The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
02-04-14, 07:14 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
Fresh off his first Oscar nomination for his devastating performance in “Dallas Buyers Club,” Matthew McConaughey has signed on to star opposite Ken Watanabe in Gus Van Sant’s drama “Sea of Trees,” an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.
Chris Sparling (“Buried”) wrote the script, which was voted to the 2013 Black List.
Story follows an American man (McConaughey) who takes a journey into the infamous “Suicide Forest” at the foothills of Mount Fuji with the intention of taking his own life. When he is interrupted by a Japanese man (Watanabe) who has had second thoughts about his own suicide, and is trying to find his way out of the forest, the two begin a journey of reflection and survival.
Gil Netter (“Life of Pi”) is producing the movie, which is gearing up to start production shortly.
Both McConaughey and Watanabe are veterans of Christopher Nolan movies, as the former recently wrapped “Interstellar,” while the latter actor co-starred in “Inception.” Neither has worked with Van Sant before.
“Sea of Trees” will serve as Van Sant’s next film, as he last directed the Matt Damon-John Krasinski drama “Promised Land.”
McConaughey, who is currently earning rave reviews for his turn in HBO’s “True Detective,” can also be seen as hotshot stockbroker Mark Hanna in Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street.” The actor, who recently won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for “Dallas Buyers Club,” is represented by CAA.
Chris Sparling (“Buried”) wrote the script, which was voted to the 2013 Black List.
Story follows an American man (McConaughey) who takes a journey into the infamous “Suicide Forest” at the foothills of Mount Fuji with the intention of taking his own life. When he is interrupted by a Japanese man (Watanabe) who has had second thoughts about his own suicide, and is trying to find his way out of the forest, the two begin a journey of reflection and survival.
Gil Netter (“Life of Pi”) is producing the movie, which is gearing up to start production shortly.
Both McConaughey and Watanabe are veterans of Christopher Nolan movies, as the former recently wrapped “Interstellar,” while the latter actor co-starred in “Inception.” Neither has worked with Van Sant before.
“Sea of Trees” will serve as Van Sant’s next film, as he last directed the Matt Damon-John Krasinski drama “Promised Land.”
McConaughey, who is currently earning rave reviews for his turn in HBO’s “True Detective,” can also be seen as hotshot stockbroker Mark Hanna in Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street.” The actor, who recently won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for “Dallas Buyers Club,” is represented by CAA.
02-04-14, 07:36 PM
#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
I've read about that forest. Called Aokighara Jukai. Google it and you can see some pretty ghastly images.
02-04-14, 08:57 PM
#4
DVD Talk Hero
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
Story follows an American man (McConaughey) who takes a journey into the infamous “Suicide Forest” at the foothills of Mount Fuji with the intention of taking his own life. When he is interrupted by a Japanese man (Watanabe) who has had second thoughts about his own suicide, and is trying to find his way out of the forest, the two begin a journey of reflection and survival.
02-04-14, 09:16 PM
#5
Banned by request
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
This sounds amazing. I've been obsessed with that forest for years. A friend of mine went and said it was actually pretty disappointing, outside of some signs that implored people not to take their own lives.
02-05-14, 01:35 AM
#7
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
Matthew McConaughey's filmography from the past 3 years is better than the first 19 years of his career.
06-04-14, 11:44 AM
#8
Moderator
Thread Starter
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
This article is a few weeks old, but it seems Naomi Watts has joined the cast.
New info about the project as well.
New info about the project as well.
CANNES – Naomi Watts is in talks to star in Gus Van Sant's Japan-set drama, Sea of Trees.
The news that Van Sant is planning to cast the Diana star came from the director himself, who showed up at the Cannes Film Festival Thursday with Matthew McConaughey, star of the film, to tout the project to foreign buyers. Sea of Trees, with a budget of $25 million to $28 million, is one of the biggest titles being shopped at the market this year.
Sea of Trees is the first title from Bloom, the new sales company launched May 13 by veteran foreign sales agent Alex Walton and Ken Kao. Bloom sought to further elevate the project's profile by flying in Van Sant and McConaughey (the actor arrived Wednesday night from Los Angeles, and will depart Friday).
McConaughey, fresh off his Oscar win for Dallas Buyers Club and who is next in theaters in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, said the script for Sea of Trees was the best he's read in five years. He'll play an American who travels to Japan's famous "Suicide Forest" with the intention of taking his own life. Instead, he decides to help a Japanese man (Ken Watanabe) who has become lost, and the duo set off on a reflective, and sometimes dangerous, journey to find their way out.
