This kids’ adventure story with a faux medievalist vibe has a cute conceit and some fun sequences but the inexperience of the cast and director shows
If you’ve ever tried to make a home movie with young children, you quickly come to appreciate how hard it is to get the little monsters to remember their lines and hit their marks, let alone give good performances. It’s an education in the difference between good and bad direction, the raw, primary-teacher skill in herding cats while also managing tone, quality control and all that storytelling stuff. Just try it for yourself and you’ll realise just how good a job directors such as Garth Jennings or Taika Waititi did with child-led films like Son of Rambow or Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
At the very least, this awareness will help you be a bit more forgiving of a film like Riddle of Fire.
If you’ve ever tried to make a home movie with young children, you quickly come to appreciate how hard it is to get the little monsters to remember their lines and hit their marks, let alone give good performances. It’s an education in the difference between good and bad direction, the raw, primary-teacher skill in herding cats while also managing tone, quality control and all that storytelling stuff. Just try it for yourself and you’ll realise just how good a job directors such as Garth Jennings or Taika Waititi did with child-led films like Son of Rambow or Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
At the very least, this awareness will help you be a bit more forgiving of a film like Riddle of Fire.
- 4/29/2024
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Starz has released a first look at the second season of the captivating Samantha Morton-led historical drama The Serpent Queen. The photos tease the debut of Academy Award nominee Minnie Driver as the infamous ‘Virgin Queen’ Elizabeth I, who rivals Catherine in court in the delightfully wicked upcoming season.
In addition, Starz has also released the first teaser trailer, revealing that Catherine is willing to do anything to maintain her power.
The Serpent Queen tells the story of Catherine de Medici (Samantha Morton), who, against all odds, became one of the most powerful and longest-serving rulers in French history. The lavish drama’s second season is set to return in Summer 2024.
Danny Kirrane (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales), Ray Panthaki (Away), Raza Jaffrey (Homeland), Enzo Cilenti (Free Fire), Amrita Acharia (Game of Thrones), Ruby Bentall (Firebrand), Beth Goddard (Manhunt), Ludivine Sagnier (Lupin), and Rupert Everett...
In addition, Starz has also released the first teaser trailer, revealing that Catherine is willing to do anything to maintain her power.
The Serpent Queen tells the story of Catherine de Medici (Samantha Morton), who, against all odds, became one of the most powerful and longest-serving rulers in French history. The lavish drama’s second season is set to return in Summer 2024.
Danny Kirrane (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales), Ray Panthaki (Away), Raza Jaffrey (Homeland), Enzo Cilenti (Free Fire), Amrita Acharia (Game of Thrones), Ruby Bentall (Firebrand), Beth Goddard (Manhunt), Ludivine Sagnier (Lupin), and Rupert Everett...
- 4/4/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Stars: Marcus Massey, Ryan Oliva, Eddy MacKenzie, Scott Chambers, Tallulah Evans, Lewis Santer, Simon Callow | Written by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, Matt Leslie | Directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield
The original Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey was easily one of the worst films of last year, but based on its outrageous premise and low budget, it managed to turn a profit. That of course means a sequel, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, with all the usual claims of a bigger budget, more kills and better effects. Conspicuously absent were promises of a decent script or acting, however.
Taking place a year after the original, Blood and Honey 2 opens with the introduction of Owl, who looks more like a vulture than anything. He joins Pooh and Piglet in their fun and games, starting with the torture and killing of three scantily clad campers.
Elsewhere, Christopher Robin, now played by Scott Chambers, aka producer Scott Jeffrey,...
The original Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey was easily one of the worst films of last year, but based on its outrageous premise and low budget, it managed to turn a profit. That of course means a sequel, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, with all the usual claims of a bigger budget, more kills and better effects. Conspicuously absent were promises of a decent script or acting, however.
Taking place a year after the original, Blood and Honey 2 opens with the introduction of Owl, who looks more like a vulture than anything. He joins Pooh and Piglet in their fun and games, starting with the torture and killing of three scantily clad campers.
