Storyline Dave Skylark (James Franco) is king of the celebrity interview and host of the hit night time talk show "Skylark Tonight." The brain behind Dave's empire is his producer and best friend, Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen). Unfulfilled, Aaron yearns to do meaningful work. He scores the chance of a lifetime when he secures an interview for Dave with Kim Jong-Un, the mysterious and ruthless dictator of a nuclear-armed North Korea. As Dave and Aaron prepare to leave for North Korea, they are approached by the CIA and asked to assassinate Kim. They accept the mission, becoming two of the least qualified men ever to assassinate - or interview - the most dangerous man on earth. Written bySony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures cancels Christmas release of The Interview
Sony Pictures has cancelled the Christmas release of a film at the centre of a hacking scandal after terrorist threats to cinemagoers and a decision by major movie theatre groups to cancel screenings in the US.
A group calling itself Guardians of Peace (GOP) published an online message on Tuesday warning cinemagoers to stay away from screenings of The Interview, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, which depicts the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The threats led five of biggest cinema chains in the US to drop the film. A federal investigation is also under way.
The decision to cancel the release marks the climax of a torrid month for Sony. GOP has also claimed responsibility for a huge hack on Sony’s computer systems in November, which led to the release of thousands of confidential documents revealing executive pay structure, corporate profits, unreleased films, personal email correspondence and employee social security numbers.
“In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theatergoers,” Sony Pictures said in a statement.
Sony’s decision comes amid new reports that the US has determined North Korea was directly responsible for the hack, a claim the regime has previously denied.
Anonymous administration officials briefed a number of media outlets on that conclusion – but at the same time said the White House was debating whether to publicly accuse North Korea, according to the New York Times. The officials who have spoken to reporters have thus far provided no evidence for the claim.
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The comments mark a major change in direction for the federal investigation into the hack, which could have severe diplomatic ramifications. Last week a senior FBI cyber security official said the agency had been unable to confirm links between Pyongyang and the hackers.
Sony Pictures described the hack as an “unprecedented criminal assault” and a “brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public”.
“We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome,” the statement continued.
According to the film database website IMDB, The Interview is scheduled for release in the UK on 6 February, and throughout Europe in late January. It is unclear if Sony plans to delay the release in other countries as well, and the company did not respond to requests for clarification from the Guardian.
The threats sparked an investigation by the US Department of Homeland Security, but anonymous federal law enforcement officials quoted by the Los Angeles Times said there was “no credible intelligence” of a plot to target cinemas.
The scope of the hacking has also led former Sony Pictures employees to launch a class-action suit under data protection laws and entertainment lawyers have said the legal implications could last for years to come.
North Korea has denied responsibility for the attack, but said it could be “a righteous deed of the supporters and sympathisers” of the country.
California senator Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the Senate select committee on intelligence, described the threats as “unconscionable”.
Feinstein said the hack was “only the latest example of the need for serious legislation to improve the sharing of information between the private sector and the government to help companies strengthen cybersecurity”.
In the wake of controversy surrounding The Interview, another comedy set in North Korea has been reportedly dropped by its producers. Pyongyang, a film commissioned by New Regency and set to star Steve Carell playing a character accused of espionage by the regime, will no longer go into production, according to Deadline.
Berkisah tentang dua orang rakan karib yang mengendali rancangan bual bicara yang popular ala2 rancangan Ellen & Oprah.
Dave Skylark (James Franco) sebagai pengacara, Aaron Rapaport (Seth Rogen) sebagai producer. Nak dijadikan cerita, rancangan
itu juga menjadi rancangan tv kegemaran Presiden Korea Utara, Kim Jong-un. Beliau ingin ditemubual didalam rancangan itu tapi
temubual 'live' itu haruslah dibuat di Pyongyang, dan senarai soalan adalah dari pihak Korea Utara.
Sebelum berangkat ke Korea, Dave & Aaron didatangi ejen CIA yang mempunyai rancangan untuk membunuh Kim Jong-un.
Mereka kemudian bersetuju untuk sepakat menghapuskan presiden kejam itu.
Namun Plan A digagalkan oleh Dave, apabila 'sticker beracun' yang sepatutnya dilekatkan pada tapak tangannya semasa
bersalaman dengan Kim Jong-un, sebaliknya disimpan dalam pek gula-gula getah yang mana telah dimakan oleh pegawai tentera Kim Jong-un
semasa memeriksa beg Dave.
Aaron berang lantas menghubungi pegawai CIA memaklumkan perkara tersebut. Mereka kemudian menghantar sticker beracun yang baru.
Dalam pada itu, Dave telah berjumpa dengan Kim Jong-un dan menghabiskan masa bersama-sama dan Dave mendapati Kim Jong-un adalah
tidak seperti yang digembar-gemburkan dunia selama ini, lalu bertengkar dengan Aaron dan menarik diri dari rancangan membunuh KJU.
Beberapa hari kemudian, pegawai tertinggi Kim yang memakan sticker beracun mati semasa mereka dalam satu majlis yang sama lebih
mengerikan lagi semasa dia diambang kematian menahan sakit dia dengan tidak sengaja tertembak seorang lagi pegawai KJU.
Kim amat sedih dengan kematian kedua-dua orang pegawai tertinggi yang dianggap paling setia itu. Dia tidak mengesyaki apa-apa
mengenai Dave & Aaron. Mereka duduk minum dengan tentera2 yang lain. Kim tiba-tiba berang dan bertindak agresif, Dave agak
terkejut dengan perubahan Kim yang selama ini disangka baik dan gila2 itu rupanya panas baran. Semasa bersiar-siar diluar
kediaman Kim, Dave masuk ke sebuah kedai serbaneka. Alangkah terkejutnya dia apabila mendapati dinding kedai yang dari luar nampak
seperti barangan makanan dan minuman rupa-rupanya hanyalah gambar semata-mata.
Dave amat marah lalu pergi berjumpa Aaron. Seorang pegawai perempuan Kim sedang bersama-sama Aaron pada ketika itu mendapat
tahu rancangan Dave & Aaron untuk membunuh Kim akhirnya mengakui bahawa berita tentang kekejaman Kim selama ini adalah benar
lalu turut bersama-sama Dave & Aaron dan merancang untuk membuktikan siapa Kim yang sebenarnya.
Pada hari sesi temubual berlangsung, akhirnya tembelang Kim pecah jua. Soalan-soalan yang sepatutnya ditanya oleh Dave digantikan
dengan soalan yang memalukan Kim. Kim yang tidak dapat menjawab soalan Dave menangis terberak disitu. Maka seluruh dunia & seluruh Korea Utara
mengetahui siapa Presiden mereka yang dianggap tuhan selama ini.
Bagi sy, filem ni memang nak memalukan Korea Utara. Erm..tapi..malaslah nak cakap pasal politik. Cakap pasal cerita ni dah lah.
James Franco, eeee menyampah gila tengok dia dalam filem ni. Sangat-sangat annoying.
Watak yang dia bawak ni macam tiru sebijik watak adik dia (Dave Franco) dalam Bad Neighbors.
Well..untuk hiburan boleh lah, sebab banyak jugak part lawak.
hebat gilo main gitar.. aku nk main c sharp pun tak lepas.. kesian tgk kehidupan dorang, macam robot. harap ada sape2 bleh culik budak2 ni. kat dunia luar kau bleh buat duit dgn skil mcm tu
aku memang look forward movies gandingan james franco+seth rogen sebab masuk air.tapi the interview ni biasa2 je dan karakter james franco sangat annoying.kesimpulannya boleh layan la walaupun tak sebest this is the end dan pineapple express.