Proving that Port of Call New Orleans (Kurt’s Review) was the exception more than the rule for glossy exploiters, Millennium Films, aka the modern day Golan-Globus/Cannon, along comes a movie that stars both Nicholas Cage and Nicole Kidman, has a wildly commercial concept, and yet it is straight to DVD. And this after the company managed to foist crap such as 88 Minutes and Righteous Kill into the multiplex (Maybe Al Pacino is the key…)
Trespass is a hostage/heist film directed by Joel Schumacher (Batman & Robin, The Lost Boys) with a lot of chrome and expensive wood, but apparently very little brains. How do I make this assessment after only viewing a trailer, well, the trailer gives the whole plot away. Typical Millennium, typical.
In a private, wealthy community, priority is placed on security and no exception is made for the Miller family’s estate. Behind their pristine walls and manicured gardens, Kyle, a fast-talking businessman, has entrusted the mansion’s renovation to his stunning wife, Sarah. But between making those big decisions and keeping tabs on their defiant teenage daughter, Sarah often finds herself distracted by a young, handsome worker at their home. Nothing is what it seems, and it will take a group of cold-blooded criminals led by Elias, who have been planning a vicious home invasion for months, to bring the Miller family together. When they storm the manor, everyone is tangled up in betrayal, deception, temptation and scheming. Kyle, Sarah and Avery will take the ultimate risk to make it out with their lives – and their family – intact.
The trailer is tucked under the seat.
Ouch.
Just browse through Millennium’s library of films: http://www.nuimage.net/film_library.asp.
They have their obvious niche, but unfortunately, besides Bad Lieutenant and a couple of their films saved only by Michael Douglas (Solitary Man, King of California), I can’t get on board with any of their terrible, over-the-top zaniness. Although I do want to see Hesher still.
Still, their films consistently attract big name talent, the likes of which Cannon never secured. They’ve worked with Ed Norton on two of his worst movies (Leaves of Grass, Stone), Pacino on two of his worst which you mentioned (no exaggeration – 88 Minutes might be one of the worst movies I’ve ever had the displeasure of watching), and if you browse through their library and look at the others actors they’ve worked with (Cage, Hurt, De Niro, Willis, Thornton, Eckhart, Swank, Kilmer, Cheadle, Hawke, Close, Harris, Freeman, Cusack, Dafoe, Downey Jr., Hoskins, Hounsou, Rourke, Buscemi, Travolta, Keitel, Portman, Branagh, Del Toro, Franco, Shannon, Tomei, Keaton, Huston, Foster, Oldman, Keener, Owen…) you’ll see many where you can say, “Yep, one of their worst…”
You would think a seasoned actor hearing “Millennium Films” would immediately run the other way, but my guess would be their movies are lucrative paychecks with very short filming windows.
Yeah it’s odd that they keep attracting this talent. They must make good money to be able to afford to keep dragging in more victims. I guess trashy action movies like they tend to produce sell well on VOD/DVD/Blu-Ray.
That’s the Millinium formula. Strait forward, kinda paint-by-numbers genre flicks with all the money thrown at big name stars. They are a production studio of paycheck movies, except that occasionally (Bad Lieutenant 2, those two Michael Douglas flicks) a good one is accidentally produced under their banner.
It should be noted that TRESPASS is actually a GALA release at this years edition of TIFF. But then again, they’ve also had Guy Ritchie and Rennie Harlan in the Gala Section before touting middle-of-the-road genre-flicks.
Trespass is getting a theatrical release.
I for one can’t wait to see “Trespass”. Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman are great actors, not to mention the supporting cast is strong as well, (Cam Gigandet, Dash Mihok, Ben Mendelsohn). Joel Schumacher directing too. Count me in! http://bitly.com/qN22Cm
The big A-list actors in the film most defiantly makes the film an attractive one to watch. The movie trailer is only a peep show to the actual thing. Their was a lot of action and suspense which I really enjoyed. In my opinion, I find Trespass to be Schumacher’s best film so far