“The Promise,” a sweeping historical romance starring Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale, is the kind of movie epic they just don’t make anymore. It’s a throwback to David Lean’s “Doctor Zhivago” and Warren Beatty’s “Reds,” movies that transposed big, emotional stories against a sprawling canvas, and tugged at the heartstrings while dealing with thorny political periods.
It’s risky, but not just in that way. Not only is it one of the most expensive independently financed films ever made, it also deals frankly with the Armenian genocide. The mass killings of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire took place between 1915 and 1922, but decades later, the episode remains politically fraught. Bringing the story to the masses was a mission for Kirk Kerkorian, a businessman of Armenian descent who once owned Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He died in 2015 as the film was going into production.
“This was personal for him,” says Eric Esrailian,...
It’s risky, but not just in that way. Not only is it one of the most expensive independently financed films ever made, it also deals frankly with the Armenian genocide. The mass killings of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire took place between 1915 and 1922, but decades later, the episode remains politically fraught. Bringing the story to the masses was a mission for Kirk Kerkorian, a businessman of Armenian descent who once owned Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He died in 2015 as the film was going into production.
“This was personal for him,” says Eric Esrailian,...
- 10/20/2016
- by Brent Lang
- Variety - Film News
Similar News
The art of the training montage
- 4/17/2024
- by Ian Spelling
- avclub.com
13 Mind-Bending Twist Endings in Movies You’ll Never See Coming
- 4/15/2024
- by Pia Vermaak
- buddytv.com
“I lost it”: What Aaron Eckhart Did to Get Into His Character is a Dark Stain on Method Acting That Makes Jared Leto Look Like a Saint
- 4/15/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Ralph Ineson has a pivotal cameo in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein
- 4/16/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Had Kit Harington’s Jon Snow Spinoff Not Been Canceled, Game of Thrones Fans Could’ve Finally Laid Their Eyes on the Secret 8th Kingdom of Westeros
- 4/16/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
Ralph Ineson Has a “Pivotal Cameo” in Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’
- 4/15/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Gene Hackman: Celebrating The Legendary Actor’s Movie Career In Photos
- 4/10/2024
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Bruce Willis' Best Role Happened Because Of Desperation
- 4/7/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
90s Sci-Fi TV Shows With Awful Reviews That Are Actually Worth Watching
- 4/7/2024
- by Luke Y. Thompson
- Slash Film
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
Sundance Film Festival Courting New Host City for 2027 and Beyond
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety - Film News
Tribeca Festival Reveals 2024 Feature Film Lineup Including New Movies With Lily Gladstone, Jenna Ortega and Michael Cera
- 4/17/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Netflix LGBTQ Comedy Doc ‘Outstanding,’ Featuring Rosie O’Donnell, Billy Eichner and Wanda Sykes, Unveils Trailer, Premiere Date (Exclusive)
- 4/17/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov
- Variety - Film News
Studio Ghibli to Receive Honorary Cannes Palme d’Or
- 4/17/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘For All Mankind’ Renewed for Season 5, Soviet Space Program Spinoff in the Works at Apple TV+
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Rachel Zegler, Kit Connor to Star on Broadway in ‘Romeo and Juliet’
- 4/16/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Selena Quintanilla Deserves to Be Celebrated This Year - Not Exploited
- 4/16/2024
- by Lucas Villa
- Popsugar.com
Bad Bunny's First NYC Show From His Most Wanted Tour Is Proof His Latine Fans Still Come First
- 4/12/2024
- by Johanna Ferreira
- Popsugar.com
Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts" Tour Made Me Feel Like a Teen Again
- 4/8/2024
- by Yerin Kim
- Popsugar.com
Jennifer Lopez's Viral "the Bronx" Controversy Proves Younger Latines Don't Find Her Authentic
- 4/3/2024
- by Miguel Machado
- Popsugar.com
‘Quiet on Set’ Survivors Say Docuseries Was Made Under False Pretenses: ‘How Dare You’
- 4/18/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Taylor Swift Ends ‘Tortured Poets Department’ with ‘Clara Bow’ — Who Was She?
- 4/18/2024
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
‘The Plot Thickens’ TCM Podcast Unveils ‘Decoding John Ford’ Season
- 4/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Quentin Tarantino Is No Longer Making ‘The Movie Critic’ as His 10th Film
- 4/17/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Quentin Tarantino Scraps ’The Movie Critic’; Brad Pitt Would Have Reprised Cliff Booth Role From ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’
- 4/17/2024
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
Sundance Film Festival Courting New Host City for 2027 and Beyond
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety - Film News
Tribeca Festival Reveals 2024 Feature Film Lineup Including New Movies With Lily Gladstone, Jenna Ortega and Michael Cera
- 4/17/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Netflix LGBTQ Comedy Doc ‘Outstanding,’ Featuring Rosie O’Donnell, Billy Eichner and Wanda Sykes, Unveils Trailer, Premiere Date (Exclusive)
- 4/17/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov
- Variety - Film News
Studio Ghibli to Receive Honorary Cannes Palme d’Or
- 4/17/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Box Office: Dracula’s Daughter ‘Abigail’ Tries to Take a Bite Out of ‘Civil War’ With $12 Million Debut
- 4/17/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
‘For All Mankind’ Renewed for Season 5, Soviet Space Program Spinoff in the Works at Apple TV+
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
‘Oldboy’ English-Language TV Series in the Works From Park Chan-wook, Lionsgate
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
‘Quiet on Set’ Survivors Say Docuseries Was Made Under False Pretenses: ‘How Dare You’
- 4/18/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire Television
Ryan Gosling / Chris Stapleton SNL By The Numbers – S49 E17
- 4/18/2024
- by Saturday Night Network
- LateNighter
Weds Night Monologues: Kimmel vs. Trump Is a Tko
- 4/18/2024
- by Dennis Perkins
- LateNighter