Elsewhere, Christopher Robin, now played by Scott Chambers, aka producer Scott Jeffrey,...
- 4/1/2024
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Minnie Driver joins ‘The Serpent Queen’ (Photo Credit: Mark Williams / Courtesy of Starz)
Oscar nominee Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) has joined the cast of Starz’s The Serpent Queen season two as ‘Virgin Queen’ Elizabeth I. Driver’s will be a recurring role, while Angus Imrie (Fleabag), Emma McDonald (Moonhaven), Stanley Morgan (The Sandman), and Philippine Velge (Station Eleven) have come on board as series regulars.
Season two will also include new recurring characters played by Rosalie Craig (1899), Isobel Jesper Jones (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), Bill Milner (Son of Rambow), Ashley Thomas (Them), and Alexandre Willaume (The Wheel of Time).
Samantha Morton returns to lead the cast as Catherine de Medici in the period drama based on Leonia Frieda’s Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France. Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road) writes and executive produces the series, with Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games Franchise...
Oscar nominee Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) has joined the cast of Starz’s The Serpent Queen season two as ‘Virgin Queen’ Elizabeth I. Driver’s will be a recurring role, while Angus Imrie (Fleabag), Emma McDonald (Moonhaven), Stanley Morgan (The Sandman), and Philippine Velge (Station Eleven) have come on board as series regulars.
Season two will also include new recurring characters played by Rosalie Craig (1899), Isobel Jesper Jones (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), Bill Milner (Son of Rambow), Ashley Thomas (Them), and Alexandre Willaume (The Wheel of Time).
Samantha Morton returns to lead the cast as Catherine de Medici in the period drama based on Leonia Frieda’s Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France. Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road) writes and executive produces the series, with Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games Franchise...
- 3/6/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
McCance died aged 53 on December 19 last year, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.
Colleagues and friends have paid tribute to “free spirit” and “brilliant role model”, Northern Ireland-born, Sweden-based film and TV writer and executive producer Ruth McCance, who has died aged 53 from cancer.
McCance was diagnosed in November of last year with stomach cancer, and died just five weeks later.
During her career she worked on films including Lynne Ramsay’s Ratcatcher, Thomas Vinterberg’s It’s All About Love, Soren-Kragh Jakobson’s Skagerrak and Garth Jennings’s Son Of Rambow.
McCance grew up in Belfast. Her mother was a...
Colleagues and friends have paid tribute to “free spirit” and “brilliant role model”, Northern Ireland-born, Sweden-based film and TV writer and executive producer Ruth McCance, who has died aged 53 from cancer.
McCance was diagnosed in November of last year with stomach cancer, and died just five weeks later.
During her career she worked on films including Lynne Ramsay’s Ratcatcher, Thomas Vinterberg’s It’s All About Love, Soren-Kragh Jakobson’s Skagerrak and Garth Jennings’s Son Of Rambow.
McCance grew up in Belfast. Her mother was a...
- 1/15/2024
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Stars: Mãdãlina Ghenea, Ibrahima Gueye, Ed Westwick, Macarena Gómez, Stany Coppet, John-Paul Pace, Shane Rowe | Written by Robert Capelli Jr., Sophia Eptamenitis | Directed by Marcus Adams
Deep Fear, not to be confused with last year’s film about monsters under the streets of Paris (which is probably why they added the “Sharks vs Narcs” subtitle to the film for its digital release), is a call back to the shark films of the past. Not to Jaws or its imitators but to something earlier, like Shark!, Shark’s Treasure, and The Deep where the sharks were a secondary plot element, an added threat for the protagonists to face in addition to other humans.
In the case of Deep Fear that would be Naomi whom we first see showing her co-worker Barney how easily a reef shark can be steered away from people. When she surfaces her partner Jackson that he’s booked another tour.
