Latest news with #SamuelGoldwynFilms
Black America Web
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Michael Jai White Brings 1970s Cool to Modern Cinema in 'Trouble Man'
Source: Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films / Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films Actor, martial artist, and director Michael Jai White is channeling the spirit of blaxploitation classics with his latest film, Trouble Man . In a recent interview, White revealed how he's updating the 1972 Robert Hooks original for today's audiences. 'It's a movie that's about somebody who was, you know, this badass that was about his community and his people,' he said. 'That's what I want to do in this movie.' White credits co-star Method Man as essential to the project's vision. 'I wouldn't have done the movie if it wasn't for him,' White explained. Drawing inspiration from legendary partnerships, he positioned himself as Jim Brown while casting Method Man as his Fred Williamson counterpart. 'If I was Jim Brown in this, I needed my Fred Williamson. And that was Meth,' he shared. Their on-screen chemistry promises to capture the magic of classic buddy films. The cast also features LaLa Anthony, who impressed White so much during filming that he claimed every take was usable. 'As the director of the movie, I don't have one take of her that wasn't good. I could have used any take,' he said. Mike Epps and Orlando Jones round out the ensemble in this contemporary take on community-focused storytelling. We care about your data. See our privacy policy. Unlike a period piece, Trouble Man transplants classic themes into modern settings. White's character maintains throwback styling while addressing contemporary issues. The film echoes beloved comedies like Uptown Saturday Night and Piece of the Action – movies that entertained while uplifting audiences. 'It's like movies that we haven't seen in a long time,' White noted, emphasizing the film's feel-good nature with meaningful messages woven throughout. 'I'm trying to bring a modern-day twist on an old school type of film,' he added. 'That's the alchemy that I'm trying to bring with myself and Method Man.' White's martial arts expertise extends beyond screen fighting. He's trained with champion boxers like Tommy Hearns and undefeated fighters, approaching combat sports with genuine passion. 'I just enjoy learning and training and applying what I know,' he said. 'For years, I trained with the best fighters I knew, and I would go and I'd get the best fights out of them because I'd go to where they trained.' This authenticity translates into his filmmaking, where he maintains creative control and refuses to compromise his integrity for financial gain. 'If it's not in line with who I am as a person, my integrity and everything else, it doesn't matter the dollar amount,' White emphasized. As director and editor, White won most creative battles with studio executives, employing clever tactics like including 'mascot fight scenes' – deliberately questionable content that gives executives something to cut while preserving his true vision. 'You put a mascot fight scene that you don't want in the movie so the executives can say, I don't know about this mascot fight scene. And you go, you know what? Yeah, I'll take it out. Thank you,' he laughed. During the interview, White also teased an exciting future project: the return of the popular film series Why Did I Get Married? He confirmed that creator Tyler Perry recently announced Why Did I Get Married Again and shared that he had read the script the night before the interview. 'I think you just might [see Marcus return],' he teased, clearly excited about the prospect. While details remain under wraps, White hinted that fans may indeed see the return of his beloved character, Marcus. His enthusiasm suggests that the next chapter in the Why Did I Get Married? series is on the horizon, much to the delight of longtime followers. SEE ALSO Michael Jai White Brings 1970s Cool to Modern Cinema in 'Trouble Man' was originally published on
UPI
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Movie review: 'Red Sonja' valiantly portrays literary heroine
1 of 5 | Matilda Lutz stars as "Red Sonja," in theaters Friday. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Red Sonja, in theaters Friday, does not boast the resources major studios devote to their intellectual property. Nevertheless, its devotion to the source material and commitment to delivering to the best of its ability makes it more engaging than much of the competition. Based on the character by Conan the Barbarian creator Robert E. Howard, Sonja (Matilda Lutz) is a warrior who believes she is the sole survivor of her tribe. When Sonja pursues some poachers, she is captured by Emperor Draygon (Robert Sheehan) and forced into gladiatorial combat. Sonja fights alongside the likes of Petra (Rhona Mitra), Osin (Luca Pasqualino) and Daix (Ben Radcliffe), all the while trying to escape. Draygon is seeking the missing pages of the Book of Secrets that guided his empire's technology, so the complete book would make him all-powerful. Brigitte Nielsen previously portrayed Sonja in her debut 1985 film. That movie was fun, but it was camp at best and really just a vehicle to shoehorn in Arnold Schwarzenegger as a muscled barbarian blatantly similar to Conan but with a different name. This new film, adapted by Tasha Huo and directed by M.J. Bassett, is focused on making Lutz's incarnation of Sonja a viable movie franchise. Filmed in Greece and Bulgaria, the movie recreates Howard's Hyborian Age in beautiful locations. Sonja enjoys an early moment of peace with her horse at a lake before she sees the poachers. The gladiator arena looks more like a computer generated background, such as in 300 or the Spartacus TV show, but those are comparable genre entries. Many of the creatures are CGI also. The forest creatures are more convincing and elegant than the cyclops, but there are also many supporting characters wearing physical prosthetics on their face or in their mouths. The fights are edited together one move at a time but it looks like the actors learned the choreography piece by piece. Lutz incorporates some modern MMA takedowns in Sonja's fighting style. She also rocks a metal bikini like the traditional comic book incarnation of Sonja, which the 2025 film notes is an example of the emperor exploiting her. Red Sonja devotes most of its resources to the larger battles in the film's climax. It may be easier to stage those in an unpopulated forest but there's still real cannon fire and armies swinging swords and shooting bows and arrows. They did build a fortress wall for Sonja's army to storm. When characters address the fantasy exposition, talking about the Book of Secrets and ghosts, they tend to lay it on thick. Still, it's no less congruous than the Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones mythology. Draygon's henchwoman Annisia (Wallis Day) is plagued by the ghosts of every person she's killed. Though quite literal, it is a poignant punishment for her evil and makes sense why she'd ally herself with Draygon, who promises to cure her. The film derives some good humor from Sonja's stoic persona. When she orders the fighters to keep Daix alive, a random gladiator pleads, "What about me?" Speaking out on behalf of generic cannon fodder in movies is amusing, though does not change the priority cast list. It is interesting that the female characters -- Sonja, Annisia and Petra -- are the most earnest. It's the men who get to be campy or flamboyant, like Osin bragging he's never been touched in a fight, and Draygon getting downright giddy that his army is closing in on a cyclops. There's probably a middle ground that would allow the women to be acerbic like the heroes played by Schwarzenegger, but Red Sonja is in good company amongst unfaltering warriors. The action delivers and as a proof of concept, would warrant more adventures of Red Sonja on perhaps a bigger canvas. Fred Topel, who attended film school at Ithaca College, is a UPI entertainment writer based in Los Angeles. He has been a professional film critic since 1999, a Rotten Tomatoes critic since 2001, and a member of the Television Critics Association since 2012 and the Critics Choice Association since 2023. Read more of his work in Entertainment.
