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| Photo: Jorge Royan |
Written by Adam Mast
Gallery photos by John Pugh, Jeff Sanders, Sheldon Demke
CinemaCon 2015 has come to close and what a blast it was! CinemaCon is thrown by the National Association of Theater Owners, and it is essentially a convention designed to show off the latest and greatest in movie theater technology to theater owners from all around the globe. In addition to said technology, many of Hollywood’s major studios attend so that they might show off footage from their upcoming releases, and quite obviously, that’s the hook for yours truly. And since NATO is all about the theatrical experience, attendees are treated to movie footage in the best possible way.
The majority of the studio presentations were held at The Colosseum in Caesar’s Palace, and not only was this massive facility equipped with Dolby Atmos sound, but a few of the studios even showcased their footage in Dolby HDR, the very latest (and best) in laser projection. Needless to say, if every theater I attended throughout the year presented their movies the way CinemaCon presents them, I’d be one happy camper.
In addition to amazing sizzle reels, advance screenings, and a tribute to the great Clint Eastwood, the studios spared absolutely no expense in dazzling the pants off attendees by way of film-related goodies and high-profile filmmaker appearances. Over the course of four star-struck days, we found ourselves face to face with the likes of Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Julianne Moore, Clint Eastwood, Alan Arkin, Elizabeth Banks, Britt Robertson, Rose Byrne, Francis Lawrence, Amy Schumer, Jamie Bell, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Kevin Hart, Paul Rudd, Paul Feig, Guillermo del Toro, Robert Zemeckis, Chris Columbus, and Seth MacFarlane just to name a handful.
Again though, in the purist of terms, it was all about the movie footage for me, and there was no shortage of unforgettable sizzle reels and movie screenings to speak of. Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Pictures, Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, and Paramount Pictures were all on hand, and between the lot of them, over 60 upcoming movies were profiled. Without further adieu, here are 15 alphabetical highlights from CinemaCon 2015.
CREED (Warner Brothers)
“Creed” isn’t so much a “Rocky” spin-off as it is an Apollo Creed spin-off. And one of the many things that separates this film from all the entries in the Italian Stallion franchise is that this story didn’t spring from the mind of Sylvester Stallone. “Creed” is actually the brainchild of “Fruitvale Station” writer/director Ryan Coogler. Coogler was on hand alongside Michael B. Jordan and Stallone, and he went on to explain that this movie was inspired by his relationship with his father. Coogler and cast then presented exclusive footage from “Creed.”
In this gritty urban character study, Apollo’s son Adonis (played by Jordan) reaches out to an aging Rocky Balboa in hopes that the celebrated boxer will train him and help earn him a shot at the title. What follows is an entirely new take on an American classic. “Creed” looks to be part-father/son story, part-rousing sports drama, part-culture lesson, and all heart. In short, this is a “Rocky” for an entirely new generation, and I couldn’t be any more excited to see it. “Creed” opens in theaters across the U.S. on Nov. 25.
CRIMSON PEAK (Universal Pictures)
I LOVE Guillermo del Toro, and when I heard that Universal was giving him the opportunity to make an R-rated haunted house movie, well, I pretty much wept on the spot. It should be noted that the creepy goth house at the heart of this picture isn’t just a mere location. It’s a fully realized character. A very moody character I might add. I’m a fan of del Toro’s bigger films (“Hellboy” and “Pacific Rim” come to mind), but it’s his smaller, more intimate efforts that speak to me most (see “Devil’s Backbone” and “Pan’s Labyrinth.”) “Crimson Peak” looks to be somewhere in between.
Del Toro was on hand to talk about his latest effort, and as he hit the stage, it was clear that he was his jovial, enthusiastic, lovable self. This brilliant filmmaker went on to talk about his love of gothic romance and how his goal with “Crimson Peak” was to create an operatic spectacle. Of course, he also designed this film to scare the shit out of audiences, and based on the extended clip he shared with us, it’s safe to say that he’s going to pull that off with flying colors. It certainly scared the shit out of Stephen King, and that’s good enough for me. “Crimson Peak” opens in theaters across the U.S. on Oct. 16.