Deep Fear, not to be confused with last year’s film about monsters under the streets of Paris (which is probably why they added the “Sharks vs Narcs” subtitle to the film for its digital release), is a call back to the shark films of the past. Not to Jaws or its imitators but to something earlier, like Shark!, Shark’s Treasure, and The Deep where the sharks were a secondary plot element, an added threat for the protagonists to face in addition to other humans.
In the case of Deep Fear that would be Naomi whom we first see showing her co-worker Barney how easily a reef shark can be steered away from people. When she surfaces her partner Jackson that he’s booked another tour.
- 11/6/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Made on a budget of less than $100,000, director Rhys Frake-Waterfield’s movie Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey (watch it Here) earned more than $6 million during its global release earlier this year. So it was no surprise to hear that a sequel was on the fast track, with Premiere Entertainment having secured multiple international distribution deals for Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, which would have a substantially larger budget than its predecessor. The sequel is now in production, and The Hollywood Reporter has unveiled a batch of first look images that feature Pooh and Piglet, as well as Christopher Robin and Owl! You can check them out at the bottom of this article.
A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book Winnie-the-Pooh and the characters in it lapsed into the public domain at the start of last year, and that’s how Frake-Waterfield was able to make these movies happen,...
A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book Winnie-the-Pooh and the characters in it lapsed into the public domain at the start of last year, and that’s how Frake-Waterfield was able to make these movies happen,...
- 9/8/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn fulfills the promise he made at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, when we spied a metal incubator in the chambers of Sovereign leader Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) that housed the artificial superbeing Adam Warlock. Now in the conclusion of Gunn’s trilogy, Adam emerges – albeit prematurely – from his cocoon, charged by his mother and the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) with destroying the Guardians and returning Rocket (Bradley Cooper) to the latter, who created Rocket as part of his vile attempts at creating a perfect race.
Played by British actor Will Poulter, this version is quite different from the character most fans of Marvel Comics may be familiar with. While both are incredibly powerful cosmic beings, the print version (who debuted as Him in the pages of Fantastic Four in 1967) has vast superpowers, supreme intelligence, and is something of a godlike figure,...
Played by British actor Will Poulter, this version is quite different from the character most fans of Marvel Comics may be familiar with. While both are incredibly powerful cosmic beings, the print version (who debuted as Him in the pages of Fantastic Four in 1967) has vast superpowers, supreme intelligence, and is something of a godlike figure,...
- 8/2/2023
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Edward Jack Peter Westwick, better known as Ed Westwick, is a famed British actor and musician. He is best known for his distinct role as Chuck Bass in the popular CW’s series Gossip Girl, as well as Vincent Swan in the television series, White Gold.
Ed Westwick Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education
Ed Westwick was born on June 27, 1987 (Ed Westwick’s age: 35) in Hammersmith, London to Carole and Peter Westwick. His mother was an educational psychologist while his father was employed as a university instructor. Westwick was born as the youngest of three boys. He was raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
Westwick began taking music lessons and attending Saturday morning drama school at the age of six. He attended The Barclay School and North Hertfordshire College, where he took classes primarily focused in business, law and communication. He was also a member of the National Youth Theatre in London.
Ed Westwick Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education
Ed Westwick was born on June 27, 1987 (Ed Westwick’s age: 35) in Hammersmith, London to Carole and Peter Westwick. His mother was an educational psychologist while his father was employed as a university instructor. Westwick was born as the youngest of three boys. He was raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
Westwick began taking music lessons and attending Saturday morning drama school at the age of six. He attended The Barclay School and North Hertfordshire College, where he took classes primarily focused in business, law and communication. He was also a member of the National Youth Theatre in London.
- 7/9/2023
- by Trevor Hanuka
- Uinterview
What if your imaginary friend was a killer from a slasher film? Set in Scotland in 1994, the new comic book series The Nasty answers this compelling question with blood-splattered results as it follows 18-year-old Graeme “Thumper” Connell, who enjoys watching notorious "video nasties" with his friends in The Murder Club, until one night when they come across a cursed videotape that just might bring its cinematic nightmares to lethal life.
