Cinehouse

Cinema That Dares

2017-07-10T17:41:00.000+01:00

Since the cinema experience was created in the late 19th century, the urge to thrill, shock and test audience boundaries has always been apparent. From the moment cinema goers ran for their lives at the sight of a train pulling into a station in the Lumière brothers’ L'arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat, cinema has dared to test audience’s limits wherever possible.

Now, after 140 years at the forefront of entertainment around the world and surviving many tests to its existence, cinema is still daring to push audiences beyond their comfort zone. Paul Verhoven’s critically adored thriller Elle is definitely a film that dares to go against the norm, and so to celebrate its release on Digital Download from on July 3rd and on DVD and Blu-ray from July 10th, we’re looking at other masterpieces from cinema’s global back-catalogue that dared, keeping the art as bold as it can be.

Straw Dogs (1971)

During the 1960’s and 70’s Hollywood became a melting pot for artistic inspiration. As the political mindset of western society began to change with a new generation, so did the focus of film’s that represented them, as themes of rebellion began to be championed by directors with increasing artistic power on set. A telling example of this era is Sam Peckinpah’s intense thriller Straw Dogs, set in the sticks of the British countryside, as an American couple (played by Dustin Hoffman and Susan George) move into a small village and are immediately made to feel unwelcome by the locals. This tension escalates to the point where Hoffman has to turn his home into a fortress to defend against a gang of intruders with anything he can find (surely an inspiration to Home Alone?). As the tension continues to rise, the leader of the gang graphically and violently rapes George’s character, in a scene that was met with immediate outrage, with many feeling it glamorised sexual violence. Views on the film have since become a lot less negative, as it became an example of how the era was testing audience boundaries during a period of massive social change.

Kids (1995)

Much in the same vein as Vietnam War-era Hollywood, the 90’s proved to be another mass venture into the bold and beautiful for cinema, coinciding with the emergence of a new indie genre. Many filmmakers looked to rebel against the increasingly generic mainstream the industry was heading towards, culminating in a host of micro-budget, personable films centred around human issues, such as Larry Clarke’s Kids. Written by Harmoney Korine (Spring Breakers), the film follows a group of youths in New York City, one of whom, Telly, has a goal to de-flower as many virgins as he can. When one of his old encounters discovers that she is HIV+, after only one encounter with a guy, Telly ignores this and decides to continue on his mission. During a time where the message of ‘safe sex’ was everywhere, Kids used the fear of HIV in society to test audiences view on youth culture.

Oldboy (2003)

Since Oldboy’s release at the start of the 21st century, it has snowballed to become a huge cult hit, as gobsmacked reactions to the film helped fan the flames of word-of-mouth. The film uses mystery as its catalyst, following the story of Oh Dae-su, who is imprisoned in a cell which resembles a hotel room for 15 years without knowing the identity of his captor or his captor's motives. When he is finally released, Dae-su finds himself still trapped in a web of conspiracy and violence. His own quest for vengeance becomes tied in with romance when he falls in love with an attractive young woman. The film’s particularly violent and disturbing ending asks questions of its audiences morals when new-found information is presented to them in a plot twist for the ages.

Blue Is The Warmest Colour (2013)

None of the films on this list are to be advised to watch with one’s grandparents, but this is especially true for Abdellatif Kechiche’s Palme d’Or winner Blue is the Warmest Colour. The film runs for three hours, and it feels like at least 10% of that is filled with long and graphic sex scenes, as the lead character Adèle strives to explore her new-found sexuality. Although French cinema is known for its fairly constant examination of eroticism, this gives a much more grounded look at sex, stripped of any glamour. As beautiful and touching a love story as it is a top shelf favourite, the film was met with a mix of rapture and shock but it also represents an age of acceptance over titillation.

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

There are many things in Stanley Kubrick’s excessively bleak and crazed masterpiece A Clockwork Orange that make it a necessary mention. This obviously includes the opening 20 minutes where a gang dressed in top hats and jock straps take the term gallivanting to a whole new level, by beating homeless men to death and raping women in their own home. However, the rest of the film continues to test the audiences morals every which way, as after Malcolm McDowell’s gang leader is brought to justice, he get’s the brainwash treatment in a horrific Orwellian-like attempt at rehabilitation. Kubrick presents his audience with a vulgar human being, and then asks the audience whether they are able to sympathise with him in relation to the bigger social picture. Boundary-breaking cinema from the master himself!

Elle (2016)

Showing that filmmakers still thrive on the opportunity to shock, Paul Verhoven certainly doesn’t hold back with his visualisation of Phillippe Dijan’s novel Oh.... The film’s opening see’s the titular character being assaulted by a masked intruder. Whilst this assault is shocking in itself, it is Elle’s laissez faire response that has caused much of the debate around the film: she rises, sweeps up the broken glass, takes a bath and orders sushi, omits to tell the police but casually tells her closest friends over dinner. Elle appears to be, for the most part, unaffected by the incident, and takes on the task of tracking down the offender herself without help from the police, helping fuel reactions of a feminist masterpiece. Unlike traditional thrillers, it is not the violence that shocks or grips the audience (although violence is most certainly present), it is that Elle makes drastically different decisions to most people, subverting expectations and encapsulating the audience’s intrigue. Verhoven has since said that only the fierce Isabelle Huppert could have given the justification and accessibility to such a closed off character, something we can definitely agree with!

ELLE IS Available ON DIGITAL download JULY 3rd, 2017 AND AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY AND DVD JULY 10th, 2017

The Essential Must-See U.S. Tough Guy Cinema

2017-01-29T19:37:00.000+00:00

American cinema in the Seventies through to the early Nighties was populated with the kind of leading characters you don’t see enough of any more - no nonsense, amoral tough guys, often on the wrong side of the law, rugged complexions lines with life, who start off mean and don’t get any nicer by the closing credits.

Director Sam Peckinpah’s brilliantly brutal and bloody Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) features a prime example of this. Bennie, played by Warren Oates, is a down on his luck bartender whose ears prick up when $1million dollars is offered for the titular, potentially suicidal deed - but as Bennie says, ‘nobody loses all the time’. It’s possibly Oates’s finest performance as the tequila-soaked bounty hunter who, the more outgunned he is, the more savage his becomes. It’s also one of Peckinpah’s greatest films, and nicely encapsulates the violent, lawless ethic of the era.

Here are six more celluloid outlaws as rough and tough as Bennie!

Rollerball (1975)

Seventies tough guy nonpareil James Caan is Jonathan E, fearless superstar player of Rollerball, a future sport that involves motorbikes, spikes, crash helmets and lots of violence. The problem is, despite ensuring massive ratings for the corporate sponsored TV show that is a global sensation, Jonathan wants out. Jonathan is told to do as he is told. And no-one tells Jonathan E what to do. To give you an example of how times have changed, watch the 2002 remake. On second thoughts, don’t. Avoid it all costs. Watch this one.

Exterminator (1980)

Robert Ginty is a battle-scarred Vietnam war veteran who returns to New York to find it a crime-infested hellhole. When a gang take out his ‘nam buddy, Ginty turns swears vengeance and sets about cleaning the scum off the streets. He doesn’t bat an eye as he flamethrowers and meat-grinds his foes, but then, he’s been through the horrors of the Vietnam war so really nothing will faze him. And neither will anything stop him, because he turned up to do it all again in The Exterminator 2.

Thief (1981)

James Caan again, as a cool, cold and calculating in Michael Mann’s Thief, based on The Home Invaders, the memoir of an actual thief who worked in Chicago. Caan takes pride in never hurting anyone during his burglaries, so it comes as a disappointment that he has to take up arms against the mob when they double cross him. Gunfire ensues - Caan remains gloriously level-headed as he drops ‘bad guys’ left and right, a true pro to the end.

Runaway Train (1985)

Jon Voight made a ferocious film comeback as an unstoppable escaped convict in this genuinely thrilling action thriller, co-scripted by actual ex-con Eddie Bunker (Mr Blue from Reservoir Dogs). Voight is Manny, whose bid for freedom backfires when he ends up stuck on driverless locomotive speeding through a blizzard, with no brakes. The funny thing is, Manny acts like he’s been through worse.

52 Pick-Up (1986)

John Frankenheimer’s adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s hard-as-nails novel doesn’t pull any punches. Quintessential American movie tough guy Roy Scheider is a businessman who is blackmailed by thugs who have an incriminating videotape of him with his mistress. Rather than go to the cops, or cave, Scheider does what any hard man of the era would do - he goes after the blackmailers himself and metes out his own form of justice. And it’s not pleasant!

King of New York (1990)

Christopher Walken is at his snarling, sinister best as newly-released drug lord Frank White in Abel Ferrara’s gritty gangster epic. White wants to reestablish his authority, and his turf, and to decimate his competitors. He also has a plan to help the New York needy with his ill-gotten gains, but don’t let that fool you. This is a man so feared, he can silence a gang on a subway car with just a quick flash of his gun and a smile. Which is sometimes all it takes. Coming at the tail end of the tough guy era, this seemed to be a last gasp for the outlaw hero, now fighting against the bland and beautiful leading men of the new era. As Frank White says, “It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it.”

All the films are available now from Arrow Video. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (18) is out now from Arrow Video on Limited Edition Blu-ray with a brand new 4K restoration.

Keeping It In The Family

2017-01-10T19:06:00.000+00:00

Hell or High Water, available to on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download now, is one of the essential films of the year. A morality tale that also manages to question the virtue of that morality in the face of rampant unfairness, David MacKenzie’s modern ode to old school Westerns is impossible to ignore and, once seen, harder to forget. That’s thanks in no small part to the laconic charm of the legendary Jeff Bridges (starring here as the Sheriff and ostensible ‘hero’ of the piece) but it is two incendiary performances from Chris Pine and Ben Foster as the brothers on a crime spree (to settle their mother’s mortgage) that help Hell or High Water really stick in the mind. The pair might have more altruistic reasons for their crimes but they’re no less watchable for that, placing their criminal relationship in some admirable celluloid company:

Tanner & Toby Howard – Hell or High Water (2016)

The Howard boys would probably consider themselves altruistic before they labelled themselves criminals but the fact remains that walking into a series of banks with sawn-off shotguns will earn you the attention of the local police – even if those you’re robbing have a certain sympathy for you and your motives (the Howards are trying to prevent a Texan banking chain from foreclosing on their mother’s farm by robbing the amount they’re short from said banking chain). Toby (Chris Pine) is the more measured of the two brothers, which is saying little when you look at Tanner (Ben Foster) and his collection of ticks, twitches and trigger urges, but we won’t spoil things for those yet to enjoy one the films of 2016 by indicating how things go for these self-styled Robin Hoods.

Jesse & Frank James (and family) – The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

The infamous Jesse James: 19th century Missouri outlaw, guerrilla, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, murderer and younger brother to Frank James, the other half of the James Gang. Jesse took the lead in the gang, just as he did in Ron Hanson’s 1983 novel The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford which chronicled the life and death of the iconic outlaw and was adapted for film in 2007 with Brad Pitt as Jesse, Sam Shepard as Frank and Casey Affleck as Robert Ford. Set in 1881, Robert Ford, a younger member of the notorious James gang becomes so inextricably drawn to and frightened of his mentor that his own delusions of grandeur force him to consider doing the unthinkable.

Seth & Richard Gecko – From Dusk Till Dawn (1998)

It says something about the regulars at New Mexican dive bar (the delightfully named Titty Twister) that Seth and Richard Gecko (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino respectively) are the heroes of the piece. Misogynistic, brutal, not to mention on the run from a hoard of policemen keen to discuss a string of violent robberies, the brothers hole up in the bar but soon find themselves on the receiving end of some unwanted advances from a nest of particularly thirsty vampires. Seth (Clooney proving that even he can’t pull off a neck tattoo) even flirts with some morals as he opts to help safe Harvey Keitel and Juliette Lewis’ born again Christians live to pray another day!

