Ang Lee Archives - Big Gay Picture Show

Ang Lee’s Clone Thriller Gemini Man Is Courting Will Smith

April 26, 2017 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Ang Lee’s last film, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, didn’t get the same critical reaction as many of his earlier movie. For his next movie, he’s in talks to go in a rather different direction and a genre he’s never really touched before – sci-fi. But then, Lee has always liked to try new things, as his back catalogue has ranged from historical drama and war films, to tragic romances and rom-coms.

Recently it was revealed Ang is in negotiation to helm Gemini Man, and now THR adds that Will Smith may be the man who’ll star in the movie.

Gemini Man itself has a long history, as it’s been around since 1997, when Disney bought the original pitch from Darren Lemke. Since then it’s been through numerous hands and incarnations. The latest is Skydance Pictures, which is hoping that bringing Lee and Smith onboard will finally help get the movie made.

The film itself ‘centers on an aging assassin who finds himself in a battle with the ultimate opponent: his clone, who is 25 years younger and at the peak of his abilities.’ It’s not known when we might see the movie.

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ACTORS: Will Smith DIRECTORS: Ang Lee

New Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk Teaser Trailer – Ang Lee does a military tale his own way

October 27, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

There was a lot of anticipation for Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, partly because it’s Ang Lee’s first movie since the Oscar winning The Life Of Pi, and partly because he was planning something no one had done before – something made and projected in 3D at 120 frames per second (more than double The Hobbit’s 48fps). However, reviews from the New York Film Festival were middling, with some saying the high frame rate ruined the moviegoing experience.

The fact is though, the full 120fps will only be available in a handful of theatres (just two in the whole of the US), and the trailer does make it look very intriguing.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Three-time Academy Award® winner Ang Lee brings his extraordinary vision to Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, based on the widely-acclaimed, bestselling novel. The film is told from the point of view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn (newcomer Joe Alwyn) who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. Through flashbacks, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of the Thanksgiving Day football game, the film reveals what really happened to the squad – contrasting the realities of the war with America’s perceptions. The film also stars Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund, with Vin Diesel, and Steve Martin. Lee used new technology, shooting at an ultra-high frame rate for the first time in film history, to create an immersive digital experience helping him dramatize war in a way never seen before.’

It’ll be out in cinemas towards the end of the year. It’s in US cinemas on November 11th and the UK on January 6th. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Joe Alwyn, Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund, Vin Diesel, Steve Martin DIRECTORS: Ang Lee FILMS: Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk Teaser Trailer – First look at Ang Lee’s take on the military tale

May 12, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

The reports from those who saw the first footage gushed that it looked like once again Life Of Pi helmer Ang Lee had produced an incredible looking movie. Now we get to take a look for ourselves with the first teaser trailer. It certainly does a great job of suggesting this could be one hell of a movie and real Oscar contender.

It’ll be out in cinemas towards the end of the year. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Joe Alwyn, Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund, Vin Diesel, Steve Martin DIRECTORS: Ang Lee FILMS: Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

The Wedding Banquet – The Ang Lee Trilogy (DVD Review)

August 23, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Winston Chao, May Chin, Ya-Lei Kuei, Mitchell Lichtenstein, May Lin
Director: Ang Lee
Running Time: 335 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: August 24th 2015 (UK)

Before Ang Lee was the double Oscar-winning helmer of Brokeback Mountain and Life Of Pi (incidentally, neither of which won the Best Picture Oscar) he was a young director who from his very first movie was mixing his Asian heritage with the West. Indeed, when talking of the rise of Ang Lee, one of the keys is his partnership with James Schamus, who co-wrote and produced most of his movies. This mix of Eastern and Western storytelling helped Lee to be able to fully inhabit a variety of different worlds like few other directors ever have.

Before he came to many people’s attention with Sense & Sensibility he made three features – Pushing Hands, The Wedding Banquet and Eat Drink Man Woman – which have been brought together for the first time in the UK for the Ang Lee Trilogy DVD release (others have referred to the films as the ‘Father Knows Best’ trilogy). They are entertaining and interesting movies, with the first two in particular feeling like they’re from a director in training but with great hints at where he ended up. [Read more…]

Heath Ledger Wasn’t Initially Considered ‘Macho Enough’ For Brokeback Mountain

August 6, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Sometimes after a movie is made, it’s difficult to imagine any other actors playing the roles. That’s certainly true of Brokeback Mountain, but apparently at one point it seemed unlikely Heath Ledger would get the role of Ennis Del Mar, as he wasn’t considered ‘macho enough’ for the role of the taciturn ranch-hand.

The news comes from Oscar-winning screenwriter Diana Ossana, who was chatting about the film to mark its 10th Anniversary on the The Michelangelo Signorile Show. She said, “[Ennis] was the most difficult role to cast. And that seemed to be the perpetual problem as we went on. And even a little bit for [director] Ang [Lee]. Another actor had committed [to the role of Ennis] and we had suggested Heath. But the studio didn’t feel he was macho enough.

“I thought that was a rather odd comment. But we just sort of stuck with it. And when that [other] actor backed out — and he did, after three months — I called Heath’s agent…It was interesting. Early on, Ang had wanted both the boys to be lifting weights and get all buff. Heath said, ‘You know, I’m the ranch hand [in the film]. I wouldn’t have time to be lifting weights. I’m kind of scrawny and young.’ He said, ‘I’m not going to do that.’ So he didn’t.”

Heath was right, at it would have seemed slightly odd if both Ennis and Jack looked like they spent all their lives in the gym and were almost a porn version of what ranchers are. But it’s certainly interesting to hear how things could have been.

