Bella with UL's Ali Landry!!!

[cajundiehard]

Hey guys!

Good movie recommendation... Check out the preview trailer at http://www.bellathemovie.com/resourc...s/105#more-105

It is only playing (so far) this weekend at the Grand 14 (Kaliste Saloom and Ambassador) on THIS FRIDAY (Nov. 16) through THIS coming Tuesday... If it does well (and it will), it will stay longer. There is a LOT of buzz on this movie...

Their website is http://www.bellathemovie.com It WON the Toronto Film Festival's People's Choce Award. Also won the crystal heart award from the Heartland Film Festival.

One of the stars is former UL Miss USA Ali Landry. The film was directed by her husband, Alejandro Monteverde. Ali plays a character named Celia.

REVIEWS & QUOTES

Warm, sweet and funny.
-Roger Ebert, rogerebert.com


VersategUniversity of Louisianas a natural on the big screen, a compelling presence.
-Ruthe Stein, SF Chronicle


"A sweet, life-affirming picture"
- Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times


"A bear-hugging embrace of sweetness and light"
-Stephen Holden, The New York Times


"Cynics need not apply, but I found "Bella" a real heart tugger."
- Lou Lumenick, New York Post


Powerful and moving... a true inspiration.
-CNN, Ana Maria Montero


"The warmest family drama I've seen in years"
-Frank Lovece- Film Journal

FOX NEWS
I am very pleased that the Toronto Film Festival chose "Bella" to win their top audience award over the weekend¦. It's incredibly charming, with terrific performances by Tammy Blanchard and Mexican star Eduardo Verastegui and Manny Perez. It's directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde. It's too easy to say this is the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" of this season, because "Bella" is far more complex and sophisticated while losing none of the humor. Whoever decides to release "Bella" will have a nice little hit on their hands. The freshness and lack of affectation in "Bella" must have appealed to audiences who had to endure a number of big-name films that seemed contrived, stale or calculated. You can read the article by going to this link:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,214255,00.html

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: "Bella" Wins
TORONTO -- A trio of Mexicans triumphed at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday when their U.S. independent drama "Bella" captured the People's Choice Award, voted on by festival audiences¦. "These Mexican guys go to America and beat the American independents at their game -- it's impressive,"
Toronto festival co-director Noah Cowan said after an awards luncheon.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/..._id=1003123305

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: The Story Behind "Bella"
Winning in Toronto can be the first step on the road to Oscar and Golden Globes success. "Bella" could wind up following in the footsteps of such past Toronto winners as: "American Beauty," which won five Oscars in 2000, including best picture and director, and three Globes, including best picture and director; "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," which won four Oscars in 2001, including best foreign language film, was a best picture Oscar nominee and won two Globes, including best director for Ang Lee. Read the article at this link:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...vnu_content_id =1003221195

VARIETY
"This movie depicts the culture but also transcends it," said Pilar O'Leary, exec director of the Smithsonian Institute's Latino Center. "It has universal appeal."Which is why the Latino Center is presenting Verastegui and helmer Alejandro Monteverde with its award for emerging talent. Pic doesn't see release until August, but because of the increasing buzz, the Mexican Embassy wanted to sponsor a private screening as part of its Cinco de Mayo bash. -William Triplett, Variety.com To read entire article visit this link:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...=1&query=bella

AFI (American Film Institute) Movie Review - Dallas
Life is really, really hard; thank god it's so beautiful - it's one of those rare films that catches you by the emotional short hairs and refuses to let go. By the time the final reel plays, you're going to be weeping tears of commingled sadness and joy - unless you happen to have blocked tear ducts. (And, if you do, you might consider a viewing of this movie as a possible cure.) Bella is
really not so much a love story (in the sense of two people falling head over heels) as it is a story about love and how it can heal psychic wounds and enrich our lives. -John P. Meyer, AFI Dallas. To read article visit this link:
http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007...eview-ibellai/

InCONTENTION.com
"Bella" marks the debut feature of Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, a truly humble man in awe of the fact that he's actually made it here. It's better to know as little as possible about this film before going into it but let me tell you that it feels both sincere and loving. It's great to see a film that legitimately moves the viewer without being drowned in sap. And it does this in just 90 minutes. If it comes your way, see it. You won't regret it. You can read the article by going to this link:
http://www.incontention.com/toronto/...ul_indeed.html

NBC, MIAMI
"Bella is a romantic drama full of heart, soul and beautiful messages. It's a film that will stay with you forever! Powerful, passionate and unpredictable, Bella is a rare gem, a true surprise. A movie that can transform your life and keep you thinking. Bella is a cinematic jewel. One of the best films I've seen in a long time".Watch out for its extraordinary cast, especially Mexican leading
man Eduardo Verastegui, truly the "Brad Pitt of Latin America". -- Maria Salas,
NBC-Miami


Colorado Springs Gazette-Brandon Fibbs

"Bella is a irrefutably effortless and heartwarming film, an indie gem with a deep soul and a beautiful message."


The Austin Chronicle

"A beautiful film (with) pitch-perfect performances. A film that embraces and celebrates the possibility for change and growth, both personal and spiritual."

