by Ambrose Heron on January 12, 2007
by Ambrose Heron on January 12, 2007
It might be dark and miserable every January (well, here in London at least) but it is usually a great time to visit the cinema as a lot of films in contention for awards are getting released now.
This week sees the red hot favourite for the Best Actor Oscar hit UK screens and what a performance it is as Forest Whitaker stars as former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. A riveting adaptation of Giles Foden’s semi-fictional novel. The story involves a young Scottish doctor (James McAvoy) who travels to Uganda and by chance and opportunity becomes Amin’s personal physician. Initially charmed by the leader he slowly realises the awful truth about regime he has become part of. Directed by Kevin MacDonald (the man responsible for the brilliant documentaries One Day in September and Touching the Void) it is cleverly written, well acted and features a truly mesmerising central performance from Whitaker.
Another film out this week with an impressive lead performance is The Pursuit of Happyness, in which Will Smith leaves his usual wisecracking persona at home. He stars in this true life tale of a salesman in San Francisco during the early 80s who struggles to cope financially when he seeks a better job. Although this has been marketed as an uplifting syrupy drama it is actually a moving and accomplished drama with Smith doing his best work since Ali and Six Degrees of Separation. Italian director Gabriele Muccino gives a fresh perspective to the source material and - despite the overall nature of the story - explores poverty with a sharper eye than you might expect for a mainstream studio film.
Director Joe Carnahan impressed with 2002’s gritty cop drama Narc, but with his latest film he has overstretched himself. Smokin’ Aces is about a mob entertainer (Jeremy Piven) who is targeted by several assassins who have all been hired to bump him off. Two FBI agents (Ray Liotta and Ryan Reynolds) must ensure that he stays alive and travel to his Lake Tahoe hotel where, eventually, all hell breaks loose. It features a lot of jumbled narrative flashbacks and some slick editing but despite a few effective scenes here and there comes across as a confusing and messy B-movie. Think the Wacky Races (with hit men) crossed with Ocean’s 11 - only done badly.
FILM OF THE WEEK: The Last King of Scotland
> Get cinema times for your area via Google
by Ambrose Heron on January 11, 2007
This trailer mashup from Dan Perrault and Matt Dahan of Double D Enterprises and Chocolate Cake City depicts Tom Hanks as the next Bond.
It is very funny, with some clever use of old Hanks films (especially the final line)Â
[Link via Anne Thompson at RiskyBizBlog]
by Ambrose Heron on January 11, 2007
I got the train into Waterloo this morning and as soon as I got off platform 10 I noticed that the crew from The Bourne Ultimatum were filming there today.
I saw director Paul Greengrass in discussion with actor Paddy Considine and later on noticed Matt Damon and producer Frank Marshall. They were filming there last October so maybe they are back to do pickup shots.
What struck me was how laidback (yet professional) the whole thing was. Despite the presence of a big star and one of England’s best directors, commuters went about their business as usual without causing any fuss.
Here are some pictures:
Director Paul Greengrass in discussions with actor Paddy Consindine
Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass in discussion with producer Frank Marshall (in the centre of the picture)
The camera and some extras
Poster informing commuters that filming is happening today
Some of the crew by the monitors
Some boxes and lights
Matt Damon (in the centre of the picture about an inch right of the “sale” sign)
The film is the third Bourne film (after 2002’s The Bourne Identity and 2004’s The Bourne Supremacy) and is scheduled for release later this year on August 3rd.
> Find out more about the film at Wikipedia
> IMDb entry for The Bourne Ultimatum
> Check out a set photos over at Flickr
by Ambrose Heron on January 8, 2007
by Ambrose Heron on January 5, 2007
by Ambrose Heron on January 5, 2007
The thing to see at cinemas this week (provided you can cope with the extreme levels of violence) is Mel Gibson’s latest historical epic Apocalypto. Whilst he may have have a few lessons to learn about alcohol and race relations, he sure knows how to film a sweeping historical drama. Since winning the Oscar with Braveheart in 1996 and making The Passion of the Christ in 2004 he has grown into an accomplished director.
The film depicts the experiences of one tribesman during the last days of the Maya civilization. After being captured and taken for human sacrifice he has to find a way to escape and get back to his village. It is a brutal and at times sadistic film but is also a gripping experience with a dazzling production design. It might not suit everyone’s tastes but credit to Gibson for using his money to make a film as startling and uncommerical as this.
Also out at cinemas this week is the last film from the late and great director Robert Altman. A Prairie Home Companion is adapted from the long running US radio show and features a terrific cast with the likes of Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, John C Reilly and Woody Harrelson. There is a nice bittersweet quality to the film and in retrospect it is a nice swan song to the maverick director. However, despite positive aspects to the film it isn’t in the same league as his best work like Nashville, MASH or The Player.
Miss Potter is a biopic of famed children’s writer Beatrix Potter, here played by Renee Zellwegger. Although Renee does a mean English accent the film is sloppy, sentimental and wastes Ewan MacGregor in a poorly written supporting role.
FILM OF THE WEEK: Apocalypto
> Get cinema showtimes for your local area from Google