With the first issue of The Nasty coming out on April 5th from Vault Comics, we caught up with writer John Lees and artist Adam Cahoon (who contributed art in the first two issues before stepping in as the main illustrator in issue #3) to discuss the making of The Nasty, including exploring how horror can be comforting, taking a subversive approach to the concept of imaginary friends, and creating their own "video nasties" for this series!
Below, you can check...
With the first issue of The Nasty coming out on April 5th from Vault Comics, we caught up with writer John Lees and artist Adam Cahoon (who contributed art in the first two issues before stepping in as the main illustrator in issue #3) to discuss the making of The Nasty, including exploring how horror can be comforting, taking a subversive approach to the concept of imaginary friends, and creating their own "video nasties" for this series!
Below, you can check...
- 3/3/2023
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
No director has done more to deconstruct the myth of the suburban American family than Steven Spielberg. Dissertations have been written and documentaries made on the subject. And now, at the spry young age of 75, Spielberg himself weighs in on where his preoccupations come from in “The Fabelmans,” a personal account of his upbringing that feels like listening to two and a half hours’ worth of well-polished cocktail-party anecdotes, only better, since he’s gone to the trouble of staging them all for our benefit. Spielberg’s a born storyteller, and these are arguably his most precious stories.
From the first movie he saw (“The Greatest Show on Earth”) to memories of meeting filmmaker John Ford on the Paramount lot, this endearing, broadly appealing account of how Spielberg was smitten by the medium — and why the prodigy nearly abandoned picture-making before his career even started — holds the keys to so...
From the first movie he saw (“The Greatest Show on Earth”) to memories of meeting filmmaker John Ford on the Paramount lot, this endearing, broadly appealing account of how Spielberg was smitten by the medium — and why the prodigy nearly abandoned picture-making before his career even started — holds the keys to so...
- 9/11/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is gearing up for a busy end to 2022.
September seems to be a calm before the storm-of-sorts – the storm being a deluge of films set to be awards contenders when Oscar season rolls around.
The first of the streaming service’s high-profile films, set to arrive in the tail-end of the year, will be Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde, starring Ana de Armas.
Elsewhere, there is a bunch of non-Netflix films set to be added over the course of the month, as well as the return of everyone’s favourite Karate Kid spin-off TV series.
This list has been compiled by The Independent, with additional assistance from the team at What’s on Netflix – and you can find the full compilation of everything being removed this month here.
What new releases are coming to Netflix in September 2022?
Original Titles
Movies
1 September
Love in the Villa
Under Her Control...
September seems to be a calm before the storm-of-sorts – the storm being a deluge of films set to be awards contenders when Oscar season rolls around.
The first of the streaming service’s high-profile films, set to arrive in the tail-end of the year, will be Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde, starring Ana de Armas.
Elsewhere, there is a bunch of non-Netflix films set to be added over the course of the month, as well as the return of everyone’s favourite Karate Kid spin-off TV series.
This list has been compiled by The Independent, with additional assistance from the team at What’s on Netflix – and you can find the full compilation of everything being removed this month here.
What new releases are coming to Netflix in September 2022?
Original Titles
Movies
1 September
Love in the Villa
Under Her Control...
- 9/1/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - Film
Netflix is gearing up for a busy end to 2022.
September seems to be a calm before the storm-of-sorts – the storm being a deluge of films set to be awards contenders when Oscar season rolls around.
The first of the streaming service’s high-profile films, set to arrive in the tail-end of the year, will be Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde, starring Ana de Armas.
Elsewhere, there is a bunch of non-Netflix films set to be added over the course of the month, as well as the return of everyone’s favourite Karate Kid spin-off TV series.
This list has been compiled by The Independent, with additional assistance from the team at What’s on Netflix – and you can find the full compilation of everything being removed this month here.
What new releases are coming to Netflix in September 2022?
