TAKERS sneak peek: photos, trailer

A group of high-living young criminals bankroll their extravagant lifestyle with a series of painstakingly planned bank robberies while a dedicated police officer makes it his personal mission to stop them in Columbia Pictures' taut, edge-of your seat crime thriller “Takers.” After years of meticulously planned heists, the crew is convinced by one of their own to risk it all for one last big score, but pulling off the job of a lifetime with a dogged detective and a vicious rival gang on their tail is a tall order, even for these seasoned pros.

A recent No. 1 box-office hit in the U.S., “Takers” stars Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Jay Hernandez, Michael Ealy, Tip “T.I.” Harris, with Chris Brown and Hayden Christensen.

In the film, longtime friends Gordon Betts (Elba), John Rahway (Walker), A.J. (Christensen), and the Attica brothers, Jake (Ealy) and Jesse (Brown) finance an extravagant lifestyle filled with hot cars, hotter women and unlimited cash by staging high stakes bank robberies. They avoid being caught by planning to the tiniest detail, leaving no clues and pulling off one—and only one—job per year.

Their latest successful caper, a $2 million heist, attracts the attention of LAPD Detective Jack Welles (Dillon), an old-school cop who has sacrificed his marriage, his child and any semblance of a personal life for the job. Despite a lack of support from the department, Welles is determined to track down the elusive gang before they strike again.

As the crew celebrates their latest daring robbery in a chic downtown cocktail lounge, Ghost (T.I.), a former comrade-in-arms recently released from prison, drops in with an irresistible proposal. The only member of the crew arrested for an earlier job, Ghost says he has a plan that will net each of them enough money to hang up their ski masks forever: the robbery of an armored car carrying over $12 million. But it has to happen in five days or the opportunity will evaporate.

Although doing another job right away goes against the crew’s strict rules of conduct, the lure of all that money proves too great and they decide to risk a daring daylight hold-up on a crowded downtown Los Angeles street. With just a few days to prepare, the crew sets in motion an intricate scheme that unknowingly puts them on a collision course with a group of ruthless Russian mobsters.

In the meantime, Welles is unraveling a complex web of evidence that takes him from a small time arms dealer to the Russians and finally… crew leader Gordon Betts. With the clock ticking down, ancient rivalries, unexpected double-crosses, unknown enemies and just plain bad luck complicate the plan, resulting in a deadly showdown no one saw coming.


Opening soon across the Philippines, “Takers” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

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follow JESSE EISENBERG in Facebook

Jesse Eisenberg has de-friended his inner Mr. Nice Guy.

After years playing sweet, earnest and awkward in movies such as “Adventureland” and “Zombieland,” the actor has shown a more sinister side with his ruthless portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the critically acclaimed “The Social Network” from Columbia Pictures.

Critical hosannas for the role may lead to an Oscar nomination, and the high-profile part is helping the boyish 27-year-old transition from "Hey, it's that guy" to a household name. But some signature halting nervousness comes into Eisenberg's voice when he talks about reactions he has gotten after screenings of the film.

"We do these question-and-answer sessions, and some people say, 'Why ... wha ... I was so turned off by your character. He was such a jerk. Why — why would you want to play this character?' " he says, repeating the stammering indignation. "There are these almost aggressive condemnations."

"The real other extreme is, 'I just wanted to give him a hug through the whole movie. I just felt so bad for him' — this is my mother talking," Eisenberg jokes. "But other people, too. 'The kid was so desperate to connect and just doesn't know how to. He's so lonely.' "

Even the visuals in the film try to underline that. Director "David Fincher practically composed the movie that way, with him behind panes of glass, in corners of rooms, framing him in a way that makes him look more isolated," Eisenberg says.

One personal reaction the actor hasn't received is from Zuckerberg himself, who did not cooperate with the filmmakers or meet Eisenberg prior to the shooting.

The script, by “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin, explores the fractured friendships and allegiances between Zuckerberg and a handful of fellow Harvard students who in 2004 helped create Facebook, now estimated to be worth $33 billion.

On “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Zuckerberg dismissed the film with a smile: "The last six years have been a lot of coding and focus and hard work, but you know, maybe it would be fun to remember it as partying and all this crazy drama." Zuckerberg was on the show to discuss a $100 million donation to Newark's troubled school system, which took place on the day of the movie's premiere — something widely regarded as an effort to burnish the back-stabbing image depicted in the film.

