Tag: bruno

UK Blu-ray Releases: Monday 9th November 2009

Post author By Ambrose Heron
Post date 09/11/2009

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BLU-RAY PICKS

Brüno (Universal): After the success of Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen returns with another mock-documentary comedy, this time playing the flamboyant Austrian fashionista Brüno, who wreaks havoc at a fashion show and then travels to America, where the fun continues.

Directed by Larry Charles, stand out sequences involve Bruno upsetting orthodox Jews and Palestinian terrorists; an uncomfortable appearance on a TV chat show with an adopted African child; an extended attempt to ‘become straight’ with the help of religion, martial arts and the US military; and a truly riotous climax involving a cage wrestling match in Arkansas. [Buy the Blu-ray at Amazon UK]

Extras on the Blu-ray include:

1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen
English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Latin American Spanish and Canadian French 5.1 DTS Surround
English SDH, Latin American Spanish and Canadian French subtitles
Alternative Scenes
Deleted Scenes (includes 1 extra scene not found on the DVD)
Extended Scenes (includes 1 extra scene not found on the DVD)
An Interview with Lloyd Robinson
Enhanced Commentary – Go behind the cameras and hear the true stories of how Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles pulled off their unscripted stunts with celebrities, politicians and other unsuspecting people

The extras on Blu-ray are all 1080P and have a listed running time of 1hr 15mins approx (not including the commentary).

Gone with the Wind: 70th Anniversary Edition (Warner): The classic 1939 romantic drama based on the Margaret Mitchell novel has gotten the full re-release treatment by Warner Bros.

Set in the South during the American Civil War and Reconstruction, it follows the life of Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), the daughter of a plantation owner and her relationship with Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). Featuring supporting performances by Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Thomas Mitchell and Hattie McDaniel, it is still a beloved classic of cinema despite lasting nearly 4 hours.

Famous set pieces include the burning of Atlanta (which used a piece of scenery left over from King Kong) and one of the most famous closing lines of any film. In a year littered with classic films (1939 also included The Wizard of Oz, Mr Smith Goes To Washington, Stagecoach and Ninotchka), Gone With the Wind won ten Oscars, including: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Vivien Leigh), and Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel, who became the first African-American to win the award). [Buy the Blu-ray at Amazon UK]

Heat (Warner): The classic 1995 crime film directed by Michael Mann and starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro gets its debut on Blu-ray.

Set in Los Angeles, it explores the lives of Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro), a methodical professional thief and Lt. Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) an impulsive LAPD homicide detective and those around them as they come into conflict with one another.

The supporting cast includes Val Kilmer as Chris, one of McCauley’s partners; Ashley Judd as his wife Charlene; Amy Brenneman; Jon Voight; Natalie Portman; Diane Venora; Hank Azaria; William Fichtner and (in a cameo) Henry Rollins.

One of the best crime films of the 1990s, the big selling point at the time was the pairing of De Niro and Pacino, but there is much more to the film than just the cast. Mann creates a rich atmosphere and shoots the action set-pieces brilliantly, plus Elliot Goldenthal’s moody score and Dante Spinotti’s cinematography all add to the mix.

The general vibe with the HD transfer appears to be that it is good but not great. Gary Tooze of DVD Beaver has posted some comparisons of the DVD and Blu-ray versions here and says:

This Blu-ray presentation is significantly ahead of the DVD counterparts but doesn’t exhibit the demonstrative depth and detail that many have come to expect from this new format.

If you are a fan of the film, it is likely you purchased the excellent 2-disc DVD which came out a few years ago. However, if you have made the jump to Blu-ray then this is still definitely worth purchasing as it is still one of Michael Mann’s best films and a reach audio and visual feast. [Buy the Blu-ray at Amazon UK]

ALSO OUT

Night at the Museum 2 (Fox) [Buy it at Amazon UK]
The Informers (EIV) [Buy it at Amazon UK]
The Negotiator (Warner) [Buy it at Amazon UK]

> UK DVD & Blu-ray Releases for November 2009
> Browse more Blu-ray releases at Amazon UK and Play
> Check out the latest UK cinema releases including A Christmas Carol, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Bright Star, Jennifer’s Body and Paper Heart (W/C Friday 6th November 2009)

Tags bruno, gone with the wind, heat

DVD & Blu-ray

UK DVD Releases: Monday 9th November 2009

Post author By Ambrose Heron
Post date 09/11/2009

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N.B. For the foreseeable future I’m going to separate DVDs and Blu-rays into different posts. Part of the reason is that quite a few older films are being released on Blu-ray and I don’t want there to be any confusion.

