Josh Brolin Goes Into Immeasurable Unknown of "Everest"

Academy Award® nominee Josh Brolin (“Milk,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”), one of Hollywood’s top leading men, is known for challenging roles in both mainstream studio productions and thought-provoking independents. In Universal Pictures’ epic adventure “Everest,” Brolin plays Beck Weathers, the Texas pathologist who survived the 1996 expedition but lost his right arm, the fingers and thumb on his left hand and his nose to frostbite. He authored a book about his experience, on which the film draws, and continues to practice medicine and deliver motivational speeches.

"Everest" -- From True Story to Big Screen Adventure‏

The summit of Mount Everest, the mightiest mountain on Earth, is more than five miles above sea level, close to the cruising altitude of a 747 jumbo jet. Its fearsome and unforgiving peak has hosted thousands of daring climbers who have felt compelled to rise to the greatest challenge in mountaineering.

The tragic events in May 1996 represented, at that time, the deadliest climb in the mountain’s history, and dramatized in Universal Pictures’ upcoming epic adventure “Everest.” The world’s media were transfixed by this story of human endurance, which became the subject of best-selling books and documentaries, often with contradicting accounts of the events.

Producer Tim Bevan first became interested in the story when he read Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air” soon after it was published in 1997. Krakauer, a journalist who had been part of Rob Hall’s Adventure Consultants team on the mountain that May, had first documented the events for an article in Outside magazine. Bevan’s producing partner, Eric Fellner, shared his enthusiasm for the project; they discovered that Universal Pictures, with which Working Title has a long-term distribution agreement, coincidentally owned other properties relating to the events.

"Everest" Chosen as Opening Film of 72nd Venice Film Festival‏

Universal Pictures’ epic adventure “Everest,” directed by Baltasar Kormákur, has been selected as the opening film, out of competition, of the 72nd Venice Film Festival (September 2nd – 12th 2015).

The world premiere of “Everest” will be screened on September 2 in the Sala Grande theatre (Palazzo del Cinema) at the Lido. Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, “Everest” documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind. Their mettle tested by the harshest elements found on the planet, the climbers will face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival.

“Opening the Venice film festival has proven to be good luck for the awards race, with the last two openers, `Gravity' and `Birdman,' netting a slew of nominations and some major wins,” says UK newspaper The Guardian. “Baltasar Kormakur’s survival thriller `Everest' will be keen to follow,“ adds The Guardian's review, predicting the film might pick up nominations for best picture, director and supporting actor.

Epic Adventure "Everest" Unveils New Poster, Trailer‏

Universal Pictures has released the new poster and trailer for its gripping, survival thriller “Everest.” The trailer may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3P9mkOIxCs.

Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, “Everest” documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind. Their mettle tested by the harshest elements found on the planet, the climbers will face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival.

The epic adventure stars Jason Clarke (“Terminator Genisys”), Josh Brolin (“Gangster Squad”), John Hawkes (“Lincoln”) and Jake Gyllenhaal (“Prince of Persia”). They are joined by Sam Worthington (“Avatar”), Robin Wright (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”), Emily Watson (“The Water Horse”) and Keira Knightley (“Pirates of the Caribbean”).

REEL DEAL: Contraband - Mark Walberg SPOTLIGHT

Mark  Wahlberg produces and plays  “Chris Farraday” in Baltasar Kormakur’s  CONTRABAND

For Contraband, Director Baltasar Kormákur employed the same casting technique he used during the years he made movies in his home country.  Rather than choosing an actor by his or her looks, the director casts according to the performer’s personality.  “I like to find the core of people,” he says.  “The outer appearance is less important.  What is the person?  You try to figure that out and make that right for the character.”  

The first actor cast was the same man to whom the director brought his ideas for a film inspired by the one in which he last performed.  Kormákur commends: “Mark Wahlberg has a mixture of boyish charm and toughness, and you believe him as a blue-collar guy.  Chris has actually walked out of the criminal world, but then he’s forced back in.  That’s the great thing about heist-thrillers.  It’s great to see people step outside the norm and do something that the rest of us wouldn’t do.”

Describing his character, Wahlberg explains: “Chris is definitely a thinker, but he is not afraid to raise his voice or get his hands dirty.”  For Wahlberg, when his character finds himself back in the game, and possibly over his head, that’s when the fun begins.  He offers: “Chris is continuing to try to figure out a way to survive, to still solve the problem and then get his ass home to his wife and kids.”

What drew you to this project?

I saw the original movie and really liked it a lot.  These are the kind of movies I like to watch, with the kind of characters I like to play. Now our new thing is to try to find cool European films, obtain the rights and remake them.

Can you describe your character, Chris Farraday?

He is just a good, hard-working guy trying to do the right thing. Unfortunately, his brother-in-law is not the sharpest guy around so Chris has to go back and clean up his mess. This forces him back into the world of smuggling.