The Lost City of Z (film)

The Lost City of Z
Directed by James Gray
Produced by
Screenplay by James Gray
Based on The Lost City of Z
by David Grann
Starring
Music by Christopher Spelman
Cinematography Darius Khondji
Edited by John Axelrad
Production
company
Distributed by
Release dates
  • October 15, 2016 (2016-10-15) (NYFF)
  • April 21, 2017 (2017-04-21) (United States)
Running time
140 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The Lost City of Z is an upcoming American action adventure biographical film, written and directed by James Gray, based on the 2009 book of the same name by David Grann.[1] It describes real events, about British explorer Percy Fawcett who made several attempts to find an ancient lost city in the Amazon and finally disappeared in 1925 along with his son in the search for the city.[2] It stars Charlie Hunnam as Fawcett[3] along with Robert Pattinson as his fellow explorer Henry Costin and Sienna Miller as his wife Nina Fawcett.[4]

The film had its world premiere as closing night film on October 15, 2016, at the New York Film Festival.[5] The film is scheduled to be released on April 21, 2017, by Amazon Studios and Bleecker Street.[6]

Plot

Explorers search for a British Colonel who disappeared trying to find a legendary City of Z, in the region of Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, the Pantanal of Brazil, during in 1925.

Cast

Production

Development

"David Lean but with a "slightly more hallucinogenic feel. Because [the protagonist] went to the jungle and sorta went mad."

James Gray, director of The Lost City of Z, on the film.[11]

Originally James Gray was hired by Paramount Pictures and Plan B Entertainment to write and direct the film based on David Grann's 2009 book in February 2009 but the film remained in development stage for six years. In a 2015 interview with Indiewire, Gray admitted that he had developed the script for a while before moving towards production.[12] He explained that "(it's) very complicated production and the story is amazing, but it's a complicated story. And you want to get it right. It's a very, very scary proposition to go into the jungle and all that. But at the same time it's terrific. It's why you make movies."[12]

Casting

The project went through numerous casting changes for the lead role. Initially Brad Pitt was to star as Colonel Percy Fawcett, additionally providing production duties through his Plan B Entertainment.[13][14] In November 2010, Pitt withdrew from the lead role due to scheduling conflicts, but remained attached as the producer to the film.[15] On September 4, 2013, Benedict Cumberbatch came on board to portray Fawcett,[16] along with Robert Pattinson, who also joined the cast as fellow explorer Henry Costin.[17][18]

In February 2015, Cumberbatch also dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts, and was replaced by Charlie Hunnam, while Sienna Miller also joined the cast as Nina Fawcett.[19][20]

Filming

Principal photography began on August 19, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland and continued for five weeks through late September 2015.[21][22] After that, filming moved to Santa Marta, Colombia, South America and continued through September and October 2015.[23][24] On August 28, 2015 filming took place at Greyabbey Village and Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.[25] Hunnam and Miller filmed scenes at Ballintoy County Antrim on August 31, 2015.[26][27] Filming took place at Craigavon House, East Belfast on September 2, 2015.[28] Hunnam, Pattinson, Miller and Macfadyen shot scenes at Methodist College Belfast on September 3, 2015.[29] On September 7, 2015, scenes were filmed at Belfast City Hall and on the grounds of Royal Belfast Academical Institution.[30] Scenes also shot at Bangor Castle Leisure Centre on September 13, 2015.[31]

Release

The film will close down the 54th New York Film Festival on October 15, 2016.[7] Prior to, StudioCanal acquired international distribution rights to the film.[32] Amazon Studios acquired U.S distribution rights to the film.[33] Bleecker Street is partnering with Amazon on the film's theatrical release.[34] The film is scheduled to be released on April 21, 2017.[6]

Reception

The Lost City of Z has received critical acclaim from film critics. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 90%, based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10.[35] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 79 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "Generally favorable reviews."[36]

Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "a rare piece of contemporary classical cinema".[37] Dan Callahan in his review for The Wrap said that "The Lost City of Z feels like a clear artistic advance for Gray, who proves himself here as one of our finest and most distinctive living filmmakers."[38] While, Owen Gleiberman, writing for Variety called the film "a finely crafted, elegantly shot, sharply sincere movie that is more absorbing than powerful."[39]

