Once Upon a Twilight!: Robert De Niro

Showing posts with label Robert De Niro. Show all posts

The Wizard of Lies Available on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital and On Demand on October 3! #BlurayGiveaway

The Wizard of Lies
Blu-Ray/DVD Release: October 3, 2017
Director: Barry Levinson
Screenplay by: Sam Levinson, John Burnham and Samuel Baum
Novel by: Diana B. Henriques
Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer

The Wizard of Lies is a drama that right off the bat throws you into the world of Bernie Madoff’s (Robert De Niro) when he stole over $65 billion dollars in 2008, in one of the most famous Ponzi schemes ever. You follow along watching current events such as him in prison getting interviewed to then going back to the events from 2008 as it happened. You see his family and friends deal with this event, who was involved and who had no clue. To the people that lost every cent they had, to the one ones that profited from those cents.

Robert De Niro delivers a performance that makes you truly believe he is Madoff. And let’s not leave Michelle Pfeiffer out, she also does one heck of a job on this film. I personally don’t really like dramas like The Wizard of Lies, which involve things such as Wall Street and finances of this matter, but the way De Niro and Pfeiffer deliver, you are entertained and keep watching. There are others in this movie that also receive praise from me for their fantastic job with their characters.

I was not at all familiar with this event until I saw this film, so The Wizard of Lies helped get this on the radar for people like myself that normally don’t follow such events/stories. It’s like getting a US history lesson via a Hollywood movie (or a novel).

To celebrate the release of The Wizard of Lies on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital and On Demand, here at OUaT we are hosting a giveaway. One lucky follower will win a Blu-ray copy of The Wizard of Lies and a movie-tie in paperback copy of The Wizard of Lies. Just enter below!

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Movie Review: SPC's The Comedian

The Comedian
Release Date: February 3rd at AMC Studio 30 & AMC First Colony 24
MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 120 min.

An aging comic icon, JACKIE BURKE (Robert De Niro) has seen better days. Despite his efforts to reinvent himself and his comic genius, the audience only wants to know him as the former television character he once played. Already a strain on his younger brother (Danny DeVito) and his wife (Patti LuPone), Jackie is forced to serve out a sentence doing community service for accosting an audience member. While there, he meets HARMONY (Leslie Mann), the daughter of a sleazy Florida real estate mogul (Harvey Keitel), and the two find inspiration in one another resulting in surprising consequences. Through the alchemy of their unlikely friendship, Harmony and Jackie overcome their own emotional damage and emerge as better people.

In The Comedian, Jackie Burke Robert De Niro made his name decades ago as the gruff headliner in a Honeymooners-style sitcom, complete with a signature catchphrase. In an all too true story, decades later, that line is what is fans still want to hear. In the age of YouTube, Jackie wonders if he's too old-fashioned, especially after a heckler goads him into a brawl that sends Jackie to jail. It's there that Jackie meets Harmony Leslie Mann, another hothead with a heart of gold, who's also doing community service. Jackie soon discovers that, far from having seen it all, he still has a lot to learn.

This film is full of talent. Clever cameos by Cloris Leachman, Lois Smith, and Billy Crystal lend an air of legitimate comedy to the film and are a welcome addition to an already talented cast. Also short cameos by Gilbert Gottfried, Hannibal Buress, Stewie Stone, Richard Belzer, and Jimmie "DY-NO-MITE" Walker perk up the screen and always keeps us watching for more. Edie Falco turns in an endearing performance as Jackie's long-suffering manager Miller, Danny De Vito playing Jackie's brother - a hard-working deli owner, and Patti LuPone playing Jackie's sister-in-law, who despises Jackie.

According to IMDb trivia, De Niro has tried to get this one off the ground for eight years, with Sean Penn and Mike Newell attached to direct at different points. There’s an underlying sweetness laced throughout the story, one that sometimes saves the overall film from complete failure. Although the movie does have some laugh out loud moments, overall it felt a little flat. At its best, it’s an enjoyable rainy Saturday afternoon movie.

Movie Review: The Weinstein Company's Hands of Stone - #HandsOfStone

Hands of Stone
Release Date: August 26th 2016
MPAA Rating: R
Genre: Biopic | Action | Sports | Drama
Directed by: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Written by: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Produced by: Jay Weisleder, Jonathan Jakubowicz, Carlos Garcia De Paredes, Claudine Jakubowicz
Starring: Edgar Ramirez, Robert De Niro, Usher, Ruben Blades, Ellen Barkin, John Turturro, Oscar Jaenada, Ana de Armas

HANDS OF STONE follows the life of Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez), the Panamanian fighter who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16 year-old and retired in 2002 at the age of 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond) to capture the WBC welterweight title, but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in their November rematch, famously saying the words “no mas” (no more.)

Biopics come in all shapes and sizes. It used to be that only those who lived a remarkable life were worthy of the effort. These days, all it takes a remarkable event. A shocking event will suffice. It has gotten so that Hollywood biopics are less about the people and more about the events. Thankfully, the week’s biopic, Hands of Stone, accomplishes to tell the story of the events and the man, boxer Roberto Duran, well. The movie plays with a ton of heart and makes for an entertaining view.

From beginning to end, Hands of Stone is oozing with Panamanian pride. I appreciated that the film was respectful to the culture and the people of Pamana. So many times, I have seen movies that poke fun of forieign cultures. This isn’t that. The culture, the people, the sentiment are all presented in a tasteful and respectful way. The historical period covered during the life of Roberto Duran was, at times, tumultuous. The United States is portrayed as being a source of frustration, almost oppression, for the local Panamanians. That’s real. I believe that events actually happened the way that the film portrayed the events. It didn’t feel like the Panamanian’s frustrations were whitewashed or down-played. I even appreciated that the Americans and the United States was shown in a less than positive light. For better or worse, it is all a part of American history.

