Archive for September, 2008
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Out to own on DVD and Blu-ray 16th March
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Imagine a cross between a blundering, English-gent interpretation of The Devil Wears Prada and Bean on holiday in the Big Apple, and you are about on course for a gloriously sardonic and hilarious ride of faux pas after faux pas. The film, inspired by Brit journalist Toby Young’s best-selling true story about his amazingly disastrous experiences working for Vanity Fair on the other side of the Pond, plays on the long-old miscommunication between us and the Yanks, as well as the ridiculously closely-regulated and ‘affected’ world of celebrity and ‘the business’. It’s both the awe and the absurdity of celebrity that keeps us all hooked as we buy yet another Heat or Hello! magazine. Therefore, picture one no-nonsense Brit journo, Sydney Young, played by the ever-impressive and talented Simon Pegg, ploughing head-first into the schmoozy glitz and falsities, and letting rip in the most gleefully irresponsible fashion. Sounds peachy, hey?
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Released 3rd October 2008
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Julian Jarrold’s bold new version of a novel and TV mini-series classic was always going to come up against scrupulous examination from the author Evelyn Waugh, Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews‘ camps out there. And they would be right to nit-pick as any film adaptation cannot possibly succeed to portray all the period nuances, wretched decay and religious authority that the latter have the space to develop and languish in. This film may have the perfectly manicured, prissy etiquette, and clipped dialogue with witty repertoire at times that is expected by fans of English period dramas for the big screen. Nevertheless, it does faithfully attempt to retain the tormenting melancholy of the characters and emphasise a power greater than mortal love — Catholicism. The ‘shackles’ of devoted faith very much clank around the ankles of the imploding Flyte Family of Brideshead in Jarrold’s film, enough to accentuate the brilliance of Waugh’s writing and the dominance of faith. The film actually works as a standalone tale of ambition, faith, love and loss that captures the imagination and questions belief systems.
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Released 3rd October 2008
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3D expert Ben Stassen’s debut feature provides a comfortable journey into the 3D animated space, with the help of some cute little flies. In fact, the whole film is innocuous and cutesy for what it lacks in substance. Unlike recent animated hits, such as 2007’s Bee Movie, this film comes without the adult gags, double entendres and cheekiness of the former. The fact that the ‘mommy’ fly feels the need to repeat the same ‘humorous’ line in her moments of dismay, “Oh, my lord of the flies”, over and over again, is enough to yell, “Alright! We get it!” It’s clear that, perhaps, Stassen’s focus was on the technical aspects, to the detriment of the actual story. In fact, had Fly Me To The Moon not been shot in 3D, it would be fair to predict a ‘straight-to-DVD’ title. That said one obvious positive of seeing this film is for the IMAX experience, and to be entertained by the kiddies’ gleeful reactions to wearing oversized specs and squealing with terror as rocket parts loom towards them.
Released 26th September 2008
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Excited to see the film that won the New Director’s Award at Edinburgh International Film Festival and received praise at Sundance, nominated for the Grand Jury Prize, we were filled with high expectations. However, every now and then a film comes along that leaves you stumped and rather confused as to why such a film with such delicate subject matter and bizarre narrative would be commissioned? One of Good Dick‘s initial problems is just who it targets?—————————————-
Written, directed and co-produced by Scottish filmmaker Marianna Palka, who takes the lead of the troubled girl, starring opposite her real-life boyfriend, Jason Ritter, who also plays a similar character with a dark past, the chemistry between the pair is evident and a much-needed boost to an equally troubling film. In short, this project deals with some very sensitive issues and is held together by stellar performances from the lead roles and a bizarre love story. Basically, Good Dick is very much a film for the ‘art-house’ romantics out there.
