Harry Potter hasn't failed to be the number one film of the year (in terms of UK Box Office) yet, and I don't expect it to falter at the sixth entry. Here's the first trailer which came out last year:
Harry Potter opens on 17 July 2009.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Tuesday Trailers - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Monday, 29 June 2009
Cara Williams
Happy Birthday to
Cara Williams
84 today
You'll be forgiven for not knowing who Ms Williams is. After a promising start to film she made the move to utterly forgettable 1960's TV, including "Pete and Gladys" and "The Cara Williams Show". However the ratings were never quite good enough, so the scatty red-head, who was positioned as the next Lucille Ball was pretty much retired by the end of the 60's returning only for small dramatic roles.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Bruce Davison
Happy Birthday to
Bruce Davison
63 today
There was a time when Bruce was starring in respectable movies, like The Crucible and the X-Men films. Now he's doing dreck like this knock-off of a knock-off. Where did it all go wrong?
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Isabelle Adjani
Happy Birthday to
Isabelle Adjani
54 today
The French have provided us with some beautiful and versatile actresses. In the top flights of these is Isabelle, who shot to fame in Truffants' L'histoire d'Adèle H. Unfortunately she tends to take big gaps between pictures, so there's nothing in the pipeline.
Film News (27/06/09)
Slow week for news, unless you count the annoucement that there will be 10 best picture nominees next year. Yes 10. Will the quality of films overall get better as a result? Probably not. Maybe we'll see some smaller releases get into the big picture race or maybe it'll be a triumph for the MOR pictures, but let's just wait and see.
Dark Shadows
Dark shadows was a pulpy camp horror TV series from the 60's with a soap opera type family beset by demons, zombies and parallel universes. I don't know about you, but this seems a perfect fit for film duo Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, and would you believe it Depp been spilling the gossip to the press during the Public Enemies junkets.
Based on the picture above do you think they had a costume designer, or did they just grab whatever was lying around in the studio?
Running: Week 3, Day 6, Run 4
Just a short jog this morning, concentrating on lifting my feet (really) and keeping a long even stride going.
3.9 km in 21 minutes or 11.3 kmph.
Friday, 26 June 2009
Out this week (26/06/09)
There are an extraordinary number of films being released this week, so the whole going to the cinema decision making thing is going to be really tough. Of the 11 features I'm going to recommend the ultimate art-house picture Shirin, although none are really jumping out so make your own choice.
Blood: The Last Vampire
Live-action remake of the 2000 anime about a government-sponsored vampire who hunts down "deamons" in her high school. Sounds like a very Japanese version of Buffy.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Running: Week 3, Day 4, Run 3
Repeating the disatnce on Tuesday (more or less) and trying to go faster. I will be doing that for most Tuesday/Thursdays over the next few weeks - but not next week which we'll get to when we get to it.
So today 10.0 km in 53 minutes. Or 11.3 kmph, which is pretty much where I want to be so I'm quite happy right now.
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Maria Larsson's Everlasting Moments
2008. Dir: Jan Troell. Starring: Maria Heiskanen, Mikhail Persbrandt, Jesper Christensen, Emil Jensen and Ghita Nørby. ●●●●●
I am so very glad I had the opportunity to watch this beautiful and moving film from Sweden, and I can fully recommend the picture to anyone with even the slightest interest in love stories in film.
Essentially it is a tale of a woman (Heiskanen) who falls in love with 2 men. The first is her husband (Persbrandt), a strong, rebellious manual labourer, who drinks, womanises and evetually beats his wife and children. The second is a more cultured photographer (Christensen - Mr. White from Casino Royale) who the woman meets whilst trying to pawn her camera. The photographer teaches her how to use the camera, and through that Mrs. Larsson finds a new outlook on life, the camera becoming a symbol of her independence and strength against her brutish husband.
Running: Week 3, Day 3, Run 2
I suppose today was technically fartlek training - although to be honest it was slow, bit less slow, recover from hangover training.
