So, Ricky’s first feature film as director, writer and lead actor is on its way. I’ll make no bones about it, I am a fan, and although Ghost Town was a slightly underwhelming first foray into leading man territory it was affable enough with charm and sarcastic wit to spare. Taking more creative control this time round, The Invention Of Lying should see him hit his stride with more of the edgy humour from his stand-up routines and The Office, though at first glance the trailer has a whiff of 12A muting. An eclectic if not entirely undesirable supporting cast includes Patrick Stewart, Rob Lowe and an ever expanding Jonah Hill. I’m hopeful.
The Invention of Lying takes place in an alternate reality in which lying - even the concept of a lie - does not even exist. Everyone from politicians to advertisers, to the man and woman on the street speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences. But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark (Ricky Gervais) suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards. In a world where every word is assumed to be the absolute truth, Mark easily lies his way to fame and fortune. But lies have a way of spreading, and Mark begins to realise that things are getting a little out of control when some of his tallest tales are being taken as, well, gospel. With the entire world now hanging on his every word, there is only one thing Mark has not been able to lie his way into: the heart of the woman he loves.
You can check out the trailer below the break. It’s due an October 2009 theatrical release in UK.
Continue Reading "Ricky Gervais in a trailer for THE INVENTION OF LYING"...
Nicholas Winding Refn’s much debated biopic of Britain’s most notorious inmate is making its UK DVD and Blu-ray debut on the 6th July. In Bronson the director of the matchless Pusher trilogy has created a stylistically flamboyant interpretation of 34 violent years in prison, 30 of which spent in solitary confinement. Inevitably compared to A Clockwork Orange, when released theatrically in the UK it benefitted from a canny PR stunt of having a pre-recorded message from the real Charles Bronson played at the premiere (included on the DVD). Needless to say certain people questioned how appropriate it was to have a convicted criminal promote his own biopic, particularly amidst claims of glorified violence. The Prison Officer’s Association weren’t happy but the marketers rubbed their hands together…
You can watch the DVD trailer below the break.
DVD extras will be:
Exclusive Monologues From the Real Charles Bronson : Words From Inside Prison
Making Bronson: The Making of the Film
Tom Hardy’s Workout
Stills Gallery
Director’s Commentary
Trailer / Teasers / TV Spots
Valhalla Rising Promo
Continue Reading "BRONSON barrels onto UK DVD"...
Having picked up considerable praise at various festivals Mesrine: Killer Instinct is finally coming to Britain. Shot back to back with the second part (L’Ennemi Public No. 1), the first instalment of Jean-Francois Richet’s crime biography of Jacques Mesrine hits UK cinemas on 7th August:
Inspired by the life of France’s most notorious criminal, MESRINE: KILLER INSTINCT charts the rise and fall of the often marvelled, yet utterly ruthless gangster Jacques Mesrine. The films follow the incredible series of hold ups, prison breaks, and kidnappings throughout the 60s and 70s.
A rather exciting new UK trailer can be found below the break. It certainly looks to be an energetic and suitably sexy French take on the gangster biography with Vincent Cassel’s commanding presence in the lead. Je suis vraiment excité.
Part 2 looks set to follow on the 28th August.
Continue Reading "Mesrine: Killer Instinct gets UK trailer and theatrical release"...
Antichrist has been granted an 18 certificate, uncut, by the BBFC and slated for a 24th July theatrical release by those purveyors of art house cinema at Artificial Eye. Despite controversy at Cannes and walk outs at two London press screenings in the past week, the BBFC have passed Lars Von Trier’s censor-baiting horror in its entirety.
Curzon Artificial Eye CEO, Philip Knatchbull has commented “There is no doubt that Antichrist is a controversial film but it’s our duty as a distributor to present the works of talented directors such as Lars Von Trier in their original form exactly as the director intended. We fully support the BBFC’s decision to allow people to make up their own minds about this film.”
Happy days for UK audiences, now under the guidance of an increasingly enlightened BBFC, who seem to favour Von Trier’s offerings. It feels like only recently that The Idiots was passed uncut, ‘spaz orgy’ and all, a milestone in UK censorship. Of Antichrist they’ve somewhat redundantly stated “there is no doubt that some viewers will find the images disturbing and offensive.” Good good.
You can read Todd’s review here.
Veteran Polish director Andrzej Wajda’s Katyń is a multi-stranded WW2 drama that sombrely recounts the story of the Katyń forest massacre of 1941, where nearly 50,000 Polish POWs were systematically murdered at the hands of the Russian secret police under order of Stalin. The crime was subsequently denied by the Russians and blame shifted to the Germans when uncovered in 1943, the truth hidden until 1990 when the USSR finally admitted responsibility. Katyń’s attention is levelled at the families (mostly wives) and friends of the murdered POWs as they anxiously wait in vain for their husbands to return, unaware of their tragic plight. Nominated for the best foreign language film Oscar in 2008 and nearly two years since its première in Warsaw it’s making a welcome cinematic debut in the UK on 19th June.
Continue Reading "Katyń review"...
Brunel University’s Cine-Excess project has been a beacon of light for cult film-goers in the UK for 3 years now, with an annual conference featuring everything from screenings of Lucio Fulci ‘video nasties’ to lectures by the likes of Dario Argento. The University’s Cult Film Archive has now hooked up with independent distributor Nouveaux Pictures to launch its own DVD label, Nouveaux Pictures/Cine-Excess. With the intention to “take trash seriously”, Cine-Excess has been given the rights to some of the 300 movies owned by B-movie stalwart Roger Corman, amongst other cult and little-seen gems, with plans to involve university academics in the DVD special features.
Slated for future release are Corman’s Not Of This Earth, Attack Of The Crab Monsters, Ron Howard’s Grand Theft Auto, Slumber Party Massacre, and a Special Edition of Suspiria.
As well as reviving some legends of trash cinema, the scholarly input will hopefully add some fresh insight and avoid any of the superfluous, fluffy ‘featurettes’ that can mar lesser DVD releases, cult or otherwise. No word on re-mastering or quality levels, but we can hope…
There’s been a fair bit of excitement brewing here about Psychoville, the “new scary, funny and bloody thriller” from The League Of Gentlemen actors Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, so news that the first 2 episodes will be previewed at the lovely BFI on London’s Southbank is welcome to say the least. Better still Reece Sheersmith, producer Justin Davies and cast member Daisy Haggard will be on-stage for a panel discussion afterwards.
The screening takes place on Wed 27th May at 18:15
You can find out more and book tickets (if you’re quick) at the BFI’s website here.
Need an uplift amidst recessionary gloom? Independent distributor Metrodome is partnering with Vue cinemas to offer up a selection of cult films for free across the UK in a new programme of Credit Crunch Cinema - free screenings, before the official release dates. Simple as that.
Credit Crunch Cinema kicks off on the 15th May with a free advanced screening of the equally hilarious and horrific ONE EYED MONSTER. Starring adult film legends Ron Jeremy & Veronica Hart and “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” pin-up Amber Benson, “One Eyed Monster” is an outrageous and spectacular homage to the classic sci-fi horror of “Alien” and “The Thing”. Miss out at your peril! The next credit crunch screening takes place a week later on 22nd May with the gory and unrelenting MANHUNT. One of the most acclaimed and controversial European horror films of the decade takes the newly reanimated ‘grindhouse’ genre of classic 70s horror cinema back to its unrelenting, compelling and no holds barred roots. On the 5th June Kerrang! exclusively present a very special Credit Crunch Cinema screening with an advanced screening of the highly anticipated DEAD GIRL. From the producer of the seminal Hellraiser and the legendary Heathers, DEAD GIRL is a new genre classic and a no-holds-barred look at the horror of growing up.
All three screenings will take place at the following participating Vue Cinemas;
Vue West End
Vue Cambridge
Vue Edinburgh Omni
Vue Manchester Lowry
Vue Bristol Cribbs Causeway
All Credit Crunch Cinema screenings are available to guests over the age of 18 years old only.
Cinema goers can find out about the latest Credit Crunch Cinema films and how to access free tickets by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Stuck was one of the best surprises of last year, a wonderfully macabre and worrying B-movie based on the true story of a Texan woman who ran over a homeless man and then drove home with him ‘stuck’ in her windshield (still alive). She garaged her car, and had sex with her boyfriend. Though embellished for the screen, knowledge that much of the absurdity on display really happened makes it all the more appealing. Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, Fortress) manages to stay true to the B-movie material, with tight plotting and some truly cringe-inducing, gooey moments as Stephen Rea’s homeless man struggles to free himself. Increasingly tense with a sly dose of black comedy, what ultimately impresses is the sense of melancholy that strings the whole thing together whether in sympathy for the victim or puzzlement of how someone could wrong-do an innocent so horribly.
Stuck is out on UK DVD and BluRay on the 11th May through High Fliers Films.
Extras are: Commentary with Stuart Gordon, Mena Suvari and screen writer John Strysik, Making of Stuck.
