Latest news with #TheIllusionist
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Limitless' director Neil Burger expresses admiration for SRK, Indian cinema: I'm fascinated with India
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Filmmaker Neil Burger , who is known for his projects like 'The Illusionist', and 'Limitless', expressed his admiration for Indian cinema , Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and shared his shooting experience in the national capital for his film 'Inheritance'. In a conversation with ANI, he said, "I love Delhi. I like Mumbai as well. I really like everywhere. I'm fascinated with India and there's so much to explore. But, you know, we chose to shoot in Delhi to set the story or part of the story in Delhi." He added on what he liked about the country, saying, "What was exciting about it... there's sort of this sense of mystery and wonder in India, certainly for a Western person are people who are incredibly friendly and incredibly generous. And there was an excitement on the street and that's what we were looking for in the movie to get this kind of energy of life as lived. And, I think we were very successful with that. " 'Inheritance' is an American espionage thriller film directed by Neil Burger from a screenplay he co-wrote with Olen Steinhauer, starring Phoebe Dynevor and Rhys Ifans. While expressing his admiration for Indian food, its culture and people, the ace director added, "Our experience was incredible. Actually, it was I mean, I love Indian food. So that was amazing. I don't think I'm enough of an aficionado to know the difference between, Delhi food and, some other cities food. We had a great crew and fantastic actors. Then just the setting is so cinematic, so visual and and so dynamic. So our experience was phenomenal. " 'The Illusionist' director opened on the family bond with the country and why India is so special for him and his wife, Diana Kellogg, "My wife is an architect and designed a very beautiful girls' school in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. And so she's been working on that for 10 years and coming to India over and over. And India has been and its people have been so welcoming to her and so generous with her. And I think that she is just has a love affair. So we feel like we have this special relationship with India. I love Indian food like naan and roti. And so it was important to me to set this particular sequence in India because of it." He added that he is fond of Indian cinema and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, "I do." follow Indian cinema, and actors like "Shah Rukh Khan". "I've seen lots of (Indian) movies and I'm fascinated with them," he shared. He spoke about his film, 'Inheritance' and how he conceived the idea behind it. Burger came up with the idea for the film during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it has an international scope despite being shot completely on an iPhone. "It really came out of Covid originally, I wanted to see, like how the world was being affected by Covid and what the new normal was, I didn't want to make a documentary. I'm a narrative filmmaker. So I wanted to create a story that kind of took us to these different cultures just to see how people were reacting. Now, films take a long time to get we created this story that went around the world from New York to Cairo to New Delhi to Seoul and then back to New York. " The filmmaker, who shot the thriller with an iPhone, shared, "When you travel around with a film crew, lots of trucks and lots of equipment and lots of people you disrupt the normal kind of routine of life. And so people end up looking at you. Whereas I wanted to, from this original idea, see the world, look at the world. I came up with this idea that I would shoot it on an iPhone , not as a gimmick, not merely as a substitute for a motion picture camera, but because we could walk through a crowded Delhi market and nobody would look at us because no no lights, no boom mics, just like somebody walking seemingly next to their friend. For all anybody knew they were shooting some social media, something rather. And it was a very effective way to do it. A very small crew kept the crew away. We were very quick with what we were doing. So it was a unique way to shoot it and it has a unique energy because of that." He recalled working with Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper in science-fiction thriller film, 'Limitless', saying, "Working with De Niro, who has always been a hero of mine, it became very, suddenly you're in the room and he's right here and you're giving him direction. And all you're thinking about his incredible roles. The amazing thing about Robert De that he wants to collaborate. He's not in a place where he's like, well, I just know what I'm doing and I know what what's the right thing. He actually wants to, work with the director and build a character together. And then with Bradley Cooper, we were doing there's a crazy stunt where he like runs in front of a truck and almost gets hit by it. And he ran in front of a truck and almost got, hit by it. And so it's fantastic, this sort of commitment that these guys make. And it was one of my favorite films that I've made. And it was it was amazing to make it." On talking about his other projects, he shared, "I made a movie called 'The Illusionist' (2006) a number of years ago with Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel and I and I'm actually turning it into a TV series, expanded it into a TV series. So I'm actually writing. And now I'm sort of working on the next episodes, which have been really fun..." Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Mint
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Limitless director Neil Burger expresses admiration for SRK, Indian cinema, shares shooting experience in Delhi for Inheritance
