Read More: Watch: Patrick Stewart Flexes His Comedy Muscles in New 'Blunt Talk' Featurette In a new exclusive clip from "Hunting Elephants," Patrick Stewart, playing a dramatic, past-his-prime actor looking to open a new theater, is confronted with the prospect of robbing a bank with two other older men and a 12-year-old boy in order to get the money he needs. The film brings an unlikely group together -- three elderly men and one preteen -- to rob a bank when they decide this is the best way to solve each of their financial issues. Confusion and chaos erupt in this comedy as the newfound criminals struggle with the dangerous logistics of actually stealing money from a bank. The film also stars Sasson Gabai, Moni Moshonov and Gil Blank. Reshef Levi's "Hunting Elephants" premiered in Israel in 2013, and will be available on DVD and VOD on August 11. Watch the clip above.
- 7/28/2015
- by Meredith Mattlin
- Indiewire
Beasts of Burden: Levi’s Slapstick Heist Film Runs Amuck
For his sophomore film, Israeli director Reshef Levi inserts Patrick Stewart alongside the likes of Sasson Gabai, Moni Moshonov, and Moshe Ivgy for a comedic bank heist in Hunting Elephants. While there’s mild amusement to be had amongst this group of sassy old codgers, the whole endeavor feels a bit forced. Snippets of characters directly addressing the camera frequently distract as Levi and co-writer Regey Levi cut across timespans in attempt to give the scenario added depth. Reinforcing stereotypes rather than playing with them, Levi’s broad scenario feels tonally akin to something like Last Vegas (2013) but entrenched in more archaic stagnation.
Daniel (Zvika Hadar) is a security guard at a bank. While explaining to his twelve year old son Jonathan (Gil Blank) how the new security system works, replete with all the proper codes needed to gain entry,...
For his sophomore film, Israeli director Reshef Levi inserts Patrick Stewart alongside the likes of Sasson Gabai, Moni Moshonov, and Moshe Ivgy for a comedic bank heist in Hunting Elephants. While there’s mild amusement to be had amongst this group of sassy old codgers, the whole endeavor feels a bit forced. Snippets of characters directly addressing the camera frequently distract as Levi and co-writer Regey Levi cut across timespans in attempt to give the scenario added depth. Reinforcing stereotypes rather than playing with them, Levi’s broad scenario feels tonally akin to something like Last Vegas (2013) but entrenched in more archaic stagnation.
Daniel (Zvika Hadar) is a security guard at a bank. While explaining to his twelve year old son Jonathan (Gil Blank) how the new security system works, replete with all the proper codes needed to gain entry,...
- 5/7/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Thanks to Manhattan’s favorite cultural philanthropist, Carole Zabar -- you know her rugelach -- a second year of the Israel Film Center Festival will be unspooling at various venues around the city, but mainly at The Jewish Community Center on the Upper West Side from June 12th through June 19th.
A highlight of the fest is Yael Reuveny’s engrossing three-generation exploration of her family’s post-Holocaust existence, Farewell, Herr Schwarz, a paean to those trying to come to terms with the past.
Michla Schwarz, Yael’s grandmother, was the lone member of her family to survive the Holocaust, or so she thought. Immigrating to Israel, she married, raised a family, and died emotionally scarred with an unyielding hatred for everything German. Her daughter Etty, who remembered her mother screaming at night and being emotionally distant, is also enveloped in this decades-old enmity.
But one day just before Michla’s death,...
A highlight of the fest is Yael Reuveny’s engrossing three-generation exploration of her family’s post-Holocaust existence, Farewell, Herr Schwarz, a paean to those trying to come to terms with the past.
Michla Schwarz, Yael’s grandmother, was the lone member of her family to survive the Holocaust, or so she thought. Immigrating to Israel, she married, raised a family, and died emotionally scarred with an unyielding hatred for everything German. Her daughter Etty, who remembered her mother screaming at night and being emotionally distant, is also enveloped in this decades-old enmity.
But one day just before Michla’s death,...
- 6/11/2014
- by Brandon Judell
- www.culturecatch.com
Millennium Films has acquired remake rights to the critically acclaimed Israeli box office hit “Hunting Elephants,” TheWrap has learned. Original producer Ehud Bleiberg (“The Iceman”) will produce through his Bleiberg Entertainment banner along with Christa Campbell and Lati Grobman of Campbell Grobman Films. Original filmmaker Reshef Levi will return to direct from a script he's co-writing with Barry Schwartz. Millennium's Avi Lerner will executive produce with Trevor Short, Boaz Davidson and John Thompson. Also read: ‘Expendables’ Producer Avi Lerner On Lining Up an Action Movie Dream Team Released in 2013, the original “Hunting Elephants” is a comedy that follows Jonathan, a...