Hans & Simon Gruber – Die Hard (1988), Die Hard With A Vengeance (1995)

Mrs Gruber clearly didn’t ever sit down with her two sons and have the chat about not pursuing a life of crime. Nor did Simon Gruber have the good sense to sit down and study the steps that led to his brother’s demise in Die Hard before deciding to try and rob Wall Street in the third film in the series (whilst also elaborately trying to get revenge against Bruce Willis’ John McLane at the same time. Still, none of this really matters considering that Hans Gruber is one if cinema’s great villains (thanks to Alan Rickman’s iconic performance) and Jeremy Irons’ sibling is one of the campest, with both leaving tooth marks in all of the scenery. The equivalent of two of Britain’s finest actors hamming it up in panto and all the better for it.

The Kray Twins – Legend (2016)

The life, times and atrocities of the ruthless east end twins have been portrayed countless times on the big and small screen. Ronnie and Reggie Kray and their gang, The Firm, were infamous for their brutality in armed robberies, murders, protection rackets and domination of organised crime in the east end of London beginning in the late 1950s. By the late 1960s they had become bonafide celebrities and were even interviewed on national television before they were finally arrested and convicted in 1969 by Scotland Yard, and are now cemented in the annals of London pop culture. The story of the rise and fall of London’s most notorious gangsters was seen most recently in 2016’s Legend, in which Tom Hardy gave an impressive performance as both Krays. A classic crime thriller taking us into the secret history of the 1960s and the extraordinary events that secured the infamy of the Kray Twins.

Leatherface & Family – Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The family that dines together stays together? When a bunch of pretty hateful teenagers descend onto a dilapidated farmhouse asking for help with their broken down van, the last thing they expect is to be served up as a Sunday roast but Leatherface (loosely based on infamous real-life serial killer Ed Gein, who took the faces off his victims and wore them himself) and his clan of walking advice against inbreeding have different ideas. This being the late 1970s and with horror-meister Tobe Hooper in charge, what follows is an equal opportunities slice and dice as all of the cast – including a disabled teen in a wheelchair – meet unflinchingly grisly ends.

Michael, Sonny & Fredo Corleone – The Godfather (1972)

Last but by no means least, the most infamous filmic Italian-American family dynasty of all time, the Corleones. The epic Godfather saga follows a 1940s New York mafia family and their struggle to protect their empire from rival families as the leadership switches from the father, Don (Marlon Brando), to his youngest son Michael (Al Pacino) with the help of his brothers Sonny (James Caan) and Fredo (John Cazale). Just like his father, youngest of the brothers Michael is cool, calm and ruthless, particularly opposite the volatile and confrontational eldest Sonny, whereas the middle brother Fredo is somewhat of a liability. Despite their differences in personality, all three of the Corleone brothers place huge significance on the value of family, and that is the bedrock of the dynasty’s success.
***
Hell or High Water is out now on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download, courtesy of STUCIOCANAL

The Pass – Best of British

2016-12-04T18:15:00.000+00:00

If there’s one thing Britain does well, its film, and we’ve been doing it bloody well for over a century. British cinema has gone from strength to strength, from decade to decade with films that have received international acclaim, and has produced some of the most successful franchises of all time.

To celebrate the release of compelling British drama The Pass, which is in cinemas across the UK from 9th December, we are taking a look at the very best of British cinema.

THE PASS is the story of three very different nights over 10 years in the life of a Premier League Footballer. Jason (Russell Tovey) is at the beginning of his career, and on the night before his first big international match he and long-time friend and team-mate Ade (Arinzé Kene) share a hotel room, trying to beat the inevitable pre-match tensions with locker-room banter and teenage high-jinks. Out of nowhere Jason kisses Ade. The emotional repercussions of this pass, and the decisions that follow on and off the pitch, have a major impact on every aspect of the public and private lives of both men across the next decade, in a sporting world where image is everything.

Starring Russell Tovey, Arinzé Kene, Nico Mirallegro and Lisa McGrillis, The Pass comes to cinemas December 9th.

The King’s Speech

Perhaps one of the most decorated British films in history, The King’s Speech won a Golden Globe, four Academy Awards and seven British Academy Film Awards. The film follows the true tale of King George VI who ascended to the throne of the British Monarchy after the sudden abdication of his brother. This truly emotive and masterful performance centers on the relationship between the new king and his speech therapist ahead of the King’s first broadcast announcement – declaring war on Nazi Germany.

The Full Monty

The once-successful steel mills of Sheffield have closed, and a group of unemployed former mill workers must rally together to raise money for ‘Gaz’ to pay off his child support obligations. A hilarious spectacle ensues with the group forming their own strip-tease act, and despite the film’s comedic nature, some serious subjects are touched upon such as working class culture, fathers’ rights and depression.

Secrets & Lies

Marianne Jean-Baptiste stars as Hortense, a young black Londoner who was adopted as a baby and decides to pursue her birth mother – only to find out that she is white, working class and has a severely dysfunctional family! As a realistic, passionate and (at times) harsh performance it is of no surprise that Secrets & Lies won the ‘Palme d’Or’ at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, with a volley of other awards following suit. The film became one of the most notable works of British director Mike Leigh, who went on to direct the Golden Lion and Vera Drake and has become an affirmed name in British cinema.

Calendar Girls

Following the tragic loss of her husband to Leukemia, Annie Clarke (Julie Walters) and a small group of her Women’s Institute colleagues (including Chris Harper, played by the immensely talented Helen Mirren) decide to raise money for charity. How? By creating a nude calendar where the women pose in traditional WI activities – such as baking and knitting – which became a national and international hit! Poking fun at British modesty, the film is charming and hilarious, deserving of its British Comedy Award for sure.

The Pass

Booze, football and banter – it might not sound glamorous but it is quintessentially British, and that is what The Pass delivers. The film opens to a hotel room in Romania where Jason (Russell Tovey) and Ade (Arinzé Kene) are having a laugh, pushing each other around and then… kiss. What seems like a simple kiss at the time sends shockwaves through the next decade of their lives, as they separate onto vastly different paths. The Pass originated on the UK’s West End as a play by the same name, with Russell Tovey, Nico Mirallegro and Lisa McGrillis reprising their roles from the stage to the screen.

THE PASS IS IN CINEMAS DECEMBER 9

The Best of Greta Gerwig Films

2016-07-05T12:03:00.001+01:00

Greta Gerwig is returning to the screens once again in Maggie’s Plan. Greta made her mainstream debut in No Strings Attached in 2011. Aside from her acting career, she has also collaborated with directors Joe Swanberg and Noah Baumbach on several projects. Greta co-wrote, co-directed and co-starred in Nights and Weekends, a product of one of the several collaboration projects. Greta Gerwig plays Maggie, a girl on a mission to get her husband back with his ex-wife, in her most recent film Maggie’s Plan. To mark the release of Maggie’s Plan we are looking back at some of Greta’s best films.

Frances Ha

Frances lives in New York, but doesn’t really have an apartment and works as a dancer, but doesn’t really dance. Her best friend Sophie is also her roommate, until Sophie decides to move to her dream neighbourhood that Frances can’t afford. Frances is left stumbling through life with a lack of money, pitiable prospect as a professional dancer and a strained friendship with Sophie.

Nights and Weekends

Jamie and Mattie and are in love but living in different cities. Too many miles between them start to take a toll. Reunions seem to be reminders of difficult it is to upkeep the relationship. With a long distance relationship stretching from New York to Chicago, is it possible to make it work?

Lola Versus

Approaching her 30th birthday and three weeks before her wedding, her fiancée breaks up with her. Lola’s world crumbles around her leaving her a hot mess. With no man, no apartment in NYC and writers block for her PHD she turns to her best friends. She stumbles through making bad choice after bad choice on a journey to finding herself and coming to terms with turning 30 as a single woman.

The Dish&Spoon

Rose finds out her husband is cheating on her with her best friend and leaves him. Along the way she meets a boy at a boarded-up beach town who has just been dumped by his girlfriend. Rose takes him along with her on her journey to confronting her friend Emma for betraying their friendship and sleeping with her husband.

Maggie's Plan will be out in UK&Irish Cinemas Friday 8th July.

Salma Hayek’s Best films

2016-06-14T12:17:00.001+01:00

Actress, director and producer are just a few of Salma Hayek’s talents. Of Mexican and Lebanese descent Hayek dropped out of school in Mexico to become an actress. She began her acting career in Mexico and got her first big break in Hollywood starring in Robert Rodriguez’s film Desperado. Later on in Salma’s career her role in Frida, in which she both starred and produced, got her nominated in the category of Best Actress of an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award. Salma plays a Queen in her most recent film Tale of Tales on the desperate quest to have a child of her own that she is willing to sacrifice anything. To mark the release of Tale of Tales we are looking back at some of Salma’s best films.

Frida (2002)

A film depicting the private and professional life of a Mexican Painter. Salma plays the role of artist Frida Kahlo who channels a rocky marriage and immense pain of an injury into her work.

In the time of the Butterflies (2001)

Inspired by a true story, the three Mirabal sisters were murdered for being part of an underground plot in attempt to overthrow the government. Salma plays Minerva Mirabal, one of the three Mirabel sisters.

Desperado (1995)

A sequel to the1992 film El Mariachi. Mariachi seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover. Carolina a bookstore owner, played by Salma, is under the control of the drug lord yet enters into a dangerous relationship with El Mariachi.

Breaking Up (1997)

Monica, played by Salma, and Steve have been in a relationship for over two years. After a nasty argument they break up and start seeing other people. Out of the blue Steve asks Monica to marry him, only when the time of the wedding comes he freezes and calls the wedding off.

Lonely Hearts (2006)

A true story based on a murderous pair notoriously known as the “Lonely Hearts Killers”. Two homicide detectives track down the murderous duo. Salma plays Martha Beck one of the Lonely Heart Killers who lure victims through the Lonely Heart Club.

54 (1998)

A world famous New York City disco as told through the eyes of the employees. Salma plays a young aspiring singer, Anita, who becomes friends with young man bartender. The young bartender gets caught up in the partying scene and his life soon spirals out of control.

After the Sunset (2004)

A master thief and his accomplice Lola Crillo, played by Salma, just stole the three famous diamonds known as the Napoleon diamonds. FBI agent Lloyd tries to capture the master thief and his accomplice.

Ask the Dust (2006)

Salma plays Camilla a Mexican beauty who hopes to rise above her social class and make something more of herself. To achieve this her plan is to marry a wealthy American, but of course things don’t go according to plan.

The Velocity of Gary (1998)

May Carmen, played by Salma, and Gary are both in love with Valentino. Everything changes when Valentino is diagnosed with a deadly disease and is fated for death. Mary finds out she is carrying Valentino’s baby as he come close to his final days.

5 Matthias Schoenaerts Films You Need To Watch

2016-03-23T19:26:00.005+00:00

The muscles from Antwerp, Belgian-born actor Matthias Schoenaerts, takes to cinema screens this month in DISORDER – a thriller surrounding Matthias’ Vincent, a soldier with PTSD employed privately to protect the young family of an arms dealer. Matthias’ rise to fame has included carefully chosen roles in some great films. Here we take a look at five Schoenaerts films you need to watch.

Daens (1992)

Set in the 1890s, this film tells a tale of child labour, horrible working conditions and unfair politics within the Catholic community in the textile town of Aalst. Father Adolf Daens visits the town and is disgusted with the actions within the community. Father Daens writes a few columns in the Catholic paper regarding the mistreatment, leading to expulsion in the Catholic party. Daens then creates the Christian Democrats, is elected to Parliament, and must choose between serving God and serving the people. Daens was Schoenaert’s first film where he starred alongside his father, Julien Schoenarts, and was nominated for the Oscar’s Best Foreign Language Film in 1993.

Love Belongs to Everyone (Dennis Van Rita) (2006)

Matthias Schoenaerts stars in this film as Dennis, a man sentenced to prison for a rape sentence, then released early for his good behaviour. His parents try their hardest to keep him out of trouble, until the victim’s sister starts a hate campaign against Dennis to land him back in jail. Another abuse is reported, leading to Dennis being sent back and beaten until an unlikely source decides to help him out. Love Belongs to Everyone was Schoenaerts’s first starring role, leading to many more in the years to come.

Loft (2008)

As Belgium’s highest grossing film, Loft features mystery, drama, and a thrilling storyline. Five friends rent out a loft together where they each meet their mistresses in secrecy. When the body of a woman appears in the loft one day, the five men accuse each other of murder. Schoenaerts plays Flip, one the five friends.

Bullhead (2011)

Bullhead follows Schoenaerts’ character, Jacky Vammarsenille. Jacky’s steroid-fuelled life as a cattle farmer eventually leads him to making a deal with a shady meat trader. Jacky must face the consequences of an assonated federal agent and a woman from his traumatic past. Bullhead was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year at the 2012 Oscars and won numerous awards at film festivals around the world.

Rust and Bone (2012)

This romantic tale surrounded by life-changing events stars Matthias Schoeneart as Alain, a young boxer who falls in love with killer whale trainer, Stephanie. Stephanie must overcome a terrible accident, while learning to love Alain even more. Rust and Bone was nominated for two Golden Globe awards.

Watch Matthias in his next must-watch film: DISORDER opens in the UK on March 25th.

Top Ten Wartime Romances

2015-05-14T15:18:00.000+01:00

The backdrop of war has often provided an epic setting for some of the greatest romances in cinematic history, as audiences’ appetite for tragic love stories shows no sign of abating. To celebrate the release of Testament of Youth, out now on digital platform and on Blu-ray and DVD from 25th May 2015, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment, we take a look at some of the greatest wartime romances to hit the screen... tissues at the ready!

Testament of Youth (2014)

Vera Brittain (Alicia Vikander), irrepressible, intelligent and free-minded, overcomes the prejudices of her family and hometown to win a scholarship to Oxford. With everything to live for, she falls in love with her brother’s close friend Roland Leighton (Kit Harington) as they go to University to pursue their literary dreams. But the First World War is looming and as the boys leave for the front Vera realises she cannot sit idly by as her peers fight for their country, so volunteers as a nurse. Both Vikander and Harington bring a wonderful playfulness to their initial courtship (with brilliant comedic support from Joanna Scanlan as their chaperone), and as the war separates them evolve this chemistry into something utterly moving.

Cold Mountain (2003)

This critically acclaimed wartime epic tells the story of Confederate soldier Inman (Jude Law) who undertakes a perilous journey back home to Cold Mountain, North Carolina, in order to reunite with his sweetheart, Ada (Nicole Kidman), the woman he left behind to fight in the Civil War. Along the way, he meets a long line of interesting characters, all the while avoiding the soldiers tasked with hunting deserters. Parallel to his story is Ada’s, as she struggles to learn the ropes of managing her deceased father's farm with help from the scatty, no-nonsense Ruby (an Oscar-winning turn from Renée Zellweger), all the while fantasising about the return of her lost love. Kidman and Law spend hardly any screen time together, yet their brilliant, yearning performances more than make up for this to illustrate their desperation and longing to reunite.

Birdsong (2012)

This BBC mini-series based on Sebastian Faulk’s novel recounts the life and times of Stephen Wraysford (Eddie Redmayne). An English soldier fighting in the trenches of Northern France during WWI, he is continually haunted by the memories of the French Isabelle (Clémence Poésy), a married woman he had an affair with 6 years previously. Redmayne and Poésy are perfectly cast as the impetuous lovers, while the backdrop of a balmy summer in provincial France perfectly captures the claustrophobia and repression of their predicament.

Atonement (2007)

This heartbreaking wartime drama based on Ian McEwan’s bestselling novel boasts a stellar cast, including Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saiorse Ronan, Benedict Cumberbatch and Vanessa Redgrave. When the budding romance between Cecilia Tallis (Knightley) and Robbie Turner (McAvoy) is cut brutally short following a lie told by Bryony Tallis (Ronan), the repercussions span several decades. After choosing the army over prison, Robbie is stationed at Dunkirk, while Cecilia takes a role as a nurse in London. Knightley provides a masterfully reserved turn as the stoic Cecilia, while McAvoy’s take on the morally upstanding, innocent and fundamentally kind Robbie is completely heartbreaking – and special mention must be given to Wright’s masterful tackling of the novel’s twist ending.

Casablanca (1942)

This classic WWII drama, starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart as former lovers Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund, takes place in unoccupied Casablanca and is responsible for one of the most mis-quoted movie lines of all time. When the Nazi Major Strasser (Conrad Veidt) arrives in Casablanca, the sycophantic police Captain Renault (Claude Rains) goes above and beyond to appease him- including detaining Czechoslovak underground leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). Lazslo’s partner is Ilsa, who ran out on Blaine in Paris and left him completely embittered. But when it transpires that her reasons were honourable, the pair hatch a plan to run off together again, and pick up where they left off...

The English Patient (1996)

Anthony Minghella wrote and directed this multi-award winning epic based on Michael Ondaatje's novel about a doomed romance set against the backdrop of WWII. In a field hospital in Italy, nurse Hana (Juliette Binoche) is caring for a pilot who was horribly burned in a plane wreck. Hana determines mid evacuation that the patient shouldn't be moved far due to his fragile condition, so the two are left in a monastery to be picked up later. Slowly, she begins to piece together the patient's story told in flashbacks. She discovers that her charge is in fact the Hungarian Count Laszlo Almásy (Ralph Fiennes) –who while mapping unchartered territory in North Africa, was thrown together with English couple Geoffrey (Colin Firth) and Katherine Clifton (Kristin Scott-Thomas) resulting in an affair which lead him to betray not only his friend, but his country.

The End of the Affair (1955)

Adapted by Lenore Coffee from Graham Greene’s novel, this classic stars Van Johnson as Maurice Bendrix, the clandestine lover of married Sarah Miles (Deborah Kerr). When Maurice disappears during the London blitz, Sarah is overwhelmed with guilt, feeling that her unfaithfulness has led to Maurice to be placed in danger. In a fit of desperation she prays for his safe return, promising to end the affair if only his life is spared... and the rest is in the title. Featuring wonderfully emotionally complex performances from all the leads, the film is also notable for a standout performance from John Mills, as the private detective hired by Sarah’s husband Henry (Peter Cushing) to keep tabs on her whereabouts.

Gone with the Wind (1939)

One of the most beloved movies of all time, and winner of ten Academy Awards, including for Hattie McDaniel’s and Vivien Leigh’s performances, Gone with the Wind follows the life of spoiled, pampered Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara (Leigh). After discovering a former beau is engaged, Scarlett’s behaviour leads her straight into the arms of the wayward Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), the black sheep of a wealthy Charleston family, who is instantly fascinated by the spirited, self-absorbed Scarlett. The movie’s action continues, through the American Civil War, the burning of Atlanta, Scarlett’s journey from riches to poverty, and three marriages, all the way to the now-classic closing line, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

Life is Beautiful (1997)

This stunning tragicomedy was directed by Roberto Benigni and also garnered him a best leading actor Academy Award. Set in 1939, Benigni plays Jewish-Italian Guido Orefice working as a waiter to fund his plans to open a bookshop. When he meets a school teacher named Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), his effervescent humour ultimately sweeps her off her feet. On the fifth birthday of their son Giosué (Giorgio Cantarini), World War II is in full force, and since they are Jewish, the Germans take away Guido and Giosué to a labour camp. Wanting to be with her family, Dora insists she goes too, but is taken to the women's side of the camp. In an attempt to protect Giosué from the horror of their situation and ensure they are not separated, Guido tells him that they are playing a game, in which he can win points by staying out of sight of the guards. The first to win 1000 points wins a real tank. Guido's primary goal is to keep Giosué safe at all cost, while he desperately tries to find out a way to get his family out of the camp and keep the Germans at bay before they discover Giosué.

Shining Through (1992)

David Seltzer's adaptation of Susan Issacs' novel is set during WWII, and stars Melanie Griffith and Michael Douglas as work colleagues who ultimately become lovers. When Linda Voss (Griffith) applies for a job with international lawyer Ed Leland (Douglas), he hires her immediately upon discovering she is fluent in German. He’s an undercover OSS officer in need of a German translator, but when America enters the war, he abandons his practice to become a full-time spy. Meanwhile Linda travels to Berlin to infiltrate the Nazis and find out more about "a bomb that can fly by itself" ... as well as desperately searching for the whereabouts of her Jewish relatives.

Testament of Youth is available now on digital platforms and on Blu-ray and DVD from 25th May 2015, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

MUBI Selects - Friday 24th April 2015

2015-04-24T19:07:00.000+01:00

The weekend is over, time to relax, wind down after the hard slog of the week.Refuel your brain with sophistication andour latest selection of MUBI Selects.

In our latest weekly 'Mubi Selects' we've teamed with MUBI the purveyors of great cinema online curating a great selection of cult, classic, independent, and award-winning movies. It's an international community discovering wonderful intelligent thought provoking films MUBI is your passport to those great films.

MUBI unleash great new films every week and in our MUBI Selects we've picked a selection of those great movies help you enjoy that lazy weekend you desire...

I Love Beijing (2000)| Ning Ying

Asia and China especially have delivered some intriguing filmmakers Ning Ying is one of the '5th Generation' however she hasn't attracted the fame that other 5th generation like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige. She is more modest but some say more naturalistic visionary of her country finding the bleakness, the hope and the toll of modernisation of China.Its a tale of wandering Beijing Taxi driver who drives the streets adrift aimlessly adrift looking for women like Beijing looking for its identity as tradition fades, future uncertain. I love Beijing may have not aged well but captures the emptiness of life in that decade.

Youth Of The Beast (1963) | Seijun Suzuki

He's was given the boilerplate of action but gave the world satire pop-art gangster films, Seijun Suzuki helped mould the 'Yakuza' movie.Japanese New Wave? Possibly,brutality that came with the urban myth of the Yakuza can be seen here but you feel it was a production made under constant state of agitation. Youth Of The Beast tells the tale of a mysterious stranger who muscles his way into rival gangs in The Tokyo underworld which is now overan with violence. Flamboyant, absurd,hallucinatory, trademark Suzuki.

The Conformist (1970) | Bernardo Bertolucci

Masterpiece is the first thing anyone says when someone mentions The Conformist.It's Italian filmmaking goes French New Wave in the perfect example of wartorn Italy and the power of ideology. As a weak man becomes a patsy of fascism sent out to assassinate is old teacher a now political dissident. Beautiful cinematography a style that would inspire many great films that followed this from Godfather to Blade Runner.

Why not give up on those expensive chain coffees once a while, to enjoy the weekend and every day great films at MUBI? click below to get more info on the other fantastic films on offer...

MUBI Selects - Friday 10th April 2015

2015-04-10T18:32:00.000+01:00

It's the weekend again which only mean its time for relaxation, wind down after the hard slog of the week.Refuel your brain with sophistication and MUBI Selects.

In our latest weekly 'Mubi Selects' we've teamed with MUBI the purveyors of great cinema online curating a great selection of cult, classic, independent, and award-winning movies. It's an international community discovering wonderful intelligent thought provoking films MUBI is your passport to those great films.

MUBI unleash great new films every week and in our MUBI Selects we've picked a selection of those great movies help you enjoy that lazy weekend you desire...

Cold Fish (2015)| Sion Sono

"Be Man (or woman)!" welcome to the macabre world of Japanese auteur Sion Sono, a cold calculated dive into dysfunctional families, sociopathic serial killers and a man at breaking point. Expect the unexpected when dealing with Sono films what may start as a tropical fish owener been taking over by a local fish entrepeneur slowly becomes something more.In the words of MUNI themseleves Cold Fish is “grand gestures, narrative hyperboles, positively vulgar symbolism—apocalypse 24/7… Full-throttle hysteria splashed with choice colours in eye-poppingly garish hues.” This is one for Saturday late night accompanied by your favourite adult beverage.

Comic Book Confidential (1989) | Ron Mann

Roy Mann's Altman documentary is currently doing the rounds at selected UK Cinemas we go back 26 years to his pulpy documentary on quintessential element of American pop and counter-culture. Wacky Baccy, comic books as Man examines the underrated art of comic books, the pulpy media that now sources the most popular genres on our big screens today. It may not have many names that are in the industry today but an nostalgic look back at the industry which the artists and write where the celebs rather than the stories and characters they created.