I’m also going to put Amazon affiliate links alongside each release to make it easier to buy them.

DVD PICKS

Directed by Larry Charles, stand out sequences involve Bruno debating the Middle East conflict with orthodox Jews and Palestinian terrorists; an uncomfortable appearance on a TV chat show with an adopted African child; an extended attempt to ‘become straight’ with the help of religion, martial arts and the US military; and a truly riotous climax involving a cage wrestling match in Arkansas. [Buy the DVD at Amazon UK]

Extras include:

Alternative Scenes
Deleted Scenes
Extended Scenes
An Interview with Lloyd Robinson
Enhanced Commentary – The true stories of how Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles pulled off their unscripted stunts with celebrities, politicians and other unsuspecting people.

Gone with the Wind: 70th Anniversary Edition (Warner): The classic 1939 romantic drama based on the Margaret Mitchell novel has gotten the full re-release treatment by Warner Bros.

Extras on the DVD include:

Disc 1 The Movie, Part 1

Remastered feature with Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio
Commentary by historian Rudy Behlmer

Disc 2 The Movie, Part 2
Remastered feature
Commentary by historian Rudy Behlmer
Offer for a numbered Limited Edition copy of the Original 1939 Poster

Extras on the 5-disc version include:

Disc 3

About The Movie
The Making of a Legend documentary (1989 TV Special) (Narrated by Christopher Plummer)
Restoring a Legend – Chronicles the film/video restoration process
Dixie Hails Gone with the Wind -1939 Premiere newsreel
1940 MGM historical short – The Old South
Atlanta Civil War Centennial 1961 premiere newsreel
International prologue
Foreign language version sample scenes
Theatrical Trailers

Disc 4

About The Cast
Melanie Remembers: Reflections by Olivia de Havilland – Exclusive 2004 Documentary
Cast profile – Gable: The King Remembered
Cast profile – Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond
The Supporting Players – Cameo portraits of an unforgettable ensemble
At Tara
The O’Hara Plantation in Georgia
Thomas Mitchell as Gerald O’Hara
Barbara O’Neill as Ellen, his wife
Their Daughters
Evelyn Keyes as Suellen
Ann Rutherford as Carreen
The house servants
Hattie McDaniel as Mammy
Oscar Polk as Pork
Butterfly McQueen as Prissy
At Twelve Oaks
Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes
Rand Brooks as Charles Hamilton, her brother
Carroll Nye as Frank Kennedy, a guest
In Atlanta
Laura Hope Crews as Aunt Pittypat Hamilton
Eddie Anderson as Uncle Peter, her coachman
Harry Davenport as Dr. Meade
Jane Darwell as Mrs. Merriwether
Ona Munson as Belle Watling
Cammie King as Bonnie Blue Butler

Disc 5

New Bonus Disc
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment presents 1939: Hollywood’s Greatest Year – New documentary about Hollywood’s watershed year narrated by Kenneth Branagh
Gone with the Wind: The Legend Lives On — Exploring the legacy of the most beloved film through illuminating interviews, footage and visits to historical sites, events and museums
Moviola: The Scarlett O’Hara Wars 1980 WBTV Special never before on home video

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney): One of the greatest Disney films ever made is being re-released on DVD and Blu-ray. Made in 1937, the concept of reviving a well-known Grimm’s Fairy Tale was initially greeted with scepticism. But Walt Disney invested three years, $1,500,000, and the combined talents of 570 artists into the film.

The result was a film that was acknowledged a classic and also earned an incredible $8,500,000 dollars in gross rentals during the Great Depression. The story, characters and animation are all of the highest quality and notice the clever contrast between Snow White and Prince Charming (drawn realistically) and the Seven Dwarfs (rendered in the rounded, caricatured manner of Disney’s short-subject characters). [Buy the DVD from Amazon UK]

The extras on the DVD include:

Audio Commentary with Walt Disney
Snow White Returns
The One That Started It All
The Princess and the Frog Sneak Peek
Someday My Prince Will Come by Tiffany Thornton
Dylan & Cole Sprouse Blu-ray is Suite!
Learn How To Take Your Favourite Movies on the Go (Disneyfile)
Dopey’s Wild Mine Ride
Animation Voice Talent
Disney Through the Decades
”Heigh-Ho” Karaoke Sing-Along

