REEL DEAL: The Water Diviner REVIEW

Russel Crowe has established his prowess in acting in many ways, but there is something different when he made a movie, The Water Diviner which he directed and starred.

Set in two very far countries, It showed the story of a Austrailian farmer and diviner who had to send his sons for the first world war. Tragedy strikes when he got a letter that they might have perished in a warzone of Galipolli.  Bringing them back dead or alive was his promise to his wife.

The movie may have that formulaic approach with family movies, but it did do well in delivery and storytelling. With two contrasting cultures of Australia and Turkey, one would never realize that there can be a connection that can be established between them.

Directed by Russell Crowe, Produced by Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, and Keith Rodger. Written by Andrew Anastasios Andrew Knight. Starring Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Jai Courtney, Cem Yılmaz, and Yılmaz Erdoğan.

REEL DEAL: Russell Crowe Directs, Stars in Acclaimed Epic "The Water Diviner"

When Oscar-winner Russell Crowe stepped behind the camera to direct "The Water Diviner," he stood on a foundation built on collaborations with some of the most noted directors in the film industry, including Ridley Scott, Ron Howard, Michael Mann and Peter Weir, to name only a few.

"I've been fortunate to work with some of the very best in the business," Crowe says, "and you learn from everybody. It's the combination of that knowledge that creates what your voice is as a director. So I can very confidently say that I've stolen something from every single director I've ever worked with," he laughs.

REEL DEAL: Olga Kurylenko, a Beautiful, Resilient Widow in "The Water Diviner"‏

Ukraine-born actress Olga Kurylenko (“Quantum of Solace,” “Oblivion”) stars opposite Russell Crowe in the critically acclaimed, life-affirming tale “The Water Diviner.”

In the film, Crowe plays Australian farmer Joshua Connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the Turks in the bloody Battle of Gallipoli. Arriving in Istanbul, Connor is thrust into a vastly different world, where he encounters Ayshe (Kurylenko), a strikingly beautiful but guarded hotelier raising a child alone.

REEL DEAL: A Father Searches for Three Missing Sons in "The Water Diviner"‏

A sweeping drama of love and loss, hope and redemption that takes audiences from the scarred battlefield of Gallipoli to the arid Australian Outback to the teeming streets of Istanbul, “The Water Diviner” starring Russell Crowe will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide starting June 24.

In the film, Crowe plays Australian farmer Joshua Connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the Turks in the bloody Battle of Gallipoli. Arriving in Istanbul, Connor is thrust into a vastly different world, where he encounters others who suffered their own losses in the conflict: Ayshe (Olga Kurylenko), a strikingly beautiful but guarded hotelier raising a child alone; her young, spirited son, Orhan (Dylan Georgiades), who finds a friend in Connor; and Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdoğan), a Turkish officer who fought against Connor’s boys and may be this father’s only hope. With seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his path, Connor must travel across the battle-scarred Turkish landscape to find the truth… and his own peace.

REEL DEAL: Watch Trailer of Russell Crowe's "The Water Diviner"‏

The first trailer of Russell Crowe's feature film directorial debut, “The Water Diviner” is now online and may be viewed at https://goo.gl/96JNPk.

“The Water Diviner” is an epic and inspiring tale of one man’s life-changing journey of discovery. Crowe plays Australian farmer Joshua Connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the Turks in the bloody Battle of Gallipoli. Arriving in Istanbul, Connor is thrust into a vastly different world, where he encounters others who suffered their own losses in the conflict: Ayshe (Olga Kurylenko), a strikingly beautiful but guarded hotelier raising a child alone; her young, spirited son, Orhan (Dylan Georgiades), who finds a friend in Connor; and Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdoğan), a Turkish officer who fought against Connor’s boys and may be this father’s only hope. With seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his path, Connor must travel across the battle-scarred Turkish landscape to find the truth… and his own peace.

REEL DEAL: The Man With The Iron Fists - Jaime Chung SPOTLIGHT

THE HANGOVER LEADING LADY JAMIE CHUNG BACK TO HER ROOT AS LADY SILK IN THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS 

The Hangover Part II’s Jamie Chung plays Lady Silk in ‘The Man With Iron Fists’.  Producer Marc Abraham explains Lady Silk’s role in the action-adventure: “To buy the freedom of his beloved prostitute, the Blacksmith does what he has to do and builds weapons for bad guys.  He’s not proud of it, but he’s justified it.  In the end, he decides to free himself from all this and to do the right thing: to destroy those weapons and the people who have forced him to make them, and to hopefully free the woman he loves.  Ultimately, Jamie’s character is in love with him, but not so much that she would sacrifice her freedom.  She wants wealth, power and to get out.  She’s used him to some degree, but he’s touched her.”  

REEL DEAL: The Man With The Iron Fists - Batista SPOTLIGHT

Move-over ‘The Rock’ Half-Filipino Wrestler Superstar Dave Batista is here!

Half-Filipino World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar and current MMA heavyweight fighter David Batista stars as Brass Body in Universal Pictures’ “The Man With The Iron Fists”. The performer shares that his nearly invincible character—who is able to deflect any weapon by turning his skin into brass at will—is brutal inside and out.  He says: “If you break Brass Body down, what he is really is a mercenary.  In his opening scene, he’s carrying the little kids around, but basically what he wants is money.  He would kill his own mother for money.”

The Man With the Iron Fists, an action-adventure inspired by kung fu classics as interpreted by his longtime collaborators RZA and ELI ROTH.  Making his feature-film debut as a director, co-writer and leading man, RZA—alongside an exciting international cast led by RUSSELL CROWE as Jack Knife and LUCY LIU as Madam Blossom—tells the epic story of warriors, assassins and a lone outsider hero who all descend on one fabled village in China for a winner-takes-all battle for a fortune in gold.

REEL DEAL: Les Misérables REVIEW

The long wait (here in the Philippines) is over with the new year bringing the Christmas movies into the screens and one of the most anticipated is the Oscar nominated and Golden Globe best film winner in the Comedy/Musical category, Les Misérables.

It would actually be my first time to see the critically acclaimed musical made by Claude-Michel Schönberg, original French lyrics by Alain Boublil based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Took place in the era of the French Revolution talks about the struggles and tribulations of characters Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), Fantine (Anne Hathaway), Cosette (Amanda Syfried), and Javert (Russel Crowe). Many of them have backgrounds in theater and musicals which is suprizing to some fans as they sang and performed well. 

The story was indeed a tearjerker with the intensity of the scenes made more dramatic with the musical delivery. since the movie is adapted from the musical, it did complete the experience with a unique set of cast, great set deign and soothing music quality that brought to life the well loved musical. 

Great performances and our top picks for best performance would be for Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Samantha Barks. For new and avid Les Miserables fans, the movie indeed gave a intensive view of the lives of the characters something like a close up view which makes each scene more touching to the audience. 

REEL DEAL: Les Misérables SPOTLIGHT

Les Misérables is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe and still breaking box-office records everywhere in its 27th year. Helmed by The King’s Speech’s Academy Award®-winning director, Tom Hooper, the Working Title/Cameron Mackintosh production stars Hugh Jackman, Oscar® winner Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, with Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen.