Beginners - Get Lucky

Could it be beginner's luck? Currently playing in cinemas is the terrific film Beginners starring Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor.

Beginners is like a ice cream treat in the summer heat. Directed and written by Mike Mills, Beginners is the perfect film to escape the sweltering temperatures and obsurdity of the current summer blockbusters and Hollywoodteur tentpole frenzy. Plummer stars as Hal, a widower and father of a single thirty-something son Oliver (McGregor). While Hal is resigned to and begins to live his real life upon the death of his wive of forty-four years, Oliver is learning to make deeper connections and how to construct a romance of his own with the lovely Anna (Melanie Laurent).

With inspired editing and fresh story sequencing, Oliver reflects and analyzes childhood memories of his parents' long marriage and acts of affection. He soon learns relationships and marriages of all kinds and types are simply about communication and self definition.With a touch of irony, I watched Beginners in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood on the very first day of legalized gay marriages. I sat watching a film that suggests it is not about religion, family or government approved relationships, it is a mutually and self satisfying commitment you can (and must) create for you and with your partner.

Look for Beginners to be apart of the upcoming award season's nominations and winners roll call as both Plummer and McGregor are fantastic. Beginners is a wonderful film that is the perfect beginners' film for people who leery of independent film. Here is a nice story and a great film.

Relatively Soderbergh

Relativity Media is taking over the U.S. distribution of Steven Soderbergh’s Haywire from Lionsgate. The action film has a high profile cast featuring Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor and Channing Tatum will now be released in January 2012.

Haywire was produced before it had secured a distributor; however, if your name is Soderbergh, you don't fret as you know your vision will be paid for and well distributed. This time Hollywoodteur producer Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity cashed Soderbergh's dream out.

Apparently Relativity needs film product and has been aggressively going after projects, and if you are a Hollywood child, Relativity has cash to throw around for flickster sell-outs. Previously title Knockout, Haywire tells the story of a freelance covert operative (Carano) who is betrayed during a mission in Barcelona. The screenplay was written by Lem Dobbs with Gregory Jacobs and Lem Dobbs producing.

Soderbergh has had one of the more interesting raises to Hollywood statue, truly selecting projects that reflect his love of the craft and art of filmmaking and storytelling. One can always expect a certain freshness in a Soderbergh film joint. Here is a peek at Haywire in production.