And it's very hot in the capital today. Enough of the excuses:
5.9 km in 34 minutes or an average of 10.3 kmph.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Tuesday Trailers - Antichrist
I was thinking of holding this until next week, and therefore not spoiling this Saturdays Box Office news, but frankly I'm too excited about the release of Lars von Trier's contoversy fest. It's Cannes debut is sure to go down as legendary, and the best actress win for Charlotte Gainsbourg will only help to cement it's status. Personally any film that gets that sort of response is one for me.
Antichrist will be released on 24 Jluy 2009.
Personal News (21/06/09) - With 2 for 1 ticket offer!
I am finally in London.
Ohh, it's exciting. Staying in a youth hostel, going for drinks in Soho. I'm having a whale of a time.
Of course the reason I'm here is to perform Lifelong Yearning at the Baron's Court Theatre, opening tonight and running until the end of the week.
GOOD NEWS - We have a 2 for 1 offer tonight and tomorrow (23-24 June), so if you're near Baron's court, come and see the show the people of Birmingham are calling:
Very Funny; and Fab Play
Running: Week 3, Day 2, Run 1
Somehow running feels different when you go in a circle, so this morning when I ran round Kensington Gardens (more on that in the next post) I was in a super good mood.
Not that I did significantly better - 9.7 km in 55 minutes or 10.7 kmph.
Which less face is exactly the same speed as Tuesday and Thursday last week, but I felt better! Whatever that means.
Monday, 22 June 2009
Klaus Maria Brandauer
Happy Birthday to
Klaus Maria Brandauer
65 today
There's an obvious birthday to celebrate today, however as much better bloggers will be concentrating on her I'd like to concentrate on her Out of Africa co-star (I think his performance is slightly less cliched and therefore better as well!). Klaus is currently leaving large shadows over his put-upon family in Coppola's Tetro. Can't wait until that makes it over here.
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Running: Week 2 Day 7 Run 5
Nice big run this morning, and before you try to make me feel bad about the slowish pace, it was deliberate. I just wanted to take it a little easy.
19.6 km in 1 hour 55 minutes. Or 10.2 kmph.
By the way, that's pretty close to a half-marathon distance, so that's almost half-way of the complete distance I need to be preparing for.
Phew!
Graham Greene
Happy Birthday to
Graham Greene
57 today
Coming from certain ethnic groups can help and hinder an acting career. For someone with Native American ancestry that can be doubly bad - what else is there but Westerns and the like. Luckily Graham is a good enough actor to impress in even the most cliched role, and even break out - his performance in Transamerica is certainly worth a second look.
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Film News (20/06/09)
Actually quite an interesting week for news, with a couple of really big projects getting a mention, and a couple of smaller ones thought to have disappeared being resurrected.
Indiana Jones 5
You have to wonder whether I've crapped on enough of my youth by going to see 3 Star Wars prequels and the 4th Indiana Jones movie, but apparently I'm still gagging for more. So hearing Shia LaBeouf chatting away at pre-Transformers interviews about the next Indy script in the works I have been a little excited. I'm not an apologist for the last film, it was a dreadful misstep. But then again so was The Temple of Doom, and it wasn't the CGI gophers and Shia loving monkeys that made me dislike it. It was more the bizarre UFO, 5th dimension, Lucas/Spielberg mindfuck that I objected to.
In the next film I'd like to see a return to Nazi and Judeo-Christian mythology. Maybe Joseph Mengele and a group of exiled Nazis mount an expedition to find the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Knowledge. It might be a rip off (say The Boys from Brazil meets The Fountain) but that won't stop it being entertaining.
Running: Week 2 Day 6 Run 4
In my defence I didn't have much sleep last night.
8.1 km in 46 minutes. 10.6 kmph.
Nicole Kidman
Happy Birthday to
Nicole Kidman
42 today
There are few stars in cinema today who can claim such an interesting and exciting C.V. as Nicole. She may not have topped the Box Office in a while but we are still in awe of her star quality, and at the sme time she's worked for directors as diverse as Stephen Daldry, Stanley Kubrick, Baz Luhrmann, Anthony Minghella and Lars von Trier, and shone for each of them. She's just had to drop out of Woody Allen's next London set picture, but at least we'll get to see her sining again in Nine.