In partnership with Film4 FrightFest, the ICA is hosting a Q&A with Sam Raimi following a preview screening of his new and much talked about return to horror flicks, Drag Me To Hell. On 24th May (3 days ahead of its nationwide theatrical release) Raimi and stars Alison Lohman and Justin Long will be on hand to answer questions on all things hellish. If, like me, you’d rather spend a night with Raimi’s bloodier side than his spandex incarnations then this is just what you need to liven up the bank holiday weekend.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (8th May) and you can get them here.
Also check out the trailer over here.
I have a bit of a problem with Ricky Gervais. I love his stand-up and have a soft spot for Extras but really can’t see beyond his off-screen persona when it comes to film roles. His cameo in Stardust pulls you right out of the experience as you ponder what on earth he’s doing in fancy dress. In a proper movie. So it turns out, strangely, he’s got a lot in common with Tom Cruise – can’t get beyond his personality to find the character he’s supposed to be playing. Anyhow, his next feature, Cemetery Junction, is a British-set period comedy that starts shooting in London on 15th June, co-written and directed by Stephen Merchant:
“In 1970s England, three blue-collar friends spend their days joking, drinking, fighting and chasing girls.
Freddie (Christian Cooke) wants to leave their working-class world but cool, charismatic Bruce (Tom Hughes) and lovable loser Snork (Jack Doolan) are happy with life the way it is.
When Freddie gets a new job as a door-to-door salesman and bumps into his old school sweetheart Julie (Felicity Jones), the gang are forced to make choices that will change their lives forever.”
It’ll be interesting to see if they can create a film that stands on its own or if Ricky will just revert to type and hog the whole thing. Co-starring Ralph Fiennes, Gervais and Merchant have appealing stated they want to “capture the spirit of those classic British New Wave movies of the 1960s that made stars of Albert Finney, Julie Christie and Michael Caine”. A tall order maybe, but an interesting one.
It should be at cinemas in 2010 via Sony Pictures.
There’s nothing particularly appealing about the prospect of another British gangster film in a genre filled with over clichéd and, lately, underwhelming offerings. But Shifty, the debut feature from Eran Creevy, is a wonderfully energetic, honest and fresh take on the genre that surprises with its sensitivity and lightness of touch.
Continue Reading "A SHIFTY review"...
Inspired by the real life story of Martin McGartland’s recruitment as a police informant to spy on the IRA in late 80s Belfast, Fifty Dead Men Walking charts his path from exuberant youth to paranoid recluse under the increasingly watchful eye of ageing British policeman, Fergus (Ben Kingsley). Martin (Jim Sturgess) rapidly gets deeply involved in the IRA’s affairs putting his whole family at risk as suspicions come to a head.
Told in flashback with a portentous voice-over from Kingsley, Kari Skogland’s film starts snappily before launching into a terrible, patronising explanation of the long running conflict. Presumably designed for an international audience unfamiliar with this recent piece of history, it jars with the rest of the film and sets things off poorly. Fortunately, things pick up and a pretty solid thriller develops.
Continue Reading "FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING Review"...
The Terracotta Far East Film Festival kicks off at the legendary Prince Charles Cinema on the 21st May – once a grindhouse venue, it’s now the only independent cinema in the West End. Launched by the Terracotta Entertainment Group (the people responsible for bringing Hansel & Gretal to UK DVD amongst others), the festival will showcase 13 contemporary films from the Far East. Amongst this year’s highlights will be police thriller Eye For An Eye, Oxide Pang Chun’s The Detective and Johnnie To’s Sparrow. It’s a great chance to catch some otherwise overlooked gems on the big screen in an iconic setting.
You can find out more here at the official site.
There’s been some great buzz around Eran Creevy’s debut feature since it screened at the London Film Festival last year, and it’s getting a theatrical release in the UK on 24th April through Metrodome. An urban thriller centred on a London crack dealer, this has some potential, with a story based on events the director witnessed growing up and a strong cast of up and coming talent.
Riz Ahmed (Britz, Dead Set) takes the title role of Shifty, a thriller charting an action packed 24 hours in the life of a young crack cocaine dealer on the outskirts of London. The sudden return home of his best friend sets in motion a chain of events that see Shifty’s life quickly spiral out of control. Stalked by a customer desperate to score at all costs, and with his family about to turn their back on him for good, Shifty must out-run and out-smart a rival drug dealer intent on setting him up. As his long time friend Chris, played by Daniel Mays (The Bank Job, Plus One), confronts the dark past he left behind him, Shifty is forced to face up to the violent future he’s heading fast towards.
The trailer (below the break) looks promising, playing it straight with a welcome lack of parodic criminal types and hackneyed irony.
Continue Reading "Crack dealers in London! A SHIFTY trailer"...