Cherry Blossoms (2008) | Doris Dörrie

When you learn film theory at University or college you learn about the great masters of cinema and Doris Dörrie's film is inspired by the masterful Yasujiro Ozu.We all get old one day that is why our elders tells us to grab life by horns embrace it, however rarely do we a film about growing old. Cherry Blossoms is that film a moving tale that delivers with clarity and compassion a story of a griefing husband who loses his wife to a terminal illness. When she's gone he realises he did not sournd her with a lot of affection, sometimes the realisation comes too late but in her final days he cherishes her dreams. It's also a story to remind you not to forget about yourself in grieving times.

Involuntary (2008) | Rube Ostlund

Opening today in UK Cinemas Ruben Ostlund's Force Majeure what better way to kick off the weekend by looking back to one of his earlier films, a cunningly comedic film set in Sweden nearly Summer minor indiscretions and misbehavior abound, Leffe is been a prankster showing off, a teacher doesn't know how to draw the line when dealing with fellow teachers. Teenage girls take sexy pictures but one ends up drunk found by a stranger. It's a film that will hit the bone with many people at how mundane this film is, a humourous look at how our Nordic cousins attempt to deal with everyday situations.

Why not give up on those expensive chain coffees once a while, to enjoy the weekend and every day great films at MUBI? click below to get more info on the other fantastic films on offer...

MUBI Selects - Friday 3rd April 2015

2015-04-03T18:19:00.000+01:00

It's time to relax as the Easter weekend has arrived 2(or 3) days of relaxation, it's time for bliss and chill out after the hard slog of the week.It's time to refuel your brain with sophistication and MUBI Selects.

In our latest weekly 'Mubi Selects' we've teamed with MUBI the purveyors of great cinema online curating a great selection of cult, classic, independent, and award-winning movies. It's an international community discovering wonderful intelligent thought provoking films MUBI is your passport to those great films.

MUBI unleash great new films every week and in our MUBI Selects we've picked a selection of those great movies help you enjoy that lazy weekend you desire...

Code 46 (2003) | Michael Winterbottom

Winterbottom has been an unpredictable filmmaker since day one, you don't know what version will turn up and that's what makes him an exciting director. Code 46 maybe been called an 'Futuristic Brief Ecounter', the dystopian totalitarian society that hits the bone. The love story is simple a story one that is doomed thanks genetic incompatibility.A cold story backed by a mesmerizing performance by Samantha Morton.

Reprise (2006) | Joachim Trier

The directorial feature debut for Joachim Trier (nephew of Lars Von Trier) a film that gained critical acclaim around the festival circuit. Joachim has developed a style which is satirical drenched in realism , truly poetic blessed with beautifully framed cinematography. Reprise is call to arms for all ambitious writers struggling in a fun character study of the writers and the pitfuls they face.

F For Fake (1973) | Orson Welles

"Are you watching carefully?" Orson Welles who he was and what he did needs no explanation he was a legend in hos own right, a film auteur on every level. F For Fake showcases Welles as the perfect master of ceremonies. Welles is a magician and the journey he takes us on is like the magic's slight of hand , part documentary, part essay, a playful journey that exposes the fakers. Let the legend that's Orson Welles frauds, fakes, and hoaxes.

Let Me In (2010) | Matt Reeves

Last Week we selected Let The Right One In and like many great European/Non English films they get the now expected Hollywood remake.Skeptics jump on every inevitable remakes however Reeves created a version that's comfortably adapted into American way of life , the South West to be precise.Let Me In is an story of a bullied young boy who befriends a young girl who becomes his neighbour and just happens to be a vampire

Why not give up on those expensive chain coffoees once a wee, toenjoy the weekend and every day great films at MUBI? click below to get more info on the other fantastic films on offer...

Mubi Selects - Friday 13th March 2015

2015-03-13T18:39:00.000+00:00

Something for the Weekend? The weekend is now upon us as many cinephiles worldwide head to their local cinema to watch the latest releases. However sometimes you just want to get the weekend papers and have a lazy weekend watch something on the box or online and our new weekly section we may just have your answer.

In our new weekly post 'Mubi Selects' we've teamed with MUBI the purveyors of great cinema online curating a great selection of cult, classic, independent, and award-winning movies. It's an international community discovering wonderful intelligent thought provoking films MUBI is your passport to those great films.

MUBI unleash great new films every week and in our MUBI Selects we'll deliver a taster with our weekly picks of what's playing and help you enjoy that lazy weekend you desire...

Hiroshima Mon Amour

Alain Resnais a cornerstone of French New Wave cinema with his landmark 1959 starring Emmanuelle Riva Eiji Okada star as a French woman and Japanese man engage in a brief, intense affair set in post war Hiroshima, Japan Their impels the couple to exorcise their own scarred memories of love and suffering. A beautiful, slow paced film ideal for that lazy Sunday afternoon

Planet Terror

If your looking for that nonsensical brainless escapism Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror will do the trick. Zombies, gore and hot girl's with machine gun leg Planet Terror will deliver that B-Movie exploitation with a capital B. Thanks to a nerve escaping accident thanks to a remote U.S military turning those effected by the gas into flesh eating zombies

Deathproof

If your going to watch Planet Terror you have to watch Deathproof. This an continuation second part of Grindhouse Project this time Quentin Tarrantino in the director's chair with a homage the car action exploitation films of the 1960s and 1970s. Like many Tarrantino films the platform for comeback performances, this time Kurt Russell when a DJ offers an opportunity for her friends to unwind but when night fall heads turn,

Chico&Rita

When it comes to adult and animation it can be a hard sell but over the years there's been a number of great animations that prove animation is for all and Chico & Rita is one of those films. Fernando Trueba's film captures magic and sounds of Cuba, a melancholic, vibrant journey of a young piano player with big dreams who falls in love with a beautiful singer Rita, a love story set during the pre-Cuban revolution.

Undertow

David Gordon Green maybe unfortunately maybe known by mainstream film fans for his certain Stoner comedy, however there was a life in independent film. In 2004 Undertow starring Jamie Bell in a gritty Southern gothic noir-ish film based around a family untouched by time. When the arrival of their violent greedy uncle arrives on the scene a tragic event forces the brothers go on the run with the uncle on the pursuit.

For a price of a coffee from one of those chains what better way to enjoy the weekend and every day great films at MUBI? click below to get more info on the other fantastic films on offer...

THE TOP FILM SCORES BY ALEXANDRE DESPLAT

2015-03-07T14:23:00.000+00:00

Alexandre Desplat is without question one of the most prolific composers in contemporary film. The 53-year-old Frenchman has composed for over 100 films since 1985 when he began contributing to small movies in his home country. Desplat composed the dark yet beautiful score for Syriana in 2005, and this remarkable musical feat cemented his place as one of the most in demand composers in the business. To celebrate the home entertainment release of THE IMITATION GAME arriving on Blu-ray™, DVD and digital platforms on 9th March 2015, courtesy of STUDIOCANAL, this feature will take a look at Alexandre Desplat's top film scores.

THE IMITATION GAME (2014)

Desplat had a very limited period of time to compose music reflecting the brilliant mind of Alan Turing. Desplat knew that a big-orchestra approach was out of the question—if not just for time’s sake, it was also too outsized for a story reflecting the unique mind of one man. Realizing that the visuals of the film would never be able to depict the process of Turing’s brain, Desplat decided to make that the focus of his music, paying homage to the godfather of computers by using machines to randomly layer multiple piano tracks over each other. The result is a an extremely atmospheric score to go along with one of the films of the year.

The Tree of Life (2001)

Terrence Malick's controversial masterpiece took nearly thirty years to come to the big screen, and with such a heavy burden of expectation, the film needed an equally bold musical score. Desplat delivered such a score in a typically emphatic fashion. His music is one of the film’s great binding forces, gifting Malick the cohesion that he often has difficulty establishing on his own.

The Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)

Beautifully whimsical, touching and bright, Desplat shows his versatility by creating a score that is clearly out of his comfort zone but no less incredible for Wes Anderson’s critically acclaimed The Fantastic Mr Fox. Desplat produces a resonantly beautiful sense of homecoming that speaks to the titular wild animal’s belief that everything will turn out alright in the end so long as his family survives in one piece

Birth (2004)

Even divorced from the setting of the film for which it was commissioned, Desplat’s score for Birth has the feel of a chilly afternoon somewhere north of 66th St. These pieces are some of the composer's most luxurious work—so garlanded with deep drums and dancing flutes that they genuinely begin to take on the feel of the wealthy characters onscreen. The recurring theme is a touch off-kilter, the perfect disequilibrium for a movie about an affluent Manhattan widow who starts to believe that her dead husband has been reincarnated in the body of a young boy.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Wes Anderson teams up with Desplat time after time due to the almost telepathic connection they have when working on a score for one of Anderson's films. Desplat's natural ability to capture Anderson’s movie worlds in just a couple of notes was critical to the filmmaker’s decision to move into the world of moviemaking where the uniquely quirky ideas he had in his head were finally allowed to be brought to the big screen. The Grand Budapest Hotel's music feels true to the films setting in a historically volatile period, its organ blasts and harpsichord tunes resounding with the call for a great adventure.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

This subtle yet beautiful score – another Oscar nominated piece from Alexandre Desplat – went a long way in providing the audience with the freedom to really experience escapism at its very best. The light and subtle tones used throughout added another layer of mystique and beauty to a film that would change cinema forever.

A Prophet(2009)

A Prophet is the masterpiece from Jacques Audiard, and composing a suitably gritty yet beautiful score was always going to be a near impossible feat. As you would come to expect from Desplat, he scored an elegant selection of music to provide the perfect backdrop to this Academy Award winning film.

THE IMITATION GAME arrives on Blu-ray™, DVD and digital platforms on 9th March 2015, courtesy of STUDIOCANAL

Sporting movies – fun facts

2014-09-02T23:28:00.000+01:00

Inspirational sports movies are always guaranteed to shed a tear and spread a cheer in equal measures. To celebrate the upcoming release of Next Goal Wins, which is released on DVD on 1st September, we wanted to look at fun facts behind some of these much loved films which you probably didn’t know…

Next Goal Wins

Next Goal Wins is a classic underdog movie set amongst the beauty and tribal magic of the South Pacific.

The film follows the American Samoan football team after FIFA officially ranked them ‘the worst team in the world’ after they suffered a record 31-0 defeat against Australia. Suffering the scars of being the world’s worst team, the film follows the team as they prepare to take part in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

However did you know that before this film was commissioned, The American Samoa football team had refused permission to numerous film and TV crews before being approached by directors Mike Brett and Steve Jamison. The directors were given permission to film the team because they aimed to celebrate the fact that the team continued to play in the face of their defeats.

When filming began the team were on the bottom of FIFA’s World rankings and had only scored twice in seventeen years.

The team’s defender Jaiyah Saelua is the first transgender player to compete in a men's FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Cool Runnings

An epic story that is based on true events – the events of Jamaica’s first ever bobsled team trying to make it to the Winter Olympics. However contrary to scenes in the film, the Jamaican team were actually met with open arms by the other international teams taking part. One of the other teams even went so far as to lend the Jamaican team a back-up sled so they could qualify.

The crash scene we see at the end of the movie is actually the real footage taken from the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.

Rocky

The ultimate fighting film; this follows the dramatic story of small-time boxer Rocky Balboa as he takes on heavy-weight champion, Apollo Creed.
A turning point in Hollywood, Rocky was the first sports film to win an Oscar for Best Picture.

At one point singer/actress Cher was considered for the role of Adrian, but the part went to Talia Shire.

Butkus, the dog was actually Sylvester Stallone's dog.

Moneyball

The successful story of a coach, who on a shoestring budget, uses computer technology to help him pick players for his team.

Chris Pratt was told he was too fat when he auditioned for the role of Scott Hatteberg, Pratt decided to lose weight before the role was cast - he won the role.

All but one of the scouts in the movie were played by real Major League Baseball scouts.

It was the first baseball movie to be nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award (Oscar) since Field of Dreams (1989) twenty-two years earlier.

Kingpin

This hilarious caper follows the plight of a once champion bowler - when he gets “cut off” from playing he decides to find a prodigy to take over his mantle.

