- Monte Carlo (2011 film)
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Theatrical release posterDirected by Thomas Bezucha Produced by Nicole Kidman
Denise Di Novi
Arnon Milchan
Alison GreenspanScreenplay by Thomas Bezucha
April Blair
Maria MaggentiStory by Kelly Bowe Based on Headhunters (novel) by
Jules BassStarring Selena Gomez
Leighton Meester
Katie Cassidy
Catherine Tate
Pierre Boulanger
Andie MacDowell
Cory MonteithMusic by Michael Giacchino Cinematography Jonathan Brown Editing by Jeffrey Ford Studio Di Novi Pictures
Regency EnterprisesDistributed by Fox 2000 Pictures Release date(s) July 1, 2011 Running time 109 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $20 million[1] Box office $37,918,293 (Worldwide)[2] Monte Carlo is a 2011 American romantic comedy film directed by Thomas Bezucha. Nicole Kidman, Denise Di Novi, Arnon Milchan and Alison Greenspan produced the film for Fox 2000 Pictures and Regency Enterprises. It began production in Budapest, Hungary on May 5, 2010.
Monte Carlo stars Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy as three friends posing as wealthy socialites in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The film was released on July 1, 2011. It features the song "Who Says" by Selena Gomez & the Scene.
Contents
Plot
A young woman, her uptight stepsister, and her best friend use their savings for a long-anticipated dream trip to Paris, which turns out to be a big disappointment. When the tour bus leaves them behind they duck into the lobby of a luxury hotel and one of them is mistaken for a cruel and controversial British heiress. Before they get the chance to reveal their true identities, they are wrapped up in misadventures during a vacation to Monte Carlo instead.
Cast
- Selena Gomez as Grace Bennett/ Cordelia Winthrop-Scott
- Leighton Meester as Meg Kelly Bennett
- Katie Cassidy as Emma Danielle Perkins[3]
- Pierre Boulanger as Theo Marchand[4]
- Catherine Tate as Aunt Alicia
- Luke Bracey as Riley[3]
- Cory Monteith as Owen[5]
- Andie MacDowell as Pamela Bennett[6]
- Brett Cullen as Robert Bennett[3]
- Grace Holland as Selena Gomez's body double[7]
Production
Monte Carlo is loosely based on the novel Headhunters by Jules Bass. The novel tells the story of four middle-aged Texas women who pretend to be wealthy heiresses while searching for rich potential husbands in Monte Carlo. There, they meet four gigolos posing as wealthy playboys. Fox bought the film rights to the novel in 1999, three years prior to the novel's publication.[8] In 2005, Hollywood trade magazine Variety announced that siblings Jez and John Henry Butterworth would be writing the script. It also reported that actress Nicole Kidman had signed on to play the lead as well as produce the film with Rick Schwartz.[8]
The Butterworths were later fired and Tom Bezucha was hired to direct and co-write Monte Carlo. Bezucha and Maria Maggenti turned in a draft of the screenplay by July 2007; it starred Kidman as "one of three Midwestern schoolteachers who decide to ditch a disappointing no-frills holiday in Paris and pose as wealthy women vacationing in Monaco".[9] However, in 2010, executives had the film rewritten again after deciding that the film should be made more youthful. The updated script was co-written by Bezucha and April Blair, and changed the three school teachers to two college students and a recent high-school graduate.[10] Monte Carlo was shot in Budapest, Hungary, Paris, France, and Monte Carlo, Monaco.[9] It began filming in Budapest on May 5, 2010, and wrapped on July 7, 2010.[11] It is the first film to use the film studio, Raleigh Studios Budapest.[12]
Casting
In March 2010, it was announced that Selena Gomez had been cast as one of the film's leads following the script's rewrite.[13] For the role, Gomez spent several weeks learning to play polo, and practicing how to fake an English accent.[11] Leighton Meester also negotiated a deal to one of the leads in March, and Katie Cassidy was cast as Emma in April.[6] French actor Pierre Boulanger is making his English-speaking feature debut.[4]
Reception
Monte Carlo has received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 39% rotten with 24 out of 62 reviews being positive, as well as a 43 metascore at Metacritic. Ben Sachs of Chicago Reader claimed that "the movie hits a surprising range of emotional grace notes, including several moments of genuine regret, and concludes with an understated moral lesson about the value of self-respect over social status." Sandie Chen of Common Sense Media said the film was "silly but sweet".