GOOSEBUMPS (Sony Pictures)
Truth be told, I’ve never read the R.L. Stine children’s stories on which this family oriented movie was based, but after watching this incredibly entertaining sizzle reel, maybe it’s time I read them with my kids. In a nifty little twist, R. L. Stine is actually part of the plot here. As played by Jack Black, Stine teams with a group of kids in an effort to defeat the imaginary creatures from his stories after they are unleashed upon the real world.
This montage of moments from “Goosebumps” immediately transported me back to my ‘80s teenage years when movies like “Monster Squad,” “Gremlins,” “Silver Bullet,” “The Goonies,” “Fright Night,” “Explorers,” and “Young Sherlock Holmes” reigned supreme. Can’t wait to see it! “Goosebumps” makes its way into theaters on Oct. 16.
INSIDE OUT (Walt Disney Pictures)
Walt Disney Pictures only showed three trailers during their presentation but with good reason. Following a quick rundown of the studio’s upcoming slate and the showcasing of trailers for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (Awesome), “Ant-Man” (I’m fairly indifferent to this one), and “Tomorrowland” (fantastic!), Disney dropped a special advance screening of Pixar’s “Inside Out.” This animated feature tells the tale of a young girl and the distinct emotions that make up the control center inside her brain. Unfortunately, we’re not allowed to give a full review just yet because it isn’t slated for release until June 19. I will say this though, “Inside Out” is a masterpiece! Easily Pixar’s best film since “Toy Story 3.” I can’t wait to see it again!
JOY (20th Century Fox)
Ironic that “Joy” is the next film on this list, as Joy also happens to be one of the key emotions on display in “Inside Out.” Given that this “Joy” was written and directed by David O. Russell (“American Hustle”), however, I have a suspicion it will probably be a little more adult-oriented than Pixar’s latest. Truth be told, the teaser Fox ran for this film during their presentation was more of a mood clip. There was no dialogue. Just a montage of what looks to be emotionally charged scenes set to the sound of church bells. A very effective trailer.
“Joy” stars Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Robert DeNiro in a story of family and the woman who would ultimately become the founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty. It opens on Dec 25.
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (Warner Brothers)
Warner Brothers has yet to drop a lick of footage for “Fury Road” that has failed to impress me, and the extended trailer the studio shared during their epic CinemaCon presentation was yet another reason to stay optimistic about this latest “Mad Max” movie from mastermind George Miller. Admittedly, most of the footage they shared was culled from other pieces of marketing, but it was repackaged in a beautifully edited ball of energetic fury. Tom Hardy (fresh from the set of “The Revenant”), Charlize Theron, and Nicholas Hoult were on hand to introduce the high octane clip, and all three were quick to pray at the altar of Mr. Miller.
The majority of “Fury Road” was shot on real locations with real stuntmen and real vehicles, and Miller’s practical approach has been evident in all the footage we’ve seen thus far. In short, if there’s a 2015 release I’m more excited to see than “Episode VII,” then “Fury Road” is it. May 15 can’t come soon enough!
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE-ROGUE NATION (Paramount Pictures)
Paramount Pictures opened up their presentation with an Arnold Schwarzenegger appearance (he was on hand to talk “Terminator: Genisys”), and while you’d think it couldn’t get any bigger then that, out walks international superstar, Tom Cruise! Cruise was joined by Simon Pegg and Rebecca Ferguson, and together, the trio talked up their upcoming summer release, “Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation.”
Pegg was quick to praise Cruise for doing his own insane stunt work, including that jaw-dropping plane sequence that you may have seen in the coming attraction trailer. Since everyone has pretty much seen that trailer, Cruise brought along exclusive footage which included an intense Ethan Hunt torturing scene capped off by an epic fist fight and a bad ass car chase featuring Cruise at the wheel and a screaming Pegg in the passenger seat.