[NewsCopy]

Box office underdog “Bella” made a strong standing over the weekend despite competition from major studio releases. The film grossed a total of $916,441 in 276 theaters over the weekend, giving “Bella” the sixth highest per-theater average for any movie shown. Total gross for “Bella” rose to $3,780,932, which surpasses the production’s $3 million budget. Hollywood premiers had a mild showing over the weekend, with holiday comedy “Fred Claus,” earning the highest ranking at No. 3 and bringing in $18.5 million. United Artist release “Lions for Lambs,” starring Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, and Meryl Streep, took a disappointing fourth place, earning total of $6,70,434. The film marks Cruise’s lowest nationwide opening since 1986’s “The Color of Money,” which took in just over $6.3 million. Earning this weekend’s No. 1 spot was the animated “Bee Movie,” starring Jerry Seinfeld, which bumped last week’s winner, the Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe drama “American Gangster,” to No. 2. But while “Bella,” which has been keeping afloat in the box office top 20 for its three weeks of release, may not be a top 10 contender at the moment, chances for the film to rise in the rankings continues to increase, with the movie scheduled to open in over 200 new theaters this coming weekend – a phenomenon that producer Sean Wolfington credits to fans of “Bella.” "Because of your support, this little film with a big heart continues to touch and transform people's lives," producer Sean Wolfington told LifeNews.com. "Because of last weekend’s success we are adding 200 theaters this weekend … before Thanksgiving." The rest of the story By Dennis May

[cajundiehard]

Can purchase tickets online

http://www.thegrandtheatre.com/theat...10/tickets.php

[RaginRash]

you got an interest in the production comany of something, Doc???

[NewsCopy]

Ali Landry, a Breaux Bridge native and the 1996 Miss USA, stars in Bella, an independent film written and directed by her husband, Alejandro Monteverde. The film, which opened in select theaters Oct. 26, is scheduled to debut in Lafayette today at the Grand Theatre, 2315 Kaliste Saloom Road. Bella won the coveted People's Choice Award at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. Previous Oscar winners, such as Chariots of Fire, Life is Beautiful, American Beauty and Hotel Rwanda, have won this honor. The movie has also claimed Grand Prize for Dramatic Feature at the 2007 Heartland Film Festival. Bella is the story of Jose (Eduardo Verastegui), an international soccer star who is on his way to sign a multi-million dollar contract. A series of events unfold that bring his career to an abrupt end. Jose meets Nina (Tammy Blanchard), a struggling, New York City waitress in an event that turns their ordinary day into an unforgettable experience. Landry plays Celia, a young mother who suffers a tragic loss. The role continues Landry's transition into acting in a variety of film and TV roles. She enjoys a co-starring role in UPN's Eve, which recently completed its third season. The rest of the story Daily Advertiser

[cajundiehard]

I saw it as well... VERY well done movie. I couldn't believe this movie only cost 3 million to make... This will win oscars... I may have to go see it again this week!

They continue to do very well, number 12-13 overall and top 5 on a per theater basis... The Grand South in Lafayette (Kaliste Saloom near Ambassador) has extended their stay to AT LEAST November 29... I encourage all to go see it. It is a truly inspiring love story that will make you think...

Ali did very well!

Got this e-mail from their site... (you can sign up for updates at http://www.bellathemovie.com



Bella's Great News!!!!

THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT.... Bella stays in theatres over holiday week!

Bella once again had an incredible box office weekend and we have all of you to thank.

Tune in Friday when "Bella" is on the TODAY SHOW and check www.BellaNews.com for the latest tv, radio and print coverage.

If you don't know what theatre is near you go to www.BellaTheatres.com

We are gaining serious momentum and we have you to thank. Please continue to spread the word so Bella can inspire more lives.

Ways you can help pasted below.

God Bless,

The Bella Family
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BELLA BREAKS BOX OFFICE RECORDS

*Bella held over $1 million for the 4th week in a row and has earned a place
at the table for Thanksgiving, the biggest movie season of the year!

*Bella went from the #17 top film to the #12 top film and we have a higher
ranking than films that are in thousands of theaters and we are in only 456
theaters!

*According to BoxOffice.com Bella is ranked #5
on their POWERSCORE going into Thanksgiving, ahead of Mr Magoriums Wonder
Emporium, Dan in Real Life, Lions for Lambs, Saw 4 and Love in the Time of
Cholera.

*Bella is still the #1 Top Rated Movie on Yahoo, Fandango and the New York
Times readers poll

[ChanceEncounter]

Based on the buzz around here I saw Bella and I have to say the movie hinges on Ali's performance. Bella is not a religious movie at all, it's just one of the best movies I have ever seen. It's the story of man regaining his passion for life by using his postitive and negative past to construct a future for himself and those around him. Go see it.

[CajunFun]

ultoday.com still looks pretty much the same, but we have spent the last few weeks completely updating and reinstalling the software.

We're also changing the way headlines work so that in addition to showing up on the front page, in the next few days they will also show up in the relevant menu item: football headlines will show up in Football, as will English Headlines, Engineering, etc.

The new system also means that, rather than headlines being edited pretty much at one point during the day, we will add them as they come available. If any of you want to contribute to that, let me know, we can give you privileges and training. If any of you want to write, we welcome that as well. We want to make this a community platform: from the community, for the community.

Anyway, best current headline: Ali Landry on breastfeeding, and how it could save the US $13B a year in health costs. Pretty funny little video.

http://ultoday.com/node/headlines

[CajunFun]

PS I just realized 'more' in the front page Sports Headlines block takes you to general headlines. We'll fix that, but for now all of them can be seen at http://ultoday.com/sections/sports-headlines

[CajunFun]

If any of you are interested, Jim Brown is interviewing me about my essay on the moratorium, this AM (Sunday) at 9 am for his radio show on KVOL. Feel free to critique my discussion (like you need encouragement... )

KVOL says the show airs at 11... maybe it's prerecorded.

[Boomer]

Damn--Doc--I think I caught the last part of your deal but had no idea it was you---Was this where you mentioned the diversity of Lafayette now as compared to the past???? Pretty cool show with some great guests---loved the lady from Miss. and her thoughts on Katrina to the Miss. coast!!!!

[ultoday]

http://ultoday.com/node/4237