ricky gervais Tagged Articles at Cinematical
New Trailer for 'Cemetery Junction' Finds Its Way Online
Filed under: Comedy », Sony », Trailers and Clips »
Well, well, well, this is a surprise. When you see the words "Written and Directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant", one particular brand of humor comes to mind. The genius minds behind The Office, Extras, and the Ricky Gervais Show have had their grip on the pressure points of awkward comedy for years now, so one would expect their first true collaboration on the big screen to be full of wry, exacting humor. And those expectations were on track when the duo unveiled the original teaser trailer for Cemetery Junction, which had great laughs at the expense of Ralph "Chuckles" Fiennes.That was just a teaser, though. Now there's an actual trailer (via Twitch) for Cemetery Junction out and it looks nothing like you'd imagine from the initial teaser and images. Turns out, Gervais/Merchant's latest team-up has them sitting backseat to a coming of age story and, I gotta say, I'm loving it. I haven't been too big a fan of Gervais' last few showings at the cinema (I do think Ghost Town is underrated, however), but that's also because none of those productions shared in the bittersweet sparks the Gervais/Merchant hybrid-mind have all but trademarked.
This doesn't look like Invention of Lying Gervais, or experimenting on Karl Pilkington Gervais; this looks like Extras Extra Special Series Finale Gervais. That may not mean anything to anyone who isn't already a fan of the comedian's work, but for my money the nearly 90-minute long Extras Special is the most heart-heavy comedy I've seen in years. It is absolutely brilliant and features a surprisingly affecting performance from Gervais; so if for some reason you haven't seen it, you should get that sorted.
But enough about the old, onto the new!
Interesting Interviews: Ricky Gervais Chats with Larry David
Filed under: Comedy », Fandom », Trailers and Clips »
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A friend of mine turned me on to this fantastic interview over the weekend that was part of a Channel 4 special that aired in the UK back in 2008 (or at least that's when it was uploaded to YouTube). In it, Ricky Gervais (The Office, Extras) heads over to Larry David's (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm) office for a pretty lengthy chat about, well, everything. And seeing as some of my all-time favorite comedy has come from both of these men, I couldn't resist the urge to lock myself in a room and watch this sucker because I knew how special it would be.
David begins the chat by telling Gervais that the only reason he agreed to do this was because he knew it was only airing in the UK and that no one he knew would be watching. He'd kidding, of course, but there's a certain amount of truth behind that. Larry David doesn't do many relaxed, let-me-pick-your-brain interviews, and so just knowing this existed was a treat in and of itself -- but adding the fact that Gervais was the one chatting him up was the sweet cherry on top of this scrumptious piece of comedic geekdom. The two men discuss everything from cursing to comedic inspirations to their writing process to celebrity and everything in between. The only thing that slows it down a little (for me) is that they sandwich in a bunch of clips, but if you're a fan it shouldn't bother you.
And yeah, I understand this may be a little more suited for our buddies over at TV Squad, but I couldn't resist. If it makes you feel better, Gervais can be seen in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, now on DVD and Blu-ray. There. Now watch the interview after the jump.
Discuss: Is 'The Invention of Lying' Just an Atheist Screed?
Filed under: Comedy », New Releases », Movie Marketing », Politics »
Ricky Gervais's The Invention of Lying is taking hits in some places -- and earning praise in some other places -- for sneaking an unabashedly atheistic message inside a fairly conventional rom-com structure. I agree that the movie is astonishingly gutsy in this respect: in a country where a politician cannot publicly avow a lack of belief, a movie that declares religion to be a sham to comfort the gullible got a major distributor and a 2,000+ screen release how? (The obvious counterpoint is Bill Maher's Religulous, but that was a niche documentary that preached to the choir and was honestly marketed as anti-clerical; The Invention of Lying is a mainstream comedy whose ads did not contain a hint of where it was heading.) But is Gervais's movie really as anti-religious as it seems?
Consider that Gervais's portrayal of a world without religion is hardly utopian. His Mark Bellison lives in a shallow, blatantly classist society, obsessed with material wealth and physical appearance. His quest for romantic companionship is consistently undermined by his portliness and his "snub nose" -- obstacles in most civilizations, to be sure, but here the grounds for denying him sex and companionship are downright eerie. It's not just that the beautiful, successful Anna McDoogles (Jennifer Garner) isn't physically attracted to him. It's that, she tells him time and again, the two of them are not an optimal "genetic match." Mark's hunky colleague (Rob Lowe), on the other hand, is a far better "genetic match" -- and thus a better mate despite being, by all accounts, a huge douchebag.
