Premiere Magazine #225

 

The Roundup with Jeff Stockton (Season 23 Round 5)

 

With how much this season has flip-flopped around in terms of box office and film quality so far, there is a lot of uncertainty at the midway point of Season 23. Here's The Roundup....

3. The Culture
The characters (at least those played by Alex and Nat Wolff) were pretty insufferable at times. They grow on the audience a bit by the end, but the started out with them being so bad that it never really helped much. That said, I did think the story itself was well written by Jacob Jones.

2. Second Half of Season 23
I assure you the second half has some amazing films waiting for everyone. It may seem like I'm blowing smoke with how the season has gone so far, but just trust me and stay tuned.

1. Uncharted 4
Uncharted 4 was a bit bland, but it still worked. And obviously it worked at the box office - especially compared to the failure of the other two films financially.

3. Box Office
Uncharted 4 did well, but The Culture and We Were Never Here combined to lose over $37 million before it.

2. We Were Never Here
There's nothing majorly wrong with the film. It's competently told and acted. But everything felt predictable. The story itself could have worked if told in a more heightened manner, but it felt super robotic and by-the-numbers in the end.

1. Alex Wolff
I've seen very little of his work outside of LRF, but his work within LRF has resulted one of the more annoying screen presences in recent years. He's regularly cast as unlikable hipsters. Somebody please cast him as something else, or just stop casting him for a while.

On Location (Season 23 Round 5)

 

We Were Never Here
- Valparaiso, Chile

- Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Culture
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Uncharted 4
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

- Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

- Cape Town, South Africa

Box Office Breakdown (Season 23 Round 5)

 

We Were Never Here
Budget: $50,000,000
Total Box Office: $78,544,885
Total Profit: -$22,146,007

The Culture
Budget: $22,000,000
Total Box Office: $23,158,772
Total Profit: -$15,450,275

Uncharted 4
Budget: $235,000,000
Total Box Office: $575,782,503
Total Profit: $83,505,115









Box Office Facts
We Were Never Here
We Were Never Here continued Jennifer Lawrence's rough patch at the box office, marking her fourth straight film to fail to turn a profit at the box office. Before the losing streak began, she had three consecutive successes at the box office.

The Culture
Speaking of rough patches at the box office, writer Jacob Jones is in a bit of one himself with three of his last four films failing to break even.

Uncharted 4
Even though this latest Uncharted film was the second lowest grossing in the series and least profitable, the Uncharted franchise has now grossed a total of $2.3 billion at the world wide box office.



Genre Rankings
We Were Never Here
Thriller: #61
Mystery: #17

The Culture
Comedy: #52
Drama: #230

Uncharted 4
Action: #58
Adventure: #8



Season 23 Round 5
Total Box Office: $677,486,160
Total Profit: $45,908,833

Season 23 Totals
Total Box Office: $2,930,408,586
Total Profit: $387,741,864



Season 23 Summary
1. Task Force X: Chaos and Madness : $620,840,352
2. Uncharted 4 : $575,782,503
3. Grayson : $274,017,920
4. El Dorado : $253,692,802
5. RoboCop Versus The Terminator : $233,214,386
6. Silver Sable : $229,494,611
7. Bringing About Discord : $225,967,860
8. Haven : $154,184,761
9. The House of Romanov : $125,530,835
10. We Were Never Here : $78,544,885
11. The Giver : $42,028,780
12. Final End : $37,830,381
13. Camp Manhood : $29,408,550
14. American Idiot : $26,711,188
15. The Culture : $23,158,772

Release: Uncharted 4

 

Uncharted 4
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Brad Peyton
Writer: APJ
Based on the video game series
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Brie Larson, Bryan Cranston, Brendan Fraser, Matt Bomer, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, David Zayas, Chi McBride, Jack Dylan Grazer, Justin Prentice




Budget: $235,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $179,224,103
Foreign Box Office: $396,558,400
Total Profit: $83,505,115

Reaction: Being the fourth film in a hit series, this one had very high above the line costs for its talent (especially the series starring trio of Reynolds, Cranston and Larson) which definitely cut into the profits of the film.

"A very enjoyable movie, you can bring your popcorn and lay in to watch this one. A comfort film that doesn't requires you to know everything that happened in previous movies, you can jump in straight. A very lovable cast, who work together easily. Brie Larson was underutilized. The film being the 4th in the series needs to up the ante a bit, the action felt a little bit underwhelming." - Sam Morris, Oregonian

"While not as exciting as the first couple of films in the franchise, Uncharted 4 still brings enough action and adventure to keep most fans relatively happy. It doesn't do anything special, but by this point Peyton, APJ, Reynolds and company know what they're doing in that world." - Lois Reeves, Dodge City Daily Globe

"This fourth Uncharted film is low on surprises compared to the previous three films. Brendan Fraser as Drake's big brother adds a bit of extra fun to the proceedings, but fellow newcomer Matt Bomer makes for a boring villain - and films like this can only be as good as their villain." - Ron Gardocki, Los Angeles Express

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence

Game to Film: Uncharted 4

 

For the latest edition of Game to Film, we will take a look at the cast of the fourth film in the Uncharted series, Uncharted 4. Brad Peyton (Uncharted 3, Rampage) is once again directing the film from an adaptation by APJ (Batman: In The Shadows, Urban Cowboy).

