Dorian Gray World Premiere at TIFF 09

Staff Writer: Grave Digger

The film gods have listened, or read our articles. But now, OHG has the scoop. Dorian Gray will have its World Premiere at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival.

The Gala Presentation page has not been updated yet. When it is, we will list the dates and times for this movie.

Update 9/1:

Friday September 11

09:30PM

ROY THOMSON HALL

Sunday September 13

12:30PM

WINTER GARDEN THEATRE

So far the TIFF site has listed in its press release the following synopsis:

Dorian Gray Oliver Parker, United Kingdom World Premiere

In Victorian London, the handsome Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) is swept into a social whirlwind by the charismatic and cunning Lord Wotton (Colin Firth). Immersed in the hedonistic pleasures of the city, Dorian vows he would give anything to keep his youth and beauty - even his soul. Based on the Oscar Wilde novel, Dorian Gray examines the destructive power of beauty, the blind pursuit of pleasure and the darkness that can result from both.

One for the OHG team. Way too go!

Here's the trailer: Dorian Gray

Check out our literature review: Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray

Source: TIFF

Dorian Gray Release Date Change

Staff Writer: Grave Digger

An update to the IMDB page for Dorian Gray has been made.

Instead of September 11th, which was not ideal for obvious reasons, Ealing Studios, or Momentum Pictures, has now made September 18th the official release date for the film. Well, until their minds change again . . . It's September 9th, 2009 for the UK.

Love this promo pic- more here.

Here's what's opening in US mid-September:

11th - Whiteout, Kate Beckinsale
18th - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, animated; The Informant, Matt Damon; Love Happens, Jennifer Aniston
25th - Fame, Debbie Allen, Bebe Neuwirth; Surrogates, Bruce Willis

The problem seems to be Kate Beckinsale's Whiteout. IMDB does not list Whiteout's UK release date, but it's probably the same day. Ealing Studios, or Momentum Pictures, must believe their horror classic would be best served against a cartoon, action-adventure, and romantic comedy.

Dorian Gray must not be able to compete in the marketing war or against a high profile star as Kate is. Now, I'm really hoping for terrific TIFF debut and reviews, I hope the studio is listening. Free acclaim/press can do wonders against a blockbuster.

Updated article as of 9/3: Dorian Gray Cinema Release Dates

Update to this article- 7/14: Revolving Dorian Gray Dates

This article is an update to: Dorian Gray Release Date

Side note: Ealing Studio's Dorian Gray Facebook page has not changed the release date from the 11th. Confusion, anyone?

Source: IMDB, IMDB, and About.com

Dorian Gray Fails the Test

Staff Writer: Grave Digger

Racking my brain and researching online for information, I finally got a scoop about why Dorian Gray might have been pulled from film festival circulation: the test screenings have not gone well.

According to Giovanna-in-london.blogspot.com, the test screening gave little hopes that Dorian Gray is the film many genre fans had been waiting for. The screener states:

"Ben Barnes stars as dorian gray, and although my neice worships him from his prince caspian days, this is a movie she won't be seeing until she's 21 if i have my way...even 18 is way too young for this flick. luckily she'll see him reprise his role as caspian in the newest narnia flick coming out soon.

i would consider this film to be pretty good, and even though its a thriller, its still not quite an action flick for the guys, but enough T&A to keep them happy. definitely a rental. and it pains me to say that because it also stars my british fave colin firth, and ben chaplin of the truth about cats abd dogs."

I guess other screeners have made comments on Youtube.com. One test screener was not as complimentary as Giovanna, but I'll leave that in its place.

Now the questions have been answered as to why Ealing Studios never commented on the project and its exclusion from Cannes. (Refer to Dorian Gray Release Date). OHG did contact Ealing through email, but no reply has ever been received. Hopefully, the test screens will parlay this film into theaters with some good editing and direction in post-production.

If not, I would hope the attempt into Wilde Territory will not reflect too harshly on such a talented cast.

If you have been to a screening, please contact us (email or comment). We would love to hear from you!

Other articles: Dorian Gray Movie Reviews.

Sources: My Life in London and OHG Article

Camp Crystal Lake Returns

Staff Writer: Samuntha MacKenzie

For Friday the 13th, Jason is returning to the franchise, but we will not see a repeat performance from past plot elements. With the recent reboot and wonderful box office, we will be seeing Jason soon.

And over and over again.

Wonder what these guys have up their sleeves?