As an added bonus and as iron clad proof that Cruise likes to do as many of his own stunts as possible, attendees were treated to a behind the scenes look at Cruise’s death defying plane stunt. In the scene, Cruise’s Hunt is dangling from the side of a massive jet as it takes off from the runway. In the behind the scenes footage, it’s plain as day that that’s Cruise up there, attached to the plane with nothing more than a thin cable. Cruise explained that they had to do the shot eight times, and he freely admitted that it scared the shit out of him. Now in his 50s, Cruise showed why he’s one of the most celebrated movie stars in the world. This guy commits 100 percent! “Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation” opens in theaters across the U.S. on July 31.
THE PEANUTS MOVIE (20the Century Fox)
Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” characters get the big screen treatment in “The Peanuts Movie.” As a kid, I was a huge fan of Charlie Brown and the gang. When I heard about this film, I was worried that the spirit of these characters would somehow get lost in a sea of updated CG animation, but to my great surprise, “The Peanuts Movie” footage we were treated to suggests otherwise. The animation technology is current, but there’s an intentional retro feel giving these characters the look and personality that longtime fans are sure to embrace. “The Peanuts Movie” opens in theaters throughout the U.S. on Nov. 6.
THE REVENANT (20th Century Fox)
How does filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu follow up his Best Picture Oscar winner “Birdman”? By telling a sweeping tale of vengeance set in the 1820s, that’s how! “The Revenant” stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, and as great as they look in this, I suspect it’ll be cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki who steals the show. This film was shot with all natural light meaning that Inarritu, Lubezki and crew could only shoot at specific times during the year. Add to that the harsh weather conditions in the Canadian wilderness, and you have a film that was no easy feat to pull off.
If the breathtaking raw footage we were lucky enough to see is any indication, however, I’d say all that hard work is going to make for one hell of a motion picture experience. Breathtaking stuff! “The Revenant” opens in theaters across the U.S. on Jan. 8, 2016.
SPECTRE (Sony Pictures)
Aside from “Episode VII,” “Spectre” might just be the most highly anticipated film of the upcoming holiday season. Having said that, the pressure is on because director Sam Mendes and crew have a tough act to follow in the form of the mega-hit, “Skyfall.” Still, I believe they’re up to the challenge. Mendes had to sit CinemaCon out as he is only half way through the “Spectre” production. He did, however, send a taped message suggesting that audiences are in for quite a ride when “Spectre” opens this November.
As a big added surprise, Mendes and Sony shared an exclusive clip from the film. As was the case with the first “Spectre” trailer, this clip was more on the subdued side. What made it truly interesting, though, was that it was surprisingly spoiler heavy. Don’t worry. Out of respect to the studio and the filmmakers, I’m not about to reveal the spoiler here. What I will say is that the clip was conversational in nature, and it pretty much summed up what will most likely drive the entire plot of the movie. The pivotal two-minute exclusive was followed by a very brief montage of action oriented scenes including a cool looking chase sequence in the snow. “Spectre” opens in the U.S. on Nov. 6.
SPY (20th Century Fox)
20th Century Fox and director Paul Feig gave attendees an advance screening of the new comedy “Spy,” and boy does this movie deliver. As far as I’m concerned, Feig is now three-for-three. And in fact, while I greatly enjoyed “Bridesmaids” and “The Heat,” I would say “Spy” is his strongest effort yet. In “Spy,” Melissa McCarthy is a desk analyst who jumps at the opportunity to become a field agent when tragedy strikes a little too close to home. This is certainly a comedy, but this isn’t a spoof like “Austin Powers.” While “Spy” certainly brings the funny, this is an honest to goodness spy movie with action, intrigue, and tons of twists, turns, and unexpected surprises. It even has a bad ass opening theme song that would stand alongside the very best James Bond-inspired tune.
