A smart and sweet riff through “Grease,” “Footloose,” “High School Musical” and scads of other upbeat, teen-skewing entertainments, “Best Summer Ever” greatly impress with its deft balance of affectionate homage and exuberant inclusivity. Working from a peppy screenplay they co-wrote with Will Halby, Andrew Pilkington and Terra Mackintosh, directors Michael Parks Randa and Lauren Smitelli keep the mood so beguilingly light and bright, even during brief romantic setbacks, that it’s remarkably easy to suspend disbelief and gratefully delight in a world where racial divides and ableist prejudices are nonexistent, and just about the only negative stereotype on view is a mean-girl cheerleader.
The all-embracing attitude that propels “Best Summer Ever” is on full display right from the start. It’s the last day of the season at Lakeview Dance Camp, as young sweethearts Sage (Shannon DeVido), who uses a wheelchair, and her football-player boyfriend Tony (Ricky Wilson Jr.) lead...
The all-embracing attitude that propels “Best Summer Ever” is on full display right from the start. It’s the last day of the season at Lakeview Dance Camp, as young sweethearts Sage (Shannon DeVido), who uses a wheelchair, and her football-player boyfriend Tony (Ricky Wilson Jr.) lead...
- 4/29/2021
- by Joe Leydon
- Variety Film + TV
"How 'bout we just go off somewhere together?" Freestyle Digital Media has released the official trailer for an indie romance musical titled Best Summer Ever. This originally premiered last year at the Martha's Vineyard Film Festival, and also stopped by the Portland, Heartland, and Maui Film Festivals. A fresh and exhilarating take on the beloved teen musical genre featuring eight original songs and a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities. Sage (Shannon DeVido) and Anthony have the "Best Summer Ever" and fall in love at a dance camp. Not expecting to see each other again until the following summer, Sage, by a twist of fate, arrives unexpectedly at the exact same high school as Anthony. Now they must navigate volatile high school life and hope their love remains. Also starring Jacob Waltuck, MuMu, Holly Palmer, Ajani A.J. Murray, Emily Kranking, with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard,...
- 4/15/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The ReelAbilities Film Festival is set to open with Michael Parks Randa and Lauren Smitelli’s inclusive musical romancer Best Summer Ever, executive produced by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ted Danson, Amy Brenneman, and Mary Steenburgen.
Gyllenhaal, Sarsgaard and Benjamin Bratt have cameo roles in the feature shot with a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities and which bowed at SXSW. Best Summer Ever, which also stars Shannon DeVido, Ricky Wilson Jr., MuMu, Jacob Waltuck, Emily Kranking, Ajani “Aj” Murray, Eileen Grubba and Holly Palmer, will screen on April 29 at the Queens Drive-In.
And ...
Gyllenhaal, Sarsgaard and Benjamin Bratt have cameo roles in the feature shot with a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities and which bowed at SXSW. Best Summer Ever, which also stars Shannon DeVido, Ricky Wilson Jr., MuMu, Jacob Waltuck, Emily Kranking, Ajani “Aj” Murray, Eileen Grubba and Holly Palmer, will screen on April 29 at the Queens Drive-In.
And ...
- 3/31/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The ReelAbilities Film Festival is set to open with Michael Parks Randa and Lauren Smitelli’s inclusive musical romancer Best Summer Ever, executive produced by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ted Danson, Amy Brenneman, and Mary Steenburgen.
Gyllenhaal, Sarsgaard and Benjamin Bratt have cameo roles in the feature shot with a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities and which bowed at SXSW. Best Summer Ever, which also stars Shannon DeVido, Ricky Wilson Jr., MuMu, Jacob Waltuck, Emily Kranking, Ajani “Aj” Murray, Eileen Grubba and Holly Palmer, will screen on April 29 at the Queens Drive-In.
And ...
Gyllenhaal, Sarsgaard and Benjamin Bratt have cameo roles in the feature shot with a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities and which bowed at SXSW. Best Summer Ever, which also stars Shannon DeVido, Ricky Wilson Jr., MuMu, Jacob Waltuck, Emily Kranking, Ajani “Aj” Murray, Eileen Grubba and Holly Palmer, will screen on April 29 at the Queens Drive-In.
And ...
- 3/31/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
David Bowie’s pianist, Mike Garson, is spearheading a virtual tribute to the late musician, A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day!, which will air on the idol’s birthday, January 8th, 2021, and feature performances from Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, and more.
The lineup of guests also includes Perry Farrell, Joe Elliott, Gavin Rossdale, actor Gary Oldman, Macy Gray, Ian Astbury, Lizzy Hale, Gail Ann Dorsey, Bernard Fowler, Corey Glover, Lena Hall, and Judith Hill. Anchoring the show will be an all-star band of musicians who played with Bowie over the course of his career,...
The lineup of guests also includes Perry Farrell, Joe Elliott, Gavin Rossdale, actor Gary Oldman, Macy Gray, Ian Astbury, Lizzy Hale, Gail Ann Dorsey, Bernard Fowler, Corey Glover, Lena Hall, and Judith Hill. Anchoring the show will be an all-star band of musicians who played with Bowie over the course of his career,...
- 10/27/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
In today’s film news roundup, Kumail Nanjiani has been cast as a journalist, Daisy Ridley boards Imax’s “Asteroid Hunters,” “Best Summer Ever” leads off a festival, Shelley Duvall gets an honor and “Dark Harvest” lands at MGM.
Project Launch
Kumail Nanjiani will star in the political thriller “The Independent,” which is being introduced to buyers by The Exchange at the Berlin Film Festival.