- 5/6/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Bleiberg Entertainment has brought on Tristan Weisgal as vp of international sales and development heading into the Efm next month.
Weisgal (pictured) previously served at Cargo Entertainment and helped the founders to acquire films and license international territories.
He most recently served as a consultant during the Afm and in his new post will spearhead sales, assist the acquisitions team and play a role in developing the slate.
Ehud Bleiberg also announced that he has promoted longtime executives Nicholas Donnermeyer and Melanie Kollar to evp of acquisitions and production and evp of operations, respectively.
Bleiberg Entertainment’s slate includes Hunting Elephants starring Patrick Stewart and police thriller McCanick starring David Morse and the late Cory Monteith that premiered in Toronto and is due to open theatrically in the Us in March through Well Go USA Entertainment.
Weisgal (pictured) previously served at Cargo Entertainment and helped the founders to acquire films and license international territories.
He most recently served as a consultant during the Afm and in his new post will spearhead sales, assist the acquisitions team and play a role in developing the slate.
Ehud Bleiberg also announced that he has promoted longtime executives Nicholas Donnermeyer and Melanie Kollar to evp of acquisitions and production and evp of operations, respectively.
Bleiberg Entertainment’s slate includes Hunting Elephants starring Patrick Stewart and police thriller McCanick starring David Morse and the late Cory Monteith that premiered in Toronto and is due to open theatrically in the Us in March through Well Go USA Entertainment.
- 1/16/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
When Comedy Went to School will open the 17th annual Miami Jewish Film Festival (Mjff), set to run from January 23-February 3 2014.
Mjff is backed by the Center For The Advancement Of Jewish Education’s and overall will showcase 30 films.
Among the anticipated highlights will be screenings of Israel’s foreign-language Oscar submission Bethlehem and Argentina’s entry The German Doctor, as well as Israeli box office hit Hunting Elephants starring Patrick Stewart.
Festival orgnaisers have also lined up the Florida premiere of Pawel Pawlikowski’s Ida, the 30th anniversary presentation of Woody Allen’s Broadway Danny Rose hosted by Whit Stillman and the 75th anniversary of Molly Picon’s musical comedy Mamele, featuring a live choir performance.
“We are proud to share these films with our community, whose stories open the eyes and ignite our hearts,” said Mjff director Igor Shteyrenberg.“In this revitalising year for Mjff, we hope to continue to grow and inspire new audiences...
Mjff is backed by the Center For The Advancement Of Jewish Education’s and overall will showcase 30 films.
Among the anticipated highlights will be screenings of Israel’s foreign-language Oscar submission Bethlehem and Argentina’s entry The German Doctor, as well as Israeli box office hit Hunting Elephants starring Patrick Stewart.
Festival orgnaisers have also lined up the Florida premiere of Pawel Pawlikowski’s Ida, the 30th anniversary presentation of Woody Allen’s Broadway Danny Rose hosted by Whit Stillman and the 75th anniversary of Molly Picon’s musical comedy Mamele, featuring a live choir performance.
“We are proud to share these films with our community, whose stories open the eyes and ignite our hearts,” said Mjff director Igor Shteyrenberg.“In this revitalising year for Mjff, we hope to continue to grow and inspire new audiences...
- 12/11/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
When Comedy Went to School will open the 17th annual Miami Jewish Film Festival (Mjff), set to run from January 23-February 3 2014.
Mjff is backed by the Center For The Advancement Of Jewish Education’s and overall will showcase 30 films.
Among the anticipated highlights will be screenings of Israel’s foreign-language Oscar submission Bethlehem and Argentina’s entry The German Doctor, as well as Israeli box office hit Hunting Elephants starring Patrick Stewart.
Festival orgnaisers have also lined up the Florida premiere of Pawel Pawlikowski’s Ida, the 30th anniversary presentation of Woody Allen’s Broadway Danny Rose hosted by Whit Stillman and the 75th anniversary of Molly Picon’s musical comedy Mamele, featuring a live choir performance.
“We are proud to share these films with our community, whose stories open the eyes and ignite our hearts,” said Mjff director Igor Shteyrenberg.“In this revitalising year for Mjff, we hope to continue to grow and inspire new audiences...
Mjff is backed by the Center For The Advancement Of Jewish Education’s and overall will showcase 30 films.
Among the anticipated highlights will be screenings of Israel’s foreign-language Oscar submission Bethlehem and Argentina’s entry The German Doctor, as well as Israeli box office hit Hunting Elephants starring Patrick Stewart.