Source: THR

Dorian Gray Comments

Staff Writer: Grave Digger

Fangor1a got some cast and director comments on the upcoming release of Dorian Gray:

Toby Finlaym scriptwriter states: “It’s a timeless story with a great deal of contemporary currency regarding the desire to halt the aging process, the pursuit of pleasure and the obsession with celebrity culture."

“What interested me most was the clash between the decadent Victorian ways of old and the modern Edwardian era just around the corner. Wilde really had written the first draft of American Psycho!" Finlay comments. "I wanted to tap into those psychosexual aspects, making the mysterious picture not just an object but also something Dorian carries around inside him."

"The time frames have been exaggerated,” Barnes describes about his role. “My character leaves London for 25 years, but then arrives back literally in the next shot completely unchanged while everyone else around him has aged. It’s then that he meets Emily, the daughter of his mentor Lord Henry Wotton, the one new character addition to our story. But he doesn’t exploit Emily. Despite Henry’s fears, Dorian shows his humanity instead, making it a triangular, stake-raising moral dilemma.”

“The story is just so irresistible, isn’t it?” Colin Firth adds. “I was shocked by how many film and television versions there have been, so people clearly feel compelled to dramatize the issues at its heart. I wanted to be in the movie after reading Toby’s script, because my character, Lord Henry, actually has an arc to play, whereas the book contains no journey or conflict. The ‘sins of the father’ aspect coming home to roost regarding his daughter was something I could sink my teeth into, not just standing around pretty period sets spouting famous Wilde lines.”

Director Oliver Parker had already made Wilde adaptations—An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest (another Firth film). “That’s one of the reasons I was only down to executive-produce for Ealing Studios at first,” he states. “I felt I’d paid my Wilde dues, but then I read Toby’s final screenplay and was knocked out by his accent on the story’s humanity, pathos and subtle chills. The quotable dialogue is just a background to a richly textured nightmare world Toby had visualized. How to make the standard drawing-room stuff frightening, the debauchery shocking and the radical reinterpretation of the picture in the attic as a whole new monster was a terrific challenge."

Fans must wait until September 11, 2009 for the UK release. US release date has not been posted.

Source: Fangor1a.

Dorian Gray Release Date

Staff Writer: Grave Digger

Horror fans cheer as the remake of Dorian Gray gets a release date in the fall. Yes, September 11, 2009, September 9th, 2009 (see update below) the movie will be in British theaters with American theaters not far behind. Just in time for the Halloween season!

Dorian Gray will be premiered at Cannes as well as shown at the Toronto Film Festival as is mentioned on Ealing Studios website.

The only novel by Oscar Wilde is a tale of depavity and immortality. While one man never ages through the course of time, a painting of him does. Guided by destructive and selfish Lord Henry, Dorian enjoys the sins of others as well as his own descent into hedism.

The principles are played by Ben Barnes and Colin Firth.

Happy early Halloween present to us all.

Updated article as of 9/3: Dorian Gray Cinema Release Dates

Update to this article is here and here.

Sources: Ealing Studios and IMDB.

The Prophecy

Staff Writer: Samuntha Mackenzie

4 ½ out of 5 Shovels
A thriller is about the angel Gabriel. He is angry that human are allowed into heaven. So he went to Earth to find the most evil soul to wreck havoc on good angels.

Thomas Daggett the priest turned homicide detective and Simon an angel try to stop Gabriel. Katherine Henley a school teacher helps Daggett in his quest.

This film is a chilling and suspenseful tale. Christopher Walken is always intense. Elias Koteas and Virginia Madsen are great together. Eric Stoltz and Viggo Mortensen as an angel and the devil, respectively, portray their characters with gusto.

The Prophecy is apocalyptic. The movie is intense. Yet, the film is just shy of perfection. Cult status should be denoted to the Prophecy, for what it lacks, there is more beneath the surface.

Moonlight

Staff Writer: DL Mullan

3 ¾ out of 5 Shovels
This show was cancelled by CBS after one season. A promising show in between Ghost Whisperer and Numb3rs.

Slow at first, Moonlight picked up with the inclusion of secondary characters. Joseph, played by Jason Dohring, was the best addition. His attitude and ways were funny and took the audience off-guard.

The principle characters Beth and Mick worked well together. The actors, Alex O'Loughlin and Sophia Myles seemed to have a chemistry onscreen. The third wheel, the ex-wife Corraline played by Shannyn Sossamon, gave tension and suspense to the private detective story outside the main mystery.

CBS without foresight cancelled this series. Alex O’Loughlin is set to star in another series because of his popularity with fans. However, why not keep Moonlight on instead?

