A trailer for the new series of the HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher.
Can a British TV executive please bring this to UK screens?
Categories
Author: Ambrose Heron
Editor of FILMdetail
Categories
The Perils of an Oscar Hoax
Some prankster has released what is almost certainly a fake document detailing the ‘Oscar winners’ on Sunday.
It is purportedly a ‘memo’ from AMPAS President Sid Ganis, but not only does it look fake, they have also made the mistake of listing Ben Burtt as working on The Dark Knight (he didn’t).
Academy spokesperson Leslie Unger has issued a stern denial to Entertainment Weekly, saying:
”The document is a complete fraud.
PricewaterhouseCoopers is still counting the ballots and there are only two people there who will know the complete list of winners in advance of the envelopes being opened during the ceremony.
The Academy’s president is not advised of the winners in advance and no such list is created with his name on it.”
However, in some respects, it is a sly hoax as the purported ‘winners’ in the big categories are heavily tipped to win anyway (Slumdog Millionaire for Best Picture, Danny Boyle for Best Director, Mickey Rourke for Best Actor and Kate Winslet for Best Actress).
So, the nightmare scenario for the Academy will be the (highly unlikely) event in which all these ‘predictions’ come in.
Even if it was a fake, a lot of people might not believe protestations to the contrary.
But it is worth remembering how the voting process actually works.
Once the ballots are in, the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers tabulates the nominee ballot votes in secrecy.
The Academy then announces the nominees in an early morning press conference and soon after the Academy mails the final ballots to all members.
They then have two weeks to return their final votes and then polling is closed.
PricewaterhouseCoopers tabulates the votes in absolute secrecy and seals the results.
After all the ballots are in, and the votes are counted, it all comes down to the actual night itself.
There is an urban myth that in 1992 Marisa Tomei was wrongly awarded the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress because the presenter Jack Palance read the wrong winner out.
However, one of the reasons this isn’t true is because, since 1953, two representatives from PriceWaterhouseCoopers are waiting in the wings when each award is announced.
If, for some reason, the presenter announced the wrong winner then they would come on stage and re-announce the real winner.
But if the hoax winners correspond to the real ones, expect the conspiracy theories to begin in earnest.
> The full list of this year’s Oscar nominations
> Snopes on the Marisa Tomei myth
> How Stuff Works on The Oscars
> A Slate article questioning whether PWC can be trusted with the Oscar results
- Leaked Oscar Winners?
- UK Cinema Releases: Friday 20th February 2009
- ‘Slumdog’ child actors will attend Oscars in LA
- I’m with the band! Oscars stage design revealed
- Watchmen Trailer Recreated Using Motion Comics
- Box Office Tracking: Madea Goes To Jail Should Easily Win Oscar Weekend
- 2/20 Oscarweb Round-up
- Oscar coverage gets a closeup
- Variety Rearranges Deck Chairs On Titanic
- Oscar Threat Level Elevated As Kate Winslet Pressured By Underdog
- The guardian.co.uk/film Oscars drinking game
- The Academy Awards: The Critics Vs. The Crowd
NATIONAL RELEASES
Gran Torino (Warner Bros.): Just 3 months after Changeling opened at UK cinemas Clint Eastwood returns with another film, which he directs and stars in. The story is about a disgruntled Korean War vet (Eastwood) who sets out to reform his neighbour, a young Hmong teenager (Bee Vang), who tried to steal his vintage 1972 Gran Torino car.
Although this project came together quickly, it is a lean and satisfying tale told with Eastwood’s customary efficiency and class. It would be safe to categorise it as a drama, but there are some very funny sequences, mostly involving the culture clash between Eastwood’s gruff character and his immigrant neighbours.
There are times when the film skates on thin ice when dealing with the issue of race, but Eastwood and screenwriter Nick Schenk deserve credit for venturing in territory that most Hollywood execs wouldn’t touch with a bargepole.
It is a pleasingly old fashioned drama of simple pleasures and a fitting swansong for the iconic tough guy persona Eastwood has owned for a generation.
For some reason Warner Bros are doing a platform release in London before going nationwide next week (perhaps they were hoping for Oscar nominations that didn’t materialise?) when it can expect to do decent, if unspectacular business. [Cert 15 / Vue West End – Nationwide from 27 February]
Che Part Two (Optimum Releasing): The second part of Steven Soderbergh’s Che biopic focuses on his futile attempt to bring revolution to Bolivia and eventual ill-fated demise.
When viewed as two films I have to admit a preference for the vibrancy and sweep of Part One, but there is much to recommend in this darker second segment.
Benicio Del Toro is still splendid as the revolutionary icon and the wide-screen lensing of the first part is replaced with a more claustrophobic shooting style – it was shot on the 1:85 ratio instead of the wider 2:35 format.