Eisenberg is inclined to go easier on Zuckerberg. "What he did was so incredibly generous," the actor says. "To attribute it to anything else seems mean-spirited and cynical."

It may be the only time he goes easy on Zuckerberg. Though Eisenberg didn't set out to attack, he plays the young CEO-to-be as brilliant but revoltingly condescending and lacking even a modicum of tact.

That's before the story even gets rolling.

Opening across the Philippines on Oct. 27, “The Social Network” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads and at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH to join fan contests.

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TRON Night: an IMAX 3D experience

The Philippines will take part in Walt Disney Pictures' global event “TRON Night: An IMAX 3D Experience” on Thursday, Oct. 28 at the IMAX Theaters of SM North EDSA and SM Cebu.

Simultaneously scheduled in IMAX cinemas worldwide, “TRON Night” will gives audiences the chance to see more than 20 minutes of never-before-seen 3D footage from Disney's upcoming film, “TRON: Legacy,” a 3D high-tech action-adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen.

"It's exciting to offer fans an early, exclusive 3D preview of `TRON: Legacy' in the ultimate of formats. We can't wait for audiences around the world to experience the visually stunning and cutting-edge world that director Joe Kosinski has created," said Sean Bailey, President of Production, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment, is equally enthusiastic. "We are ecstatic that the Disney team and the `TRON: Legacy' filmmakers elected to debut this amazing footage exclusively in our network of theaters," said Foster. "This first-look in IMAX 3D is the most immersive way to bring audiences into the world of `TRON: Legacy' and kick-off the countdown to the film's highly-anticipated launch."

If you're from Metro Manila or Cebu and you have a Facebook account, find out how you can win tickets to “TRON Night” by visiting the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/waltdisneystudiosph. Promo period is until Oct. 22 only.

In “TRON: Legacy,” Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years.

Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant Qora (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.

Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines, “TRON: Legacy” will open across the country in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular formats.

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MILLA JOVOVICH goes drama in STONE

As Milla Jovovich is best known for her starring role in the futuristic action franchise “Resident Evil,” audiences are in for a huge surprise with her latest project – the provocative drama, “Stone” which will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Trinoma, Glorietta 4 & Greenbelt 3) starting Oct. 27.

In the film, convicted arsonist Gera'd `Stone' Creeson (Edward Norton) looks to manipulate correctional officer Jack Mabry (Robert De Niro) into a plan to secure his parole by placing his beautiful wife Lucetta (Jovovich) in the lawman's path.

Producer Jordan Schur says, “This is a real star turn for Milla. The character has edge. She is compromised in multiple ways. It's a real departure. It took real courage and tremendous talent to approach the role the way she has, and I think she is going to enjoy accolades within the film community.”

After headlining three installments in the futuristic action franchise “Resident Evil,” Jovovich was eager to take on a role that would allow audiences to see her in a different light. Lucetta's complexities and contradictions provided exactly the sort of challenge the actress was looking for. “On the one hand, she's an innocent,” says Jovovich. “On the other, she's very sexual. Put these two elements together and you get a really wild character who's living life every day to its fullest. In contrast to these two men who are always thinking, she doesn't think, she just does.

“Lucetta's relationship with Stone is very passionate,” continues Jovovich. “He's in control, but at the same time he's been in prison for eight years, so she's had to make her own way. She's trying to get her husband out of prison, but once he goes through his spiritual experience, she doesn't recognize the man that she fell in love with. The man she worked so hard to get out is not the man that comes out in the end.

Jovovich's unique blend of innocence and sophistication captivated the filmmakers at her first audition for the role, says producer Holly Wiersma. “She can be as playful and fun as any teenager one moment, and then, in a flash, demonstrate the maturity of a grown woman.”

Director John Curran was impressed by the supermodel-turned-actress' nonchalant attitude about her looks. “Milla made me laugh in her audition,” he says. “More than anyone we saw, she understood the contradictions in Lucetta and had the most fun teasing out every side of her.”

Her character's easy sexuality did not come easily to Jovovich. “I have some crazy scenes in this movie, she reveals. “As an actor, you often walk in shoes that you would never wear otherwise, and it can be difficult, especially in a movie like this where I had multiple sex scenes with different men. At times, I found myself really upset by the end of the day. John gave me so much support and that was very important to me. When you're putting yourself out there as a woman, in the way that I do in this movie, it's so important to trust that the director really knows what he wants and knows how he's going to cut it together in the end so it's never gratuitous and the nuances remain intact.”

Her dedication did not go unnoticed by her co-workers. “Milla had a very difficult task in creating this character,” says De Niro. “And she really did a great job. She totally committed.”

The caliber of her co-stars also saw her through some of her more difficult moments. “Working with Edward Norton and Robert De Niro was just one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had,” she says. “They put so much passion into their work. Edward is a highly intelligent, highly articulate, and very generous person. Robert is an icon and an amazing actor, but he's also a very sweet family-oriented guy.”

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Kristen Bell before YOU AGAIN

Fresh from the hit romantic comedy “When in Rome,” endearing actress Kristen Bell now stars in Touchstone Pictures' new outrageous comedy “You Again.” She plays successful PR girl Marni who heads home for her older brother’s wedding and discovers that he’s marrying her high school arch nemesis.

“This is a story about people who find their way to a place of forgiveness and acceptance,” says Bell. “There’s a sweetness and heart to this movie that will appeal to many different demographics, and it’s an escapist kind of comedy with some really funny things happening based in reality.”

Bell and “You Again” director Andy Fickman have had a long-standing friendship since 2001. He is the one responsible for nicknaming her K-Bell, a moniker that she happily responds to.

Fickman reveals, “I first met K-Bell when she was a student at NYU, and I cast her as the lead in ‘Reefer Madness: The Musical.’ We went through the highs and lows of rehearsing and opening during the tragic events of 9/11, since our theater, Variety Arts, was located behind the red zone. Because we were in the heart of the incident, it bonded all of us further.”

Reflecting on their friendship that has inspired both of their creative sides, he continues, “When K-Bell moved to Los Angeles, we did a very successful musical called ‘Sneaux,’ and then for Showtime, we filmed ‘Reefer Madness: The Musical Movie’ which premiered at Sundance as well as winning an Emmy® and the Premiere Jury Award at the Deauville Film Festival. We reunited again for a wonderful Breast Cancer Benefit called ‘Les Girls,’ and then she has been tremendously supportive of ‘Heathers: The Musical,’ a project I’ve been developing, by playing the lead in multiple readings.”

Why so much work together?

Director Fickman smiles, “K-Bell and I just simply click when it comes to our sense of humor; she is a wonderful muse for me.”

As for teaming on “You Again,” Fickman admits, “K-Bell and I had been looking for something to work on, so when this script came to me, I saw K-Bell in the lead. That was a major enticement.”

Regarding her relationship with Andy Fickman, Kristen Bell, whose popularity is rising thanks to her roles in such comedies as “Couples Retreat” and “When in Rome,” acknowledges, “Andy was the one who convinced me to move to Los Angeles. I don’t think I would’ve done it if I had not known him.”

As for collaborating on this comedy, Bell confesses, “I owe Andy, but man, he put me through the ringer on this movie! Marni had a variety of injuries—ant bites, falls, trips, you name it!”

With a hint of a smile, Bell wonders, “It seems like Andy enjoyed every single minute of it!”

Opening soon across the Philippines, “You Again” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

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a cinematic challenge for PENN BADGLEY in EASY A

Best known for his role of Dan Humphrey in the hit series “Gossip Girl,” Penn Badgley was more than happy to take on a new character challenge with his role in Columbia Pictures' new, edgy comedy, “Easy A.” Playing the part of ‘Woodchuck Todd’ was so tempting, he arranged to fly between the west and east coasts of America to accommodate the shooting schedules for both the film and his series.

In “Easy A,” clean-cut high schooler Olive (Emma Stone) finds that her new-found bad-girl rap – courtesy of a little white lie about losing her virginity – has an upside: she is finally getting noticed. Olive decides to exploit her "easy" reputation and use the school rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing. But life starts to spin hilariously out of control, and there is only one boy, Todd (Badgley), who sees through her vixen veneer to the heart of it.

Laying out the role’s particular appeal to Badgley, director Will Gluck explains, “The first time we meet Penn, his face and body are all painted blue. The second and third time you meet him, he’s in a woodchuck costume. The sixth time you meet him, he’s wearing a lobster hat. It’s not what you expect from Penn Badgley.”

“It really does run the gamut,” agrees Badgley, “and that’s one of the reasons I wanted to play the part. Ideally, for most of the film, you don’t really know what my character is doing in the movie, but it all makes perfect sense at the end. I had a lot of fun being the strange, irreverent guy who does these seemingly inconsequential things throughout the movie, but what made me really want to play the role, was the substance and importance of the character. It’s not necessarily a complicated role, but it’s one that could be easily misconstrued and played inappropriately if taken in the wrong direction.”