Now Showing: Uncharted 4

Uncharted 4
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Brad Peyton
Writer: APJ
Based on the video game series
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Brie Larson, Bryan Cranston, Brendan Fraser, Matt Bomer, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, David Zayas, Chi McBride, Jack Dylan Grazer, Justin Prentice

Plot: Sam Drake (Justin Prentice) visits his kid brother Nathan Drake (Jack Dylan Grazer) at the St. Francis orphanage. Sam tells Nathan that he got a pretty big job, but that he's going to be away for a few years at least. Nathan pleads with Sam to take him with him, but Sam says that it isn't safe and Nathan will be old enough to leave the orphanage by the time he's back in town again. As Sam walks away from the building, he notices Nathan climb out of a tall window and leap from the balcony to a neighboring roof top. Nathan then climbs down the side of the building and runs to catch up with Sam. Nathan asks if the job is for real. Sam nods his head, telling Nathan that he's serious when he said he can't take him along. Nathan looks disappointed, but Sam manages to cheer him up when he informs him that he has tracked down where their late mother's belongings were sold.

Years later (but years before the events of the first film), Nathan (Ryan Reynolds) and Sam (Brendan Fraser) travel to Panama to search for $400 million worth of treasure that was stolen by a pirate named Henry Avery. They meet with their benefactor at the port, wealthy treasure hunter Rafe Adler (Matt Bomer), who helps them sneak into a historic jail where Avery's first mate, Burnes, had been hanged for his part in Avery's heist. Rafe bribes the corrupt warden of the jail, Vargas (David Zayas), to help them. Nathan climbs a tall tower that leads to the cell that Burnes had been held in. Nathan finds a crucifix hidden behind a brick and pockets it before the others join him. Vargas wants to know if Nathan has found anything yet, but Nathan lies and says he hasn't. Later, Sam, Nathan and Rafe discuss the crucifix. Sam points out that Saint Dismas is on the cross rather than Jesus. Nathan scratches his head, and Sam gives Nathan a hard time for seemingly learning nothing at the Catholic orphanage. The three  then prepare to leave for Scotland where the Saint Dismas Cathedral is located. Vargas has had his guards follow the three, and they report back to him that they are getting ready to leave Panama. Vargas and his guards confront Nathan, Sam and Rafe at the airstrip. Vargas demands to know what information they found out in the jail cell. Vargas says that he wants a fourth of the $400 million treasure now. Rafe pulls out a gun and kills Vargas, whose guards then open fire on the three men. Sam is shot, and appears to be dead. Rafe gets onto the plane and starts it, but Nathan refuses to get on, instead escaping into the nearby jungle, distraught at the death of his older brother.

Present Day. Nathan has retired from treasure hunting (following the events of Uncharted 3). He now works for a salvage company in New Orleans, trying his best to lice a normal life with his wife Elena (Brie Larson). One day, he comes back to the docks at work and his boss, Jameson (Chi McBride), informs him that someone is in the office to see him. Nathan is stunned to see his brother Sam still alive. Sam explains that he was saved by doctors after he was shot and was thrown into a Panamanian prison to rot until he was broken out by his cellmate after he mentioned the treasure. Nathan knows right away that Sam is in some sort of trouble. Sam explains that his cellmate was a drug lord who broke him out to find the treasure, giving him three months to do so or he'll be killed. Nathan doesn't want to help at first, stating that he's thought his brother was dead all these years anyways. Sam pleads with Nathan to help him. Nathan comments that Elena isn't going to like this. Nathan goes home and lies to Elena, telling her that Jameson got the company a huge salvage job in Malaysia that he's been tasked with overseeing.

Nathan and Sam take a plane to Italy where a crucifix similar to the one in Panama is up for auction. On the flight, Sam mentions that he already called ahead for a little help when they get there. When the plane lands, they are greeted by Victor "Sully" Sullivan (Bryan Cranston). The three discuss a plan to sneak into the mansion where the auction is being held and stealing the crucifix. Sam comments that breaking into a safe will be a piece of cake. Sully laughs and says the cross isn't in a safe. They are going to have to steal it out in the wide open - in front of guards and the buyers. Nathan suggests they kill the power to the building, which would give them a short amount of time before the emergency backup power would kick in. Sully says that the three of them don't really fit in at an auction and suggests that while Nathan kills the power, Sam can swipe the cross while dressed as a waiter - nobody notices a waiter, he says.

On the day of the auction, Sam knocks out a waiter heading into the mansion's back entrance for work. Sam then puts on his uniform, which is a few sizes too small. As Sam gets into position in the auction room as a waiter, Nathan is in the utilities corridor underneath the mansion. Once Sam spots the crucifix, he radios to Nathan to kill the power. Once the lights go out, Sam hustles over and swipes the crucifix. Sam ducks out of the auction room and sneaks out of the mansion. As Nathan is leaving, he is attacked by Nadine Ross (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), who wants the cross she knows Nathan stole. While fighting, Nathan learns that Nadine works for Rafe Adler. Nadine easily outmatches Nathan in a fistfight, but Nathan manages to get her to stop when he reveals that he is not the one with the crucifix. He then jumps out a window and, after sprinting full speed across a field of goats, manages to make it to the getaway car where Sam and Sully are waiting. As Sully, drives Nathan takes a look at the crucifix and finds that there is a note inside. He smashes the cross, finding the note, which contains a birth year and death year. Nathan surmises that it corresponds to Henry Avery's grave. Sam mentions that Rafe had the wrong place, they need to go to the Saint Dismas cemetery, not the cathedral itself.

Nathan, Sam and Sully arrive in Scotland and find that the Saint Dismas cathedral grounds are being guarded by a private military group called Shoreline. Sully volunteers to hang back and guard the car while Nathan and Sam sneak past the guards, who are focused on guarding the cathedral, into the cemtery. They find the tombstone with the matching dates and quickly find a secret passage down into a tomb. After Nathan solves a puzzle that baffles Sam and Sully, a light map appears, pointing out King's Bay in Madagascar. Nadine appears behind them, thanking them for solving the next clue for her boss. Sam notices a booby trap in the tomb and tricks Nadine into setting it off, allowing Sam and Nathan to escape.

Nathan, Sam and Sully head to a dormant volcano in King's Bay, Madagascar. They find a cave where they learn that Avery, Thomas Tew, and ten other pirates pooled their treasures together into one massive hoard. The next clue points toward two towers. As they discuss which to head to first, they see a swarm of Shoreline helicopters enter King's Bay. They decide to split up. Sam goes to one, while Nathan and Sully head toward the other. The tower Nathan and Sully enter turns out to be the right one. Nathan quickly deciphers the clues inside. Before he can call Sam to tell him their next move, Nathan is contacted by Rafe Adler, who reveals that he's been tracking them through the GPS on the phones. He suggests they give up and join him. Nathan refuses before smashing his phone. Sully ditches his phone as well. They meet back up with Sam at the hotel after evading Rafe's Shoreline soldiers. Nathan explains that the clues point to Libertalia, a remote pirate colony Avery seems to be one of the founders of. As they begin packing their bags, they are interrupted by a knock at the door. Each of the men grab their guns and Sam opens the door quickly. They see a fuming Elena standing there. She reveals that she found out that Nathan was really on a treasure hunt, not a salvage job. Nathan tries to explain, but Elena is even further angered when he reveals that Sam is his brother - a brother he has never once mentioned to her. Elena then storms off. Sam tells Nathan that they need to get moving toward Libertalia. Sully tries to recommend Nathan go after his wife, but Nathan continues packing for Libertalia. Sully then goes after Elena himself.

Nathan and Sam arrive on a small remote island by boat that they believe the clues point to being Libertalia. When they arrive, they are greeted by heavily-armed Shoreline soldiers rapelling down from helicopters. Sam and Nathan evade Shoreline's gun fire until they find Libertalia, where the area littered with skeletons and signs of a battle long ago. They find an old map, indicating that the gold was moved to a walled enclave called New Devon on the other side of the island. As Nathan and Sam walk there, they are cornered near a cliff by Rafe, who reveals to Nathan that he had Sam released from prison - not some drug lord cellmate. Sam tries to apologize to Nathan. Rafe pulls out a gun, saying he doesn't need Nathan any more, and fires. Sam jumps in front of the bullet, but knocks Nathan off the cliff accidentally.

Nathan is found alive in the water by Elena, who has rented a boat with Sully to find him. Nathan decides to finally tell Elena the entire truth about his past: when he and Sam were young, they went to steal their late mother's belongings. They were caught by an old woman who turned out to be their grandmother. She told them about the family's research on Francis Drake. The old woman then died from a heart attack. Nathan and Sam fled with their mother's journal, and the two stuck together and hunted treasure until he thought Sam had died. Nathan admits that he doesn't care about the treasure anymore, he just wants to save his brother from Rafe. Elena agrees to help Nathan save Sam. Nathan, Elena and Sully drive the boat to the other side of the island. Elena asks Nathan why Rafe is so obsessed with the treasure. Nathan says that Rafe comes from a wealthy family and wanted to gain his own reputation and wealth.

Upon arriving at the New Devon enclave, Nathan discovers that Avery and Tew must have poisoned the other founders to keep the treasure for themselves. Nathan, Elena and Sully enter Avery's house, discovering a dark tunnel underneath. Rafe and Nadine arrive with the Shoreline soldiers. Nadine and Shoreline open fire on the house with machine guns. Nathan, Elena and Sully escape into the tunnel, eventually reaching a cavern containing Avery's ship and the treasure onboard hanging in a large net. An explosion on the surface creates a cave-in, resulting in Rafe, Nadine and their prisoner Sam falling into the cavern as well. Rafe tells Nadine to kill Nathan, but she turns on him, saying that the treasure isn't worth it as she points out that Avery and Tew are dead because of it. She takes a small amount of gold that is lying around and leaves Rafe to take care of his own problems. Rafe grabs Tew's sword and Nathan grabs Avery's and the two have a sword duel while Elena and Sully bring Sam to safety. Nathan tricks Rafe into going below the hanging gold, then Nathan cuts the net, crushing Rafe to death with thousands of pounds of gold.

Nathan and Elena return home while Sam and Sully decide to go into business together. Jameson announces that he is selling the salvage company and Nathan is the new owner, much to his surprise. Elena explains that she bought Nathan the company and Sam has invested money with her to bring back her old TV show.  Nathan asks if she has a hot story to cover. Elena says that they can start with the salvage job in Malaysia and see what kind of adventure that sets them out on.

Top 10 LRF Comedy Stars

 

Sherman J. Pearson here for another edition of Top 10. With Jack Black making his return to LRF screens after nearly 10 seasons, I decided to take a look at the studio's biggest comedy stars. In order to be considered for the list the talents must have appeared in multiple Comedy films (or Romantic Comedy or Dark Comedy) for the studio. Bonus points were then awarded based on number of films, the box office performance of those films.

Top 10 LRF Comedy Stars
10. Ryan Reynolds (Don't Hang Up, Bright Neon Lights)
9. Selena Gomez (Story of Sade, Zoe Maye)
8. Jason Bateman (The Death of the Honest Man, Sabbatical Recovery, No Laughing Matter)
7. Zach Galifianakis (Lucky Luke Trilogy, Don't Hang Up, The Powerpuff Girls)
6. Paul Rudd (Lucky Luke Trilogy, Extra Ordinary)
5. Reese Witherspoon (Nevada, Iowa, Kylie Dates New York City)
4. Colin Farrell (The Death of the Honest Man, The Stranger, Pulp)
3. Chris Hemsworth (Numero Uno, Bravo/Samurai, Doctor Love)
2. Glenn Howerton (Plastic Man, Plastic Man 2: Electrc Boogaloo, No Laughing Matter, Pontiac)
1. Billy Magnussen (An Honest Mistake, Booster Gold, Booster Gold II, Doctor Love, Booster Gold: Lost in Time)

Release: The Culture

 

The Culture
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Writer: Jacob Jones
Cast: Alex Wolff, Nat Wolff, Jack Black, Maude Apatow, Meg Donnelly, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Wesley Snipes





Budget: $22,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $13,045,699
Foreign Box Office: $10,113,073
Total Profit: -$15,450,275

Reaction: Make it three flops in a row for the studio now. This one is probably the least surprising of the lot given Jim Jarmusch's career at the box office, granted this is easily the most mainsteam film he's ever made.

"The first 15 minutes are difficult to watch but after the introduction of Jack Black, the movie was enjoyable. It's not a perfect movie but even with it's flaws it's a good movie to sit down and watch. I wish Jack Black was given more to work here as I believe he is the main attraction." - Justin Rodriguez, Detroit Free Press

"I could not stand Nat or Alex Wolff's characters in this one. I really wish Jarmusch and Jones would have found a way to tell the story from Jack Black's point of view more. The rest of the supporting cast also shines, with fun, stand-out performances from Snipes and Rhys Meyers. I did like the story though as I found Jones' script to be pretty entertaining. The Wolffs just wore out their welcome early and often." - Katie Barnes, Washington Herald

"From a story standpoint, it mostly works. But my goodness does Jacob Jones' script test the audience's patience and tolerance for the Wolff brothers (Alex and Nat - but especially Alex). The pair are often times insufferable in this one, generally saved by Jack Black stepping up as their rock and roll father and carrying their scenes with his natural charisma." - Gregory Fletcher, Los Angeles Times-Journal

Rated PG-13 for language, adult situations and some violence