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ALSO OUT

Desperate Housewives Season 5 (Disney) [Buy from Amazon UK]
Ghost Story (1974) (Nucleus Films) [Buy it from Amazon UK]
Tales of the Gold Monkey: The Complete Series (Fabulous Films) [Buy it from Amazon UK]
The Informers (EIV) [Buy it from Amazon UK]
Trinity (Fremantle) [Buy it from Amazon UK]
Lisbon Story (Axiom Films) [Buy it from Amazon UK]
Night at the Museum 2 (Fox) [Buy it from Amazon UK]
Russell Brand – Scandalous (4DVD) [Buy it from Amazon UK]
Russell Howard – Dingledodies (4DVD) [Buy it from Amazon UK]

> UK DVD & Blu-ray Releases for November 2009
> Browse more DVD Releases at Amazon UK and Play
> Check the latest DVD prices at DVD Price Check
> Check out the latest UK cinema releases including A Christmas Carol, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Bright Star, Jennifer’s Body and Paper Heart (W/C Friday 6th November 2009)

Tags bruno, DVD & Blu-ray, gone with the wind, snow white and the seven dwarfes

News

Bruno gets a 15 certificate version

Post author By Ambrose Heron
Post date 14/07/2009

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Bruno 15 version

Brüno is going to get a 15-certificate version that will play alongside the 18-certificate one that topped the UK box office this weekend.

Universal have decided that a key segment of the audience was missing out on the film and (presumably) that it was a great opportunity to keep the publicity going.

Over the last weekend it grossed just over £5 million at 457 locations, making it the best debut for an 18 rated film since Hannibal in February 2001.

It didn’t quite match the opening of Borat, which opened in November 2006 with £6.24m, although that included previews which grossed nearly a £1 million.

The 15-certificate version of Bruno will be released on 24th July for the benefit of teenage fans.

David Kosse, the president of Universal Pictures UK, has admitted that the distributor had originally hoped to get a 15 but wouldn’t make the ‘substantial cuts’ in order to do so.

The three scenes which have been trimmed are:

The sequence where Bruno is miming graphic sexuals acts with a dead member of Milli Vanilli that he has ‘contacted’ through a medium
The sex scene early in the film with his boyfirend and all manner of sex toys
The swingers party sequence

The official BBFC statement on the new ‘snipped’ version says:

This film was originally shown to the BBFC in an unfinished version.

The BBFC advised the company that the film was likely to receive an ’18’ classification but that the requested ’15’ certificate could be achieved by making changes to three scenes.

In particular the BBFC suggested that the company remove the majority of a montage of exaggerated sexual activity between Bruno and his boyfriend; Bruno comically miming fellatio and anilingus as he pretends to have oral sex with a deceased person with whom he is in contact through a medium; and sex between couples at a swingers’ party and aggressive sexual dialogue at the same party.

When this version of the feature was submitted these changes had been made and the film was classified ’15’.

A previous version of the feature was submitted without these changes and was classified at ’18’.

In total about 1 minute, 50 seconds have been taken out of the 18 version in order make the new certificate.

Kosse has said:

“Over the past couple of weeks we got a lot of feedback from exhibitors and fans on Facebook. So we investigated what it would take to get a 15.”

“We saw an opportunity to service the audience … and it should also help with the gross.”

The big question this raises is whether this was all planned in advance. Given how smart the marketing has been for the film I suspect it may have been.

Interestingly, Universal doesn’t plan to make similar cuts in other overseas markets (including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) because they have had significantly lower ratings in those countries.

In the U.S. and Canada, where it was rated R, Bruno had a solid opening of $30.6 million, although business fell sharply on the Saturday which suggests some audiences were a little freaked out by what they saw.

> Official UK site for Bruno
> My first thoughts on the film
> British Board of Film Classification

Tags bruno

Cinema

UK Cinema Releases: Friday 10th July 2009

Post author By Ambrose Heron
Post date 10/07/2009

NATIONAL RELEASES

Brüno (Universal): The latest of Sacha Baron Cohen’s comic creations to make it to the big screen is his flamboyant Austrian fashion journalist, Brüno. The film version sees him disgraced after causing chaos at a Milan fashion show and chronicles his attempts to make it big in the US with his assistant Lutz (Gustaf Hammarsten).