"It's like [reading] a whole bunch of haikus back-to-back," McConaughey said. "I got the chills, which doesn't usually happen. And with Gus, I thought it was the perfect match."
Watts would play the wife of McConaughey's character. Their marriage is told through a series of flashbacks, Van Sant said.
"There are many different relationships in the film," the director said. "I can only hope that it will look fantastic."
Sea of Trees is McConaughey's next movie and begins production in July or August. Van Sant would like to shoot in Japan. If not, he's eyeing the Pacific Northwest (Van Sant lives in Portland).
Van Sant said he received Chris Sparling's script from producer Gil Netter (Life of Pi). CAA and WME arranged financing and are co-repping U.S. rights. Kao, heir to the Garmin fortune, is producing and financing Sea of Trees through his Waypoint Entertainment.
McConaughey gave foreign buyers a history lesson on the Suicide Forest, which lies at the foot of Mt. Fuji. "If you go online and look for the perfect place to die, this is the place that comes up. There are even signs that say, 'remember, you leave a family behind.'"
The actor said he is preparing for Sea of Trees by contemplating "the metaphors" provided by the script, and that the character's "visitation with death actually gives him life."
Watts, who received an Oscar nomination for 2012’s The Impossible, has three films in post-production: Noah Baumbach's While We're Young, comedy St. Vincent De Van Nuys and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman. She’s repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment.
The news that Van Sant is planning to cast the Diana star came from the director himself, who showed up at the Cannes Film Festival Thursday with Matthew McConaughey, star of the film, to tout the project to foreign buyers. Sea of Trees, with a budget of $25 million to $28 million, is one of the biggest titles being shopped at the market this year.
Sea of Trees is the first title from Bloom, the new sales company launched May 13 by veteran foreign sales agent Alex Walton and Ken Kao. Bloom sought to further elevate the project's profile by flying in Van Sant and McConaughey (the actor arrived Wednesday night from Los Angeles, and will depart Friday).
McConaughey, fresh off his Oscar win for Dallas Buyers Club and who is next in theaters in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, said the script for Sea of Trees was the best he's read in five years. He'll play an American who travels to Japan's famous "Suicide Forest" with the intention of taking his own life. Instead, he decides to help a Japanese man (Ken Watanabe) who has become lost, and the duo set off on a reflective, and sometimes dangerous, journey to find their way out.
"It's like [reading] a whole bunch of haikus back-to-back," McConaughey said. "I got the chills, which doesn't usually happen. And with Gus, I thought it was the perfect match."
Watts would play the wife of McConaughey's character. Their marriage is told through a series of flashbacks, Van Sant said.
"There are many different relationships in the film," the director said. "I can only hope that it will look fantastic."
Sea of Trees is McConaughey's next movie and begins production in July or August. Van Sant would like to shoot in Japan. If not, he's eyeing the Pacific Northwest (Van Sant lives in Portland).
Van Sant said he received Chris Sparling's script from producer Gil Netter (Life of Pi). CAA and WME arranged financing and are co-repping U.S. rights. Kao, heir to the Garmin fortune, is producing and financing Sea of Trees through his Waypoint Entertainment.
McConaughey gave foreign buyers a history lesson on the Suicide Forest, which lies at the foot of Mt. Fuji. "If you go online and look for the perfect place to die, this is the place that comes up. There are even signs that say, 'remember, you leave a family behind.'"
The actor said he is preparing for Sea of Trees by contemplating "the metaphors" provided by the script, and that the character's "visitation with death actually gives him life."
Watts, who received an Oscar nomination for 2012’s The Impossible, has three films in post-production: Noah Baumbach's While We're Young, comedy St. Vincent De Van Nuys and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman. She’s repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment.
09-12-14, 04:24 PM
#9
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re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
09-12-14, 05:16 PM
#10
DVD Talk Hero
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
This is one of my most anticipated upcoming films. Oscar potential all around. Gus Van Sant has left me disappointed more times than not but I have faith that he'll create a wonderful movie this time out.
05-13-15, 08:58 AM
#11
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Thread Starter
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YvDsX2uuNW0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
05-16-15, 08:07 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
Yikes.
Former Palme d’Or winner Gus Van Sant’s Cannes competition entry, Sea Of Trees starring Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Watts, had the first of two press screenings tonight in advance of its red carpet premiere Saturday night – and it got audibly booed during the end credits by one portion of the audience.