Friday, 19 June 2009
Out this week (19/06/09)
After last week's nail-biting finish to see which film was the top recommendation, I was hoping this week would be a simpler affair. Indeed it's still close with 3 films getting four blob ratings, however unlike last week where any one of them could have won, this week I'm pretty sure which is in the lead. Maybe surprisingly it's the Polish historical drama Katyn.
Beyond the Fire
According to IMDB the tagline is "Through the darkest secret... comes the deepest love". As the plot revolves aroung Catholic priests what's the bet it involves peadophilia and the unlikely co-incidence of a pupil of a respected Priest falling for one of his victims.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Gena Rowlands
Happy Birthday to
Gena Rowlands
79 today
Gena truly is one of cinema's greatest actresses, most notably in the work of her former husband John Cassavetes, but also in recent work like the Notebook and Paris, je t'aime. And don't just take my word for it, her fans include Maggie Gyllenhaal and Pedro Almodovar.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Running: Week 2 Day 4 Run 3
I don't know how to feel. As promised on Tuesday I have completed the same route with the idea of being a tiny bit faster.
The good news is I was faster. The bad news is I was only faster by 8 seconds (according to my Nike-iPod) which is less than the margin of error. So no improvement at all really.
9.8 km in 55 minutes. 10.7 kmph.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Greg Kinnear
Happy Birthday to
Greg Kinnear
46 today
It was Helen's birthday on Monday, so it's only fair to celebrate As Good as it Gets co-star Greg Kinnear today. P.S. if someone could get Greg some better films as a birthday present that would be great.
Running: Week 2 Day 3 Run 2
Does that title even approach making sense, or inspire you to join me in the training?
...
I thought not.
Hill practice today. Jog to a hill and then run up, jog down 10 times then come back home. There aren't any major hills where I am right now (kipping in a friends spare room) but I found one that was almost steep - it was definitely an incline, anyway.
5.4 km in 31 minutes, which comes in at 10.3 kmph. I know that's slow, but didn't I tell you I was going up and down a hill.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Tuesday Trailers - Crossing Over
Going up against Frozen River (as featured in last weeks trailer) is another US immigration story. Although instead of focusing on one woman's hardship and the actions she takes to overcome her situation, Crossing Over takes a multi-stranded approach to the immigration debate including the different experiences as seen by people emanating from different cultures. By the way this is going to be one tricky week to decide the recommended film, Crossing Over was one of my top 20 for 2009 and it's up against the next Harry Potter and Moon both of which look like they're worth a look.
Crossing Over opens on 17 July 2009.
Running, Week 2 Day 2 Run 1
I think any way I try to structure my training schedule here I will get confused with it. What I will try to be consistent about is the weeks (only 12 and a bit until the Nottingham Marathon!).
Back to this morning run - I finished 9.8 km in 55 minutes, which is approximately 10.7 kmph.
I intend to run the same route on Thursday, and hopefully be a little faster.
Monday, 15 June 2009
Personal News (14/06/09)
Hello all. I know I should be more proactive with the persoanl posts but sometimes I forget.
Anyway I had a weekend off Lifelong Yearning, so spent the time wisely and productively (well, I watched a couple of films and drank a bottle of wine). I've also managed to get 2 auditions for this week. Not that I'm able to make it to both... Unfortunately Michael's Resignation clashes with another appointment so I won't be able to go - looks like a great project as well. I have asked for an alternative audition date, but I'm not holding much hope. Oh, well.
On Wednesday I'll be auditioning for Shelved Memories, a short (paid) film about the break-up of former Yugoslavia. Fingers crossed for that one.
Which only leads to me reminding you all that Lifelong Yearning is this weekend at Oldbury and all next week in Baron's Court, London. Use this link to book Baron's Court tickets. You can also find details of the play in The London Paper and The London Theatre Guide. (I'm really excited about next week - I'm sure you can guess).
Helen Hunt
Happy Birthday to
Helen Hunt
46 today
I don't rightly know what to say about Helen. It's good that she's having a birthday and all, but the most impressive performance I've ever seen her give was in the queue for the utterly pointless Twister ride at Universal Studios, Florida. Was seeing a tornado really the scariest thing she's ever done? Or was it kissing lethario Jack Nicholson (26 years her senior) in As Good as it Gets...