Did you know the scene where Ernie McCracken bowled three strikes in a row was real… who knew Bill Murray was such a dab hand at bowling! According to directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly, Woody Harrelson was a terrible bowler.

The entire commercial Ernie McCracken does for the kids, was ad-libbed by Bill Murray.

Jim Carrey was the first choice to play Ernie McCracken.

Major league

A classic comedy following the Cleaveland Indians baseball team, they’re awful… or are they?!

Charlie Sheen really was a pitcher in high school as well as playing pitcher Ricky Vaughn in the movie!

Jeremy Piven was cast in the film but his part did not make the final cut.

Many of the baseball players were members of the University of Arizona baseball team.

Hoosiers

The story of a small town basketball team like non-other, this film is based on the real life underdog story of Milan Indians.
Did you know the movie was renamed "Best Shot" for the European release because most Europeans wouldn't know what a Hoosier was!
The announcer at the final game in the film was the announcer from the real life game.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

A laugh-out-loud comedy following a group of misfits who enter a dodgeball tournament in Las Vegas.
Ben Stiller broke three cameras in succession filming one scene, and even hit his wife and co-star Christine Taylor in the face once!
According to many cast members, the hardest part of filming the dodgeball scenes was not flinching when they knew they were about to be hit by a ball.

Seabiscuit

The real life account of prizewinning horse; Sea Biscuit - did you know that ten different horses played the role of Seabiscuit.
Jockey legends Charles Kurtsinge and George Woolf are portrayred by real-life jockeys, Chris McCarrow and Gary Stevens.

The Karate Kid

A coming of age story, a local kid gets taught karate by a local handy man and martial arts expert after witnessing him being picked on by local bullies.

Before Ralph Machhio was cast in the infamous role of Daniel LaRusso, both Charlie Sheen and Sean Penn turned down the role of this iconic character.

When he originally auditioned for the role of Miyagi, Pat Morita faked his Japanese accent and was rejected the part. After a little coaching from his uncle who taught him how to talk with a "proper" Japanese accent, he auditioned for a second time and got the part!

Fancy winning Next Goal Wins on DVD? Head over to The People's Movies our main blog and enter now!

Top Ten Scandi Thrillers

2014-08-01T16:40:00.000+01:00

Television in particular has seen a particular boom in successful Scandinavian shows making their way into homes of audiences here in the UK, but let it not be forgotten that cinema has had a fair bit of Scandinavian content trickling through for quite some time now, with many names in the Hollywood spotlight (Refn, Mikkelsen, Rapace, Coster-Waldau, etc.). With the Blu-ray and DVD release of Pioneer arriving on 4th August 2014 from Arrow Films, we take a look at the ten best examples of the Scandi thriller.

Pusher (1996)

Before Drive and Only God Forgives, Nicolas Winding Refn made Pusher, a Danish crime thriller which launched his ensuing career. The film follows drug dealer Frank (Kim Bodnia) who grows increasingly more desperate when a botched drug deal leaves him with a large debt owed to a ruthless drug lord. Many have deemed Pusher the first Danish-language gangster film.

The Hunters (1996)

This 1996 Swedish thriller follows a police officer who moves back to his hometown in Norrland where he starts working on a long-running case of reindeer poaching only to discover his brother’s involvement. Going down in history as one of the biggest box office hits in Sweden, talks of an American remake were scuppered when director Kjell Sundvall decided he didn’t like the idea of translating events of the film to cowboys poaching horses in the Nevada desert. A sequel - False Trail - starring character actor Peter Stormare followed in 2011

Pusher II (2004)

Nicolas Winding Refn returned to this universe in sequel Pusher II, which instead follows Frank’s sidekick Tonny (an early role for Hannibal’s Mads Mikkelsen) in the same fictional Copenhagen underworld depicted in the first film. Refn reused many stylistic flourishes which he featured in the first enhancing the thriller aspect more so in this sequel.

The Millennium Trilogy (2009)

Adapted from Stieg Larsson’s posthumously published trio of hugely-acclaimed novels, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was brought to life by director Niels Arden Oplev , whilst both The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest were helmed by Daniel Alfredson. The films are led by former journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) at the centre of an unlikely love story set to the backdrop of an extremely bleak Sweden in which the two of them uncover unspeakable horrors of men victimising women.

Easy Money (2010)

This Swedish thriller from director Daniel Espinosa stars Joel Kinnaman (2014’s RoboCop)as Johan Westlund, a poor man living a double life in the upper class areas of Stockholm. Upon meeting a wealthy female, he is lured into the world of organised crime turning to drug dealing in order to sustain his luxurious lifestyle. A Hollywood remake is due to be released, with Zac Efron filling Kinnaman’s shoes in the lead role.

In a Better World (2010)

Susanne Bier’s acclaimed Academy-Award winning Danish drama thriller follows two Danish families whose lives cross paths leaving loneliness and sorrow in its wake. Starring Mikael Persbrandt alongside Trine Dyrholm and Ulrich Thomsen, the film flits from small-town Denmark to an African refugee camp throughout.

Headhunters (2011)

Norwegian action thriller Headhunters is based on Jo Nesbø’s novel of the same name, and stars Aksel Hennie and Game of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the lead roles. The film follows a successful headhunter whop risks everything in order to obtain a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary, and successfully merges thriller with comedy. The film boasts the statistic of being the highest-grossing Norwegian film of all time.

A Hijacking (2012)

Tobias Lindholm’s Danish thriller (which he both wrote and directed) alternates between events occurring on a hijacked ship and those happening in the shipping company’s office back in Denmark. Many threw praise on the film’s ability to avert ‘conventional thrills’ steering the film into the direction of critical acclaim.

Pioneer (2014)

The Norwegian thriller Pioneer follows Petter, a professional offshore diver during the 70s, tasked with laying the first petroleum pipe in the North Sea. Following a tragic accident during a test dive, he discovers that his superiors are attempting to put a smokescreen on the true events and that his life is at stake. This well-received conspiracy embraces the claustrophobic nature of the setting to deliver something altogether more thrilling.

Fancy winning Pioneer on DVD? Over at our main site The Peoples movies you can win a copy on DVD, enter here (link opens new page)

Pioneer is released on DVD and Blu-ray on 4th August 2014 from Arrow Films

The Rise of Felicity Jones

2014-06-06T22:08:00.000+01:00

Felicity Jones’ recent appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is solid proof that Hollywood has taken to the actress, whose humble beginnings started in children’s television dramas as a teen in the nineties. After a deeply affecting and equally as memorable performance in The Invisible Woman, which is set for a Blu-ray and DVD release on 16th June 2014 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment, we chart Felicity Jones’ career rise thus far.

The Worst Witch (1998)

Twenty-something’s would be shocked to realise that up-and-coming British actress Felicity Jones starred in the memorable role of school bully Ethel Hallow in the very first series of ITV’s The Worst Witch. Based on Jill Murphy’s books, the series began in 1998 with a 15-year-old Jones merely appearing for one series despite the show running until 2001 for the simple fact that she missed home; Jones did however star in spin-off Weirdsister College in 2001.

Northanger Abbey (2007)

Jones took the leading role of Catherine Morland in ITV drama Northanger Abbey, an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel. The plot sees Catherine invited to Bath by some family friends, whereby she begins a romantic tryst forcing her imagination to confuse real life with Gothic romance. Jones won the role after her first audition, two weeks after graduating from Oxford, and she starred alongside Carey Mulligan.

Doctor Who (2008)

Jones starred in a memorable episode of Doctor Who’s fourth series, entitled ‘The Unicorn and the Wasp’, a pseudo-historical comedic murder-mystery tale featuring the character of Agatha Christie. Jones played Robina Redmond, who ended up a cockney master thief dubbed ‘the Unicorn’ who stayed in the country house where Agatha Christie was staying when the Doctor (then played b David Tennant) shows up with his companion, Donna (Catherine Tate).

Brideshead Revisited (2008)

Jones made her break into big-screen features with Brideshead Revisited, written by Andrew Davies, the same screenwriter who had scripted the Northanger Abbey that she appeared in a year previous, based on Evelyn Waugh’s book - and the 80’s television serial - of the same name. A small role, Felicity Jones played Lady Cordelia Flyte, daughter of Emma Thompson’s Marchioness.

Chalet Girl (2011)

For her role in Chalet Girl, in which she starred alongside fellow British actor Ed Westwick (best known to audiences as Gossip Girl’s Chuck Bass), Felicity Jones undertook two months of snowboarding training and undercover work in a chalet at St Anton, in which the actress scrubbed toilets and partied at the Krazy Kanguruh. She has since cited the role of Kim Matthews as ‘something of a relief’ after a string of costume roles.

Like Crazy (2011)

Felicity Jones won a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for her performance in Drake Doremus’ as Anna, a British exchange student who falls in love with American student Jacob (Anton Yelchin), who she soon finds herself separated from him when she is denied re-entry for overstaying her student visa. Jones did her own make-up and hair for the film, improvising the entirety of her dialogue - she went on to scoop the Best New Hollywood Award for this film at the 2011 Hollywood Film Awards.

Albatross (2011)

Continuing in what was a vital year for the actress, Felicity Jones starred in coming-of-age comedy drama Albatross, in which she played the daughter of a writer suffering from writer’s block ever since his successful first novel. The film’s lead was fellow up-and-comer Jessica Brown Findlay (a rising star ever since Downton Abbey), the two forming a close friendship since meeting at the auditions for this film.

The Invisible Woman (2014)

Starring in the lead female role of a film directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones stars in the affecting romantic drama The Invisible Woman as Ellen ‘Nelly’ Ternan, a young actress who becomes the object of Charles Dickens’ affections in 1857. Based on Claire Tomalin’s book, the story follows the love affair between the two which lasted for thirteen years. Jones won the role, beating other actresses including Carey Mulligan and Abbie Cornish, delivering a performance that proves she was the undoubted choice for the film.

The Invisible Woman is released on DVD and Blu-ray on 16th June 2014 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Steve McQueen Retrospective

2014-05-12T13:39:00.000+01:00

Celebrating the release of acclaimed masterpiece 12 Years a Slave on Blu-ray & DVD 12th May, we are take a moment to recognise Steve McQueen’s amazing ability to choose films that match his unique and unparalleled film style. His ability to wow viewers with his cinematic trademarks; dark, raw, arty, violent, sexual and intense all stunningly shot makes his scenes instantly memorable. Despite only having directed three major films throughout his career, McQueen directed 23 short films previously which familiarised audiences with his particular trademarks and regular themes. Michael Fassbender has become a Steve McQueen regular theme having starred in all three of his feature films from ‘Hunger’ to ‘Shame,’ with uncompromising performances helping make Steve McQueen’s unique style as one of the most exciting and prominent British directors of his generation.

Steve McQueen’s early years:

Steve McQueen was born in London in 1969 to working-class West Indian parents. He went to school at Drayton Manor High School, whose other notable former students include musician Rick Wakeman and footballer Peter Crouch. He then went onto study at Chelsea College of Art and Design and later at Goldsmith's College, where he discovered his passion for film.

A few years after he made his first breakthrough short film Bear (1993) in which two naked men (one of them played by McQueen himself) confront each other as if about to fight. McQueen then made gallery films Deadpan (1997), an experimental riposte to a cyclone scene in Buster Keaton’s silent film Steamboat Bill (1928), and Drumroll (1998) a three-channel video installation rolling through the streets of Manhattan which projected the results onto three walls of an enclosed space, both of which helped him scoop the 1999 Turner Prize.

Major Film Features:

Hunger (2008)

Steve McQueen's first full feature was a mesmerising and uncompromising interpretation of the 1981 IRA hunger strikes, focusing on strike leader Bobby Sands (a disturbingly compelling performance from Michael Fassbender) leading the inmates of a Northern Irish prison. Fassbender went on a medically monitored crash diet throughout filming which allowed him only 600 calories a day. His visual appearance and the film’s graphic content are patently powerful. McQueen used super-slow pacing, long silences and static camera shots to transcendent effect and picked up a Bafta and the Camera d'Or at Cannes (first-time director award) for his efforts.