Monte Carlo opened to $15.8 million on its' debut Friday, ranking at #1 for the day. It would go on to gross $7.5 million for the three-day weekend and $30 million for the 4-day 4 July holiday, ranking sixth.
Accolades
Award Category Recipient(s) Result 2011 Teen Choice Awards[14] Choice Summer Movie Nominated Choice Summer Movie Star – Male Cory Monteith Nominated Choice Summer Movie Star – Female Selena Gomez Nominated Home media
Fox Home Entertainment released Monte Carlo on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on October 18, 2011. The DVD extras will include deleted scenes, a feature titled "Ding Dang Delicious: The Boys of Monte Carlo", a "Backstage Pass" and a theatrical trailer. The Blu-ray Disc will feature all the DVD features plus the addition of "Monte Carlo Couture", "Jet Setter's Dream", "Gossip With the Girls" and a digital copy of the film.[15]
References
- ^ Kaufman, Amy; Fritz, Ben (2011-06-30). "Movie Projector: 'Transformers' will detonate competition at holiday box office". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/06/movie-projector-transformers-will-detonate-holiday-boxoffice.html. Retrieved 2011-07-2.
- ^ http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=montecarlo.htm
- ^ a b c "Katie Cassidy’s ‘Monte Carlo’ Boyfriend Found: French Actor Pierre Boulanger»Hollywood Crush". HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. 2010-04-26. http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/?p=33722. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ a b McClintock, Pamela (2010-04-26). "French actor makes English debut". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018295.html. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ "‘Glee’ Star Cory Monteith Giddy About His ‘Monte Carlo’ Movie Role: Love Interest To Selena Gomez » Hollywood Crush". HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. 2010-04-14. http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2010/04/14/cory-monteith-monte-carlo. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ a b Kit, Borys (2010-04-09). "Two teens plan trip to Monaco". The Hollywood Reporter: pp. 1, 13. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i8351d327c2b5b41eaae88e5c016a2123. Retrieved 2010-05-10.[dead link]
- ^ "Selena Gomez Describes Her ‘Monte Carlo’ Character, Is ‘Thrilled’ To Star With Leighton Meester » Hollywood Crush". HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. 2010-03-30. http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2010/04/01/selena-gomez-monte-carlo. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ a b Mohr, Ian (2005-09-25). "'Head' games at Fox 2000". Variety.com. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117929656.html. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ a b Fleming, Michael (2007-07-09). "Kidman to star in 'Monte Carlo'". Variety.com. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968258.html. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
- ^ McClintock, Pamela (2010-03-03). "Fox, New Regency head to 'Monte Carlo'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016027.html.
- ^ a b "Note from Selena!". SelenaGomez.com. 05-06-2010. http://selenagomez.com/news/note-selena. Retrieved 05-07-2010.
- ^ (2010-05-07). "Hollywood style film studio opens in Budapest". Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ Nadine Cheung (March 4, 2010). "Selena Gomez set for 'Monte Carlo'". http://www.jsyk.com/2010/03/04/selena-gomez-to-star-in-new-movie-monte-carlo. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ Ng, Philiana (2011-07-19). "Teen Choice Awards 2011: 'Pretty Little Liars', Rebecca Black Added to List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. http://www.webcitation.org/60UVrjVi4. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ "Monte Carlo – DVDActive/News". DVDActive.com. 2011-08-11. http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/monte-carlo.html. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
External links
Categories:- 2011 films
- American films
- English-language films
- 20th Century Fox films
- American romantic comedy films
- Films set in Monaco
- Films shot in Budapest
- Films shot in Hungary
- Regency Enterprises films
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