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Running Week 1, Day 2
Proving to myself I've still got it (albeit a very very slow it), I went for a longer run this morning.
14.6 km in 1 hour 29 minutes. That's an average speed of 9.8 km per hour.
So I know I can do the distances, but I really need to speed up when doing them.
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Running, Week 1 Day 1
Like a fool I've signed up for the Nottingham Half Marathon with only 13 weeks to go without having done any training for ages.
So I went out this morning. 5.1 km in 28 minutes, or 10.95 kmph, which isn't as bad as you might have thought given the circumstances.
Film News (13/06/09)
Some small stories this week - but only for minor projects that may or may not ever happen. At least there's a wide range of genre's - family comedies, horror and soft-core porn all get their moment in the sun (after the jump).
The Originals
Did you think that Bryce Dallas Howard has been a little quiet recently? Well apparently the reason she's only done a couple of films in the last few years (including the Terminator behemoth currently in cinemas) is because there are times she like to do other things - like going on family picnics and writing screenplays.
I'm only half kidding about the family picnics, because her latest screenplay - The Originals - was co-written with her brother-in-law Dane Charneneau and may be directed by dad Ron (up in the picture with Bryce).
It's about a groups of twenty somethings who go back to their home town when a former teacher mysteriously lapses into a coma. No doubt they share their angsty stories and learn a little about living.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Out this week (12/06/09)
This is a really tough week for making recommendations. Honestly there's nothing in it for the top three films. I suppose you'll have to make a choice about whether you want a film about drunken stag nights in Las Vegas, halucinations about sage footballers, Chinese history lessons or social commentary about the state of the class wars in the UK. In the end I'm going to have to recommend Red Cliff, the trailer is suitably stunning and who honestly doesn't love a good mix of battle scenes with the sort of step back love scenes you get in Chinese films.
Doghouse
Mmm, Danny Dyer is back. But assuming he keeps his clothes on there is little reason to fork out on this Brit horror - a sort of Lesbian Vampire Killers redux with less laughs and zombies. Of course if he strips off and goes gay to avoid the rampaging locals (with co-stars Noel Clarke and Stephen Graham?) I'll be first in the queue. Someone get me a review. *Breaking news, one of the other main characters is gay, but not Dyer's role. Apparently he almost went for it, though. So gay brother in City Rats, gay friend here, is he trying to tell us something?
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Gene Wilder
Happy Birthday to
Gene Wilder
76 today
Although he'll forever be associated with the Mel Brooks comedies and his hilarious pairings with Richard Pryor, it's worth remembering that Wilder is a fairly impressive straight actor as well. His debut in Bonnie and Clyde being a good reminder of his versatility.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
The Razor's Edge
1946. Dir: Edmund Goulding. Starring: Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, John Payne, Anne Baxter and Clifton Webb. ●●○○○
I had hoped to have seen Sugar, or even Everlasting Moments during the weekend, neither however have made it to the West Midlands so I was forced to randomly select a movie. Eventually picking this train wreck. The plot revolves around Tyrone Power, a Pilot from the First World War, who was saved by a friend. His shell shock at this event is such that he needs to leave the Mid-West with his fancy friends and socialite fiancee, electing to find himself in the artist quarters of Paris, the coal mines of Poland and the lower Himalayas.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Tuesday Trailers - Frozen River
The wait has been indeterminable. This weeks trailer comes form a film that premiered at Sundance in 2008, opened in the States last May, and then led to Melissa Leo's first oscar nomination at the beginning of the year.
Of course over here we only get it in July. Really depressing that we have to wait so long for intelligent indie fare like this.
Frozen River comes out on 17 July 2009.
Johnny Depp
Happy Birthday to
Johnny Depp
46 today
I've been dreading this morning for the last month or so, not because I'm a Deppophile - I quite like the guy - but because his slate is so full of films I want to see this might be the longest birthday celebration/advert for forthcoming pics I've done.