Shame (2011)

Steve McQueen's next feature film, about the downward spiral of sex addict Brandon (Michael Fassbender) living in New York who is unable to manage his sex life. After his wayward younger sister (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment, Brandon's world spirals out of control. Shame examines the nature of need, how we live our lives and the experiences that shape us. Written by British screenwriter Abi Morgan, it's a more conventional film than Hunger in terms of plot, but McQueen's direction and camerawork are still as bold as ever.

12 Years A Slave (2013)

McQueen’s harrowing adaptation of Solomon Northup’s (Chiwetel Ejiofor) 1853 memoir - a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner (Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Pitt) forever alters his life. The film and masterpiece won the biggest prize of them all at this year’s 86th Academy Awards, taking home the award for Best Picture. Nominated for nine Oscars, the film also took home two other statues, for Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o) and Best Adapted Screenplay (John Ridley), and cemented its place as one of the most important films of 2013.

Post by 12 Years a Slave.

12 Years a Slave is out on Blu-ray & DVD Today, 12th May 2014, courtesy of Entertainment One

For more about Eone releases visit:

www.entertainmentonegroup.com

Read our 12 Years A Slave Review

Films set in Lisbon

2014-04-23T16:26:00.000+01:00

After The Night (Ate Ver A Luz) is a striking indie gangster story set in the gritty slums of Lisbon and is out in UK cinemas and VoD from the 25th April.

A visually striking film, it accurately shows Lisbon’s diverse culture, people and surroundings and climbs inside the world of Lisbon’s Creole slums.

We take a look back at a cinematic history of films set in Lisbon…

AFTER THE NIGHT (Ate Ver Luz; 2013; Basil Da Cunha)
An outcast living a solitary nocturnal life with an iguana named Dragon as his only friend, Sombra wanders around in the Creole slums of Lisbon as he is looking for cash to pay back the local gang boss. Dragged into an armed robbery, he runs away and is chased until the early hours of the day.

After The Night is out in cinemas and VoD from the 25th April (watch at I-Tunes)

A TALKING PICTURE (Um Filme Falado; 2004; Manoel de Oliveira)

For some thought-provoking, for others dull – this movie reveals the encounters of a mother and daughter on a Mediterranean cruise. John Malkovich is the captain.

IN VANDA'S ROOM (No Quarto da Vanda; 2000; Pedro Costa)

This award-winning, warts-and-all documentary/fiction provides a close-up of the lives of Cape Verdean slum dwellers and drug addicts in Lisbon’s deprived Fontainhas district.

THE LETTER (A Carta; 1999; Manoel de Oliveira)

Passion, futile love, adultery, tragedy, piety… It's all in this Oliveira classic that won the Jury prize at Cannes.

THE NINTH GATE (1999; Roman Polanski)

Stars Jonny Depp as a rare book dealer seeking out a supernatural demon text. In the course of his travels around Europe through France and Spain, to track down the authentic copy of the book for his client, he visits Sintra in Portugal. It's a picturesque area of Portugal just outside Lisbon with plenty of atmospheric hilltop palaces and castles.
Depp visits Chalet Biester with its turreted outline tucked into lush green woodland exuding mystery.

BONES (Ossos; 1997; Pedro Costa)

A grim and gripping tale of life in the slums on the outskirts of Lisbon, dealing with poverty, suicide and the struggle of love and death.

LISBON STORY (Viagem a Lisboa; 1994; Wim Wenders)

Inventive and beautifully photographed, this German drama follows director Monrow on his quest to finish a silent film in Lisbon. Stars Portuguese band Madredeus and a cameo by Manoel de Oliveira.

THE WINTER IN LISBON (El Invierno en Lisboa; 1992; Jose Antonio Zorrilla)

This crime drama is about a disillusioned US jazz pianist who fl ees to Lisbon where he befriends an artist. The film stars famous trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie.

After The Night is out in cinemas and on VoD from the 25th April

Conspiracy Theory Feature (Pioneer)

2014-04-09T02:54:00.000+01:00

Conspiracy films can captivate an audience in surprising ways, and Hollywood has a long tradition of bringing these theories to life. In the upcoming Film Pioneer, director Erik Skjoldbjærg explores a real life Norwegian big oil cover-up that includes murder, extortion, and diving in the North Sea. In preparation for its April launch, we are counting down six of the best conspiracy thrillers.

6. Chinatown (1974)

Roman Polanski revived the 1940s noir drama to astounding effects in this private-eye thriller. Balancing between wishful cynicism and calculated brutality, Chinatown uses a great depression-era conspiracy story to reflect the post-water gate era in which it was made. Bolstered by superb acting from Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, Chinatown was nominated for 11 Oscars, and is widely heralded as a masterpiece within the genre.

5. Shutter Island (2010)

Perhaps better known for violent-gangster films than conspiracy theories, Martin Scorsese teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio for the fourth time to stunning effects. Using conspiracy-theory tropes unapologetically, Shutter Island turns the genre on its head and questions the nature of conspiracy theorists within our society.

4. The Insider (1999)

Focused solely on their shareholders, corporations will often go to morally extreme lengths to maximize profits. There is perhaps no better instance of this than within the cigarette industry, where companies denied the harmful effects of cigarettes for years, even in the face of mountains of evidence contrary to their claims. Based on real world events, The Insider explores Jeffrey Wigand’s decision to release condemning information about his former company, and the moral battle that ensued within the 60 Minutes office.

3. Z (1969)

This anti-fascist political thriller proved that sometimes fact is scarier than fiction. Set in cold-war era Greece, Z examines the real life murder of activist Gregorios Lambrakis, and the political leaders who ordered his execution. At the time, Z exposed government hypocrisy and cover-ups that continue today in many supposed free nations around the world.

2. JFK (1991)

Using the real-life assassination of President Kennedy as a backdrop, JFK mixes in a splash of speculative fiction to compelling effects. Whether or not the film’s facts hold up under intense scrutiny, JFK is an electric thriller, and its release reaffirmed Oliver Stone as a master of controversy.

1. All the President’s Men (1976)

Championing the ever-relevant need for a free press, All the President’s Men retells the Watergate scandal from the perspective of the journalists who uncovered it. Based on perhaps the largest scandal in the United State’s political history, All the President’s Men set off a wave of government conspiracy thrillers, and is a must watch for any conspiracy theory junkie.

Pioneer (2014)

Set in the North Sea and along the Norwegian coast during the Norwegian oil boom, Pioneer follows the true story of Petter, a Norwegian born oil diver poised to make a record setting dive alongside his brother. When their mission goes tragically wrong, Petter sets out to discover the truth, falling headfirst into a deadly cover-up along the way.
Pioneer is released April 11 in UK cinemas

Jonathan Glazer’s Top Five Most Notable Works

2014-03-11T14:14:00.000+00:00

Jonathan Glazer has directed nearly all forms of commercial film. From MTV music videos, to global TV spots and feature films, Glazer is one of the most respected directors in Hollywood. To celebrate his return to the big screen this march with Under the Skin, we are taking a look at Glazer’s top five most notable works.

Street Spirit (1995)

)
Jonathan Glazer, making his transition from theatre to film in 1993 with the shorts Mad, Pool, and Commission, decided to try his hand at music videos. In the mid-nineties he joined forces with Radiohead, and the two English talents created the iconic music video for Street Spirit. Looking back at his career, Glazer has cited the music video as a major stepping stone towards finding his voice as a director.

Virtual Insanity (1997)

)
Glazer continued his reputation as a groundbreaking director with Jamiroquai’s Virtual Insanity music video. Using a moving set, Glazer created the illusion of a magic floor and sliding furniture. His special effects left both critics and audiences jaw-dropped, and the video took home four VMAs including best music video. Glazer was named MTV director of the year for the video.

Guinness Surfer (1999)

)
It is said that it take 119.5 seconds to pour the perfect glass of Guinness. It only took Glazer 60 seconds to explain why. With his 1999 “Surfer” TV spot, Glazer introduced the phrase ‘Good things come to those who wait’ as the new tagline for Guinness, and helped turn Guinness’s pouring time into a unique selling point. The advert won universal critical appraise, took home Gold at the Cannes Film festival, and was placed at number one on The Sunday Time’s list of 100 greatest TV advertisements ever.

Sexy Beast (2000)

)
In 2000, Glazer teamed up with academy award winner Ben Kingsley to direct his first feature length film. Behind Glazer’s direction, Kingsley put on another academy award nominated performance as a viscous robber trying to convince a crew to come back for ‘one last job.’ The subversive take on the British gangster genre was applauded for its dark humour, being labelled as a tour de force, and in many circles, as the greatest British gangster film of all time.

Birth (2004)

)
With a knack for unique storytelling, Glazer brought his talents back to the silver screen in 2004 for his sophomore feature. Birth tells the story of a widow who meets a ten year old boy claiming to be her husband reincarnated. As the lines between reality and the absurd become blurred, Anna is slowly torn between her love for her late husband and her new fiancé. The film stars Nicole Kidman, who received a Golden Globe nomination for her leading performance.

Under The Skin (2014)

)
After taking a hiatus from feature films for nearly 10 years, Glazer is bringing Michael Faber’s cult classic book Under the Skin to the big screen. Starring Scarlet Johansson as an alien temptress, Under the Skin takes a look at Johansson’s preying actions from an alien perspective. With its unique viewpoint and visual narrative, it is one of the most anticipated films of the year.

Read our Toronto Film Festival review of Under The Skin

Under the Skin is released in UK cinemas on 14 March

Top 10 Ralph Fiennes Performances

2014-03-06T13:39:00.000+00:00

Today Ralph Fiennes is one of Britain’s preeminent acting talents, and a household name. However, like all great actors, there was a time when he was unknown and still searching for his breakthrough performance. In honour of The Grand Budapest Hotel, his latest film, we’re taking a look back to the start of his career, and the notable performances that brought him to stardom.

Schindler’s list (1993)

Originally Fiennes dreamed of becoming a painter and began studying at Chelsea College of Art and Design. Soon, however, he found his passion in acting, and quickly transferred to London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Here he was taught through Shakespearean theatre, and after graduation in 1987, he performed on live stage for several years. Although he made his first film appearance as a lead Actor in 1992’s Wuthering Heights, his performance in Schindler’s List elevated him to star status. In this role, Fiennes played the chillingly cold Nazi officer Amon Goeth, and for his performance, he was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of best actor in a supporting role, and also won the BAFTA in the same category.

Quiz Show (1994)

Springboarding off his performance in Schindler’s list, Fiennes partnered up with actor-director Robert Redford for the 1994 Academy Awards best picture nominee Quiz Show. In it, Fiennes stars as a fictional version of Charles Van Doren, a quiz show contestant who captivated America in the 1950s by winning week after week. The only problem? Van Doren was being fed the answers the whole time, and when a disgruntled losing contestant reveals the truth, their scheme, along with America’s illusion, came tumbling down—fast.

The English Patient (1996)

Fiennes returned to the Oscar spotlight in 1996, this time leading another Academy Award best picture winner, The English Patient. Fiennes plays an archaeologist during WWII who has been badly burned in a plane crash and is struggling for his life in a French hospital. As the plot turns, and Fiennes’ past is revealed in a series of flash backs, a dangerous love affair quickly unravels. For his performance, Fiennes was nominated by the Academy again, this time in the category of best actor in a leading role.

Red Dragon (2002)

In 2002, Fiennes returned to the villain role to mark another chapter in the story of Hannibal Lector. For Red Dragon, Fiennes donned a fearsome back tattoo and took on the alter ego of the Red Dragon—a serial killing schizophrenic heavily influenced by the work of Lector.

The constant Gardener (2005)

Like a chameleon changing colours, Ralph Fiennes transformed from villain to hero once again, showing his incredible dramatic range in The Constant Gardener. In a film nominated for 4 Academy Awards, Fiennes plays Justin Quayle, a British diplomat living in Kenya searching for the truth behind his wife’s murder. Although he believes her death to be the result of an affair, he soon finds the truth to be much more lethal.

