Filed in Faults Film Reviews Movies

First Reviews for Faults

Tonight marked the premiere of Mary’s new film Faults which debuted at the SXSW Festival in Austin, TX. Lots of people took to their Twitter accounts and loved it! While I will post some of those reactions, first up is a review from Indiewire. Click on the link to read the full review:

Much of the odd comedic formula emerges from a pair of carefully orchestrated lead performances: Character actor Leland Orser delivers a fascinatingly offbeat turn as downtrodden author Ansel Roth, an expert in deprogramming brainwashed cult members, while Stearns’ wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays the young woman he’s hired to deprogram. Delivering an icy, cryptic performance that ranks among her best — and exists a world apart from her role as a messy alcoholic in “Smashed — Winstead’s frequently inscrutable expression epitomizes this unique movie’s enigmatic appeal.

Twitter reactions:

Scott Menzel

If you are at #SXSW, do yourself a favor and see #faults. The film is really something special and different. @RileyStearns@M_E_Winstead

Peter S. Hall
FAULTS is real good. Leland Orser and Mary Elizabeth Winstead are stellar. Riley Stearns has a real command of tone and dark human delights.

DanielRester

@M_E_Winstead@LelandOrser Great work in #faults. One of the best at #SXSW so far. @WeLiveFilm

This is just the beginning, so keep checking back for more reviews and updates!

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Filed in Faults Interviews

Mary Talks ‘Faults’ in New Interview

Examiner recently caught up with Mary to talk about her new cult film, Faults. As always, click on the link to read the interview in full. I’ve posted some highlights below:

Tell us about your role in Faults.

I play Claire, a young woman who has been indoctrinated into a cult. When her parents hire someone to kidnap and deprogram her, we learn a lot of things about her that I’d rather not give away!

What was the most challenging aspect of working on this film?

I think the character was incredibly challenging for me. She has so much going on inside of her, but doesn’t show any of it. On top of that, I knew that Riley wanted it sort of dead pan and underplayed and I wanted to hit that style he was going for, while at the same time hint at the emotions trying to get out underneath. Not an easy one!

Tell us about working with director Riley Stearns. What was that process like?

It was horrible and I refuse to work with him again.

Truthfully, it was pretty awesome. We are married, and were warned by many people that working together might put a strain on our relationship, but it was really the opposite. We know each other so well that we always know what the other is thinking and going for, and so it makes for a pretty easy going working environment. I’m forcing him to write a role for me in everything he does from now on.

What new projects do have coming up that you can mention?

I have a couple other films coming out this year: Alex of Venice, which will premiere at Tribeca next month, and Kill the Messenger with Jeremy Renner that will come out later this year. Very excited about both of those projects and currently reading and looking for the next project to jump into.

Mary is at SXSW for the next few days premiering the film, so check back often for tons of new updates & pics!

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Filed in Alex of Venice Movies

Mary’s New Film to Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival

The previously untitled Chris Messina project that Mary worked on last summer, now titled Alex of Venice will be premiering at the 13th annual Tribeca Film Festival.

The film is described as follows:

Workaholic environmental attorney Alex (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has always relied on her husband George (Chris Messina) to take the reins at home. But when he unexpectedly asks for a break, his departure forces Alex to reevaluate her life as she juggles the care of her son and needs of an aspiring-actor father (Don Johnson), all amid the most important case of her life. Actor Chris Messina steps behind the camera for his directorial debut about a woman pushed to the edge who finds the strength to press on.

The Festival will take place from April 16th to April 27th in New York City.

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Filed in Kill the Messenger Movies

Kill the Messenger Gets Release Date

Focus Features has announced that Jeremy Renner’s latest film Kill the Messenger will hit theaters in limited markets October 10th with expansions on Oct. 17 and 24.

In the film, Jeremy Renner stars as Gary Webb, the Pulitzer-winner journalist who uncovered a CIA link to coke trafficking in the U.S. as a way to funnel money to the Nicaraguan Contras. Webb was subsequently discredited by a smear campaign which ruined him and he eventually committed suicide. Michael Cuesta directed the pic written by Peter Landesman. The cast includes Ray Liotta, Barry Pepper, Josh Close, Rosemarie DeWitt, Andy Garcia, Lucas Hedges, Tim Blake Nelson, Robert Patrick, Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen, Paz Vega, Michael Kenneth Williams and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Focus picked up worldwide rights ahead of the 2013 Berlin Film Festival.

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Filed in Faults Interviews Movies

Full Faults Screening Schedule Released; Mary to Attend Paste Mag’s SXSW Party

The full screening schedule for Mary’s new film Faults has been released and the film will be playing at the following dates/times:

* March 9, 2014: The film debuts at 6:45 at the Stateside Theatre.

* Monday, March 10
2:00PM – 3:33PM
SXSatellite: Alamo Slaughter

* Wednesday, March 12
9:30PM – 11:03PM
SXSatellite: Alamo Village

* Thursday, March 13
9:30PM – 11:03PM
Topfer Theatre at ZACH

Also, Mary will be attending a Paste interactive party during South By Southwest, which will feature interviews with Pete Holmes, Todd Barry, Mark Duplass, Alia Shawkat, Josh Lucas, Mickey Sumner, Jason Ritter, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher and many more. The event will be held at Austin’s Swan Dive, located at 615 Red River St., on March 9 and 10. All interviews during the event will be recorded for the new Paste podcast.

 

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Filed in Faults

FAULTS Screening Schedule Released

The SXSW screening schedule for FAULTS has been released. Mary and her husband, who directed the film, will be at all four screenings. The film’s debut will be March 9 and will debut at 6:45 at the Stateside Theatre. Additional showings will run March 10, 12, and 13.

Head to the SXSW page to check out additional info.

The SXSW Festival runs from March 7-16 in Austin, TX.

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Filed in Faults Gallery Updates Movies

Faults to Premiere at the SXSW Festival; First Still Released!

Huge congrats are in order as Mary’s new film FAULTS, which is directed by her husband Riley Stearns, will make its official debut at the SXSW Festival. The full description is as follows:

Claire is under the grip of a mysterious cult. Desperate to be reunited with their daughter, Claire’s parents set out to recruit Ansel Roth, one of the world’s foremost authorities on mind control. But Ansel’s specialty, deprogramming cult members and returning them to their families, is not an exact science. Now, even his own book publisher is looking to break his legs. Ansel kidnaps Claire, who reveals herself to be a formidable challenge; her belief is unshakeable and her logic is undeniable. A battle of wits develops between the two as they delve deeper and deeper into each others minds.

The Festival will run from March 7-15 in Austin, TX.

The first still has also been released which you can now view in the gallery.

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