Adds Gluck, “There are certain guys in high school that can be the mascot, can hang out with the athletes, can hang out with the nerds. Todd is the kind of guy who straddles all those different subsets of high school and kind of skates through.”

“Yeah, he just does it,” agrees Badgley. “But I think it’s more than just being an agreeable sort of character. He’s like ‘I’m a teenager, I’m living in Ojai, I’m just waiting to go to college and for my life to begin.’ I think that’s the way he feels, and he’s having fun while he does it. If everyone else thinks he looks like an idiot for doing what he does, it doesn’t matter. Even though everything I’m doing as the character is theoretically really dumb and humiliating, hopefully I’m doing it with enough dignity that makes it sort of cool.”

Speaking of humiliation, in the pivotal finale scene, Badgley found himself back in blue paint, and in the woodchuck costume at the same time, and eventually, shirtless. “It’s already sort of a miserable feeling having the body paint on that’s clogging your pores and feels claustrophobic, and then to have the woodchuck costume on top of that,” says the actor. “I was shirtless in the scene, so the seams were rubbing against the skin. It was really hot in the costume, and production had to turn the air conditioning off for the scene. There was a lot of sweating, and in each take I’d have to run around, throw things into the crowd, yell and scream, have the costume ripped off, and then pick Emma up and join in the dance. It was a long, arduous process.”

Opening soon across the Philippines, “Easy A” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

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ROBERT DOWNEY JR almost lost his mind in DUE DATE

In Warner Bros.’ new comedy “Due Date,” Robert Downey Jr. is Peter Highman, an architect on his way back to L.A. from a business trip in Atlanta. He’s on a tight schedule because his wife is expecting their first child and the date is all set. Everything is fine until he gets tangled up at the airport with a wannabe actor named Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) who somehow gets the both of them booted off the plane and grounded for the foreseeable future.

Stranded without cash, credit, ID or time, Peter finds himself in the galling position of having to hitch a ride home with a guy he’d rather take a swing at—Ethan. The person he holds responsible for his predicament in the first place is now behind the wheel of a rental car and offering him the passenger seat.

Though clearly not his best option, it’s Peter’s only option.

At first grateful for the company, Ethan soon learns that his tightly wound traveling companion is not going to be any fun at 20 Questions, nor generally receptive to the concept of going with the flow. Meanwhile, Peter realizes he’s just joined forces with a guy who can casually ruin his life in more ways than he could ever imagine.

“If there really was somebody like Ethan around, he’d have been strangled in his sleep long ago,” Downey attests. “He’s like a laser beam that focuses on the one thing that will drive you crazy the most, the kind of guy who will eat a whole plate of waffles before mentioning he’s allergic to waffles. I’m sure a lot of people know someone like this, someone who is perfectly wired to activate all of their irritation buttons.”

Granted, Peter has a short fuse to begin with. “He’s kind of an edgy, controlling, judgmental guy with some anger-management issues. And who better to help him explore those issues than Ethan Tremblay? High-strung as he is normally, Peter is now facing the birth of his first child and is thrown into this nightmare, so it’s all amped up,” Downey adds.

Peter may come across like a self-assured, aggressive control freak but, says co-screenwriter Adam Sztykiel, “You sense that his behavior comes from an emotional place and from issues he has yet to work out, that are revealed in the story. Not far beneath the alpha male posture is his own vulnerability and how terrified he is to be responsible for a child.”

“As a parent,” Downey offers, “I know the big question is how are you going to manage and protect something that you have no experience with?”

Playing on that theme were co-screenwriters Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland. “Peter’s comfort zone is when he’s in control. And everything that happens in this movie is about losing control; from his inability to get back home to the larger issue of his impending fatherhood—and whether or not he’s ready for it,” Cohen says.

“We wanted to put him into a situation where he had to travel across the country with someone who was effectively a child,” adds Freedland.

Not that it would lessen Peter’s pain, stress and frustration if he knew it might be pain, stress and frustration with a purpose. Still…

“When I read the script, I was moved,” recalls executive producer Susan Downey. “It’s so funny and yet so human. You want a comedy to have that grounding, in the way that you want a drama to have some humor. In ‘Due Date,’ though his experience with Ethan, Peter finds his human side and gets ready for the birth of his own child. It’s about him becoming a man before becoming a father.”

Opening soon across the Philippines, “Due Date” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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