"Tenet" Uses Sci-Fi Elements to Reinvent the Spy Genre

Most people see time as an unalterable dynamic of our existence, but in the hands of filmmaker Christopher Nolan, it becomes a compellingly tractable thread, able to be bent, twisted, juxtaposed…or inverted.

(Watch the Tenet - Final Trailer at http://bit.ly/TENETFinalTrailer.)

Nolan, who wrote, directed and produced Warner Bros. Pictures’ new sci-fi action spectacle “Tenet,” says, “The story takes on ideas of time and how we experience it—interacting a science fiction component with the classic elements of the spy genre.”

In the film, armed with only one word—Tenet—and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the new Protagonist (John David Washington) journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time. Not time travel.  Inversion.

REEL DEAL: Rose Byrne Plays Comical Frenemy In “SPY”

Rose Byrne struts her way into a global chase against a group of undercover agents in “Spy” starring alongside Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham and Jude Law. 

Byrne takes on the role of Rayna, a beautiful and privileged Oxford-educated daughter of a recently deceased arms dealer who becomes frenemies with Susan Cooper, a novice spy who gears up for action after Fine (Law) suddenly goes off the grid during a dangerous assignment. Agent Cooper leaves her dreary desk job behind, entering the world of international espionage in Europe.  Soon, Rayna and Susan butt heads when Rayna has come into possession of an unusual inheritance, a small tactical nuclear weapon enough to give the world a total meltdown. 

Rose Byrne says her character is all about status. Rayna wears garish outfits for grand entrances into the finest hotels. Perpetually bored and unimpressed, she lacks a sense of humor and has a brutally direct manner of speaking.    “I liken her to royalty, or a member of a corrupt dynasty. She’s posh and talks as if she’s from another era, an effort to compensate for her poor Bulgarian roots.”  Despite her coldness, Rayna feels slightly sympathetic and curious about Susan, who reminds her of a “sad Bulgarian clown.”

REEL DEAL: Melissa McCarthy's Full-Action Mode In "SPY"

Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy have already collaborated in the smash hit comedies: “Bridesmaids” and “The Heat.” In “Spy,” which Feig wrote and directed, the gifted actress plays the brilliant, intuitive and relatable Susan Cooper, who has worked in the dreary basement at CIA headquarters for years. Her colleague is the charming, sophisticated and self-absorbed super spy Bradley Fine, played by Jude Law. An unsung hero, Cooper is the one who guides her partner via a computer and an earpiece, when he is out on perilous assignments, steering him through sticky situations around the globe. Fine gets the credit for all the successes, but it is actually Cooper doing most of the complicated work. She is also secretly besotted with the charismatic Fine, but it’s a case of unrequited love.

REEL DEAL: Hillarious Amazing "SPY" Trailer Released!

The latest “Spy” in town is on the loose, the CIA’s top analyst has a new identity! Melissa McCarthy along with a stellar cast of interesting actors including Jude Law, Jason Statham and Rose Byrne star in the latest explosive action comedy “Spy.”

Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy), a shy deskbound CIA analyst, goes on a mission to help a field agent in trouble. Employing outrageous identities and fancy spy gadgets, she attempts to infiltrate the shadowy world of an alluring but dangerous weapons dealer. She leaves a trail of mayhem crisscrossing Europe, utilizing deception and false bravado to try and outwit her quarry and locate a stolen nuke.

“Spy” opens May 21 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Face-offs and comebacks conquer beTV this March!

It’s cupcake versus cupcake in the tastiest culinary competition yet as “Cupcake Wars” invades beTV this March! Four top cupcake makers face-off in three elimination challenges until only one remains and wins the sweet prize of $10,000 plus the opportunity to showcase their cupcakes at a winning event! Judges Candace Nelson (owner of the world’s first cupcake bakery, “Sprinkles Cupcakes”), Florian Bellanger (chef and co-owner of online macaroon company, “MadMac”) and a third rotating judge per week will determine which cupcake wins the war.  The competition heats up starting March 12, Every Mondays through Thursdays at 10:10pm on beTV.

Tim (Darren Boyd, Green Wing) has reached a crossroad—he is stuck in a dead-end job at Computer Universe and he is locked in a custody battle with ex-wife Judith (Dolly Wells) over son Marcus (Jude Wright). As he tries to win back the respect and affection of his horribly precocious nine-year old, he quits his dead-end job to prove that he is not a loser. Tim’s world is shaken, and most definitely stirred, when he is accidentally recruited as a trainee spy for MI5.  First and exclusive on beTV, “Spy” premieres on March 17, Sunday at 8:55pm and starting March 18, airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:55pm.