In its 68 years, the Cannes Film Festival has a long history of audiences booing after a film some may not have thought is up to their “standards”. Of course it’s rude, but in my experience in 15 years of covering this festival, it has never occurred during an actual black tie premiere with the filmmakers and cast present. Never. Even for the worst films imaginable they usually stand and applaud politely. Press screenings, however, like the first one tonight for Sea Of Trees, can be a different animal altogether, but in the several I have been to this year so far, there’s been little audible reaction of any kind – pro or con to the films in the competition. Until now.
Sea Of Trees, which as Deadline exclusively reported was picked up for domestic distribution by Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions, seemed to be politely received during its entire running time. The boos (not sure from who or where – certainly not my section) came afterwards, giving critics here, many of whom follow the pack, license to kill and it’s already begun with some unmerciful pans from trades and tweets. With the Internet, it can just be deadly. I totally disagree and was moved by the film, so I am thankful there was no rude outburst during it to ruin it for me. People sat intently throughout the nearly two-hour running time and there were no walkouts that I noticed. Walkouts are a sure sign a film is in trouble with this crowd, so I have to admit I was surprised by the boos at the end. There is a jury box at these press screenings so it is entirely possible that members of the jury were present. The booers might be trying to influence that small group too. I hope not.
http://deadline.com/2015/05/cannes-c...es-1201427858/
twitter critical reaction, spoiler for length and vitriol...
Former Palme d’Or winner Gus Van Sant’s Cannes competition entry, Sea Of Trees starring Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Watts, had the first of two press screenings tonight in advance of its red carpet premiere Saturday night – and it got audibly booed during the end credits by one portion of the audience.
In its 68 years, the Cannes Film Festival has a long history of audiences booing after a film some may not have thought is up to their “standards”. Of course it’s rude, but in my experience in 15 years of covering this festival, it has never occurred during an actual black tie premiere with the filmmakers and cast present. Never. Even for the worst films imaginable they usually stand and applaud politely. Press screenings, however, like the first one tonight for Sea Of Trees, can be a different animal altogether, but in the several I have been to this year so far, there’s been little audible reaction of any kind – pro or con to the films in the competition. Until now.
Sea Of Trees, which as Deadline exclusively reported was picked up for domestic distribution by Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions, seemed to be politely received during its entire running time. The boos (not sure from who or where – certainly not my section) came afterwards, giving critics here, many of whom follow the pack, license to kill and it’s already begun with some unmerciful pans from trades and tweets. With the Internet, it can just be deadly. I totally disagree and was moved by the film, so I am thankful there was no rude outburst during it to ruin it for me. People sat intently throughout the nearly two-hour running time and there were no walkouts that I noticed. Walkouts are a sure sign a film is in trouble with this crowd, so I have to admit I was surprised by the boos at the end. There is a jury box at these press screenings so it is entirely possible that members of the jury were present. The booers might be trying to influence that small group too. I hope not.
http://deadline.com/2015/05/cannes-c...es-1201427858/
twitter critical reaction, spoiler for length and vitriol...
Spoiler:
05-16-15, 10:32 PM
#14
DVD Talk Legend
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
I'm still interested in seeing it. There have been a bunch of great films that were booed at Cannes so I don't necessarily put a lot of stock into those reviews.
05-16-15, 11:47 PM
#15
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
I don't know who @HitFixGregory is, but his tweet is retarded.
08-08-16, 09:59 AM
#16
Moderator
Thread Starter
re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
08-26-16, 08:41 AM
#17
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
Now available via VOD to rent or own.
08-05-18, 04:37 PM
#20
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
I finally got around to watching this. It wasn’t THAT bad. Based on the articles from years ago you’d think it is one of the worst movies ever made.
08-05-18, 04:50 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
04-19-20, 01:57 PM
#22
New Member
Re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
Not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but I have been trying to find the song that is playing at about the 23:00 minute mark in the movie. It's after the characters get home from the dinner with their friends, and Joan (Naomi Watts) is sitting at the table. It sounds almost like Alt-J, but I could not find the song in the soundtrack or anywhere else. My wife loves the song and it's bugging the heck out of us because we can't seem to find it.
04-19-20, 02:47 PM
#23
Moderator
Re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
I've never heard of this movie, but could you try to Shazam the scene or check the soundtrack online?
04-19-20, 03:48 PM
#24
New Member
Re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
Wow, thanks for the Shazam tip; I never even knew about that app. But I did just try it and the music is so faint in the background that it could not pick it up. I tried several times, but no luck. But I'm sure I will be using Shazam for other stuff in the future. Thanks again.
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04-19-20, 05:32 PM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Sea of Trees (2016, D: Van Sant) S: McConaguhey, Watanabe, Watts
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3450900...f_=tt_ql_trv_7