Review: The Invention of Lying
Filed under: Comedy », New Releases », Theatrical Reviews »
You probably already know that The Invention of Lying takes place in a world where deception doesn't exist. Mankind never developed the ability. Everyone is 100 percent truthful all the time -- not because they feel obligated to, but because the concept of lying has literally never occurred to them. If someone came along who could lie, well, his power would be almost limitless. Everyone would believe everything he said. The skill of lying would be what scientists call an evolutionary advantage.
In a strange way, that's sort of what The Invention of Lying is about: the forward progression of the human species. Co-written and directed by Ricky Gervais and newcomer Matthew Robinson, the film has its wacky moments reveling in the absurdity of a world where no one lies, some of which feel like a Saturday Night Live sketch or an improv show. ("Your suggestion is: 'a world where no one lies'! The scene is: a blind date! Go!") But it's also surprisingly thoughtful, even tender, in the way it considers love, relationships, and God.
For what you might not already know about the film is that lying isn't the only thing absent from this world. There's no religion, either. No one believes in God -- that word, like "lie," is never used -- because no one ever thought to make him up. (The movie's view, one infers, is that God is imaginary and thus wouldn't be part of a world where no one ever fabricated.) The Man in the Sky, as God comes to be known, is the invention of our hero, Mark Bellison (Gervais), a loser who suddenly finds that he can say things that aren't true.
Is Ricky Gervais a 'Lying' Hypocrite?
Filed under: Comedy », New Releases », Warner Brothers »
Warm, witty, and wise are all words I would happily use to described The Invention of Lying. Ricky Gervais, who co-wrote and co-directed with Matthew Robinson, stars as a screenwriter in an alternate universe. (Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe, and Louis C.K. also star.) It's a world that resembles our world, except that everyone is compelled to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, at all times -- not simply be honest when asked, but volunteer all manner of unflattering information. It's a cute premise that allows the dark, droll humor of Gervais to prevail, resulting in a very funny movie that eventually morphs into a treatise -- some would say a broadside, but I think it's far too kind and empathetic -- on religion, spirituality, and the importance of leading a "good" life.
Here's the rub: Gervais' character is also a wee bit hypocritical. (OK, a whole lot.) As he admits in the film, he's a middle-aged, overweight, snub-nosed little man, not much in the physical looks department. His charming personality, keen intelligence, and acerbic humor all serve to balance the books nicely as an overall package, but not in the eyes of Jennifer Garner, who plays a shallow-minded woman. All she wants is a good match in the gene pool, and Gervais doesn't measure up. So why does he pursue her?
Watch This: Karl Pilkington Reviews 'The Invention of Lying'
Filed under: Comedy », New Releases », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Trailers and Clips »
Well, he may have a head like a "f***ing orange" but Karl Pilkington has managed to go from being an unknown radio producer for UK comedian Ricky Gervais to standing in as his comic foil to becoming a best-selling author. And now he's getting into the movie review business. Well, not really, but the lovable weirdo did review Gervais' latest comedy, The Invention of Lying, with Gervais in attendance (which would probably be the stuff of nightmares for most film critics).
So what did Pilkington think of the movie? Well, if you're familiar with his work, then you know that you don't exactly get a straight answer -- but at least on the upside, he did say that the movie ended before he got too bored. Gervais' latest film centers on an alternate world where his character is the first person to invent the art of deception and quickly begins to use his newfound skill to woo a woman and earn fame and riches.
Now, obviously, if you're looking for a real review you aren't going to count on a man famous for saying "I could eat a knob at night" on-air, and a quick look around at some of your more 'legit' film critics has the comedy receiving mixed reviews. Luckily, though, the general consensus is that audiences will be treated to a smart if slightly uneven comedy, but just like Gervais' last film outing, manages to win you over in the end (and even Pilkington thought it was better than King Ralph, so that has got to count for something).
The Invention of Lying opens on October 2nd, 2009.
After the jump: at the movies with Ricky and Karl...