Hans India
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
‘Tin Soldier' trailer unveiled; US release set for Sep 12
Samuel Goldwyn Films has unveiled the gripping U.S. trailer for Tin Soldier, an explosive action thriller directed by Brad Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer, Runner Runner), featuring a powerhouse cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Robert De Niro, and Scott Eastwood. The film is slated to release in select theaters across the United States on September 12, 2025. At the heart of Tin Soldier is Foxx's character, The Bokushi, a cult-like figure who recruits disillusioned military veterans into his radical, self-styled army under the guise of a 'rehabilitation' program. Promising redemption and empowerment, Bokushi builds a fiercely loyal militant community, protected inside a fortified compound. When his growing force becomes a national concern, government authorities tap Nash Cavanaugh (Scott Eastwood), a former recruit turned defector with a personal grudge, to dismantle the cult from within. Robert De Niro portrays Emmanuel Ashburn, a no-nonsense intelligence chief tasked with overseeing the dangerous infiltration. The trailer teases a potent mix of psychological warfare, explosive combat, and cultish pageantry, underscored by high-octane visuals and emotionally charged confrontations. Also starring John Leguizamo, Joey Bicicchi, and Rita Ora, Tin Soldier blends themes of trauma, loyalty, and manipulation with blockbuster-level action. The screenplay, co-written by Jess Fuerst and Pablo Fenjves, seeks to explore the complexities of post-war disillusionment and the vulnerabilities it can breed. Although the film has already debuted in the UK to mixed reviews—with critics divided over its "chaotic" structure and intense tone—the U.S. trailer hints at a gritty, adrenaline-fueled ride driven by strong performances and bold narrative choices. Produced by Steven Chasman, Brad Feinstein, and others, Tin Soldier promises to be a compelling entry in the genre of military thrillers with a cult twist. Whether it delivers on its ambitious premise remains to be seen.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch: 'Red Sonja' fights warriors, minotaur in new trailer
July 10 (UPI) -- Samuel Goldwyn Films released a trailer for Red Sonja on Thursday. The film opens in theaters Aug. 15. Matilda Lutz plays Red Sonja, inspired by the Marvel Comics/Dynamo character and the heroine of Robert E. Howard's novels. As a child, Sonja survives the massacre of her tribe and family. Now, Sonja finds herself in an arena battling other prisoners and a minotaur for the entertainment of a king and the crowd. She also leads soldiers in battle. Sonja does all of this while wearing a silver chest and loin piece. At the end of the trailer, she questions what protection it will provide. The armorer confirms none, but it is for the amusement of the crowd. Robert Sheehan, Wallis Day, Martyn Ford, Michael Bisping, Phillip Winchester and Trevor Eve also star. MJ Bassett directs. Red Sonja will have a panel in Ballroom 20 at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, July 24 at 5:30 p.m. PDT. Previous versions of Red Sonja have been in development, including one to star Rose McGowan. Bryan Singer and Joey Soloway were attached to direct at one point. Howard's character existed in the same universe as his Conan the Barbarian. Brigitte Nielsen played Sonja in a 1985 adaptation, costarring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but playing Kalidor instead of Conan.
UPI
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Watch: 'Red Sonja' fights warriors, minotaur in new trailer
1 of 5 | Matilda Lutz, seen at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, stars in "Red Sonja." File Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI | License Photo July 10 (UPI) -- Samuel Goldwyn Films released a trailer for Red Sonja on Thursday. The film opens in theaters Aug. 15. Matilda Lutz plays Red Sonja, inspired by the Marvel Comics/Dynamo character and the heroine of Robert E. Howard's novels. As a child, Sonja survives the massacre of her tribe and family. Now, Sonja finds herself in an arena battling other prisoners and a minotaur for the entertainment of a king and the crowd. She also leads soldiers in battle. Sonja does all of this while wearing a silver chest and loin piece. At the end of the trailer, she questions what protection it will provide. The armorer confirms none, but it is for the amusement of the crowd. Robert Sheehan, Wallis Day, Martyn Ford, Michael Bisping, Phillip Winchester and Trevor Eve also star. MJ Bassett directs. Red Sonja will have a panel in Ballroom 20 at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, July 24 at 5:30 p.m. PDT. Previous versions of Red Sonja have been in development, including one to star Rose McGowan. Bryan Singer and Joey Soloway were attached to direct at one point. Howard's character existed in the same universe as his Conan the Barbarian. Brigitte Nielsen played Sonja in a 1985 adaptation, costarring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but playing Kalidor instead of Conan.