Original Titles
Movies
1 September
Love in the Villa
Under Her Control...
September seems to be a calm before the storm-of-sorts – the storm being a deluge of films set to be awards contenders when Oscar season rolls around.
The first of the streaming service’s high-profile films, set to arrive in the tail-end of the year, will be Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde, starring Ana de Armas.
Elsewhere, there is a bunch of non-Netflix films set to be added over the course of the month, as well as the return of everyone’s favourite Karate Kid spin-off TV series.
This list has been compiled by The Independent, with additional assistance from the team at What’s on Netflix – and you can find the full compilation of everything being removed this month here.
What new releases are coming to Netflix in September 2022?
Original Titles
Movies
1 September
Love in the Villa
Under Her Control...
- 9/1/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
How do you play a perfect person? That’s the challenge posed to actor Will Poulter, who’s preparing to play Adam Warlock in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
In a discussion with The Independent, Poulter described his process for getting into shape for the role. In short, it sounds a bit intense: “I wouldn’t recommend anyone do what I did to get ready for that job,” he told The Independent. In addition to spending lots of time in the gym, Poulter has been adhering to what he calls “a very, very specific diet.” That diet includes “quantities of food you wouldn’t necessarily want to ingest. And other times not enough food.”
Outside of his diet, Poulter can reveal little about his character. “It’s difficult talking about it because with Marvel it’s all secret squirrel…but the most important thing is that your...
In a discussion with The Independent, Poulter described his process for getting into shape for the role. In short, it sounds a bit intense: “I wouldn’t recommend anyone do what I did to get ready for that job,” he told The Independent. In addition to spending lots of time in the gym, Poulter has been adhering to what he calls “a very, very specific diet.” That diet includes “quantities of food you wouldn’t necessarily want to ingest. And other times not enough food.”
Outside of his diet, Poulter can reveal little about his character. “It’s difficult talking about it because with Marvel it’s all secret squirrel…but the most important thing is that your...
- 4/11/2022
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
“Sex Education” star Asa Butterfield and “Stranger Things” actor Natalia Dyer are set to take the lead roles in high concept horror thriller “All Fun and Games.” The movie follows a group of siblings who find themselves in a game with a demonic twist.
Anton, whose credits include “Greenland,” “The Night House” and “Curs>r,” is producing with Anthony and Joe Russo’s Agbo, best known for “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame,” and will present the film to buyers at the virtual European Film Market in Berlin next month.
It will be co-directed by Ari Costa, whose credits include “Extraction,” “Avengers: Endgame” and “The Internet Kills,” and Eren Celeboglu, who worked on “The Internet Kills” and “Scrubs,” in their directorial debuts. It will be written from a script they co-wrote based off J.J. Braider’s original spec that sold competitively to Agbo. Principal photography is set to begin at...
Anton, whose credits include “Greenland,” “The Night House” and “Curs>r,” is producing with Anthony and Joe Russo’s Agbo, best known for “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame,” and will present the film to buyers at the virtual European Film Market in Berlin next month.
It will be co-directed by Ari Costa, whose credits include “Extraction,” “Avengers: Endgame” and “The Internet Kills,” and Eren Celeboglu, who worked on “The Internet Kills” and “Scrubs,” in their directorial debuts. It will be written from a script they co-wrote based off J.J. Braider’s original spec that sold competitively to Agbo. Principal photography is set to begin at...
- 1/13/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Some director’s careers are easier to wrap your head around than others. While it can be refreshing when a director refuses to be pigeon-holed into one genre and defies expectations by producing something completely unexpected, some filmmaker’s lists of credits are truly chaotic. Take British director Garth Jennings, for example. He’s directed some of the best music videos of all time, including Blur’s “Coffee & TV” and the Grammy-nominated “Lotus Flower” for Radiohead. He made an ambitious adaptation of the beloved “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and the lovely ’80s-set indie comedy “Son of Rambow.”