Harry Potter (2005-2011)

Using his previous stints in Schindler’s List and Red Dragon as an audition, Fiennes next transformed himself into perhaps the most notorious villain in young adult literature—Lord Voldemort. As the dark lord, Fiennes brought to life a character feared by both wizards and muggles. On screen, his transformation from the love grieving Justin Quayle in The Constant Gardener to the reptilian Voldemort is truly remarkable, both in physical appearance and performance

The Reader (2008)

Since the end of World War II, many films have used Nazi Germany as subject material, but very few, if any, have told the story from this angle. When a teenage Michael Berg is befriended by a woman (Kate Winslet) nearly twice his age, their friendship quickly turns physical. The affair burns out bright and quick, but nearly a decade later, the two have a chance meeting where Michael Berg discovers that Hannah, the only woman he has ever loved, was once a Nazi guard at Auschwitz. As an older Berg, Fiennes attempts to come to terms with the woman he once loved, and tries to make penance on her behalf.

The Duchess (2008)

Teaming up with Kiera Knightly, Ralph Fiennes put on a wholly convincing performance as The Duke in The Duchess. As the menacing husband of Georgiana (Kiera Knightly), Ralph Fiennes seems to reflect the tranquil nature of his surroundings. When his wife fails to produce a male child however, Fiennes puts on a brutally real performance, slowly abusing his wife both emotionally and physically. Balancing off this performance by Fiennes, the film peels back the surface layers of Victorian era culture, and exposes the sexist precedents of the time.

The Hurt Locker (2009)

In 2009, Fiennes teamed up with Kathryn Bigelow to provide a brilliant cameo in the best picture winning film The Hurt Locker. As Jeremy Renner and his partner make their way across the Iraq desert, they come across Ralph Fiennes and his squad of hardnosed mercenaries. Wearing a headscarf and flak jacket, Fiennes turns out a memorable performance, and gives perhaps the best recitation of the line “Sniper!” on film.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

In the new Wes Anderson film, Fiennes plays Gustave, a legendary Eastern European Concierge during the 1930s. As fictional locations, murders, and Futura typeface pile on in typical Wes Anderson fashion, Fiennes grounds the cast and centres the film. With Wes Anderson directing at the top of his game and utilizing a star-studded cast that includes Jude Law, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, and Willem Dafoe—just to name a few—The Grand Budapest Hotel is one of the most anticipated films of the year.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL IS RELEASED IN UK CINEMAS ON 7 March 2014

Movies Scored by Famous Musicians (Her Feature)

2014-02-13T16:53:00.000+00:00

Often, a movie’s score goes unnoticed by an audience, but it can have major effects on the mood and setting of a film by subtly changing a viewer’s perception. If the score is not chosen wisely, it can hinder a film, or even worse, clash with the fundamental themes underlying it. In order to achieve the correct mood, it has become a recent trend for Hollywood film makers to collaborate with famous musicians. For Her, director Spike Jonze worked closely with Arcade Fire to create a sublime score that sweeps and swoons in alignment with Theodore’s (Joaquin Phoenix) emotions. In honour of Her’s February release, we’re taking a look at some of the best collaborations between famous musicians and film makers in recent memory.

Grizzly Bear/ Blue Valentine (2010)

Usually scores are inspired by the films they are created for, but in the case of Blue Valentine, the opposite is true. Director Derek Cianfrance worked for over 7 years to perfect his Blue Valentine script, but it wasn’t until he found the Grizzly Bear band that he hit his writing stride. As he wrote, he often listened to their music, fusing their melodic rhythm into the pacing of his writing. In 2007, he reached out to the band and asked if they would score his film. They obliged, and together with Cianfrance, were able to create two separate moods—one of romanticism for flashbacks and another highlighting tension for present day scenes—that defined the pacing of the film.

Alex Turner/ Submarine (2010)

The lead singer for the Arctic Monkeys took a brief hiatus in 2010 to work alone for the soundtrack of Submarine. In order to highlight this coming of age story, Turner put down his usual habitual rock style, and created six different acoustic songs. His soundtrack was critically acclaimed, and Turner used the experience to expand the sound of the Arctic Monkeys.

Trent Reznor/ The Social Network (2010)

While it’s hard to imagine The Social Network without its award winning soundtrack, Trent Reznor’s score almost didn’t happen. When David Fincher Initially offered Reznor the gig, he turned it down to take a break from music. Thankfully for the film however, Reznor changed his mind at the last minute, and joined forces with Atticus Ross to create a score that Roger Ebert called an “urgent composition that drove the film's headlong momentum.” After the credits finished, Reznor’s score kept on driving, taking the film to the academy awards where it was nominated for eight Oscars and won three including best original score.

Daft Punk/ Tron: Legacy (2010)

Before winning the Grammy for best album of the Year, the French duo took on the Disney remake of Tron in 2010. Their electric-pop vibe was a natural selection for the digital world, and the soundtrack for the film was a huge success, moving all the way to No. 4 on the Billboard top 200 list.

Karen O/ Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

To bring this beloved work of Maurice Sendak to life, Spike Jonze enlisted the help of Karen O, lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and at the time, his current girlfriend. She lent her voice for several songs, including the Grammy nominated song All is Love, and helped to write the score, which was nominated for best original score at the Golden Globe awards.

John Greenwood/ There Will Be Blood (2007)

For There Will Be Blood, Radiohead’s guitarist John Greenwood accented Daniel Day Lewis’ performance with orchestral sounds to give the film a sinister, unsettling tone. Although his score was ultimately snubbed by the academy awards because of its use of previously recorded material, it was nominated for a Grammy in the category of “Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media".

Arcade Fire/ Karen O/ Her (2014)

For Her, Spike Jones collaborated with Arcade Fire to produce the score, and once again Karen O to sing an original song. Arcade Fire’s score has been nominated for best score by the academy awards, and Karen O’s “The Moon Song” has been nominated for Best Original Song. The film is also in the running for three more Oscars, including Best Picture.

HER IS RELEASED IN UK CINEMAS ON 14 FEBRUARY 2014

Forbidden Love - The Invisible Woman Feature

2014-01-30T19:36:00.000+00:00

The theme of forbidden love has formed the basis of many romantic dramas; fuelling scenes of passion, desire, and devotion. The latest film to add to the line-up is The Invisible Woman, the true story of Charles Dickens and his young mistress, actress Nelly Ternan. Ralph Fiennes directs himself as Dickens, with Felicity Jones as the young beautiful actress. Nelly is forced to remain an ‘invisible’ muse and lover to hide the scandalous relationship from the world. To mark the February 7th release in cinemas, here is a look at eight films about forbidden love.

The Graduate (1967)

Starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, The Graduate tells the story of Benjamin Braddock and his affair the wife of one of his father’s business partners, Mrs. Robinson. Having recently graduated from college, Ben meets Mrs. Robinson upon arriving home and they begin their short-lived affair. However, his past comes back to haunt him as Ben finds himself falling in love with Elaine, Mrs. Robinson’s daughter. The Graduate, a hugely influential coming of age comedy, hilariously tells one of the most tense and noteworthy love stories in film.

Water for Elephants (2011)

When his parents die in a car accident before he finishes his veterinary studies, Jacob Jankowski falls into a new life in the circus. It is here that he meets Marlena, the young wife of the ill-tempered and unstable circus owner, August. Jacob soon falls in love with Marlena, and she with Jacob. August’s violent nature threatens their lives and the livelihood of the circus. Based on the novel, Water for Elephants, starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, depicts the whirlwind love affair of Jacob and Marlena and how two people will beat all obstacles to be together.

Lolita (1997)

In this forbidden love affair based on the famous Nabokov novel, Humbert Humbert falls in love with his land lady’s 14 year old daughter, Dolores “Lolita” Haze. Humbert, a British professor who moved to the US to teach, marries Charlotte Haze, in order to stay close to Lolita. Lolita proving to be much more mature than her age begins a relationship with her step father. The gripping tale of Lolita, starring Melanie Griffith and Jeremy Irons, with Dominique Swain as Dolores, is filled with romance, guilt, jealousy, and perfectly depicts the ultimate price one might pay for forbidden love.

In The Mood for Love (2000)

Newspaper editor, Chow Mo-Wan, moves into a new building with his wife and at the same time, Su Li-Zhen, a beautiful secretary, moves into the building with her husband. Chow and Li-Zhen form a friendship and begin spending time together as their spouses are away. However, they soon find out their significant others are having an affair and vow to not be like their unfaithful spouses, yet find comfort in their growing relationship. Set in Hong Kong in 1962, In the Mood for Love, starring Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu Wai, beautifully illustrates the growing love between two individuals and their resistance to give into passionate feelings.

The Scarlett Letter (1995)

Seeking independence from 17th century England, Hester Prynne arrives to Massachusetts Bay Colony awaiting the arrival of her husband from England. While befriending other outsiders in the colony, Hester falls for young pastor Arthur Dimmesdale. Soon, Hester bears their child, after rumour of her husband’s death reaches her. On the day Hester is made to wear a scarlet A, her husband arrives very much alive and seeks revenge on her love and his own wife. The Scarlet Letter, starring Demi Moore and Gary Oldman, shows that sometimes love will overcome every rule and all humiliation.

Romeo and Juliet (1996)

Retold in a modern day Verona, Romeo and Juliet remains the timeless story of star crossed lovers. The Montague and the Capulet families are fierce, feuding enemies when their children meet and fall in love. The two have hidden their love from their families and soon meet their tragic destiny. Still preserving the original dialogue from the Shakespeare classic, Romeo and Juliet, starring young Leonard DiCaprio and Claire Danes, is one of the greatest forbidden love stories told.

Titanic (1997)

101 year old Rose DeWitt Butaker tells the story of her romantic adventure on the Titanic, and her discovery of true love, to her granddaughter and the crew aboard the Keldysh research ship. While aboard the Titanic, Rose met Jack Dawson, a spirited artist with whom she soon fell in love. When the Titanic went down, Jack lost his life, but Rose used his name to disappear from her mother and fiancé. 84 years later, Rose recalls this story as the crew searches for remnants of the wreck her nearly priceless lost jewellery. A beautifully told story of love lost, Titanic, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, is one of the most spectacular stories of forbidden love.

The Invisible Woman (2013)

Set in 19th century England, The Invisible Woman illustrates the illicit love affair between Charles Dickens and young actress, Ellen Ternan. At the height of his success, an older Dickens meets 18 year old Nelly with whom he soon falls in love and begins a secret affair, eventually leaving his wife. To keep her reputation, Nelly must live a life of “invisibility” until Dickens’ death. An epic drama, starring the outstanding Ralph Fiennes and illustrious Felicity Jones, The Invisible Woman passionately depicts what one must pay for love in an entrancing and heart wrenching film.

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN IS RELEASED IN UK CINEMAS ON 7 FEBRUARY

Robert Redford Career Highlights (All Is Lost Feature)

2013-12-16T16:11:00.000+00:00

Robert Redford is one of the few actors in Hollywood that has had contestant involved in Hollywood for the duration of his career. Embarking on his 77th birthday Redford has spent 53 of those years in the spotlight for his participation in front or behind the camera. Starting as a Hollywood heartthrob in the 60s, becoming a top-box office actor in the mid 70s, director in the 80s, producer in the 1990 and philanthropist in the turn of the century, it’s safe to say Redford has made the most of his career. Robert has been recognized for his talent by receiving two Oscars; one in 1981 for Best Director and another for the Lifetime Achievement in 2002. In addition, he was awarded French Knighthood in the Legion d’Honneur in 2010. Although he has always been involved in Hollywood, Redford experienced, as any actor does, ups and down. However, riding the wave of success, this winter, Robert Redford is being thrust into the award season storm curtest of his new film, All Is Lost. In anticipation of the upcoming film, we are taking a look back at Robert Redford’s successful career. However, while participating in over 68 productions as an actor, 10 as a director and 35 as a producer, it’s impossible to cover all the bases, so we are specifically taking a look at his career highlights.

Inside Daisy Clover (1965)

Roberts Redford stars in his third Hollywood film, Inside Daisy Clover as he portrays the role of the homosexual Wade Lewis. Redford’s handlers cautioned him against taking the role in the film, but despite their warnings, Redford accepted and the film served his first important role of his career. Redford’s performance earned him excellent reviews and won him a Golden Globe award as a “Star of the Future.” After this role, Redford’s career was secure; he was seen as a talented actor offered a multitude of different roles after the movie was finished.