He will portray a journalist who uncovers a conspiracy, which places the fate of the election in his hands with America’s first viable independent presidential candidate poised for victory.
“Kumail is a great actor with global recognition and he serves as the cornerstone for an incredible ensemble cast that we are excited to announce shortly,” said Brian O’Shea of The Exchange.
Amy Rice, who was nominated for an Emmy for “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama,” is directing “The Independent” from a script by Evan Parter.
Project Launch
Kumail Nanjiani will star in the political thriller “The Independent,” which is being introduced to buyers by The Exchange at the Berlin Film Festival.
He will portray a journalist who uncovers a conspiracy, which places the fate of the election in his hands with America’s first viable independent presidential candidate poised for victory.
“Kumail is a great actor with global recognition and he serves as the cornerstone for an incredible ensemble cast that we are excited to announce shortly,” said Brian O’Shea of The Exchange.
Amy Rice, who was nominated for an Emmy for “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama,” is directing “The Independent” from a script by Evan Parter.
- 2/22/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Emmy-nominated and Grammy-winning songwriter Allee Willis died Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. She was 72. Willis’ long-term partner Prudence Fenton announced her death on Instagram. “Rest In Boogie Wonderland Nov 10,1947-December 24, 2019,” Fenton wrote next to a photo of Willis, referring to one of the Earth, Wind & Fire hits Willis had co-written.
Willis also composed “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts, which was used as a theme song for NBC’s hugely popular comedy series Friends and became one of the biggest TV theme song hits ever. “I’ll Be There for You” earned Willis an Emmy nomination.
Willis also co-wrote the Broadway musical The Color Purple and the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, winning Grammy awards for both.
In addition to “Boogie Wonderland”, Willis’ collaboration with Earth,...
Willis also composed “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts, which was used as a theme song for NBC’s hugely popular comedy series Friends and became one of the biggest TV theme song hits ever. “I’ll Be There for You” earned Willis an Emmy nomination.
Willis also co-wrote the Broadway musical The Color Purple and the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, winning Grammy awards for both.
In addition to “Boogie Wonderland”, Willis’ collaboration with Earth,...
- 12/25/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s been almost a year to the day since we lost David Bowie, but the rock icon and beloved creative force is still foremost in the minds of those who knew and loved him best. As Billboard reports, on Sunday evening, some of those people — including fans, friends and even former bandmates — gathered together to celebrate what would have been Bowie’s seventieth birthday for a three-hour charity concert at London’s Brixton Academy. It was an appropriately rocking and raucous event.
The show was hosted by actor (and close Bowie pal) Gary Oldman, who took the stage not only to emcee the event, but to rock out to a few of Bowie’s classics, including “Sorrow” and “The Man Who Sold the World.”
Read More: David Bowie’s ‘No Plan’ Music Video Is a Posthumous Tribute to the Departed Space Oddity — Watch
Oldman was joined by other luminaries and performers,...
The show was hosted by actor (and close Bowie pal) Gary Oldman, who took the stage not only to emcee the event, but to rock out to a few of Bowie’s classics, including “Sorrow” and “The Man Who Sold the World.”
Read More: David Bowie’s ‘No Plan’ Music Video Is a Posthumous Tribute to the Departed Space Oddity — Watch
Oldman was joined by other luminaries and performers,...
- 1/9/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Lakeshore Records will be releasing the official soundtrack album for the romantic comedy I Don’t Know How She Does It. The album includes one track from the score by composer Aaron Zigman, as well as several songs from the movie by such artists as Betty Everett, Damato, Little Jackie, Teena Marie, Nat King Cole and Holly Palmer. The soundtrack will be released on September 27, 2011 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. Check back on this page for audio clips. I Don’t Know How She Does It is directed by Douglas McGrath and stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Christina Hendricks, Kelsey Grammer, Seth Meyers and Olivia Munn. The movie will be released on September 16 by the Weinstein Company. To learn more about the film, visit the official movie website.
Here’s the album track list:
1. The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss) (Betty Everett...
Here’s the album track list:
1. The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss) (Betty Everett...
- 9/5/2011
- by filmmusicreporter
- Film Music Reporter
Days away from its limited release in the U.S., "My One and Only" got a red carpet treatment in New York City. On Tuesday, August 18, red carpet was rolled down in front of Paris Theater, New York to welcome celebrities coming for the premiere of Richard Loncraine-directed comedy movie.
Spotted arriving solo for the special screening event was leading actress Renee Zellweger. The 40-year-old Academy Award-winner wore a figure-hugging, off-the-shoulder little black dress by Carolina Herrera. When interviewed by Entertainment Tonight on what she enjoyed most playing in the movie, she answered, "Hanging out with my boys all summer."
Renee wasn't the only cast attending the premiere. Logan Lerman who plays George Hamilton, Holly Palmer who stars as Tanya and Veronica Taylor who takes on Nancy joined her on the red carpet. Executive producer George Hamilton, whose early life story becomes the essence of the movie, and producer Aaron Ryder were also present.
Spotted arriving solo for the special screening event was leading actress Renee Zellweger. The 40-year-old Academy Award-winner wore a figure-hugging, off-the-shoulder little black dress by Carolina Herrera. When interviewed by Entertainment Tonight on what she enjoyed most playing in the movie, she answered, "Hanging out with my boys all summer."
Renee wasn't the only cast attending the premiere. Logan Lerman who plays George Hamilton, Holly Palmer who stars as Tanya and Veronica Taylor who takes on Nancy joined her on the red carpet. Executive producer George Hamilton, whose early life story becomes the essence of the movie, and producer Aaron Ryder were also present.
- 8/19/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
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