Inept, bumbling and xenophobic, perhaps Rowan Atkinson?s character better represents modern Britain than his more suave equivalent Two highlights of Danny Boyle?s celebrated London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony were undoubtedly the Queen parachuting in with James Bond and the surprise cameo by Rowan Atkinson?s Mr Bean, as ?first synthesizer? in the London Symphony Orchestra?s rendition of Chariots of Fire. Little did we realise at the time what a torch-passing moment this was.Six years on, look at where we are. The Bond brand is in crisis. Daniel Craig was only just persuaded to return (with a skipful of cash) but Danny Boyle has walked from directing the latest instalment, and some are wondering whether the franchise shouldn?t just call it a day. Meanwhile, with exquisite timing, along comes a third outing for Atkinson?s own spoof spy in Johnny English Strikes Again. The question is: which one better represents modern Britain? Continue reading...
As Netflix releases the US director?s latest film, The Land of Steady Habits, we try and find her back catalogue tooSix films and three decades into her career, Nicole Holofcener is not someone many people would describe as their favourite film-maker, yet she?s among the most consistent, endearing American auteurs at work. Holofcener is unfairly easy to underestimate, as are many writer-directors (women, especially) who are more interested in small foibles than grand gestures, whose formal modesty belies its precision, and who are content to reflect the world as they know it rather than build extravagant alternatives.The joys of Holofcener?s cinema ? her perceptive comedy of emotional aches and pains, her sheepish middle-class self-critique, and the true, tender, unguarded work she gets from actors ? are virtues more readily praised on small screens than big ones. Sure enough, like many top female directors stuck with long, funding-deprived lapses between features (six in 22 years, not a figure most film-makers arrive at by choice), she?s filled the time with extensive work on prestige TV, including stints on Netflix?s Orange Is the New Black and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Continue reading...
London?s legendary rep cinema offered audiences space to indulge fantasies and enjoy an unmatched cinematic experience This year marks the 40th anniversary of the start of the Scala cinema?s now-legendary repertory programme; as a 22-year old post-punk movie buff, I originated the rep ethos after being taken on in 1978 as programming manager of what was then a purpose-built 350-seat cinema in Charlotte Street in the West End of London. When we moved to Kings Cross in 1981, I became the co-owner, up until its closure in 1993. We specialised in the offbeat and the surreal, the transgressive and just plain freakish ? and there has been nothing like it in Britain?s cinema world since. Related: The Scala: London's cinema temple to the offbeat and bizarre ? in pictures Continue reading...
When Crystal Moselle saw a group of female skateboarders on the New York subway, the seeds of her latest film were sewn. The director and cast describe how a chance meeting led to a Sundance-nominated dramaeveryone, look this way. Everyone. Hellooo?!? The Observer photographer is having difficulty getting the Skate Kitchen crew to concentrate. Casual in front of the dramatic backdrop of a soaring Brooklyn Bridge, the young women straggle and chat, drag their skateboards, scroll on their phones, discuss what they?re going to do after this. ?I?m gonna skate across the bridge,? says Nina Moran, 20. ?It?s too hot!? says Ardelia ?Dede? Lovelace, 20. ?It?s my birthday today,? says Rachelle Vinberg (she?s turning 20). ?I forgot until my mom called me. What am I doing to celebrate? I want to go for a run.??Oh, it?s always like herding cats,? says Crystal Moselle. Moselle is the director of the Sundance-breakout Skate Kitchen, a coming-of-age film about an all-female New York skateboarding collective so closely based on the lives of the girls it features that it seems more like documentary than fiction. The lines are very blurred. Continue reading...
Victim?s sister speaks out over Paul Greengrass?s acclaimed movie 22 JulySurvivors of the atrocity on the Norwegian island of Utøya in July 2011 will never need reminding of the shootings that killed 69 young people. The detail of their frightening ordeal will stay sharp and stark.But for Lara Rashid, a survivor who lost her elder sister, Bano, that summer?s day, the arrival of two major films telling the actions of the killer, Anders Behring Breivik, is a difficult test. Continue reading...
After the disappointing box office performance of Solo: A Star Wars Story, Disney CEO Bob Iger says fans ?can expect some slowdown?After months of rumour and speculation, Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that its production and release of Star Wars movies will be scaled back.Iger admitted that he had made a mistake, and that there had been ?too much, too fast? in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, after it put him at the top of its list of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry. Continue reading...
Beasts of No Nation director Fukunaga confirmed to take over from Danny Boyle on new film starring Daniel CraigExclusive interview with new James Bond director Cary FukunagaDanny Boyle?s replacement as director of the 25th James Bond film has been named as Cary Fukunaga, best known for helming HBO?s True Detective.Posting on the official James Bond Twitter feed on Thursday, producers from Eon, the outfit behind Bond, confirmed the hire of the Beasts of No Nation film-maker, writing: ?We are delighted to be working with Cary. His versatility and innovation make him an excellent choice for our next James Bond adventure.? Continue reading...
Actor says his over-the-top acting style is ?all very thought out and carefully planned?Nicolas Cage has expressed his frustration with ?Cage rage? internet memes, saying they are ?frustrating? and unfair to him and the directors of his films.In an interview with Indiewire to promote his latest film Mandy, a gory action-horror in which Cage plays a revenger looking to take down a satanic biker gang, Cage said: ?I?m sure it?s frustrating for [director] Panos [Cosmatos], who has made what I consider a very lyrical, internal, and poetic work of art, to have this ?Cage rage? thing slammed all over his movie ? the internet has kind of done the movie a disservice.? Continue reading...
Footage posted for Marvel?s new comic book movie, starring Brie Larson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?s first film starring a female superheroThe first trailer for Captain Marvel has been launched on the internet. Continue reading...
Sci-fi reboot knocks supernatural horror prequel off the top spot; while Crazy Rich Asians and King of Thieves share the spoils just behind themArriving at the summit of the official UK box-office line-up, Shane Black?s The Predator has given distributor Fox its third chart winner of the year, after The Greatest Showman and Deadpool 2. Including previews, the franchise title opened with £2.39m ? just ahead of the debut number for previous entry Predators, which began in July 2010 with £2.20m. Continue reading...
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Labor Day