New Delhi [India], May 24 (ANI): Filmmaker Neil Burger, who is known for his projects like 'The Illusionist', and 'Limitless', expressed his admiration for Indian cinema, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and shared his shooting experience in the national capital for his film 'Inheritance'. In a conversation with ANI, he said, "I love Delhi. I like Mumbai as well. I really like everywhere. I'm fascinated with India and there's so much to explore. But, you know, we chose to shoot in Delhi to set the story or part of the story in Delhi." He added on what he liked about the country, saying, "What was exciting about it... there's sort of this sense of mystery and wonder in India, certainly for a Western person are people who are incredibly friendly and incredibly generous. And there was an excitement on the street and that's what we were looking for in the movie to get this kind of energy of life as lived. And, I think we were very successful with that." 'Inheritance' is an American espionage thriller film directed by Neil Burger from a screenplay he co-wrote with Olen Steinhauer, starring Phoebe Dynevor and Rhys Ifans. While expressing his admiration for Indian food, its culture and people, the ace director added, "Our experience was incredible. Actually, it was I mean, I love Indian food. So that was amazing. I don't think I'm enough of an aficionado to know the difference between, Delhi food and, some other cities food. We had a great crew and fantastic actors. Then just the setting is so cinematic, so visual and and so dynamic. So our experience was phenomenal." 'The Illusionist' director opened on the family bond with the country and why India is so special for him and his wife, Diana Kellogg, "My wife is an architect and designed a very beautiful girls' school in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. And so she's been working on that for 10 years and coming to India over and over. And India has been and its people have been so welcoming to her and so generous with her. And I think that she is just has a love affair. So we feel like we have this special relationship with India. I love Indian food like naan and roti. And so it was important to me to set this particular sequence in India because of it." He added that he is fond of Indian cinema and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, "I do." follow Indian cinema, and actors like "Shah Rukh Khan". "I've seen lots of (Indian) movies and I'm fascinated with them," he shared. He spoke about his film, 'Inheritance' and how he conceived the idea behind it. Burger came up with the idea for the film during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it has an international scope despite being shot completely on an iPhone. "It really came out of Covid originally, I wanted to see, like how the world was being affected by Covid and what the new normal was, I didn't want to make a documentary. I'm a narrative filmmaker. So I wanted to create a story that kind of took us to these different cultures just to see how people were reacting. Now, films take a long time to get we created this story that went around the world from New York to Cairo to New Delhi to Seoul and then back to New York." The filmmaker, who shot the thriller with an iPhone, shared, "When you travel around with a film crew, lots of trucks and lots of equipment and lots of people you disrupt the normal kind of routine of life. And so people end up looking at you. Whereas I wanted to, from this original idea, see the world, look at the world. I came up with this idea that I would shoot it on an iPhone , not as a gimmick, not merely as a substitute for a motion picture camera, but because we could walk through a crowded Delhi market and nobody would look at us because no no lights, no boom mics, just like somebody walking seemingly next to their friend. For all anybody knew they were shooting some social media, something rather. And it was a very effective way to do it. A very small crew kept the crew away. We were very quick with what we were doing. So it was a unique way to shoot it and it has a unique energy because of that." He recalled working with Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper in science-fiction thriller film, 'Limitless', saying, "Working with De Niro, who has always been a hero of mine, it became very, suddenly you're in the room and he's right here and you're giving him direction. And all you're thinking about his incredible roles. The amazing thing about Robert De that he wants to collaborate. He's not in a place where he's like, well, I just know what I'm doing and I know what what's the right thing. He actually wants to, work with the director and build a character together. And then with Bradley Cooper, we were doing there's a crazy stunt where he like runs in front of a truck and almost gets hit by it. And he ran in front of a truck and almost got, hit by it. And so it's fantastic, this sort of commitment that these guys make. And it was one of my favorite films that I've made. And it was it was amazing to make it." On talking about his other projects, he shared, "I made a movie called 'The Illusionist' (2006) a number of years ago with Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel and I and I'm actually turning it into a TV series, expanded it into a TV series. So I'm actually writing. And now I'm sort of working on the next episodes, which have been really fun..." 'Inheritance' premiered on Lionsgate Play. (ANI)
India Gazette
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
'Limitless' director Neil Burger expresses admiration for SRK, Indian cinema, shares shooting experience in Delhi for 'Inheritance'
New Delhi [India], May 24 (ANI): Filmmaker Neil Burger, who is known for his projects like 'The Illusionist', and 'Limitless', expressed his admiration for Indian cinema, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and shared his shooting experience in the national capital for his film 'Inheritance'. In a conversation with ANI, he said, 'I love Delhi. I like Mumbai as well. I really like everywhere. I'm fascinated with India and there's so much to explore. But, you know, we chose to shoot in Delhi to set the story or part of the story in Delhi.' He added on what he liked about the country, saying, 'What was exciting about it... there's sort of this sense of mystery and wonder in India, certainly for a Western person are people who are incredibly friendly and incredibly generous. And there was an excitement on the street and that's what we were looking for in the movie to get this kind of energy of life as lived. And, I think we were very successful with that.' 'Inheritance' is an American espionage thriller film directed by Neil Burger from a screenplay he co-wrote with Olen Steinhauer, starring Phoebe Dynevor and Rhys Ifans. While expressing his admiration for Indian food, its culture and people, the ace director added, 'Our experience was incredible. Actually, it was I mean, I love Indian food. So that was amazing. I don't think I'm enough of an aficionado to know the difference between, Delhi food and, some other cities food. We had a great crew and fantastic actors. Then just the setting is so cinematic, so visual and and so dynamic. So our experience was phenomenal.' 'The Illusionist' director opened on the family bond with the country and why India is so special for him and his wife, Diana Kellogg, 'My wife is an architect and designed a very beautiful girls' school in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. And so she's been working on that for 10 years and coming to India over and over. And India has been and its people have been so welcoming to her and so generous with her. And I think that she is just has a love affair. So we feel like we have this special relationship with India. I love Indian food like naan and roti. And so it was important to me to set this particular sequence in India because of it.' He added that he is fond of Indian cinema and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, 'I do.' follow Indian cinema, and actors like 'Shah Rukh Khan'. 'I've seen lots of (Indian) movies and I'm fascinated with them,' he shared. He spoke about his film, 'Inheritance' and how he conceived the idea behind it. Burger came up with the idea for the film during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it has an international scope despite being shot completely on an iPhone. 'It really came out of Covid originally, I wanted to see, like how the world was being affected by Covid and what the new normal was, I didn't want to make a documentary. I'm a narrative filmmaker. So I wanted to create a story that kind of took us to these different cultures just to see how people were reacting. Now, films take a long time to get we created this story that went around the world from New York to Cairo to New Delhi to Seoul and then back to New York.' The filmmaker, who shot the thriller with an iPhone, shared, 'When you travel around with a film crew, lots of trucks and lots of equipment and lots of people you disrupt the normal kind of routine of life. And so people end up looking at you. Whereas I wanted to, from this original idea, see the world, look at the world. I came up with this idea that I would shoot it on an iPhone , not as a gimmick, not merely as a substitute for a motion picture camera, but because we could walk through a crowded Delhi market and nobody would look at us because no no lights, no boom mics, just like somebody walking seemingly next to their friend. For all anybody knew they were shooting some social media, something rather. And it was a very effective way to do it. A very small crew kept the crew away. We were very quick with what we were doing. So it was a unique way to shoot it and it has a unique energy because of that.' He recalled working with Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper in science-fiction thriller film, 'Limitless', saying, 'Working with De Niro, who has always been a hero of mine, it became very, suddenly you're in the room and he's right here and you're giving him direction. And all you're thinking about his incredible roles. The amazing thing about Robert De that he wants to collaborate. He's not in a place where he's like, well, I just know what I'm doing and I know what what's the right thing. He actually wants to, work with the director and build a character together. And then with Bradley Cooper, we were doing there's a crazy stunt where he like runs in front of a truck and almost gets hit by it. And he ran in front of a truck and almost got, hit by it. And so it's fantastic, this sort of commitment that these guys make. And it was one of my favorite films that I've made. And it was it was amazing to make it.' On talking about his other projects, he shared, 'I made a movie called 'The Illusionist' (2006) a number of years ago with Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel and I and I'm actually turning it into a TV series, expanded it into a TV series. So I'm actually writing. And now I'm sort of working on the next episodes, which have been really fun...' 'Inheritance' premiered on Lionsgate Play. (ANI)
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘A Magnificent Life' Review: Sylvain Chomet's Beautifully Animated but Clumsily Scripted Love Letter to Marcel Pagnol