REEL DEAL: This Means War - Chelsea Handler SPOTLIGHT

CHELSEA HANDLER: REESE’S BFF IN THE MIDST OF WAR

Currently invading the international mainstream audience and slowly carving her way as a household name is Chelsea Handler who plays the no-holds barred best friend of Reese Witherspoon in “This Means War.”

So far this year’s most enjoyable and hilarious romantic-action comedy to beat, “This Means War” is about two best friends, the best CIA agents use their incredible skills against each other in order to win a woman’s love.   Playing the trio trapped in the riotous fray of friendship and love are Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy. 

Injecting an outsider’s view of the trio’s fray is Chelsea Handler whose character Trish is Lauren’s (Witherspoon) best friend.   The inimitable talk show host, comedienne actor and author Handler intimates on her role as herself except that she’s single in real life.  “Trish is basically me, but married,” says Handler.  “Trish is not the best advisor, but Lauren needs her to provide a jolt of energy. Trish is a wife and mother whose mission in life is to offer frank and explicit opinions on her single friend’s love life.”

REEL DEAL: This Means War - Chris Pine SPOTLIGHT

CHRIS PINE ON BEING A SPY AND BEING STUCK IN A LOVE TRIANGLE

 IN “THIS MEANS WAR”

After a career that began with romantic comedies like “Princess Diaries 2” and “Just My Luck,” roles in Tony Scott’s “Unstoppable” and JJ Abrams’ re-boot of “Star Trek” as Captain Kirk have seen Chris Pine move into more action roles. With McG’s “This Means War,” he gets to combine both comedy and action as FDR, a CIA operative using all of his agency’s resources to fight a fellow agent, Tuck (Tom Hardy), over the love of a woman (Reese Witherspoon).

“This Means War” is about two of the world’s top spies who’ve been partners and best friends for many years. Through a series of circumstances even they couldn’t anticipate, they fall in love with the same woman,” says producer-screenwriter Simon Kinberg.  “FDR and Tuck decide they’re both going to date Lauren and see which one she chooses.  As each begins to fall for Lauren, they get increasingly competitive and employ their spy tactics and techniques to sabotage each other.  Lauren, who just wanted to find the right guy, has no idea that FDR and Tuck are waging war for her love.” 

For the character of FDR, the filmmakers were looking for what McG calls a “rogue – somebody who was lovable, even while possessing supreme self-confidence. And when it comes to that kind of energy, someone who embodies that magical mix, Chris Pine is the heavyweight champ.”

“I play a guy named FDR, a spy who, with every ounce of his being, enjoys being a spy.  He is living the Connery-Bond version of a spy’s life until he meets Lauren Scott and his world is turned upside down. Everything he thought was important—namely guns, women, fast cars and good times with no strings attached—are maybe not so important after all. What becomes important to him is winning the love of this woman,” Pine shares of his character.       

REEL DEAL: This Means War - Writer Marcus Gautesen SPOTLIGHT

“THIS MEANS WAR” BASED ON PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF WRITER MARCUS GAUTESEN

At the heels of the most unforgettable and most action-packed films “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “X-Men: First Class” and “X-Men: The Last Stand” comes “This Means War” - the latest romantic-action comedy making hilarious waves screening after screening starring Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine. 

Recent (and all) screenings of “This Means War” yielded outstanding scores, which revealed that it plays to men, women, singles, and couples.

Collaborated by filmdom’s most creative talents, director McG, scribes Simon Kinberg and Timothy Dowling and producers Will Smith, Robert Simonds and James Lassiter – “This Means War” is an original story by Marcus Gautesen based on his personal experience.  While attending Putney School in Vermont, Marcus was living with his best friend in a two-bedroom apartment in New York City’s Little Italy.  Both unemployed, they decided to move into one bedroom and rent out the other.  A beautiful French woman took the second room, and the guy’s friendship quickly went south as they repeatedly submarined each other’s attempts to win her over – it was war.

REEL DEAL: This Means War REVIEW

I do love spy movies because it brings out my love for gadgets, conspiracy and beautiful women. I also like comedies because they do have the best dialogue and slapstick fun. I also like romance because I sometimes do want to get cheesy especially when inside the movie house. Blend them perfectly together and its total entertainment from start to finish. 

This Means War brings together Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine in this romantic-action-comedy film that is also great this Valentine's season. Tuck (Hardy) and FDR (Pine) works as Federal Agents and also best friends. But when they met Lauren (Witherspoon), they became rivals to impress her using their 'resources' and 'skills'. Who will emerge the better man? And who will be her man? Its indeed Spy against spy in a whole new light.