Once there he tries to get a pilot together with the help of an agent and interviews all manner of people including Paula Abdul, Harrison Ford and Ron Paul. For good measure he also goes to the Middle East where he upsets orthodox Jews and Palestinian terrorists; adopts an African baby; tries to ‘become straight’ with the help of religion, martial arts and the US military; and almost causes a riot at a cage wrestling match in Arkansas.

Directed by Larry Charles, it utilizes the same techniques used in Borat and Religulous in which various people were contacted and slyly duped into signing release forms before being interviewed. This all leads to another daring and frequently hilarious comedy with Baron Cohen demonstrating his gifts for physical and improvised comedy as well as considerable nerve in some unlikely situations.

Given that the subject matter is frequently more extreme than Borat, it has earned an 18 certificate which is almost certainly going to take the edge of its earnings. That said, Universal’s marketing campaign for this film has been nothing short of brilliant with acres of coverage including that stunt with Eminem at the MTV awards, various premieres in character around the globe and some clever social media marketing (including specially branded pages on MeinSpace, Tvitter and Facebuch).

The word of mouth is likely to be very strong and box office could be stellar although it will be interesting to see how it fares with mainstream audiences. [Vue West End & Nationwide / Cert 18]

Fired Up (Sony Pictures): A US comedy about two high school football players (Nicholas D’Agosto and Eric Christian Olsen) who decide to become cheerleaders. Directed by Will Gluck, it earned poor reviews when it opened in the US back in February and is unlikely to do serious business over here. [London & Nationwide / Cert 12A]

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IN LIMITED RELEASE

The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee (Icon): A drama about a 50-year-old woman (Robin Wright Penn) who begins to re-examine her life when her older husband (Alan Arkin) moves into a retirement home. Directed by Rebecca Miller, it features an impressive cast for a US indie drama with supporting turns from Keanu Reeves, Alan Arkin, Monica Bellucci, Julianne Moore, Maria Bello and Winona Ryder. [London & Key Cities / Cert 15]

Soul Power (Eureka Entertainment): A documentary about the famous R&B concert in Kinshasa, Zaire that took place ahead of the famous Rumble in the Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974. Organised by Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, it featured a host of musical luminaries such as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz and Miriam Makeba. Directed by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, it is a verité film, entirely composed of footage shot at the legendary music festival dubbed Zaire ’74. [Odeons G’Wich, Panton St., Surrey Quays & N’wide (P’views Glastonbury 2009) / Cert 12A]

35 Shots Of Rum (New Wave Films): A French family drama directed by Claire Denis about the relationship between a father and daughter which gets complicated by the arrival of a handsome young man. [Apollo Picc Circus, Cine Lumiere, Curzon Soho, Renoir & Key Cities / Cert 12A]

Cloud 9 (Soda Pictures): German drama about a happily-married woman in her mid-sixties who’s world is turned upside down when she meets an older man she finds herself drawn to. Directed by Andreas Dresen and starring Ursula Werner, Horst Rehberg and Horst Westphal. [BFI Southbank, Renoir & Key Cities / Cert 15]

Echoes Of Home (ICA Films): Documentary about the Swiss tradition of yodelling relayed by old traditionalists and young innovators, directed by Stefan Schwietert. [ICA Cinema from today & Key Cities from 24 July]

Ichi (Manga Entertainment): A female take on the Zatoichi tales about a blind singer named Ichi who possesses lethal fighting skills. Directed by Fumihiko Sori. [ICA Cinema & Key Cities / Cert 15]

Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters (ICA Cinema/Screenwriters Festival): Director Paul Schrader‘s own cut of his 1985 film about Japanese novelist and playwright Yukio Mishima whose literary career ended in ritual suicide. [ICA Cinema & selected Key Cities / Cert 15]

> UK cinema releases for July 2009
> DVD Picks for this week including Doubt, The Red Shoes and Three Monkeys (W/C Monday 5th July)

Tags bruno, fired up, the private lives of pippa lee, uk cinema releases

Amusing TV

Sacha Baron Cohen on Letterman

Post author By Ambrose Heron
Post date 09/07/2009

Sacha Baron Cohen stepped out of character to appear on Letterman last night to discuss Brüno.

Here he talks about the scene where he interviewed a terrorist and compared Osama Bin Laden to a ‘homeless Santa Claus’.