Downhill Racer (1969)

Given the opportunity to carry his own, Robert Redford starred in the motion picture Downhill Race. Playing a small-town Colorado arrogant athlete given the chance of glory on the U.S Olympic Ski team, he gives a convincing, self-destructive performance. In a review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert stated Downhill Racer is “the best movie ever made about sports—without really being about sports at all.” The received critical acclaim as Redford proved himself and the extent of his talent.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Reaching success, Redford was worried he had been type-casted in Hollywood as a blond male stereotype. In retaliation, he turned down numerous offers as he waited for the right role to present himself. In 1969, he found the role he was looking for in George Roy Hill’s western classic, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The film follows Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and his partner Harry Longabaugh, the “Sundance Kid” (Redford), as they migrate to Bolivia on the run from the law in search of more criminal opportunities. The film marked the first collaboration between Newman and Redford, and moulded their famous friendship. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, received monumental critical acclaim. The film earned 7 Oscar nominations, winning 4. As well as three Golden Globe nominations, winning Best Original Score. Redford received a BAFTA Award for Best Actor. In 2003, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. The film reinforced Redford’s acting talents and made him a major bankable star, cementing his screen image as an intelligent, reliable, sometimes sardonic good guy.

The Candidate (1972)

The Candidate is an American political satire film starring Robert Redford, written by Jeremy Larner, a speech writer for Senator Eugene J. McCarthy during the 1968 Democratic Presidential nomination. Redford portrays a young liberal lawyer who tries to hold onto his ideals as he campaign to defeat a conservative senator. As the campaign continues, the candidate loses his way, and Redford’s skilful performance suggests just how aware he is of his failure. The film received critical acclaim as it was nominated for two Academy Awards, winning Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced.

The Way We Were (1973)

Regarded as his most successful romantic drama, Robert Redford stars in The Way We Were with co-star Barbra Streisand. The film depicts two desperate people who embark on a wonderful romance, but their political views and convictions drive them apart. As a box office success, the film was nominated for a multitude of awards and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. With the release of the film, Redford became a worldwide heartthrob.

The Sting (1973)

George Roy Hill, director of “Butch Cassidy”, brought Newman and Redford together again for this tricky story about a few con men who team up and target a mob boss in 1930 Chicago. The film was received 10 Oscar nominations, winning seven, including Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Film Editing. The Sting became one of the top 20 highest grossing movies of all time and provided Robert Radford with his first and only Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

All the President’s Men (1976)

This Academy Award-winning political thriller, All the Presidents, tells the non-fiction story about the two journalists (Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman) investigating the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post. The dedication these journalists put into the story lead to a nationally shocking discovery. The film received numerous good mentions including 4 Academy Awards – and further secured legendary status for the two lead actors: Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman.

Ordinary People (1980)

The 1970s marked Redford as Hollywood’s top box-office name, he continued to act in many mainstream films. However, in the 1980s Redford obtained a newfound focus on directing. The first film he directed, Ordinary People, depicted the dramatic story of the disintegration of an upper-middle class family in Illinois, following the death of one of their sons in a boating accident. Ordinary People showed audience and critics that Redford was as good of a director as actor. The film reached critical and commercial success, winning four Oscars including the Academy Award for Best Picture and a monumental win for Redford as he won Best Director.

Out of Africa (1985)

In one of his most recognized roles of his career, Robert Redford co-stars with Meryl Streep in the Award winning film, Out of Africa. The story follows a Danish baroness/platioation owner in 20th century colonial Kenya, and her passionate love affair with a free-spirited game hunter. The film reached momumental success, winning seven Oscars out of 11 nominations.

Quiz Show (1994)

Regarded as Redford’s finest movie as director, Quiz Show is an American historical drama film based on the Richard N. Goodwin memoir Remembering America. The film follows the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s, the rise and fall of popular contestant Charles Van Doren, played by Ralph Fiennes, and the Congressional investigator Richard Goodwin (Rob Morrow) subsequent search for the truth. The film was nominated for four Oscars including Best Director and Best picture. The film, to this day, holds a 96% rating from Rotten Tomatoes.

All Is Lost (2013)

In the 2000’s Redford participated in acting, directing, and producing, but was more interested in his role as a philanthropist. Robert accepted the role in the upcoming film, All Is Lost, bringing him back into the spotlight. Redford depicts an unnamed man in a solo voyage in the Indian Ocean, waking up to find his 39-foot yacht taking on water after a collision with a shipping container left floating on the high seas. With his navigation equipment and radio disabled, the man sails unknowingly into the path of a violent storm. Despite his success in patching the breached hull, his mariner’s intuition, and a strength that belies his age, the man barely survives the tempest. Introducing himself to an audience of a different generation, Redford has had high reviews and has had critics awaiting the release of the new film.

All Is Lost arrives in UK&Irish cinemas 26th December.

Feature - A New Wave in New Queer Cinema

2013-12-15T20:54:00.004+00:00

Spurred on by the AIDS crisis, the social exclusion of homosexual men during the 1980s induced fear and anger from both sides of the gender boundaries. Wanting to break away from various pithy representations at the start of a new decade, UK and US based gay filmmakers such as Gregg Araki (The Living End), Todd Haynes (Poison) and the late Derek Jarman (Blue) sought to create films which were expressionistic and upfront in their frustration towards heteronormative boundaries and relationships. They represented a new way of belonging within a gay community, a stronger acceptance of a grounded identity where there was pride in being different. Knowing these films were completely unlike anything else, film critic B Ruby Rich classed this wave of filmmaking as ‘New Queer Cinema’ in a 1992 issue of Sight & Sound. Yet, as the 90s continued and breakthroughs with AIDS treatments progressed, homosexual identities became more politically recognised and accepted. As a result, the central gay character grew to be more present within mainstream (Philadelphia) and populist Indie (Beautiful Thing) film throughout the decade. Following the standard template of having an identity problem with being gay or living with AIDS, these forms of conflict seemed the only way of making a story interesting or crucial in forcing a statement.

However, by the end of the 90s, the activist force of ‘New Queer Cinema’ seemed to fizzle out as gay equality within Western society became stronger and more widely accepted than ever before. As a result, the representation of the triumphantly well adjusted homosexual man took over most narratives. In Hollywood, popular centralised gay storylines (Brokeback Mountain, Milk) still centred on weepy ideals, set within a certain time period, where central characters were martyrs to highlight just how significantly times had changed. As for the some of the original ‘New Queer Cinema’ filmmakers, after having said everything they needed to, they moved on to different styles and forms of storytelling, either within mainstream or independent productions. Since the popularity behind the politics resulted in a move into the ordinary, many of the early gay activists and filmmakers – who thrived in their difference from the hetero norms – would argue that the war for recognition, acceptance and equality is over. However, the lack of fluidity within the structure of gay narratives still created dissatisfaction with a few younger directors. Rather than portray the direct anxiety that can be faced with homosexuality or have gay characters completely represent the community, directors Andrew Haigh, Travis Mathews and Ira Sachs have created stories where this identity is a mere factor towards a more universal story. In their films, characters are already well adjusted with their identity. They lead a standard suburban life where the issues of death or coming out are not important. Most importantly, they do not fall into a perception of a gay community. Although these characters may struggle with issues of their identity, they are subtlety handled by these filmmakers, making their connection with other characters or their community resonate. It is a sudden and unique shift within ‘Queer Cinema’, but also a welcome one.

Haigh’s Weekend, released in 2011, proved to be a surprise hit for the filmmaker. The small production, detailing a brief - yet passionate - weekend between two very different personalities, earned consistent critical praise and box-office success (earning the second highest screen average on its opening week in the UK, behind Speilberg’s TinTin). Similarly, Matthew’s acclaimed 2013 film, I Want Your Love, charts the various sexual encounters of a local mid-twenties San Francisco hipster within his social circle of friends. Finally, Sach’s Keep the Lights On, follows a relationship set over a decade, from its amusingly awkward beginnings through to its tribulations with addiction. Although these stories may be different, the characters within them reveal various personalities and situations which are relatable to both homosexual and heterosexual audiences. With dialogue and performances that feel improvised and stylised hand-held cinematography, the naturalistic qualities of these works present how social boundaries within more everyday settings have been abolished. Rather than smack various issues over the viewer, these films treat their audiences with respect in regards to their intelligence and own experiences. Speaking exclusively to Mathews, he says ‘I don’t want to take someone’s hand and say ‘‘we are about to go somewhere gay and this is what you need to understand.’’ It is what it is.’

The existence of this new wave of film came from frustration. Before these filmmakers, there was merely a desire of wish fulfilment in seeing fully adjusted, happy, gay men within the media. For Haigh, films and television displayed a sense of contemporary gay life which he himself knew nothing about. However, Sachs was confused at why the subject of troublesome long-term relationships was never an issue, after experiencing one himself. Such was the popularity and importance of ‘positive’ representations within the media that Mathews believes that he and his peers are making progress in depicting the lives of gay men; ‘Not all of us are living perfectly well adjusted lives and I personally don’t want to shy away from something that could be seen as a bad portrayal. We can be just as flawed and interesting as the next guy and we [Mathews, Haigh and Sachs] want to show that.’

In showing the honesty and flaws within their characters’ lifestyle, each filmmaker relies on addressing the thorny issue of sex. Previously, the depiction of gay sex usually proved unjustified or a crass ‘will-they-won’t-they’ plot device. It provided cheap thrills or was thrown in for the sake or liberation of being able to show it. Yet, for these filmmakers, sex is integral in showing the normality within the everyday of a developing relationship. Unfortunately, this is an area which immediately classifies a direct demographic within these universal storylines. Unlike the works of Lars Von Trier and Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine), who approach the topic of sex within heterosexual relationships to drive their stories, the subject of gay sex can still divide an audience. As the character of Glen says in Weekend – when speaking about his personal art project – ‘straights won’t care because it’s not about their world.’ However, as many highbrow critics have noted, this is where the appeal of these three films lie. The topic of sex displays a generational experience within many contemporary works of rooting your identity and displaying who you are. With the ideas depicted within these films evidently crossing over the lines that have divided sexuality, the characters become more resonant purely because the story takes place within the relationship of two men. Yet, one might wonder that whilst the barriers of cultural sexual rigidity still remain slightly profound and – especially in this case – can divide an audience, would these characters ever be fully appreciated?

The reason Mathews wrote I Want Your Love was through bafflement over the void left within cinema where sex between two characters revealed an extension to their personality. However, what puts Mathews above the rest in his depiction of intercourse is that he had his actors perform live sex in front of the camera; ‘When two people try to or have sex, there is a lot of information exchanged and I didn’t want to shy away from it when telling my story. I could not present the intimacy with my characters without showing sex. I just feel like we’re in a place in time where the stories we’re telling about ourselves can be a bit more complicated and modern.’ Haigh, however, was more reserved. Developing his two characters before showing any intimacy, he takes an empathetic eye, allowing his scenes to feel more meaningful and personal for his two leads. In his own words, he says, ‘it was very important for me not to just shoehorn the sex into my film. I wanted to present the effect of the first encounter and have the audience understand the characters before revealing more. By the end of the film, you want them to enjoy the sex they have in their final moments together.’ As with Keep the Lights On, critics in the UK and US have applauded the portrayal of sex being naturally integrated and included in people’s everyday contemporary lives, rather than separated from it.

Within the context of these individual works, the depiction of intimacy provides a level of character development which is rare to find in a lot of cinema but progressive in how narrative forms are changing.
There is a sense of satisfaction that comes from watching these films. Not only are you witnessing a change in the norms of representing homosexuality, but they are making progression with the identity by setting it within contemporary urban landscapes. In moving gay identities to the background and having other facets contribute more towards these flawed characters, it injects a much needed sense of realism in depicting the lives of these people. Rather than hammer you over the head with the issues raised in these films - ideas such as muted homophobia in Weekend, faithfulness within relationships in Keep the Lights On, or the importance of a small community within a culture in I Want Your Love – they linger through their lack of force. In going underneath the larger issues and executing them with empathy and intelligence, it allows the universal appeal to open up which is liberating. It is invigorating seeing filmmakers embrace how much of a mess life can be sometimes.