Then in 2016, he unexpectedly made the hit animation “Sing” for Illumination (the studio behind “Despicable Me” and “The Secret Life of Pets”). In the inexplicable five year gap between “Sing” and its inevitable sequel, Jennings has only directed once — and that was a short horror film. The problem with leaving such...
Then in 2016, he unexpectedly made the hit animation “Sing” for Illumination (the studio behind “Despicable Me” and “The Secret Life of Pets”). In the inexplicable five year gap between “Sing” and its inevitable sequel, Jennings has only directed once — and that was a short horror film. The problem with leaving such...
- 11/15/2021
- by Fiona Underhill
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Son Of Rambow and X-Men: First Class actor Bill Milner has joined Brian Epstein biopic Midas Man as Brian’s brother Clive Epstein who assumed control of his brother’s music store business.
Filming is underway in Liverpool on the movie about the visionary music manager Brian Epstein, who famously discovered the Beatles.
Starring are The Queen’s Gambit actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as the movie’s titular character, Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Lukas Gage, Charley Palmer Rothwell, and Rosie Day as Cilla Black, the singer who was also managed by Epstein.
Jonas Åkerlund is directing from a screenplay based on a screen story by Brigit Grant and written by Jonathan Wakeham.
Producers are Kevin Proctor and Perry Trevers at StudioPOW, with Trevor Beattie and Jeremy Chatterton at Trevor Beattie Films. Mister Smith Entertainment is handling sales and has closed a raft of international deals.
Milner is in post-production on movie thriller Burial.
Filming is underway in Liverpool on the movie about the visionary music manager Brian Epstein, who famously discovered the Beatles.
Starring are The Queen’s Gambit actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as the movie’s titular character, Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Lukas Gage, Charley Palmer Rothwell, and Rosie Day as Cilla Black, the singer who was also managed by Epstein.
Jonas Åkerlund is directing from a screenplay based on a screen story by Brigit Grant and written by Jonathan Wakeham.
Producers are Kevin Proctor and Perry Trevers at StudioPOW, with Trevor Beattie and Jeremy Chatterton at Trevor Beattie Films. Mister Smith Entertainment is handling sales and has closed a raft of international deals.
Milner is in post-production on movie thriller Burial.
- 10/28/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Producer and financier Anton, whose credits include “Greenland,” “His Dark Materials” and “The Night House,” has announced that its latest production, the feature film “Curs>R,” has wrapped principal photography in the U.K. A dark twist on the ‘80s gaming obsession, the horror thriller stars Asa Butterfield, Iola Evans and Eddie Marsan.
Anton will oversee world sales and introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming Cannes virtual market later this month, in association with Endeavor Content, which is co-representing the U.S.
The film also features horror maestro Robert Englund, who played Freddy Krueger in “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Rounding out the cast is Angela Griffin, Kate Fleetwood, Ryan Gage,” and Joe Bolland (“The Trial of Christine Keeler”).
In pursuit of an unclaimed $125,000 prize, a broke college dropout (Evans) decides to play an obscure, 1980s survival computer game. But the game curses her, and she’s faced...
Anton will oversee world sales and introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming Cannes virtual market later this month, in association with Endeavor Content, which is co-representing the U.S.
The film also features horror maestro Robert Englund, who played Freddy Krueger in “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Rounding out the cast is Angela Griffin, Kate Fleetwood, Ryan Gage,” and Joe Bolland (“The Trial of Christine Keeler”).
In pursuit of an unclaimed $125,000 prize, a broke college dropout (Evans) decides to play an obscure, 1980s survival computer game. But the game curses her, and she’s faced...
- 6/7/2021
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Back in my early days as a film critic, I took a certain unseemly pleasure in mocking inadvertently funny flops — fiascoes like “The Lonely Lady,” “The Room” and pretty much anything by Uwe Boll — so it’s easy to recognize the impulse with which “Alien on Stage” directors Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer drove from London to Dorset to catch the stage play of the same name, a scene-for-scene amateur theatrical production of the Ridley Scott horror classic, as performed by a cast of small-town bus drivers. Safe to assume, the pair traveled all that way for a laugh; then they turned the delight of their discovery into a documentary.