The script and the story of Hands of Stone bounce around like a boxer in a fight. The plot was either running or standing still. Parts I wanted to go faster didn’t and parts I was done with lingered too long on screen. Felt somewhat uneven, if it wasn’t done on purpose. If it was, then, it’s genius. Either way, there is definiently enough good in the story to make it an enjoyable experience. I would have liked to see more about Duran’s early career and his family dynamic. It takes real effort to become the fighter that Duran was. I would have liked to see some of that. I could have done with less on the Sugar Ray Leonard fight. After all, that series of fights is not really what defined Roberto Duran.

Edgar Ramirez portrays Roberto Duran. I enjoyed the performance. I am used to seeing Ramirez play a thug or thug-like roles. Here, Ramirez played as Duran as a great combination of part thug and part hero. The entire cast was really great. I think they managed to carry the film farther than it should have gone given some script issues. Robert DeNiro never disappoints. I loved him as a humble, quieter, sort as Ray Arcel . I’m used to seeing DeNiro as larger than life, and I appreciated how unassuming DeNIro played the aging Arcel. I would have liked to see more of Arcel's life, given his contributions to boxing. I have no complaints about any of the cast except for Usher’s portrayal of Sugar Ray Leonard. I don't feel that Usher's acting abilities are big screen ready.

Hands of Stone is a great movie. It is genuinely a fun boxing movie and a compelling story which younger generations might not otherwise know. It's one of my favorite sports films. The action and cast played wonderfully on the big screen. Through the ups and downs, I couldn't help but to root for Duran. See Hands of Stone at a theater near you starting Friday.

#Miami Grab Passes to #HandsofStone @ AMC Aventura 8/17

Hands of Stone
Director: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Writers: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Starring: Robert De Niro, Ana de Armas, Ellen Barkin
MPAA Rating: Rated R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity
Official Socials: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | IMDb
Hashtag: #HandsofStone

Follows the life of Roberto Duran, who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16-year-old and retired in 2002 at age 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard to capture the WBC welterweight title but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in the November rematch, saying 'no mas' (no more).

Click Movie Poster To Grab Your Passes

LOCATION:
AMC Aventura 24
19501 Biscayne Blvd.
Aventura, FL 33180

TIME AND DATE:
August 17, 2016
Wednesday 7:30pm
(Have your passes ready to show at the door)

These tickets are on a first-come, first-served not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

#Tampa Grab Passes to #HandsofStone @ AMC Veterans 8/17

Follows the life of Roberto Duran, who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16-year-old and retired in 2002 at age 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard to capture the WBC welterweight title but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in the November rematch, saying 'no mas' (no more).

Click Movie Poster To Grab Your Passes

LOCATION:
AMC Veterans 24
9302 Anderson Rd.
Tampa, FL 33634

TIME AND DATE:
August 17, 2016
Wednesday 7:30pm
(Have your passes ready to show at the door)

These tickets are on a first-come, first-served not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

#Orlando Grab Passes to #HandsofStone @ AMC Altamonte 8/17

Follows the life of Roberto Duran, who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16-year-old and retired in 2002 at age 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard to capture the WBC welterweight title but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in the November rematch, saying 'no mas' (no more).

Click Movie Poster To Grab Your Passes

LOCATION:
AMC Altamonte Mall 18
433 E. Altamonte Drive
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

TIME AND DATE:
August 17, 2016
Wednesday 7:30pm
(Have your passes ready to show at the door)

These tickets are on a first-come, first-served not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

#Houston Grab Passes to ‪#‎HandsOfStone‬ @Edwards Marq’E 8/17 - #‎ManosDePiedra‬

Hands of Stone
Director: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Produced By: Jay Weisleder, Jonathan Jakubowicz, Carlos Garcia De Paredes, Claudine Jakubowicz
Cast: Edgar Ramirez, Robert De Niro, Usher, Ruben Blades, Ellen Barkin, John Turturro, Oscar Jaenada, Ana de Armas
Release Date: 8/26 Wide
Genres: Biopic, Action, Sports, Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 105 min

HANDS OF STONE follows the life of Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez), the Panamanian fighter who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16 year-old and retired in 2002 at the age of 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond) to capture the WBC welterweight title, but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in their November rematch, famously saying the words “no mas” (no more.)

Click Movie Poster To Grab Your Passes

Location:
Edwards Houston MarqE Stadium 23 & IMAX
7620 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77024

Date & Time:
August 17, 2016
Wednesday @7:00pm
(Have your pass ready to show at the door)

These tickets are on a first-come, first-served not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

#Miami Grab Passes to #DirtyGrandpa @ Regal South Beach 1/19!

Dirty Grandpa
Director: Dan Mazer
Writers: John Phillips
Starring: Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Zoey Deutch
MPAA Rating: Rated R for crude sexual content throughout, graphic nudity, and for language and drug use
Official Socials: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | IMDb
Hashtag: #DirtyGrandpa

Jason Kelly [Zac Efron] is one week away from marrying his boss’s uber-controlling daughter, putting him on the fast track for a partnership at the law firm. However, when the straight-laced Jason is tricked into driving his foul-mouthed grandfather, Dick [Robert De Niro], to Daytona for spring break, his pending nuptials are suddenly in jeopardy. Between riotous frat parties, bar fights, and an epic night of karaoke, Dick is on a quest to live his life to the fullest and bring Jason along for the ride. Ultimately, on the wildest journey of their lives, “dirty” Grandpa and his uptight grandson discover they can learn from one another and form the bond they never had.