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ACTORS: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal DIRECTORS: Ang Lee FILMS: Brokeback Mountain

Heath Ledger’s Homophobic Gay Uncle Inspired His Brokeback Mountain Character

July 6, 2015 By Tim Isaac 2 Comments

Heath Ledger is probably best remembered as The Joker in The Dark Knight and as Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain. It’s 10 years since the latter movie debuted, and as part of their marriage equality special, Variety caught up with director Ang Lee and producer/writer James Schamus, to talk about the movie.

Perhaps the most interesting info to come from the chat, is what inspired Ledger’s performance as the quiet, completely closeted Ennis. Ang Lee says, “Heath came in and wanted to do it right away. He told me that he learned from one of his uncles, who is also a very macho, homophobic gay, much like Ennis, and also a rancher.”

Anne Hathaway meanwhile apparently auditioned while in costume for The Princess Diaries 2 – a far cry from the Midwest character she ultimately ended up playing in Brokeback.

Lee also talked about the difficulty he had shooting the sex scenes, saying, “I was pretty shy shooting sex scenes, so I designed a very complicated one-shot deal, with 13 points of focus. I made it technical so that no one would think about anything else except hitting their marks. Once we got past the first take, nobody was shy anymore. We tried to make it as real and compelling as possible, and they were very professional. Getting into the first take was hard, and it was the 13th take that I ended up using, which was the last take.”

It’s well worth reading the whole chat, which includes the fact Lee never thought it would be a big success. He comments, “I also thought it would be an arthouse film with a very small audience. I was nervous about the subject matter hitting the shopping mall, and I was surprised at its success. I think it has something to do with the fact that it’s a poignant love story.”

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ACTORS: Heath Ledger, Anne Hathaway DIRECTORS: Ang Lee FILMS: Brokeback Mountain

Kristen Stewart Signs Up For Ang Lee’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

April 3, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Kristen Stewart’s career hasn’t exactly taken off outside the Twilight Saga, but joining up with a director with Ang Lee’s pedigree she’ll be hoping Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk will be a success.

TheWrap reports she’ll join Steve Martin, Garrett Hedlund, and Joe Alwyn in the adaptation of Ben Fountain’s novel, about 19-year-old soldier Billy Lynn and his squad, who survive an Iraq battle that is captured by embedded news cameras, causing them to become celebrated as heroes.

They are brought home by the US administration for a promotional tour that culminates at the halftime show of a Thanksgiving Day football game in Texas, before they are returned to the war. Almost the entire movie takes place during the game, with flashes away to other events.

Stewart will be Billy’s beloved older sister, Kathryn.

Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) wrote the script, which is due to start shooting later this month. It’s not clear yet when it will be in cinemas.

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ACTORS: Kristen Stewart DIRECTORS: Ang Lee

Jake Gyllenhaal Looks Back On The Importance Of Brokeback Mountain

November 4, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

With Nightcrawler hitting cinemas last week, Jake Gyllenhaal sat down with Huffpo and took the opportunity to look back at one of the most important films of his career – Brokeback Mountain.

He considers its place both in his own filmography and its more general legacy. The ‘gay cowboy’ film follows Gyllenhaal’s Jack Twist and Heath Ledger’s Ennis Del Mar, from their meeting while looking after sheep on the titular Brokeback Mountain, through their love affair over the next 30 years.

Gyllenhaal notes, “It was at the time, culturally, it gave me the idea that movies can be important. That they do have some sort of political value…it’s become something beyond what any of us could have imagined.”

He adds, ‘”It’s a beautiful story and it was very successful in many different ways and so that’s what brought a lot of the attention… It’s one of those films that’s no longer mine – it’s sort of everyone’s.”

You can take a look at what Jake had to say below. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger DIRECTORS: Ang Lee FILMS: Brokeback Mountain

Ang Lee To Direct Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

September 20, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Ever since Life Of Pi there have been various rumours and reports about what Ang Lee might direct next, but there’s been nothing that seemed particularly certain. However now it appears he’s found what he wants to do, as Deadline reports he’s signed up to helm Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, based on Ben Fountain’s novel.

Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) wrote the script, which ‘tells the funny and heartbreaking story of 19-year-old soldier Billy Lynn and his squad, who survive an Iraq battle that is captured by embedded news cameras, causing them to become celebrated as heroes. They are brought home by the US administration for a promotional tour that culminates at the halftime show of a Thanksgiving Day football game in Texas, before they are returned to the war. Almost the entire movie takes place during the game, with flashes away to other events.’

Ang Lee comments, “I am very excited to be going back to work and to be collaborating with my old friend Tom Rothman. The most important thing to me is storytelling and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk is a story that immediately gripped me. I look forward to starting the creative process with this extraordinary team of collaborators.”

It’s not clear when it will shoot.

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DIRECTORS: Ang Lee

Ang Lee Plans An Epic 3D Boxing Movie Set During The 60s & 70s

August 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

After the success of The Life Of Pi – a film many thought would never find an audience, but scored four Oscars and over $600 million at the worldwide box office – Ang Lee is in the enviable position of being able to make pretty much any movie he wants. Now it seems he decided what he wants to concentrate on, with Deadline reporting Lee has set up a 3D movie about boxing at Universal.

The film will apparently be ‘an epic look at the boxing world of the 1960s and 1970s, as seen through the prism of its biggest rivalries and greatest fights. That will include the showdown between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali that was called the Thrilla In Manila.’

It not clear exactly how the movie will work, such as whether it will be an ensemble piece about various fighters, or if will follow a single character who somehow gets involved in the fight world. Whatever it is, the director plans to shoot the whole thing in 3D, hopefully bringing the style and visual panache that made Life Of Pi such as hit in three-dimensions.

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DIRECTORS: Ang Lee