Academy Award winner Ben Affleck (Argo) soon joining the project as the lead, Nick Dunne along with Rosamund Pike (Pride & Prejudice, Die Another Day) as his missing wife, Amy.

     

    In several interviews, Flynn has said she was interested in exploring the psychology and dynamics of a long-term relationship. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, where Flynn worked as a television critic before bursting out as an author, she hinted that the film will have a different design than her twisty novel.

     

    Throughout the trailer, you might hear quite a few dialogues exchanged for more than a few seconds over Charles Aznavour serenading his classic English love song, “She”, but the haunting cover played in the background is by Richard Butler from The Psychedelic Furs.

     

    From the trailer, it becomes quickly evident the film will resonate the dark and haunting tone that is seen in most of Fincher’s films.

  • Books to read before they hit Indian theatres in 2014

    Books to read before they hit Indian theatres in 2014

    MUMBAI: This review is the second of the 10-part series by Indiantelevision.com on the books that are being adapted into Hollywood movies in the year 2014.

    Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn

    Having spent eight weeks on The New York Times Bestsellers List at number 1, Gone Girl‘s principal suspense comes from an uncertainty about the main character, Nick Dunne, and whether he killed his wife, Amy Dunne when the latter goes missing on the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary.

    The book has a 3.93 rating based on 441, 306 ratings on Goodreads. The book is a “pathological, twisted freak-show of a relationship so demented that it leaves wanting for more”!

    Hairspray screenwriter Leslie Dixon read the manuscript of the novel in 2011 and brought it to the attention of Reese Witherspoon in December of that year. Soon after, Oscar winning actress Reese Witherspoon swopped in and bought the rights to the film adaptation of the blockbuster hit. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Witherspoon was drawn to the script because of its strong female character and its use of multiple perspectives and non-linear structure.

    In January of 2013, it was announced that Witherspoon will only be producing, and will not be starring in the film. By May, Golden Globe Award winning director David Fincher (The Social Network) was attached to the project with another Oscar winner Ben Affleck soon joining the project as the lead, Nick Dunne along with Rosamund Pike (Pride & Prejudice, Die Another Day) as his missing wife, Amy.

    In several interviews, Flynn has said she was interested in exploring the psychology and dynamics of a long-term relationship. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, where Flynn worked as a television critic before bursting out as an author, she hinted that the film will have a different design than her twisty novel.

    The director, David Fincher himself designed the cover for the 17 January, 2014 edition of Entertainment Weekly. It can be seen below.

    (Watch out for the next one to add to your booklist…!)

  • Ben Affleck reveals the first look of ‘Gone Girl’

    Ben Affleck reveals the first look of ‘Gone Girl’

    It was around this time two years ago that we saw the release of David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and while we haven’t seen a feature film from him since, the drought will end in 2014.

     

    The director is currently in the midst of crafting an adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s acclaimed novel Gone Girl, and while the film will be released late next year, the studio, 20th Century Fox has unveiled a first look at the movie via their official twitter account.

     

    Being adapted by Flynn herself – making her screen writing debut – the thriller centers on the relationship between Nick and Amy, a married couple who have hit a rough patch. Moving to a small town in Missouri from New York after Nick loses his job, Amy is miserable away from the big city, but things become scary when she disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary. To make things even worse, Nick is the prime suspect and there is plenty of evidence against him. Ben Affleck stars as Nick, while Rosamund Pike is playing Amy.

     

    The cast also includes Neil Patrick Harris, Missi Pyle, Tyler Perry, Patrig Fugit, Casey Wilson, Scott McNairy, Kim Dickens and Emily Ratajkowski. Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea, along with Leslie Dixon, are producing the movie.