Appreciative to a fault, “Alien on Stage” never really makes clear whether its subjects — a troupe who call themselves the Paranoid Dramatics — are in on the joke. The filmmakers have nothing but affection for director Dave Mitchell and his company,...
Appreciative to a fault, “Alien on Stage” never really makes clear whether its subjects — a troupe who call themselves the Paranoid Dramatics — are in on the joke. The filmmakers have nothing but affection for director Dave Mitchell and his company,...
- 3/30/2021
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s the latest episode of the The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the ever-growing podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.
The Filmmakers Podcast #211: Jessica Hynes on making her debut feature film as...
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.
The Filmmakers Podcast #211: Jessica Hynes on making her debut feature film as...
- 3/22/2021
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
The actor on filming the third series of the hit Netflix comedy, being taught cinema history by Scorsese – and the perils of toilet-training his cat
Asa Butterfield, 23, was born in London and started his acting career aged seven. He landed the lead roles in Holocaust drama The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas at 10 and Martin Scorsese’s Hugo at 13. Other film credits include Journey’s End, X+Y, Greed, Son of Rambow and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. He stars as teenager Otis Milburn in the hit Netflix comedy Sex Education and is currently filming its third season.
How is shooting going on Sex Education?
It’s something of a miracle being back on set. When we started, it was a bit like being let out of prison. It was the first time anyone had been in a big group of people for months and we were all overexcited. We’ve...
Asa Butterfield, 23, was born in London and started his acting career aged seven. He landed the lead roles in Holocaust drama The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas at 10 and Martin Scorsese’s Hugo at 13. Other film credits include Journey’s End, X+Y, Greed, Son of Rambow and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. He stars as teenager Otis Milburn in the hit Netflix comedy Sex Education and is currently filming its third season.
How is shooting going on Sex Education?
It’s something of a miracle being back on set. When we started, it was a bit like being let out of prison. It was the first time anyone had been in a big group of people for months and we were all overexcited. We’ve...
- 1/17/2021
- by Michael Hogan
- The Guardian - Film News
Illumination has unveiled the cast of Sing 2, the sequel to the studio’s blockbuster 2016 film Sing. The film is scheduled to premiere during the 2021 holiday season.
Sing 2 sees the return of director Garth Jennings, along with Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll, and Tori Kelly to the voice cast. The film also introduces new characters played by Bobby Cannavale, Pharrell Williams, Halsey, Letitia Wright, Eric Andre, Chelsea Peretti, and Bono.
“Garth is a truly great storyteller at whatever age you’re in his thrall,” Bono told Rolling Stone.
Sing 2 sees the return of director Garth Jennings, along with Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll, and Tori Kelly to the voice cast. The film also introduces new characters played by Bobby Cannavale, Pharrell Williams, Halsey, Letitia Wright, Eric Andre, Chelsea Peretti, and Bono.
“Garth is a truly great storyteller at whatever age you’re in his thrall,” Bono told Rolling Stone.
- 12/21/2020
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
It’s 1977 in Wiggly, Georgia, and Christmas Flint (moppet extraordinaire Mckenna Grace) is pining for a purpose. The nine-year-old lives with her widower dad (Jim Gaffigan), who everyone calls “Boss Man,” in something like a rural, commune-like trailer park. She has a reputation around school as a weak-bladdered “Wetsy Betsy,” which doesn’t make her the most popular kid there. And like a lot of her fellow misfits — the Bowie–obsessed boy next door (Charlie Shotwell), the born-again Christian with an eyepatch (Bell Higginbotham), the bully (Milan Ray) who really has a heart of gold,...
