Upcoming winter films show plenty of promise
This winter season features a multitude of films, some of the most anticipated written by USC alumni. Whether the chilly December or January nights call for a heartwarming tale or a sci-fi thriller, these upcoming movies will serve as the perfect companion for winter.
In the limelight · Amy Adams stars in Big Eyes, an upcoming film written by USC alumni Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. – Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company
Search Party, a film written by USC alumnus Andrew Waller and his high school friend, Mike Gagerman and director Scot Armstrong, tells the classic story of a night gone wrong. The movie follows Daniel “Nardo” Narducci, played by Thomas Middleditch, after he ends up in solely gold leggings shivering in the Mexican desert as a result of a carjacking. This happens just 24 hours after he is left at the altar by his soulmate after his best friends Jason (T.J. Miller) and Evan (Adam Pally) scared her off. Jason and Evan are then the only ones able to find their lost friend and they embark on a journey to do just that.
“There’s dangers of the road trip, fun times of the road trip, the dangers of the Indian casino, Tijuana … there’s sort of a lot to enjoy for the college students,” Waller said.
Search Party also features well-known actresses such as Alison Brie, who plays Annie Edison in Community, and Krysten Ritter. The film is directed by Scot Armstrong, writer of The Hangover Part II, which creates an assemblage of hysterical writers, actors and director that will provide audiences their biggest laughs of the winter.
Waller credits USC as being an important foundation for building a network of fellow writers. “I met a lot of great people that I still work with and interact with. It’s a great school, and I really enjoyed the people in my class,” he said.
USC alumni Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski have also grown since their freshman days in Marks Tower. Storming the entertainment industry, the duo’s new film Big Eyes will be released in theaters this Christmas. The film follows the true story of Margaret Keane and her success in drawing big-eyed children. In the upcoming feature, Amy Adams plays Margaret, a successful artist in the 1950s whose husband, Walter Keane portrayed by Christoph Waltz, claims credit for her work and becomes a national celebrity. The impact this lie has on their marriage and the stage it set for their dramatic court battle is the central conflict of Big Eyes.
Similar to Waller, Alexander made his first career moves at USC and looks forward to having his movie screen at Norris Cinema Theatre on campus this coming week.
“I met my writing partner first day of freshman dorms. We were roommates. My movies can play for younger audiences or older audiences, but I’m curious to see how it’ll go with an all-young audience,” Alexander said.
Resembling Search Party in its fast-paced, adventure-themed plot line and Big Eyes’ emotionally stirring concept, Max is a family-friendly, adventure film that will be released this winter. It features Max, a bomb-sniffing military dog, who returns from service in Afghanistan with the painful memory of his handler’s death. In a heart-wrenching twist, he is adopted by the handler’s family, who live in Texas, and gives them support to cope with the trauma of death. The film was written by Sheldon Lettich and director Boaz Yakin , who spent nearly four years in the U.S. Marine Corps after his high school graduation. He went on to attend the American Film Institute’s Center for Advanced Film Studies as a Cinematography Fellow. Lettich has a background in writing well-received war movies, such as his co-authored Cold War drama Russkies (1987), which set the stage for Joaquin Phoenix’s success in acting.
“It’s a hero dog movie. It’s like Old Yeller. I can’t remember last time when there was a dog movie like this,” Lettich said. “We had a test screening a couple weeks ago, and it just went through the roof. Audiences went crazy over it. I’m really excited because my co-writer, also the director, pretty much made the movie that we wrote. There was no interference at all. It’s the movie we wanted to make.“
Max, in theaters on Jan. 30, 2015, has a star-studded cast, including Lauren Graham, Robbie Amell and Thomas Haden Church.
These are just three promising films to look out for in the winter season, but there are more than a dozen to pick from and enjoy during a relaxing Christmas break.