It should also be noted that “Spy” features career best work from Jason Statham. Seriously! This guy should hang up the action towel and do more comedy. He’s hilarious! Rose Byrne is quite a riot too. In fact, the entire cast is spot on, and holding it all together is McCarthy who manages to show a surprising amount of range here. This might be her best work to date. “Spy” is great summer entertainment and further proof that Feig is the real deal. I think it’s safe to say that next year’s “Ghostbusters” reboot is in great hands. “Spy” opens in theaters across the U.S. on June 5.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (Walt Disney Pictures)
Before you all lose your minds, no, Disney didn’t unveil any new footage from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at CinemaCon. Less than a week earlier, the studio did a big marketing push for “Episode VII” at “Star Wars Fan Celebration” in Anaheim. Therefore, there really wasn’t anything “Force” related to share during their presentation in Las Vegas. Still, CinemaCon attendees were fortunate enough to see the latest “Episode VII” teaser trailer in Dolby Atmos and Dolby HDR on a massive movie screen…TWICE! And it was glorious! That “Chewie, we’re home” bit still gives me chills. I CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS MOVIE! “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opens on Dec. 18.
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (Universal Pictures)
It’s strange that it’s taken this long to get an N.W.A. biopic to the big screen, but better late than never, I suppose. Directed by F. Gary Gray (“Friday,” “The Italian Job”), “Straight Outta Compton” chronicles the lives of rappers Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Easy-E, and MC Ren (aka N.W.A.) as they navigate their way through the rough streets of Compton while on the road to astronomical success. On hand to talk about the genesis of this project were director F. Gary Gray, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube!
For those who think that Ice Cube is nothing but a domesticated ex-rapper, think again. The man still has the fire. Forever the tenacious spokesman, Ice Cube was quick to point out that N.W.A. paved the way for everything from “South Park” to Eminem. N.W.A. is the very personification of speaking your mind, so Ice Cube’s words were fittingly appropriate and not at all surprising. If this movie is even half as lively as the pre-sizzle reel entertainment, then Universal is going to have a hit on their hands. Side note: the extended red band trailer totally delivered! “Straight Outta Compton” cruises into U.S. theaters on Aug. 14!
VACATION (Warner Brothers)
Spoiler alert! Firstly, after much speculation, it’s official; this new “Vacation” movie will be rated “R” for extremely crude humor. Secondly, we can also tell you that in an affectionate throwback to the original, the Griswold vacation destination this time around will be…Wally World! That’s right! The same Wally World that Clark dragged his family to over 30 years ago. Granted, this time, it’s Clark’s now grown son Rusty (played by Ed Helms) who will be putting his family through the ringer.
Helms and Christina Applegate (she plays Rusty’s wife) were on hand to unveil the first R-rated trailer from this “Vacation” update. While irreverent and raunchy, the footage was also incredibly funny, taking a self-referencing, “21 Jump Street”-like approach to the material. Chris Hemsworth looks to steal the show as Audrey’s (Leslie Mann) handsome, well-endowed husband. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo also make an appearance. This very R-rated “Vacation” hits theaters on July 31.
THE WALK (Sony Pictures)
Sony started their presentation off with quite a surprise. As the lights dimmed, out walked director Robert Zemeckis, the iconic filmmaker beind the “Back to the Future” trilogy, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” and “Forrest Gump.” Zemeckis was on hand to talk about his latest film “The Walk,” a ‘70s-based true story revolving around Philippe Petit and his crazy plan to tight rope walk from one world trade center tower to the other. This territory was already covered in a brilliant James Marsh-directed documentary called “Man on Wire,” but with “The Walk,” Zemeckis clearly wants to dramatize the proceedings through re-creating Petit’s death defying act by way of dizzying visual effects.
In addition to the spectacle of it all, Zemeckis is looking to make a thrilling character study that almost feels “Argo”-like in tone. It was abundantly clear after watching this amazing footage that this is the kind of movie that demands to be seen in Imax. Zemeckis has been developing this project for 10 years, and come Oct. 2, we’ll see if the years of hard work were worth it. For the record, I think it will be.
Honorable Mention: “Minions” (Universal), “Jurassic World” (Universal), “Black Mass” (Warner Brothers), “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” (20th Century Fox), “Ted 2” (Universal Pictures).