References

  1. Fleming, Michael (December 9, 2009). "James Gray, Brad Pitt find 'Lost City'". Variety. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  2. Biello, David. (August 28, 2008). "Ancient Amazon Actually Highly Urbanized." Scientific American.
  3. "Berlin: Charlie Hunnam Joins 'Lost City of Z'". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  4. "Sienna Miller Joins James Gray's 'Lost City Of Z,' Shooting May Happen Summer 2015". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  5. "New York Film Festival Announces James Gray's 'The Lost City of Z' As Closing Night Selection". Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Nordine, Michael (September 1, 2016). "Amazon Studios Acquires James Gray's Rainforest Drama 'The Lost City of Z' Starring Charlie Hunnam". Indiewire.com. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Gregg Kilday (August 3, 2016). "James Gray's 'The Lost City of Z' to Close New York Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  8. "New 'Spider-Man' Tom Holland Joins Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson in 'Lost City of Z'". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  9. "'Lost City Of Z' Adds 'Turn's Angus Macfadyen". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  10. "'In the Heart of the Sea' Actor Edward Ashley Joins Charlie Hunnam in 'Lost City of Z' (Exclusive)". Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  11. "James Gray May Direct Jeremy Renner's Steve McQueen Biopic; Calls 'Lost City Of Z' Epic & Hallucinogenic". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Interview: James Gray Talks 'The Immigrant,' Diving Into TV With 'Red Road,' And His Own Favorite Films". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  13. "James Gray, Brad Pitt find 'Lost City'". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  14. "James Gray To Direct Brad Pitt in The Lost City of Z". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  15. "Brad Pitt no longer starring in 'Lost City of Z.' Who should take his place?". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  16. "Benedict Cumberbatch in Negotiations to Star in James Gray's THE LOST CITY OF Z". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  17. "Robert Pattinson Joins Benedict Cumberbatch in James Gray's 'Lost City of Z'". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  18. "Robert Pattinson is so much more than Twilight, and his new film The Rover will prove it". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  19. "Charlie Hunnam Will Run Around the Amazon With Robert Pattinson in Lost City of Z". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  20. "Charlie Hunnam Replaces Benedict Cumberbatch in 'Lost City of Z'". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  21. "New Spider-Man Star Tom Holland Joins Charlie Hunnam in 'Lost City of Z'". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  22. "Tom Holland Joins 'Lost City Of Z'; ARC Acquires 'Garm Wars' From 'Ghost In The Shell' Helmer". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  23. "James Gray's 'The Lost City Of Z' Starts Shooting, Marvel's Spider-Man Tom Holland Joins The Cast". Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  24. "Next Gen 2015: New Spider-Man Tom Holland on Jake Gyllenhaal, David Ayer and Why He Won't Leave London". Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  25. "Brad Pitt sets pulses racing in sleepy Greyabbey village as filming picks up pace". Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  26. "Charlie Hunnam films on set in Co Antrim". Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  27. "Hollywood 'A' listers filming in Ballintoy". Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  28. "Brad Pitt movie The Lost City Of Z shoots scenes in East Belfast". Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  29. "Sienna Miller wraps new red locks beneath questionable pink hairnet as she joins Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson on The Lost City of Z set in Northern Ireland". Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  30. "City Hall takes starring role in Brad Pitt film The Lost City of Z amid speculation star expected in Northern Ireland this week". Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  31. "Bangor to become another Movie Destination - The Lost City of Z". Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  32. Keslassy, Elsa (March 16, 2016). "Studiocanal Acquires Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson's 'Lost City of Z' for Multiple Territories (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  33. Busch, Anita (September 1, 2016). "Amazon Negotiating To Acquire Rights To 'Lost City Of Z'". Deadline.com. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  34. Siegel, Tatiana (September 9, 2016). "Toronto: Charlie Hunnam Drama 'The Lost City of Z' Lands at Bleecker Street (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  35. "THE LOST CITY OF Z (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  36. "The Lost City of Z reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  37. Todd McCarthy (October 15, 2016). "'The Lost City of Z': NYFF Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  38. "'The Lost City of Z' NYFF Review: Charlie Hunnam Explores the Amazon in Stirring Saga". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  39. "New York Film Review: 'The Lost City of Z'". Retrieved October 16, 2016.

External links

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