Festival orgnaisers have also lined up the Florida premiere of Pawel Pawlikowski’s Ida, the 30th anniversary presentation of Woody Allen’s Broadway Danny Rose hosted by Whit Stillman and the 75th anniversary of Molly Picon’s musical comedy Mamele, featuring a live choir performance.
“We are proud to share these films with our community, whose stories open the eyes and ignite our hearts,” said Mjff director Igor Shteyrenberg.“In this revitalising year for Mjff, we hope to continue to grow and inspire new audiences...
- 12/11/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Soon we'll be inundated with Foreign Film Oscar Submission news but for now news from three countries to get us started. The Oscar Charts will be up this weekend for this always diverse and exciting (if you're paying attention) category. [Thanks to Daniel, Yonatan and A.D. for the tips]
S#x Acts
Israel
Israel has been on a hot streak with Oscar with four nominations in the past six years so news of the Ophir Awards is always important. This narrows the field for which film will be their official submission since they go with the Ophir winner. Seven films are in the running for their Best Picture (The Ophir).
The frontrunner is Bethlehem (12 nominations) a drama about the Arab- Israel conflict which focuses on three characters: An Israeli secret services agent, his teenage Palestinian informant and the informant's older brother, a commander of the Al Aqsa Martyr's brigade. Other nominees include S#x Acts, a drama about a...
S#x Acts
Israel
Israel has been on a hot streak with Oscar with four nominations in the past six years so news of the Ophir Awards is always important. This narrows the field for which film will be their official submission since they go with the Ophir winner. Seven films are in the running for their Best Picture (The Ophir).
The frontrunner is Bethlehem (12 nominations) a drama about the Arab- Israel conflict which focuses on three characters: An Israeli secret services agent, his teenage Palestinian informant and the informant's older brother, a commander of the Al Aqsa Martyr's brigade. Other nominees include S#x Acts, a drama about a...
- 8/14/2013
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Exclusive: Reshef Levi’s crime caper scored the biggest opening weekend of the year-to-date in its native Israel after beating out Despicable Me 2 and The Lone Ranger in its first few days.
The film debuted at number one in theatres last Thursday [4] through United King and drew 29,353 admissions from 32 prints.
It also bears the distinction of registering the second biggest debut by an Israeli film in close to a decade behind This Is Sodom in 2010. The 2004 debut of Turn Left At The End Of The World in 2004 ranks as the third biggest opening weekend of recent years.
United King plans to expand the run of Hunting Elephants by three prints this weekend.
Bleiberg Entertainment handles worldwide sales on the film starring Patrick Stewart.
The film debuted at number one in theatres last Thursday [4] through United King and drew 29,353 admissions from 32 prints.
It also bears the distinction of registering the second biggest debut by an Israeli film in close to a decade behind This Is Sodom in 2010. The 2004 debut of Turn Left At The End Of The World in 2004 ranks as the third biggest opening weekend of recent years.
United King plans to expand the run of Hunting Elephants by three prints this weekend.
Bleiberg Entertainment handles worldwide sales on the film starring Patrick Stewart.
- 7/10/2013
- ScreenDaily
You might have noticed that it's been a very long while since we've seen Patrick Stewart's presence on the big screen. It's been several years in fact, during which his voice did most of the acting, from video games and animated movies to everything by Seth MacFarlane. But now it seems that his actual face will accompany his voice, in a new Israeli film of all places.Sir Patrick will play an eccentric Brit in the upcoming crime comedy Hunting Elephants who joins a group Israeli misfits in a bank heist. Its the third feature comedy by writer-director Reshef Levi and stars some of Israel's own acting nobility, including Moni Moshonov (Late Marriage), Sasson Gabai (The Band's Visit) and Moshe Ivgy (Campfire).Jonathan is a boy genius...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 6/5/2013
- Screen Anarchy
Exclusive: Stephen Belber has finally turned his 2004 Tony-nominated play Match into a feature. It stars Patrick Stewart, Carla Gugino and Matthew Lillard to star. The film, produced by David Permut, Rick Rosenthal and Matt Ratner, and it has just wrapped its New York City shoot. Stewart plays a reclusive, eccentric Juilliard dance instructor and former choreographer, who is visited by a Seattle couple, (Gugino and Lillard) under the pretense of interviewing the dancer for her thesis on the New York dance movement in the 1960s. However, as the couple’s true intentions are revealed, he finds himself unable to dance around the impact of decisions he made long ago. Belber wrote and directed the 2008 Jennifer Aniston-starrer Management and his other plays turned into films include the Richard Linklater-directed Tape and HBO’s The Laramie Project. He also created an untitled dramatic thriller that FX recently put into development as a potential series.
- 1/16/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
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