First up is Public Enemies, which I showed you the trailer for last Tuesday. Then later this year we'll see Depp channelling Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. In 2010 he'll grace the screens only once, for old pal Tim Burton, as the Mad Hatter in the Alice in Wonderland live action pic. In 2011 we'll him voice a dog in the animated Rango, so there's another box office topper (animated dogs virtually guarantees it). He's also potentially back in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote when Terry Gilliam resurrects that project. Finally (and we're really talking the long game here) Depp will be Tonto to the yet to be cast Lone Ranger.
All in all that's a really impressive slate of films, I'm sure you'll agree.
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Film News (06/06/09)
Theres a trio writer directors making the headlines this week. Um, and a couple of other stories that I can't fit into a single witty headline.
How do you Know
Writer-director James L. Brooks has recruited his old buddy Jack Nicholson to join the supporting cast of this Reese Witherspoon vehicle set to start lensing next month. Nicholson's replacing the notoriously diffident Bill Murray, who forgot to checks hi messages, or something. Jack has won 2 Oscars whilst working for Brooks in the past, so hopefully there'll be some good things coming. The film only has How do you Know as a working title, but I prefer that to the untitled blah blah blah...
When Jack and James last worked together they made the world fall in love with Helen Hunt, and this yappy dog.
Paul Giamatti
Happy Birthday to
Paul Giamatti
42 today
Paul is one of the most convining average schmoes out there - never adding unnecessary quirks to the character, except when they are very much needed (see Duplicity). I think it's fair to say he's one of the strongest characters actors working in Hollywood today. Among his upcoming projcts look out for Downsizing reuniting him with his Sideways director Alexander Payne.
Friday, 5 June 2009
Out this week (05/06/09)
You might say it'll be a quiet weekend with only 6 new titles to choose from. Unless you were crazy enough to forget that one of those is the fourth entry from a massively popular franchise. So no prizes for guessing what film will be top of the box office. My recommendation is a different kettle of fish though, so it's Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson finding love when they least expect it in Last Chance Harvey.
Anything for Her
Happily married (French) couple are rudely interrupted by the Gendarme who arrest Mrs. (Diane Kruger) on a murder charge. Naturaly hubby wants to prove her innocent, but to what lengths will he go, and how well does he really know her in this taught thriller.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Drag Me to Hell
2009. Dir: Sam Raimi. Starring: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao and David Paymer. ●●●●○
I very rarely go to the cinema to see comedies, and horror films come up on my screenings with even less regularity, however Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell seemed interesting enough to go to a midnight screening at the local fleapit. Shock confession; I've never seen the Evil Dead trilogy, so I only really had the Spiderman movies to whet my interest in Raimi's powers. I'm really happy to say it was well worth the cinema ticket.
Anjelina Jolie
Happy Birthday to
Anjelina Jolie
34 today
By now Anj must have the most recognisable face in the world, surely everyone can immediately identify those lips? Well, if not, there'll be more chances for her to show them off when Salt opens next summer. In case you've forgotten Salt is the film Anjelina stole from under the eyes of Tom Cruise when she proved she could open a film with Wanted. And barring any more head injuries we'll be seeing it in August 2010.
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Tony Curtis
Happy Birthday to
Tony Curtis
84 today
The venerable Tony Curtis has been in London over the last couple of weeks flogging his book, which is where this photo comes from (for some reason he likes posing in grocers). Apparently in it he admits to a catalogue of affairs throughout the golden age of Hollywood. Sounds like a must read to me.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Tuesday Trailers - Public Enemies
Now that May is over we can start to show trailers for July, and that's a good thing as there are many films I want to see. Right at the top is Michael Mann's depression pic Public Enemies. Just watch this trailer and tell me you're not fascinated by the grace of the camera, the gorgeous sets (I love 1930's banks) or the Goldenthal score.
Public Enemies comes out on 3 July 2009.
Monday, 1 June 2009
Morgan Freeman
Happy Birthday to
Morgan Freeman
72 today
Hot of the heels of his Human Factor directors birthday yeaterday is soon to be multiple Oscar Winner Morgan Freeman. Let's be hones playing Nelson Mandela can't fail to win some shiny statues.
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