If you would like to visit the Official Site, CBS has the pages still up.

Below: Moonlight Wallpapers

True Blood

Staff Writer: DL Mullan

2 out of 5 Shovels
HBO’s new series True Blood is about vampires coming out of the “coffin." Thanks to Tru Blood a Japanese synthetic that allows vampires to be free of their need for human blood, vampires can mingle with humanity.

Some parts were well casted like Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse. Still undecided were Stephen Moyer as Bill the vampire and Rutina Wesley as Tara Thornton performances. Bill seems too gothic. Tara feels over the top.

Even if the first episode was uneven in direction and acting, the sexual scenes became NC-17 and jogged into the realm of porn. Just because a vampire show is on HBO does not give the creators artistic license to produce sex as an extreme sport, even if the sexual content is or isn’t in the book. A good half hour of the hour long premiere was wasted in favor of sex.

This show was a true waste of time.

Buffy: the Vampire Slayer, movie

Staff Writer: DL Mullan

3 out of 5 Shovels
A vapid teenager discovers that she is a predestined vampire killer. With the aid of an old man, Merrick and her newfound friend, Pike, fight the vampires. Amilyn attacks residents for meals and to replenish the ranks of Lothos’s vampire army.

Kristy Swanson is believable as the vacuous slayer. Donald Sutherland is great as her mentor. Luke Perry is a good foil and supporter of the heroine. Rutger Hauer is a wonderful villain.

But, Paul Reubens steals the show. His death scene is fabulous. Long, drawn-out, and hilarious. Other antics his character is put through keeps the comedy in the forefront of the action.

Which sums up this movie, the film lacks in a variety of ways but the humor is outstanding. Some of the lines are memorable: a cult classic that keeps on giving.

Warlock

Staff Writer: DL Mullan

4 1/2 out of 5 Shovels
In 1691, the town is set to condemn a warlock. Satan has other plans. The warlock is swept away into another time. Close behind, the Witch Hunter, Giles Redferne ends up in Los Angeles three hundred years later.

Caught in the middle of the battle is Kassandra (with a “K”). The Warlock turns her world upside down. Redferne is not a better influence.

As Kassandra helps Redferne stop the Warlock from revoking all of creation, a mutual respect and unrequited affection is shared between them.

This movie is humorous, creepy, and suspenseful. Julian Sands does an outstanding job as the Warlock. Lori Singer and Richard E. Grant have chemistry and charisma.

The movie runs 103 minutes and is Rated R. Cast and crew information is on the DVD but no extras except for the trailer.

Warlock is a cult classic that deserves its acclaim.

Dorian Gray upcoming Film

Staff Writer: DL Mullan

Original Story by Oscar Wilde - 4 1/2 out of 5 Shovels
With many interpretations of the novel of Oscar Wilde in the public sphere, Ealing Studios is trying their hand at their own adaptation of the Picture of Dorian Gray.

Dorian Gray is the story of a beautiful young man. After he has a painter create a portrait of himself, he becomes so enamored with his youth and beauty that he wishes for the oil to age and not himself. Meanwhile, Lord Henry Wotton has become an influence in Dorian’s life. Harry -as his lordship is referred to in the novel, uses his hedonistic world view to shape Dorian into a pleasure seeker.

Unbeknownst to Dorian until sometime later, the picture begins to age and show his inner depravity. When Dorian figures out the image has switched places with him, he delves into debauchery, opium, and murder. Dorian continues his downward spiral until he can no longer live with himself. After nearly twenty years of not aging a day over his youth, Dorian stabs the painting that mocks his inner suffering and in return the blade pierces his own heart.

If you would like to read the novel, Oscar Wilde Online has the story.


Click on image for larger version. Makes a great wallpaper.

With Ealing filming a "visceral" horror movie as of July 28th, high hopes are inevitable from the genre crowd. Actors like Colin Firth, Ben Barnes, Fiona Shaw, Ben Chaplin, Maryam D’Abo, Pip Torrens, Douglas Henshall, Caroline Goodall, Michael Culkin, Johnny Harris and Max Irons, this adaptation appears more then appealing, the casting seems perfect.

Fans will have to wait until Fall of 2009 before the film is released in theaters. Although a lucky few who can attend Toronto, the movie will be premiered at the film festival next year.

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Twilight Trailers

Staff Writer: Grave Digger

Waiting for Twilight? Can't wait until December?


Well, here is a first look of Twilight. Teaser Trailers found on SciFi.com.

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