- 1/17/2020
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Mark Harrison Sep 20, 2019
As Rambo: Last Blood arrives on the big screen, Mark revisits Garth Jennings’ Son Of Rambow, an altogether gentler First Blood spin-off…
Placed next to First Blood and the unexpectedly long-lived Rambo franchise, Garth Jennings’ Son of Rambow doesn't seem so odd. More than 30 years after the original adaptation of David Morrell’s novel, we’re now looking at Last Blood, or Rambo No. 5, as Lou Bega might have called it. Although the original film represents some of Sylvester Stallone's best acting work, it doesn't necessarily have “action franchise” written all over it.
With that in mind, it’s not so odd that a family-friendly British comedy would position two 12-year-olds in 1980s Hertfordshire as the makers of an unofficial sequel. Released in 2007, Jennings’ film is an ode to how we interact with films as youngsters--specifically with a film the characters are definitely too young to see.
As Rambo: Last Blood arrives on the big screen, Mark revisits Garth Jennings’ Son Of Rambow, an altogether gentler First Blood spin-off…
Placed next to First Blood and the unexpectedly long-lived Rambo franchise, Garth Jennings’ Son of Rambow doesn't seem so odd. More than 30 years after the original adaptation of David Morrell’s novel, we’re now looking at Last Blood, or Rambo No. 5, as Lou Bega might have called it. Although the original film represents some of Sylvester Stallone's best acting work, it doesn't necessarily have “action franchise” written all over it.
With that in mind, it’s not so odd that a family-friendly British comedy would position two 12-year-olds in 1980s Hertfordshire as the makers of an unofficial sequel. Released in 2007, Jennings’ film is an ode to how we interact with films as youngsters--specifically with a film the characters are definitely too young to see.
- 9/19/2019
- Den of Geek
Vampire Weekend’s newest album “Father of the Bride” is still a few weeks away from its late-April release, but another one of its 18 tracks now has a new music video, courtesy of Academy Award-nominated person and international poster interpreter Jonah Hill. “Sunflower” follows lead singer, songwriter, and Charles the Mecha Butler creator Ezra Koenig through various famous New York locales, including Zabar’s and Barney Greengrass. It’s another chance for Koenig to dabble in amateur food prep, having previously whipped up some breakfast in the band’s recent video for “Harmony Hall,” directed by veteran music video director Emmett Malloy.
Hill made a cameo in “Harmony Hall,” but swaps out a front-of-camera appearance here for a chance to catch a few knowing smirks from Jerry Seinfeld instead. In addition to split-screen fun and standup smiles, Hill shoots most of the video for “Sunflower” at canted angles or rotating...
Hill made a cameo in “Harmony Hall,” but swaps out a front-of-camera appearance here for a chance to catch a few knowing smirks from Jerry Seinfeld instead. In addition to split-screen fun and standup smiles, Hill shoots most of the video for “Sunflower” at canted angles or rotating...
- 3/13/2019
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Vampire Weekend’s newest album “Father of the Bride” is still two months away from its late-April release, but one of its announced 18 tracks now has a new music video, courtesy of Academy Award-nominated person and international poster interpreter Jonah Hill. With “Harmony Hall,” Hill joins a long tradition of actors and directors who’ve branched out into the music video world. Similar to his feature debut, last year’s “Mid90s,” this video is something closer to an atmospheric exercise than one driven by a straightforward narrative. Still, with the dreamlike sound of the band’s single, these are two flavors that seem to mesh well.
Lead singer, songwriter, and Charles the Mecha Butler creator Ezra Koenig gets a chance to show off some of his culinary skills, flipping some carefully crafted griddle creations. Clocking in at just over five minutes, it also feels like a fun chance for...
Lead singer, songwriter, and Charles the Mecha Butler creator Ezra Koenig gets a chance to show off some of his culinary skills, flipping some carefully crafted griddle creations. Clocking in at just over five minutes, it also feels like a fun chance for...
- 2/20/2019
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Netflix's choose-your-own-path sci-fi adventure Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is officially the internet's new favorite thing - