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Exclusive: Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights to the drama Manifest West, starring Lexy Kolker (Shooter), Annet Mahendru (Father Stu), Milo Gibson (Under the Stadium Lights), Tim Heidecker (Spin Me Round) and Michael Cudlitz (Clarice), slating it for release in theaters and on digital platforms this fall.

The film from writer-directors Joe Dietsch and Louie Gibson (Happy Hunting) is a coming-of-age story, told through the eyes of a 10-year old girl whose family moves off the grid into untamed North American Wilderness. It’s their attempt to establish normalcy, to thrive off the land, and escape the pressures of modern society. But the family has its own internal pressures building, and you can’t escape what’s going on in your own household, no matter how far you move up a mountain.

Bryson Pintard produced the pic, which had its world premiere at the Mammoth Film Festival, there...

Sometimes the ecstasy of the body can lead people to engage in socially taboo, but equally passionate and intense, actions and relationships. That’s certainly the case for actress Kunjue Li’s character of college student Li Chao and her professor, who’s played by Esai Morales, in the upcoming drama, ‘Art of Love.’ The movie was written […]

The post Art of Love Exclusive Clip Features Actress Kunjue Li’s College Student Being Drawn to Actor Esai Morales’ Professor appeared first on Shockya.com.

Exclusive: Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired U.S. rights to Art of Love, the romantic drama from writer-director Betty Kaplan that stars Esai Morales and Tigertail‘s Kunjue Li. It will now be released in domestic theaters and on digital July 22.

The film was originally titled Simone, which is the name of the 2013 Eduardo Lalo novel on which it is based. Set in Puerto Rico, the plot centers on a mysterious, erotic and haunting love story of a writer-professor at a leading university and an aspiring student from the immigrant Chinese community.

Caterina Murino, Joanna Cassidy Braulio Castillo, Zoribel Fonalledas, Bruno Irizarry, Eli Cay, Mélanie Ramos and Aris Mejias also star in the pic, which was released in Puerto Rico last fall.

Peter Rawley and Frances Lausell are producers; executive producers are the Sifre Group, Morris Ruskin, Robert Katz and the Phoenix Fund in Puerto Rico.

Check out the trailer...

For his feature directorial debut, Alan Yang chose to look close to home. Based on Yang’s own family’s experiences, “Tigertail” is set in both the past and the present and explores the life of retired Taiwanese immigrant Pin-Jui (Tzi Ma). We meet him as a child and watch him become a young man (played by Hong-Chi Lee) who falls in love with a childhood friend, Yuan (Kunjue Li). He ultimately leaves her and Taiwan behind, starting a new life in America with a wife he barely knows.

In breaking down two of the film’s scenes for Variety, Yang chose to focus on an early moment when the young Pin-Jui is on a date with his true love, dancing in a bar. The later scene shows Pin-Jui as an older man, struggling to connect with his grown daughter, Angela (Christine Ko).

The Dance Scene (Past)

This is the...

Once upon a time, a young man wanted to come to America. He’d grown up in the rural countryside of Taiwan with his grandmother, occasionally having to hide in cupboards from communist Chinese soldiers looking for unregistered citizens. The boy was lonely, except for a girl he met in the fields. His name was Pin-Jui, and her name was Yuan. Later, as a teen, his mother brought him to live with her (his father had long since passed away) and work beside him in a factory in the city.

Here’s the beautiful but frustrating thing about a movie as personal as Taiwanese American director Alan Yang’s “Tigertail,” which debuts on Netflix today: By drawing on specifics from his family story, Yang offers audiences — especially those with parents who were born abroad, as his were — a chance to see reflections of their own experience in a film determined to reconcile the gap between an immigrant father and his American-born child. At the same time, Yang overestimates just how relatable such a portrait might be, to the extent that “Tigertail” remains somewhat too obtuse in the telling.

Named for the Taiwanese village Yang’s father left behind when he moved to the U.S., the film endeavors to re-create the circumstances that sent him looking for opportunities abroad, the compromises he made to get there and the secrets this stoic man kept hidden from his children for decades, including...

Anyone watching “Tigertail” because of writer-director Alan Yang’s role in creating “Master of None” may be surprised to find that there’s nothing funny about it. With time, however, “Tigertail” develops a case for its modest aims. A slow-burn immigrant drama with visual polish to spare, the movie molds the leisurely plot into a lush, moving portrait of American dreams undercut by harsh reality checks. Yang infuses his earnest, semi-fictionalized story (inspired by his own father’s experiences) with the evocative narrative traditions of modern Asian cinema, from Wong Kar Wai to Edward Yang, resulting in a rich and intimate atmosphere at every turn. While the movie doesn’t achieve the narrative mastery of its influences,

At its center is a familiar journey. Growing up in ‘60s-era Taiwan, young factory worker Ping-Juri endures the frustrations of an arranged marriage, his demanding mother, and his mounting desire to find success in America.

Alan Yang’s directorial debut is shaping up to be a somber, albeit entirely heartfelt, story of love and family.

Netflix has released the trailer for Yang’s “Tigertail,” which will premiere on the streaming service April 10. The film initially centers on a young Pin-Jui (Hong-Chi Lee), who relocates to the United States from Taiwan in search of a better life, though the move forces him to get an arranged marriage in lieu of staying with the woman he loves.

More from IndieWireQuibi: Watch All the Trailers From the New Streaming Service'Killing Eve' Season 3 First Trailer: Eve Is Alive and Villanelle Is an Evil Clown

When it turns out America isn’t exactly the land of opportunity that Pin-Jui had hoped for, he’s stuck in a loveless marriage, works a tiresome, thankless job, and, as the trailer explicitly states, becomes broken inside. As the film fast-forwards several decades,...

"I've heard you're interested in going to America. Is that true?" Netflix has unveiled an official trailer for a film called Tigertail, an impressive passion project marking the feature directorial debut of Taiwanese-American writer / producer / filmmaker Alan Yang. The multi-generational drama is about a Taiwanese factory worker who leaves behind his homeland to seek opportunity in America, where he struggles to find connection while balancing family and newfound responsibilities. "Spanning continents and decades, from 1950s Taiwan to present-day New York City," Tigertail is written and directed by Emmy winner Alan Yang (for comedy writing on Aziz Ansari's "Master of None"). The film stars Hong-Chi Lee, Tzi Ma, Christine Ko, Hayden Szeto, Yo-Hsing Fang, Kunjue Li, Fiona Fu, James Saito, along with Joan Chen. No surprise, this looks absolutely incredible - in every possible way. This is awards-worthy quality filmmaking. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Alan Yang's Tigertail,...

While the distribution strategies for the majority of film companies were uprooted when it comes to their work in the wake of the coronavirus, one distributor that moved ahead as scheduled was, of course, Netflix. Their next high-profile release is Tigertail, the directorial debut of Alan Yang, who is known for his work on Parks and Recreation and Master of None.

Starring Tzi Ma, Christine Ko, Hayden Szeto, Hong-Chi Lee, Yo-Hsing Fang, Kunjue Li, Fiona Fu, James Saito, and Joan Chen, the film tells a multi-generational story of a Taiwanese factory worker who embarks on a new life in America. The first trailer previews and emotionally poignant work that may make a good double feature with another drama about cultural identity and assimilation, this year’s Sundance winner Minari.

Ahead of a release in just a few weeks on April 10, see the trailer and poster.

In this poignant multi-generational drama,...

"Did we happen to mention we are in this for the money?" Netflix has debuted one final trailer for Steven Soderbergh's film The Laundromat, arriving on streaming this week after opening in theaters last month. The film is all about the Panama Papers, told from multiple perspectives with vignettes. The main story is about a widower looking into insurance fraud, who ends up stumbling upon a pair of law partners exploiting the world's financial system. "Zipping through a kaleidoscope of comic detours in China, Mexico, Africa (via Los Angeles) and the Caribbean en route to 2016's Panama Papers publication — where journalists revealed the secret, leaked documents of Mossack Fonseca's high-profile patrons." The big cast includes Meryl Streep starring, along with Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas, Jeffrey Wright, Melissa Rauch, Jeff Michalski, Jane Morris, Robert Patrick, David Schwimmer, Will Forte, Chris Parnell, Nonso Anozie, Larry Wilmore, Matthias Schoenaerts, Rosalind Chao, Kunjue Li,...

While the beginning of fall usually means back-to-school and the end of outdoor barbecues, Hollywood has its own way of changing seasons. The Toronto International Film Festival, which starts on Sept. 5, marks the official launch of the Oscars race.

Unlike neighboring film festivals at Telluride and Venice, which both take place on the weekend before, Toronto is easier to reach and packed with far more screenings: more than 200 movies. Here are 14 that will likely be the talk of Canada.

“Hustlers”

(Stx Entertainment, Sept. 13)

Director: Lorene Scafaria

Cast: Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B, Lizzo

Ever since I saw “Hustlers” at an early screening, I can’t stop raving about it. Every Oscars season, there’s a movie that sneaks up on the pundits. And I have a feeling that this dramatic comedy written and directed by Lorene Scafaria will be a box office hit and critical darling.

"They're gettin' away with murder!" "Which is bad..." Netflix has launched the first full trailer for Steven Soderbergh's latest film titled The Laundromat, just a few days ahead of its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival this weekend. The film is essentially about the Panama Papers, but from the perspective of a widow on vacation. While investigating insurance fraud, she ends up stumbling upon a pair of Panama City law partners exploiting the world's financial system. "Zipping through a kaleidoscope of comic detours in China, Mexico, Africa (via Los Angeles) and the Caribbean en route to 2016's Panama Papers publication — where journalists revealed the secret, leaked documents of Mossack Fonseca's high-profile patrons." The big cast includes Meryl Streep starring, along with Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas, Jeffrey Wright, Melissa Rauch, Jeff Michalski, Jane Morris, Robert Patrick, David Schwimmer, Will Forte, Chris Parnell, Nonso Anozie, Larry Wilmore, Matthias Schoenaerts, Rosalind Chao,...

Check out the first trailer for director Steven Soderbergh’s The Laundromat, starring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas.

The film will have a platform release starting September 27 in Los Angeles, New York and the UK, additional engagements in U.S. and international cities will rollout October 4 and October 11. The Laundromat will be released globally on Netflix on October 18 with an expanded theatrical release in the U.S. and international markets.

When her idyllic vacation takes an unthinkable turn, Ellen Martin (Academy Award winner Meryl Streep) begins investigating a fake insurance policy, only to find herself down a rabbit hole of questionable dealings that can be linked to a Panama City law firm and its vested interest in helping the world’s wealthiest citizens amass even larger fortunes. The charming – and very well-dressed – founding partners Jürgen Mossack (Academy Award winner Gary Oldman) and Ramón Fonseca (Golden Globe nominee Antonio...

Netflix has launched the first trailer for Steven Soderbergh’s ‘The Laundromat’ featuring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas.

Directed by Soderbergh, the film has a stellar cast of Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas, Jeffrey Wright, Melissa Rauch, Jeff Michalski, Jane Morris, Robert Patrick, David Schwimmer, Cristela Alonzo, Larry Clarke, Will Forte, Chris Parnell, Nonso Anozie, Larry Wilmore, Jessica Allain, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Matthias Schoenaerts, Rosalind Chao, Kunjue Li, Ming Lo, with James Cromwell and Sharon Stone.

Also in trailers – ‘The Mandalorian’ full trailer and further character details revealed

The film launches in select UK cinemas on 27th September and on Netflix 18th October

The Laundromat Synopsis

When her idyllic vacation takes an unthinkable turn, Ellen Martin (Academy Award winner Meryl Streep) begins investigating a fake insurance policy, only to find herself down a rabbit hole of questionable dealings that can be linked to a Panama City law firm...

Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas look like they’re having a blast in the first trailer for “The Laundromat,” living the high life while Oldman puts on a thick accent that makes him sound like Lawrence Welk.

But who said he could have this much fun? “The Laundromat” is Steven Soderbergh’s story of the Panama Papers, a massive conspiracy of the uber-wealthy that involved money laundering, bribery, extortion … you name it. But Soderbergh has taken the route of his screwball comedies like “The Informant! instead, making the Panama Papers story into a lavish farce.

“Where the f— is my money,” one woman demands to know in the trailer? “Most of the time, we don’t even know,” Oldman says with a smile.

Also Read: Gary Oldman to Star in David Fincher's 'Mank' on 'Citizen Kane' Writer Herman Mankiewicz

Regardless of the subject matter, Soderbergh...

Exclusive: Hawaii Five-o actress Christine Ko will be playing the lead in the Netflix feature film Tigertail with Kunjue Li also joining the cast. John Cho and Tzi Ma, previously announced, also star.

Tigertail is inspired by writer-director Alan Yang’s family, a drama that touches on themes of regret, longing, passion, and repression while spanning continents and generations, from 1950’s Taiwan to present-day New York City. The protagonist Grover ventures to the states with a women he doesn’t connect with. Ko will plays their daughter Angela.

Li will play young Zhenzhen, a woman in Taiwan who was always quiet, polite, and out of the way. She finds moving to America with Grover a difficult experience, until she meets her friend Peijing and begins to consider her own independence and self-worth.

Li’s recent credits include Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders and the award-winning mini-series One Child.

Ko is repped by Artists First,...

Modern take on the Jack the Ripper story is in post-production for a 2015 release.

British slasher film Razors has wrapped principal photography.

A modern take on the Jack the Ripper story, Razors is directed by Ian Powell and Karl Ward, and is produced by Magic Mask Pictures. It is the second film from Powell and Magic Mask following Seeing Heaven.

Starring the likes of Kelby Keenan, Thomas Thoroe, Josh Myers, Kunjue Li, Jack Brown, Kan Bonfils, Jon Campling and Andrew Shire, the film centres on a young screenwriter (Keenan) who has inherited a box said to contain the knives used by Jack the Ripper.

The film was shot by Alessio Valori, who won best cinematographer for Days of Harvest at Milan Film Festival in 2011, and is executive produced by Martin Myers.

Myers commented: “Razors has a clear and exciting franchise potential. It’s thought that Jack the Ripper continued his murders in America after the Whitechapel killings...

“These streets…The suffering felt here, is nothing to what comes. It will fall like the red sea…”

Spoilers will feature throughout this review…

Finally, the second series of the Victorian delight which is Ripper Street has arrived. Matthew Macfadyen returns as Di Edmund Reid, paired with his stalwart DS Bennet Drake (Jerome Flynn) and the talented coroner Captain Homer Jackson (Adam Rothenberg) are our heroes in the crime-ridden district of Whitechapel.

With the first series boasting story lines surrounding pornographic snuff films, child assassins, poisoned water supplies, psychiatric conspiracies, Veteran thieves, international terrorism, secret identities and a slavery ring, I was highly anticipating what the show had to throw at us this series. With the mysteries of who the protagonists truly are being revealed in the previous series, some still lay unsolved, In my review of last series’ finale I left readers with a few; “Will Reid find his daughter?...

Review Becky Lea 28 Oct 2013 - 22:00

Ripper Street's second series premiere irons out some of the wrinkles of the first run. Here's Becky's review of Pure As The Driven...

This review contains spoilers.

2.1 Pure as the Driven

Throwing us right back into the action with a man falling out of a window and impaling his leg upon a cast-iron fence, Ripper Street announced its return to the world with some characteristic folksy music and a handy round of fisticuffs. Whitechapel may no longer be in the grip of Jack the Ripper, but it is still all a bit chaotic. The impaled man turns out to be a police officer with connections to the Chinese population currently residing in East London where something nefarious is occurring, naturally. Reid (Matthew MacFadyen), Drake (Jerome Flynn) and Jackson (Adam Rothenberg) swiftly find themselves ‘chasing the dragon’ (literally in Jackson’s case) into Chinatown...