A Magnificent Life (Marcel et Monsieur Pagnol), a biopic of French playwright-filmmaker Marcel Pagnol, clearly represents a labor of love for writer-director Sylvain Chomet. His first animated feature since 2010's The Illusionist, it features the gorgeous style first showcased in 2003's award-winning The Triplets of Belleville. If its storytelling proves more rudimentary, hewing closely to the stylistic formula endemic to the genre, the ample visual pleasures prove their own reward. Premiering at Cannes, the film should find appreciative audiences in its native France, where its subject is best known. The story, told in flashback, begins in 1956 Paris, where the 61-year-old Pagnol (voiced by Matthew Gravelle in the English-language version) is despairing that his work has gone out of fashion. Although he intends to give up writing to pursue his hobby of inventing (he's working on a perpetual-motion machine), he's asked by a magazine editor to pen a memoir. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Peak Everything' Review: Piper Perabo Headlines a Cute Canadian Rom-Com Imbued With Very Timely Anxieties Rebel Wilson Responds to Latest 'The Deb' Controversy as Legal Dispute Leaves Film in Limbo 'My Father's Shadow' Review: First-Ever Nigerian Film at Cannes Is an Elegant and Stirring Ode to Lagos 'Memoir? You'd need a memory for that,' a dubious Pagnol responds. Nonetheless, aided by his younger self, who magically appears to jog his recollections, Pagnol begins to recount his life, starting with his early years in Marseille and the death of his mother when he was still a teenager. He moves to Paris as a young man to pursue a career as a playwright, the decision amusingly signaled by a promotional travel video for the City of Lights ('a mere 15 hours from Marseille' by train, it promises). Although his early efforts are flops, he eventually finds success with such plays as Jazz and Topaze, the latter resulting in his disapproving father finally accepting his career choice. He hearkens back to his native city with another hit, Marius, which becomes the first of his works to be adapted for the screen. Pagnol initially resists the idea of making movies, which Chomet cleverly dramatizes in the form of a mock silent film. But the advent of talkies, and a trip to London where he's enthralled by a screening of The Broadway Melody, convince him otherwise. Soon he's rhapsodizing about the stylistic freedom afforded by cinema, in another superbly designed sequence that illustrates those visual devices. More pictures follow, including such hits as 1932's Fanny, with clips from several of them woven into the animated proceedings. A Magnificent Life also delves deeply into Pagnol's patriotism and love of French cinema, illustrating such episodes as his refusal to work for the Nazis during the German occupation and his later advocacy for taxing American films to prevent them from dominating local culture. Pagnol's personal life is explored as well, including his marriage to actress Jacqueline Bouvier, for whom he wrote Manon of the Spring, and the tragic death of their young daughter. He's also shown mourning the death of his close friend Raimu, who starred in several of his works. Chomet's screenplay doesn't fully succeed in its blend of surreal whimsy, such as talking animals, and detailed depiction of its subject's life and career. There are times when A Magnificent Life gets too heavily into the weeds, attempting to cover so many biographical bases that it loses narrative momentum. But the stylistic imagination and beautiful, hand-drawn animation on display more than make up for its awkward storytelling, and it ultimately emerges as a loving tribute to an important figure in French culture. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now "A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time, Ranked
Time Out
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A Magnificent Life
No one who's fallen for the timeless and charmingly antic worlds of Sylvain Chomet will be disappointed by this poignant eulogy to one of France's great, if now decidedly uncool 20th century artists. Here, the French animator swaps the escapist fantasias of The Triplets of Belleville (2003) and The Illusionis t (2010) for a biopic that, while more conventional, still holds wonders of its own in its depiction of an extraordinary career and 60-odd eventful years of French history. The life in question belongs to inventor, teacher, playwright, novelist and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol (voiced by Laurent Lafitte). Best know outside the Republic as the author of Jean de Florette and Manon de Sources, but a fixture on school syllabuses in his homeland, he's introduced receiving a smattering of applause in a sparsely attended Parisian theatre in 1956. Well-meaning friends note that soaring petrol prices caused by the Suez crisis are keeping people at home. Pagnol, though, knows his star is waned. 'The young will sweep us under the carpet,' he later laments at a soirée at his home, a grand Parisian pile taking on the air of a mausoleum. An artist confronted by his own obsolescence, Pagnol is reluctantly forced into one final act of creation: a memoir that's to be serialised by Elle magazine. Flashbacks to the eventful chapters he jots down make up the meat of the film. It's a framing device you've seen a hundred times before, but Chomet freshens it up by introducing the younger Pagnol as a guide to his own journey from the dry hills of Marseille to the bright lights of Paris's pre-war arts scene, via his 1931 breakout talkie Marius and run-ins with the Nazi film industry during the Occupation. Chomet is a kind of earthbound French cousin to Hayao Miyazaki At 61, the same age as Pagnol as he sits down to write his memoir, Chomet clearly has his mind on legacy too; questions of which art endures and which doesn't haunt the story. The fickleness of time, too, as the exuberant, rough-and-tumble Pagnol gradually becomes more owlish and introspective, haunted by the need for his father's approval and victim of a lifetime of snobbery from Parisians looking down on his provincial origins. (The English dubbed version swaps out the Marseille accent for a cockney one.) Chomet's handmade-style animations, filled with larger-than-life characters with an affectionate touch of caricature, locate him as a kind of earthbound French cousin to Hayao Miyazaki. The comparison is lofty but fair – and not because both animators have their own couch gag on The Simpsons. Chomet shares his Japanese peer's generosity, humanism and knack for illuminating the everyday with a sense of wonderment. All three are present in this warm-hearted hymn to another unique Gallic artist.