Although some critics have found both films a little dry, Soderbergh deserves a great deal of credit for the authenticity and audacity of this project – a testament to the director’s ability to mix his successful Hollywood career with more intriguing work.
For a foreign laguage film, Part One did well early in January (helped by some Film Coucil money enabling a wider release) and Part Two can expect to do similar business. [Cert 15 / Cineworld Wandsworth, Odeon Covent Garden, Vue Shepherd’s Bush & Nationwide]
Cadillac Records (Sony Pictures): A biopic written and directed by Darnell Martin that explores the musical era from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, chronicling the life of the influential Chicago-based record-company executive Leonard Chess, and the singers who recorded for Chess Records.
The cast includes Adrien Brody as Chess, Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon, Mos Def as Chuck Berry, Columbus Short as Little Walter, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters, and Beyoncé Knowles as Etta James.
Although this has a starry cast and got favourable US reviews, it may struggle to find a sizeable audience in the UK. It may be that a more appreciative audience discovers the film on DVD and TV in the future. [Cert 15 / Odeon Panton St, C’Worlds Enfield, Feltham, Wandsworth & Nationwide]
Confessions Of A Shopaholic (Walt Disney): Disney execs who greenlit this film must have been kicking themselves when Wall Street and modern consumer capitalism started to implode last Autumn.
Why? Well, this is a film based on the chick-lit novel by Sophie Kinsella about young woman (Isla Fisher) who moves to Manhattan in order to nurture her shopping addiction and get involved in the New York magazine world.
Directed by P. J. Hogan, it also stars John Goodman and Joan Cusack as her parents and was probably rushed into production when The Devil Wears Prada became a hit.
This might seem like a bad time to be releasing such a film, but perhaps reverse psychology and a desperate need for escapism might help it to a better than expected gross. [Cert PG / Vue West End & Nationwide]
Push (Icon): This sci-fi thriller about a group of young American ex-pats with telekinetic and clairvoyant abilities seems to bear some similarities to last year’s Jumper.
Directed by Paul McGuigan, it stars Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Djimon Hounsou, and Camilla Belle as some of the psychic peoplewho band together to attempt to battle a government agency.
It has already spawned possibly the longest ever ever plot summary on Wikipedia but on a more serious note, the negative US reviews and lack of any real star may hamper its UK box office prospects. [Cert 12A / London & Nationwide]
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IN LIMITED RELEASE
Anvil! The Story Of Anvil (The Works): An offbeat documentary about a 30-year-old Canadian metal band led by two lifelong friends in their 50’s. Directed by Sacha Gervasi it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008, and has won Audience Awards at various other festivals since then. [Cert 15 / Curzon Soho & Key Cities]
20th Century Boys (4Digital Asia): A limited run at the ICA Cinema for this live-action take on Naoki Urasawa’s ace manga series. [Cert 15 / ICA Cinema & Key Cities]
> UK Cinema Releases for February 2009
> Get the latest showtimes for your local cinema via Google Movies
> Check out our latest DVD picks (W/C Monday 16th February)
Categories
New Watchmen Clips
These are 3 new clips from upcoming Watchmen film.
Watchmen opens in the UK on March 6th
> Official site for the film
> Find out more about the original comic at Wikipedia
The new trailer for Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.
Watch the HD version here.
Categories
The Family Guy vs Christian Bale
I thought the Christian Bale meltdown meme had run its course but this Family Guy mashup is expertly done.
[Link via In Contention]
I just got this email from The Prince Charles Cinema, which for those who don’t know, is repertory cinema located in Leicester Place, just north of Leicester Square in London’s West End.
It is a fantastic venue for any film lover as it shows a wide variety of films including cult, arthouse and classic films alongside recent Hollywood releases.
One thing that has always been startling about the place is the cheap tickets prices and in the email they just sent me is a reminder of how cheap they are compared to the average cinema in the West End.
| Cinema Name | Weekday Matinee | Weekday Evening | Weekend |
| The Prince Charles | £1.50 / £4 | £3.50 / £5 | £3.50 / £5 |
| The Curzon | £8 | £12 | £12 |
| The Vue | £11.90 | £13.50 | £11.90 – £13.50 |
| The Empire | £9.95 | £9.95 | £9.95 |
| Odeon Leicester Sq / Mezzanine | £9 – £14 | £9.50 – £19 | £9.50 – £19 |
The differences are pretty remarkable, especially given that it is the only truly independent cinema left in Central London.
If you are planning a trip to London and haven’t yet discovered the Prince Charles, then it is well worth a visit.
> Official site
> Find out more about the cinema at Wikipedia
Categories
Stephen Colbert predicts the Oscars
Comedy Central‘s fake news host Stephen Colbert predicts this year’s Oscar winners.
DVD PICKS
The Up Series (Network): A re-issue for the 2005 edition of this remarkable documentary series which has followed the lives of fourteen British children since 1964.
In the original Seven Up (1963) 14 seven-year-old children from vastly different backgrounds were interviewed and every seven years, the director Michael Apted films new material from the original subjects in order to track the changes in their lives.
An evolving project, it is the longest-running documentary project in history and began as a study of the influence of class on schoolchildren in England.This instalment, the seventh, features returnees Tony, Bruce, Sue, Jackie, Suzy, Paul, Simon, Nick, Andrew, John, Lynn, and Neil.
It also incorporates footage from the previous films in order to provide background and ensure that the film stands on its own. A moving and fascinating project, it highlights how interesting ‘normal’ life can be when looked at in a certain way.
Since the first series, each installment has broken down like this:
- Seven Up! (5 May 1964), directed by Paul Almond, narrated by Douglas Keay
- 7 Plus Seven (15 December 1970) and after, directed and narrated by Michael Apted
- 21 Up (9 May 1977)
- 28 Up (20–21 November 1984)
- 35 Up (22 May 1991)
- 42 Up (21–22 July 1998)
- 49 Up (15 and 22 September 2005)
Filming for the next series, 56 Up, is expected in late 2011 or early 2012.
* Listen to an interview we did in 2007 with Michael Apted where we discussed the Up series *
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Amadeus (Warner Bros): It is a bit of a barren week for DVDs but if you own a Blu-ray player then I would highly reccommend Miloš Forman‘s 1984 film of Peter Schafer’s play.
Although it takes some liberties with history, it is a fascinating study of the relationship between two composers in 18th century Vienna – Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), the successful court composer for Emperor Joseph of Austria, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce), the child prodigy who, while vulgar and irritating, writes some of the greatest music the world has ever heard.
The film unfolds in a series of flashbacks, as Salieri is consumed with jealously by Mozart’s natural talent, and is unable to accept the knowledge that he will never possess the genius of a man he cannot stand.
It was released in 1984 to widespread and richly deserved acclaim, with the film dominating the Oscars that year, scooping Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor.
The visuals and production design are marvellous and unlike some period dramas, it contains a gripping central drama with two powerhouse performances from Abraham and Hulce.
The 3-disc edition includes all of the substantial special features from its standard DVD counterpart, the director’s cut of the film, a bonus compilation CD that contains some of Mozart’s finest music, and a Digital Copy for good measure.
The extras break down like this:
- Audio Commentary: Director Milos Forman and writer Peter Shaffer sit down for an oft-off topic chat about the production, their careers, the research they compiled for the project, and the reasoning behind some of the more controversial decisions they made in regards to the story and their portrayal of Mozart. They cover a bit too much ground from the excellent documentary (more on that gem of a feature in a moment), but they still deliver a breezy, affable commentary with endless details, insights, and anecdotes.
- The Making of Amadeus (SD, 61 minutes): This full-length documentary delves into the complete production, from the genesis of the project, to casting relative unknowns, to shooting on lavish sets that presented their own unique problems, and to the film’s release and reception. It’s a sprawling, thorough behind-the-scenes mammoth that should more than satisfy any fan of Amadeus.
- Special Compilation CD (57 minutes): An 8-track audio CD with music from Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-fields Orchestra. The disc features an arrangement of The Abduction from the Seraglio, Chorus of the Janissaries, and Ein Deutsches Kriegslied; the third movement of Concerto for Two Pianos; Act IV of Le nozze di Figaro; The Magic Flute, Aria No. 14, Queen of the Night; the second movement ofPiano Concerto in D minor; the first movement of Symphonie Concertante; Six German Dances Nos. 1-3; and Act II of Don Giovanni. The set also includes a loose insert detailing each track and notes about its significance.
- Original Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes)
- 36-Page Production Booklet
- Digital Copy Disc
While the supplemental package only consists of a documentary and a commentary, the features’ extensive and informative nature, the inclusion of the hour-long audio CD, and the quality of the 36-page production booklet make this release well worth its cost if you have joined the Blu-ray bandwagon.
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ALSO OUT
CSI Season 8 – Part 2 (Momentum)
Film Noir (Optimum)
High School Musical 3 (Disney)
Hulk Vs. (Lionsgate)
Law & Order – Season 6 (Universal Playback)
Law and Order Special Victims Unit – Season 7 (Universal Playback)
Picture This (Fox)
Righteous Kill (Lionsgate)
The Fall Guy – Season 2 (Fox)
The Mutant Chronicles (EIV)
Thick as Thieves (Lionsgate)
Whitechapel (2Entertain)
Within These Walls – Series 1 & Series 2 (Network)
> Buy The Up Series and Amadeus at Amazon UK
> Browse more DVD Releases at Amazon UK and Play
> Check the latest DVD prices at DVD Price Check
> Take a look at the current UK cinema releases (W/C Friday 13th February)
- ‘The Milk of Sorrow’ Wins at Berlin Festival
- Weekend Box Office: February 13-15, 2009
- Oscar documentaries may come down to the “Wire”
- Friday the 13th Producer Already Talking Sequel
- Berlin Winners: The Daily | IFC.com
- Oscars: Keeping Things Short … And Sweet
- Berlin ‘09 Winners: 59th Fest Wraps with Prizes
Categories
Friday the 13th Deaths in 7 Minutes
Given the success of the Friday the 13th remake this weekend, here is a compilation of all the deaths from the original series:
- A Valentines Day Gift For Hollywood?
- Multinational Forces at the Berlin Film Festival
- The Mighty Bruce
- Clint Eastwood interview in The Guardian about Gran Torino
- Hugh Jackman plans for `intimate’ Oscars
- DreamWorks does a fast U-turn
- Oscar misses flight to Hollywood
- European admissions and market shares in 2008
- Gee, Why Is Rupert Murdoch In LA Now?
- Simon Mayo & Mark Kermode: 13th Feb 2009
Categories
Mickey Rourke on Charlie Rose
Mickey Rourke sits down for an hour long interview with Charlie Rose.
Fingers crossed he wins the Oscar a week on Sunday.
- UK Cinema Releases: Friday 13th February 2009
- ‘Friday the 13th’ feels lucky in Europe
- Box Office Tracking: Friday the 13th Set to Win President’s Day Weekend
- The House Next Door: Gomorrah
- Cahiers Du Cinéma Will Continue to Publish
- Blood and gutsiness
- Under New Leadership and Facing Economic Realities, Film Society of Lincoln Center Cuts Staff
- EW’s Oscar predictions
- Despite economy, the show must go on in Hollywood
(AP)
NATIONAL RELEASES
Notorious (Fox): A biopic about the life of hip hop star Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious B.I.G, sees him played played by newcomer Jamal Woolard. It has a supporting film that includes Angela Bassett as his mother Voletta Wallace, Derek Luke as Sean Combs, Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur, Naturi Naughton as Lil’ Kim and Antonique Smith as Faith Evans. Despite mixed reviews in the US, it earned a respectable gross and looks like it will easily earn back its modest budget in foreign and ancillary markets. [Cert 15 / Vue West End & Nationwide]
Hotel For Dogs (Paramount): Dogs are big business at the box office these days with Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Marley and Me and Bolt proving to be big hits in the States. The latest dog themed film is this adaptation of the Lois Duncan novel about two orphans who take in stray dogs at an empty house. Directed by Thor Freudenthal, it stars Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon, Kyla Pratt and Don Cheadle. Paramount will be hoping that it eats into Bolt’s box office, but that could be a big ask given the lack of stars and buzz. [Cert U / London & Nationwide]
The Pink Panther 2 (Sony Pictures): Soon to be an entry in the dictionary of unnecessary sequels is this follow up to the 2006 reboot of The Pink Panther with Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau. Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appears in the female lead as criminology expert, Sonia, whilst John Cleese replaces Kevin Kline as Chief Inspector Dreyfus. Jean Reno and Emily Mortimer reprising their roles as his partner Ponton and his girlfriend Nicole whilst Andy García and Alfred Molina round out the cast as two detectives. Given that the 2006 film netted Sony an inexplicable $158 million worldwide gross, Sony can expect decent box office from undiscerning audiences. [Cert PG / London & Nationwide]
Friday The 13th (Paramount): Another unnecessary remake (a theme this week) of a famous horror film that looks like it was partly green-lit just so distributors could get a kick out of releasing it on [cue scary music] …Friday the 13th. Directed by Marcus Nispel (who remade the 2003 version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) it is a reboot of the Friday the 13th film series, whose last film was the 2003 crossover film Freddy vs. Jason. The film stars Derek Mears as Jason Voorhees, with Jared Padalecki and Amanda Righetti portraying the male and female leads. Apparently this one will use elements from the first four film and will involve similar levels of dismemberment. [Cert 18 / Nationwide]
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IN SELECTED CINEMAS
Billu Barber (Eros): A Bollywoodfilm directed by Priyadarshan, which stars Irrfan Khan and Lara Dutta in the lead roles and Om Puri, Rajpal Yadav and Asrani in supporting roles with guest appearances by actresses Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra. [C’Worlds Feltham, Ilford, Shaftesbury Ave, Odeon Greenwich & Key Cities]
Under The Sea 3D (Imax Corporation): A 3D IMAX documentary that looks at the diverse coastal regions of Southern Australia, New Guinea and the Indo-Pacific areas and the impact of global warming on the oceans. [BFI Imax, Imax Cinemas Greenwich & Wimbledon]
Three Monkeys (New Wave Films): Am acclaimed Turkish film directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan about a driver and his family who are drawn into a web of lies when his employer offers a large monetary reward, on condition that he takes the blame for a hit-and-run. [Cert 15 / Apollo Piccadilly Circus, NFT, Renoir & Key Cities]
King Of The Hill (El Rey de la montaña) (Optimum Releasing): A Spanish thriller from director Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego about two people trying to avoid snipers in a forest. [Cert 15 / ICA Cinema only]
Fuck (ICA Films): A 2005 documentary on the expletive’s origin, why it offends some people so deeply, and what can be gained from its use. [ICA Cinema / Key Cities from March]
> UK Cinema Releases for February 2009
> Get the latest showtimes for your local cinema via Google Movies
> Check out our latest DVD picks (W/C Monday 9th February)
Joaquin Phoenix recently made a strange appearance on Letterman, which has led to people questioning whether it was real or a hoax.
I’m definitely thinking it was the latter.
Categories
Trailer: Inglourious Basterds
The first trailer for Inglorious Basterds, the new World War 2 film directed by Quentin Tarantino.
It is scheduled for a US release in August but the UK date is TBC.
Categories
Sony Releases New Box Thing
The Onion report on Sony’s latest ‘box thing’.
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Claude Lelouch – C’etait un Rendezvous (1976) from vtg on Vimeo.
The above short film was made in 1976 by Claude Lelouch and is a one take shot of a high speed drive through Paris.
It starts in a tunnel of the Paris Périphérique at Porte Dauphine, with an onboard view from an unseen car exiting up on a ramp to Avenue Foch.
It was shot on a gyro-stabilised camera mounted on the bumper of a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 and makes the car chases in Bullitt and The French Connection look tame by comparison.
[Link via HE]
Categories
Richard Nixon on All in the Family
A strange tape from April 1971 of Richard Nixon discussing Archie Bunker, CBS and homosexuality.
In comes from the middle of a discussion with his aides HR Haldeman and John Ehrlichman on how they should shape their public relations in regard to what the ‘average man’ cares about.
They talk about the new television show All in the Family and the recent episode Nixon had seen, which leads to a larger and more surreal discussion.
- Three Join Cast of Herzog/Lynch Collaboration
- Benjamin Button takes Slumdog Millionaire down a peg
- Cate Blanchett may be Maid Marian
- DreamWorks and Disney Announce Distrib Deal
- 1930s Hollywood star power
- VOTD: The Sopranos, Uncensored
- Sneak Preview: Inglourious Basterds Trailer
- UK DVD Releases: Monday 9th February 2009
Benicio Del Toro was on The Charlie Rose Show recently discussing Che.
Digital Domain show how the visual effects in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button were done.
DVD PICKS
Gomorrah (Optimum): One of the outstanding films of last year was this dark exploration of crime in modern day Italy directed by Matteo Garrone. The narrative was based on true life stories from Roberto Saviano’s bestselling book about the Comorrah, a criminal organisation centred around southern Italy (especially Naples and Caserta).
There is a 13-year-old boy (Salvatore Abruzzese) who falls in with a criminal gang; a messenger (Gianfelice Imparato) who pays the families of prisoners; a young graduate (Carmine Paternoster) who gets involved in toxic waste management; a tailor (Salvatore Cantalupo) who wants to break free of local suppliers and two wannabe gangsters (Marco Macor and Ciro Petrone) who find a stash of weapons and want to act like Scarface.
It is impeccably cast and the ensemble acting was terrific, but the film also creates a hellishly believable modern landscape far removed from that of mob movies like The Godfather, Goodfellas or The Sopranos.
This was a world riddled with poverty, tension and despair where crime infects everyone like a rampant virus. It paints a devastating picture not only of modern Italy, but also how the tentacles of the Comorrah spread out to the wider world.
The film scooped the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, where it deservedly screened to critical acclaim. Although at times it was an uncomfortable and brutal film to watch, it remains one of the most powerful and haunting crime films of the last decade.
It is available on 2-Disc DVD and Blu-ray Disc and the extras on both include:
- Trailer
- Interview with Roberto Saviano
- Interview with Toni Servillo, Salvatore Cantalupo, Gianfelice Imparato
- Deleted Scenes
- Gomorrah – 5 Stories: Making Of featurette
On DVD the film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with stereo and 5.1 surround audio and English subtitles. On Blu-ray the film is presented in 1080P 2.35:1 widescreen with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and optional English subtitles.
* Listen to our interview with Matteo Garrone about Gomorrah *
I’ve Loved You So Long (Lionsgate): An intelligent and beautifully crafted portrayal of family love which revolved around two sisters named Juliette (Kristin Scott Thomas) and Lea (Elsa Zylberstein), who reconnect with one another after a prolonged absence.
To say too much about the plot would spoil the cleverly constructed narrative which gradually reveals their past and the reasons as to why they have been separated for so long.
Writer and director Philippe Claudel was better known as a novelist in his native France and this also shares many of the pleasures of well written fiction: nuanced characters, slow burning emotions and a real sense of the complexities of human relationships.
This is a film in which a lot of characters spend a lot of time in rooms talking about themselves, but at the same time manages to burrow deeply into the tangled emotions of it’s protagonist.
Much of the power comes from two marvellous central performances and Scott Thomas proved what a captivating screen presence in what is arguably the performance of her career so far.
It is available on DVD and Blu-ray Disc and the extras on both include:
- Interview with Philippe Claudel
- Deleted Scenes
- Deleted Scenes with Audio Commentary
Burn After Reading (Universal): After the Oscar winning triumph of No Country For Old Men, the Coen Brothers return to more comic ground with this tale of a demoted CIA agent (John Malkovich) who loses the manuscript to his memoirs and then gets blackmailed by two clueless gym workers (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt).
George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins and J.K. Simmons round out an impressive cast but this is actually a very quirky and mannered comedy. Critical reaction was mixed when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival and there is no doubt that some will find it a chilly, even condescending, film with its characters nearly all appearing to be either stupid, vain or clueless.
Despite some critics disliking it, I found much of it a welcome satire on the unapologetic idiocy of the Bush era, with some excellent comic performances. Universal will be hoping for a repeat of the US box office performance, in which the starry cast helped sell what is actually quite an uncommercial film in many respects.
Available on DVD and Blu-ray, it comes with the following extras:
- Finding the Burn – The Making of Burn After Reading
- DC Insiders Run Amuck – An all-star cast creates the world of Washington, DC, insiders all trying to get ahead or find true love
- Welcome Back, George – This comedy piece features Mr. Clooney as he returns for his third collaboration with Ethan and Joel
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ALSO OUT
Against the Dark aka Late Night (Sony)
Angel (Lionsgate)
Are You Ready for Love? (Sony)
Bad Girls: The Musical (2Entertain)
Beehive: Series 1 (C4 DVD)
Death Defying Acts (Lionsgate)
Death Note – Volume 4 (Manga)
Hit and Run (Fox)
Merlin – Volume 2 (2 Entertain)
Moscow Zero (Sony)
Nights in Rodanthe (Warner)
Open Season 2 (Sony)
Plus One: Series 1 (C4 DVD)
Star Fleet: The Complete Series (Fremantle)
Strictly Come Dancing: The Best of 2008 (2Entertain)
Taken (Fox)
The Escapist (Vertigo Films)
The Gigolos (BFI)
The Heart of the Earth (Metrodome)
The House Bunny (Sony)
The Hunting Party (Momentum)
The Joy of Sex Education (BFI)
The New Pink Panther Show – Season 1 (Fox)
The Pink Panther and Friends Triple Pack (Fox)
The Secret Life of Elephants (2Entertain)
The Wackness (Revolver)
They Wait (Metrodome)
Thick as Thieves: The Complete Series (Network)
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> Browse more DVD Releases at Amazon UK and Play
> Check the latest DVD prices at DVD Price Check
> Take a look at the current UK cinema releases (W/C Friday 6th February)
> Check the latest DVD prices at DVD Price Check
> Take a look at the current UK cinema releases (W/C Friday 6th February)
- ‘Button’ sews up foreign box office
- BAFTA Winners
- Juno, WALL-E and The Dark Knight Take Home Grammy Awards
- The Wong Kar-wai Collection
- Frosty Cold Nixina
- ‘Slumdog’ named best picture at UK film awards
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Categories
Mickey Rourke’s BAFTA Speech
Probably the highlight of last night’s BAFTAs was Mickey Rourke’s acceptance speech.
Categories
Interviews with BAFTA Winners
Here are some interviews I’ve done in the past year with people involved in films that won at the BAFTAs tonight.
- Danny Boyle on Slumdog Millionaire
- Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke on The Wrestler
- Stephen Daldry and Ralph Fiennes on The Reader
- Liam Cunningham on Hunger
- Noel Clarke and Adam Deacon on AdULTHOOD
- Philippe Petit on Man on Wire
- Angus Maclane on WALL-E
Check out more interviews here and subscribe to our interview podcast via iTunes or RSS feed.
> Full list of this year’s winners
> Official BAFTA site
> Full list of this year’s nominees
Categories
BAFTA Winners
![BAFTAs 2009 [Photo by Flickr user FoxyCoxy]](/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/baftas-2009.jpg "BAFTAs 2009 [Photo by Flickr user FoxyCoxy]")
Here are the full list of winners at tonight’s BAFTA awards, which were held at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London.
BEST FILM
Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ACTOR
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
BEST ACTRESS
Kate Winslet – The Reader
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle – Slumdog Milllionaire
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
In Bruges – Martin McDonagh
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Slumdog Millionaire – Simon Beaufoy
BEST FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
I’ve Loved You So Long
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Wall-E
THE CARL FOREMAN AWARD (Special achievement by a British director, writer or producer for their first feature film)
Steve McQueen (Director/Writer) – Hunger
BEST MUSIC
Slumdog Millionaire – AR Rahman
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Slumdog Millionaire – Anthony Dod Mantle
BEST EDITING
Slumdog Millionaire – Chris Dickens
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Donald Graham Burt, Victor J Zolfo
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
The Duchess – Michael O’Connor
BEST SOUND
Slumdog Millionaire – Glenn Freemantle, Resul Pookutty, Richard Pryke, Tom Sayers, Ian Tapp
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Eric Barba, Craig Barron, Nathan McGuinness, Edson Williams
BEST MAKE-UP & HAIR
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Jean Black, Colleen Callaghan
BEST SHORT ANIMATION
Wallace And Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death – Steve Pegram, Nick Park, Bob Baker
BEST SHORT
September – Stewart le Marechal, Esther May Campbell
BEST BRITISH FILM
Man On Wire
THE ORANGE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
Noel Clarke
> Official BAFTA site
> Full list of this year’s nominees
> The original longlist
[Photo courtesy of Flickr user FoxyCoxy]
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- Weekend Box Office: February 6-8, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Categories
The ‘I Can Read Movies’ Series
Spacesick is a design blog that has done a marvellous series that features features cult movies reimagined as vintage paperback covers.
Highlander, Face/Off and Ghostbusters are excellent but you should also check out more at his blog and Flickr account.
> Spacesick design blog
> 70 Years of Penguin design at NotCot
[Link via GrainEdit]
- Actor Bale speaks out over rant
- Movie Review | ‘2009 Oscar-Nominated Shorts’: Oscar Shorts, Low-Hype and Sweet
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- ‘Button’ set for strong debut in Europe
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- UK DVD Releases: Monday 2nd February 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Categories
Miranda July on How Buttons Are Made
Miranda July explains how buttons are ‘made’.
[Link via /Film]
NATIONAL RELEASES
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (Warner Bros): This high profile big budget adaptation an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story stars Brad Pitt as the title character, a man who is born as an old man and ages backwards throughout his life. Directed by David Fincher, from a script written by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, it also stars Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond, Tilda Swinton and Jason Flemyng. Told in flashback, it is an epic tale of one man’s life during the 20th century, from in 1918 to 2005.
On first viewing I admired it more as a technical exercise and was puzzled as to why a director like Fincher was attracted to this material. Why did they alter the original story so much? What were the contemporary references all about? And wasn’t it a bit too similar to Forrest Gump? (also scripted by Roth). However, on second viewing I found it to be a much richer experience – it is essentially a fable about love and loss and gains its power from the central concept of living life backwards.
Far from being a gimmick, it actually becomes a profound way of dramatising the ageing process. Forget the Oscar fuelled hype and snarky critical hate surrounding this film and approach it with an open mind. The makeup, visual effects, cinematography, score and performances make it an unusual and affecting big budget rarity.
Because studios don’t like making expensive dramas like this, Paramount have split costs with Warner Bros, with the latter being the UK distributor. The Oscar nominations and star power of Pitt and Blanchett should give it a top 2 finish at least, even though the length (166 mins) will curb its earnings. [Cert 12A / Nationwide]
Doubt (Walt Disney): In 2005, John Patrick Shanley wrote the hit play Doubt: A Parable, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. Now Shanley has directed a film version called Doubt which stars Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius, the stern principal of a Catholic school in the Bronx during the 1960s, who comes into conflict with a reforming priest named Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
A strong supporting cast includes Amy Adams and Viola Davis and although at times it is a little too stagey, the strength of the original play shines through and gives the impressive cast a chance to flex their considerable acting muscles. Although some audiences will be left frustrated by the climax, it is worth remembering that it contains the very crux of the play and is also what gives it a rich and lasting power. Disney and Miramax will be hoping that upscale audiences will check this out, but it faces tough competition from Benjamin Button and other awards season fare. [Cert 15 / Nationwide]
Bolt (Walt Disney): The first film from the rejuvenated Walt Disney Animation Studios headed by Pixar supremo John Lasseter tells the story of a dog named Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) who doesn’t realise that the TV show he stars in isn’t actually real. Also featuring the voices of Miley Cyrus, Malcolm McDowell, Susie Essman and Mark Walton, it was directed by Chris Williams and Byron Howard.
The effect of Lasseter overseeing this film has had a marked on effect on the animation and writing, which contains similar levels of wit and emotion apparent in the best Pixar movies. Added to this, is the impressive Dolby 3-D which is less gimicky than recent films like Beowulf, instead featuring a more organic visual approach. Disney can be hopeful that family audiences will power this to the top slot despite it being a very busy weekend at the UK box office. [Cert PG / Vue West End & Nationwide]
* Listen to our interview with John Lasseter about Bolt *
He’s Just Not That Into You (Entertainment): A romantic comedy squarely aimed at female audiences based on the self-help book of the same name by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, which, in turn, was based on a line of dialogue in Sex and the City. The ensemble cast is impressive: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson, Justin Long, Jennifer Connelly, Ginnifer Goodwin, Kevin Connolly and Bradley Cooper.
The plot revolves around the romantic misadventures of several individuals in their twenties and thirties and the common thread is that one person in each relationship is more enamored with the other person. Directed by Ken Kwapis it looks likely to ensnare gullible females but the lack of marketing buzz and mixed reviews would appear to be ominous signs for its box office potential. The recent remix of the trailer with the Christian Bale meltdown might actually be funnier than the film. [Cert 12A/ Nationwide]
Punisher War Zone (Sony Pictures): A fairly unnecessary reboot for the Marvel Comics vigilante The Punisher. British actor Ray Stevenson replaces Thomas Jane as Frank Castle and in this story wages a one-man war against a horribly disfigured mob boss known as Jigsaw (no, not the Saw villain) played by Dominic West. Lionsgate tried to ressurect this a superviolent anti-superhero franchise but it failed at the US box office and Sony (who have UK distribution) will have to look to ancillary markets to find any profit. [Cert 18 / Nationwide]
The Secret Of Moonacre (Warner Bros.): An adaptation of the novel The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge, which is set in the 1840’s and follows Maria Merryweather (Dakota Blue Richards), a 13 year old orphan on her journey to the mysterious Moonacre Manor in the West Country. There she discovers that she is the last Moon Princess and she has only until the next full moon to undo the misdeeds of her ancestors and save the Moonacre estate. Although some talented actors such as Tim Curry, Ioan Gruffudd, and Natascha McElhone feature in the supporting cast, this faces a struggle to capture family audiences with Disney’s Bolt looking to be dominant film for that market this week. [Cert U / Nationwide]
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Optimum Releasing): After making the worst film of his career, Woody Allen returns with his best in years, a witty and sparkling tale of two American women, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) who spend a summer in Barcelona and both fall for a local artist (Javier Bardem) who has an angry ex-wife (Penélope Cruz). Not only is it smarter than his recent outings but it contains some truly marvellous performances, especially from Bardem and Cruz. [Cert 12A/ West End venues / Regions from 13th Feb]
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IN SELECTED RELEASE
The Good, The Bad and The Weird (Icon): The story of three Korean outlaws in 1930s Manchuria and their dealings with the Japanese army and Chinese and Russian bandits. Directed by Kim Ji-woon, it stars Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Jung Woo-sung. [Cert 15 / Cineworld Shaftesbury Ave & Key Cities]
Who Killed Nancy? (Soda Pictures): A limited release for a documentary exploring the death of Nancy Spungen, an ex-prostitute, sometimes stripper, heroin addict, and girlfriend of Sex Pistols’ bassist Sid Vicious. Directed by Alan G Parker. [London venues & Key Cities]
> UK Cinema Releases for February 2009
> Get the latest showtimes for your local cinema via Google Movies
> Check out our latest DVD picks (W/C Monday 2nd February)
John Patrick Shanley is an award winning playwright who won an Oscar for his script for Moonstruck (1987) before going on to direct Joe Versus the Volcano (1990).
In 2005, his play Doubt: A Parable won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Drama Desk Award and Tony Award for Best Play.
Now Shanley has directed a film version called Doubt which stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.
I spoke with him recently in London about the film and you can listen to the interview here:
[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/John_Patrick_Shanley_on_Doubt.mp3]You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here
Doubt is out at UK cinemas today
> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> John Patrick Shanley at the IMDb
> Official UK site for Doubt
This Superbowl ad for Hulu with Alec Baldwin was directed by Peter Berg.