N.B. There actually is a Craigslist in Beirut, although it may prove tricky to find terrorists on it.

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UPDATE: He also did the Top Ten list as Bruno.

> Official site for Bruno
> My thoughts on the film

Tags bruno, sacha baron cohen

Cinema Thoughts

Brüno

Post author By Ambrose Heron
Post date 07/07/2009

Brüno is a welcome satirical counterblast to the shallow celebrity culture currently engulfing the western world but also another triumph for Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles.

The first and most important thing about the latest film featuring a character from Da Ali G Show is that it is really funny.

Much of it contains sequences that are not only hilarious but also peppered with an anarchic intelligence that will prompt many to think ‘am I really watching this?’ whilst they laugh out loud.

Forget the shallow hipsters who complained with the mantra that ‘yeah, Borat was OK, but it wasn’t the funniest film ever‘ (which it wasn’t despite being a groundbreaking studio comedy) because Bruno takes the Borat baton and runs further and faster.

If you are unfamiliar with the central character (played by Sacha Baron Cohen), he is a flamboyant gay Austrian fashion journalist, who first appeared in segments on Da Ali G Show.

He often interviews unsuspecting guests about fashion, entertainment, celebrities often making them uncomfortable with his oblivious references to gay sex or the Holocaust.

The arc of this film sees Bruno blacklisted from his usual haunts after causing a major scene at Milan fashion week and then following him as he tries to make it big in the US.

With the help of his sidekick Lutz (Gustaf Hammarsten) he tries to get a pilot together with the help of an agent and interviews all manner of people including Paula Abdul, Harrison Ford and Ron Paul.

There are also some stand out sequences involving Bruno going to the Middle East where he upsets orthodox Jews and Palestinian terrorists; an uncomfortable appearance on a TV chat show where he unveils an adopted African child; an extended attempt to ‘become straight’ with the help of religion, martial arts and the US military and a truly riotous climax involving a cage wrestling match in Arkansas.

It utilizes the techniques used in Borat and Religulous in which various people were contacted and slyly duped into signing release forms before being interviewed.

I suspect that some will think that a lot of the scenes were faked or setup given their outrageous and uncomfortable nature.

Although I wouldn’t doubt that some clever editing has been employed I actually suspect much of it actually happened.

When I spoke with Larry Charles last October he told me how on Borat and Religulous he learned that the irony is that people are dying to speak on camera if you give them a vague outline of what the film is about.

He also stressed the key in a lot of scenes was to keep the cameras running until they were literally shut down.

Bruno seems like the most extreme example yet of this kind of comedy guerrilla film making and there were long stretches where I was in awe of Baron Cohen’s ability to keep his character going in the craziest of situations, where arrest or physical harm seemed likely.

It is the underlying and often uncomfortable sense of comic dread
in the various situations that gives the film its raw power and ability to surprise even if it bears many structural and stylistic similarities to Borat.

What makes it a sharper and more audacious film than its predecessor though is its ability to scratch a little deeper.

It gleefully exposes the prejudices of various cultures towards homosexuality but also manages to turn the tables on the vapid cultures of modern-day celebrity and the fashion world.

Previous satires such as Pret-a-Porter (1994) never worked because – aside from being poorly made – the fashion world is arguably beyond parody anyway.

But somehow Charles, Baron Cohen and his team of writers have managed to have their cake and eat it – Bruno is a repellent narcissist who actually mirrors and lampoons the inanities of fashionistas and the wider celebrity culture.

One sequence in which he asks for help in finding which charity is ‘hot’ at the moment seems like a throwaway scene but is more pointed than it may seem on first viewing.

Somehow the character of Bruno feels like the perfect double agent in the age of Paris Hilton, reality TV and celebrity magazines which take themselves more seriously than even they know.

This has been one of the features of an extraordinary marketing campaign which has seen Baron Cohen promote the film in character (a clever move repeated from Borat).

So far it has seen him get a load of publicity by staging a stunt with Eminem at the MTV awards, dress up at various premieres around the globe and engage with fans via some clever social media marketing (including specially branded pages on MeinSpace, Tvitter and Facebuch).

The irony of all this is that the film is likely to be a big mainstream hit, perhaps proof that Bruno is the ultimate comedic double agent: a fake celebrity highlighting the very fakeness of celebrity itself.

> Official site
> Bruno at the IMDb
> Read other reviews of the film at Metacritic