Exclusive: 'The Invention of Lying' Poster Premiere
Filed under: Comedy », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Posters »
Cinematical has just received this exclusive poster for The Invention of Lying, starring the always hilarious Ricky Gervais as a guy who lives in a world where the act of lying doesn't exist, and so one day he accidentally invents the bad habit before beginning to use it to his advantage ... big time. Jennifer Garner, Louis C.K. and Rob Lowe co-star (with appearances from Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill and several others) in this high-concept comedy that Gervais also wrote and directed along with Matthew Robinson.
This is the first feature film that Gervais has written and directed, and so while we've enjoyed watching him in other movies like Ghost Town or Night at the Museum, it'll be great for us Gervais fans to see another one of his creations up on the big screen this time -- not to mention the fact that it comes equipped with a pretty dynamite cast. You can check out the trailer for The Invention of Lying after the jump, and click on the image below to view a larger version of the poster.
The Invention of Lying hits theaters on October 2.
Gallery: The Invention of Lying
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Release Date Shuffle: 'Hornet' Moves to Next December, 'Lying' to This October
Filed under: Action », Comedy », Sony », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger », Distribution », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
There are always a couple of titles that get pushed at Comic-Con, only to have those first impressions fade from memory as their opening gets shoved further and further back. Case in point: Whiteout, which showed up at San Diego in 2007, only to find itself a home next month -- over two years after.Now, if Box Office Mojo is to be believed (and they're pretty reliable), Seth Rogen and Michel Gondry's The Green Hornet will now debut over a year after making a modest presentation at this past Comic-Con, having been bumped back from next July to the following December for reasons unknown.
Sure, it could be more time for effects work (the alibi given for 2012's similar shift this year), or maybe Sony didn't relish the chance to open a crime-fighting action-comedy opposite a Predator(s) reboot and a mere week before the already anticipated Inception. At any rate (or date, rather), let's just hope that it doesn't turn out to be nearly as goofy and stylized as last winter's The Spirit first revealed itself to be at -- you guessed it -- Comic-Con.
Ricky Gervais Clumsily Introduces Ralph Fiennes in 'Cemetery Junction' Teaser
Filed under: Comedy », Sony », Movie Marketing », Trailers and Clips »
Having co-created "The Office" (the original) and "Extras" (which I've had sitting on my shelf to watch for ages now), Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have most recently seen fit to co-write and direct their first film together, the seventies-set Cemetery Junction. With filming just having begun less than a month ago, though, the duo has nonetheless whipped up a brief but funny teaser trailer with the help of star Ralph Fiennes -- an actor not exactly known for his comedic prowess...(You know what? Scratch that: all his guff served In Bruges and that Wallace & Gromit movie quite well.)
Also starring Emily Watson, Matthew Goode, and (yes) Gervais and Merchant themselves, Cemetery Junction should hit theaters at some point in 2010 (the UK has an April date, so here's hoping the US release is similarly spring-like). With any luck, maybe they'll coax their colleagues into similarly amusing appearances before the film's finished.
Watch the teaser trailer after the jump
Ricky Gervais Invents Lying in New Trailer
Filed under: Comedy », Universal », Warner Brothers », DIY/Filmmaking », Movie Marketing », Images »
It's not like my love of British comedian Ricky Gervais is a secret around these parts. No worries, though I'll be keeping my inner fangirl at bay, and you don't need to worry about this turning into a 'gush-fest'. The first trailer for The Invention of Lying has debuted over at Yahoo! Movies UK and we have our first glimpse at the story of an alternate universe where human beings have never learned the art of deception. Gervais plays a man working in the film industry who becomes the inventor of lying, and quickly uses his newfound skill for romantic and financial gain.Gervais seems to have no trouble inspiring praise from his peers, and the cast list for Lying is proof of that comedy clout. Just some the names in the Lying cast are; Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., John Hodgman, Tina Fey, Christopher Guest, Jeffrey Tambor, and Jason Bateman. Gervais has even gotten his first advance review for Lying from J.J. Abrams, who said, "The Invention of Lying' is as funny as it is biting, wholly original, and surprisingly moving. Is there such thing as an important comedy? Turns out there is, and this is it." It's an unlikely source of praise, but after watching the trailer, I guess the big question is: could Abrams be right? The Invention of Lying arrives in theaters on September 25th, 2009.
After the jump: Gervais' working class 'dramedy', Cemetery Junction, goes into preproduction and Gervais stalks the paparazzi...
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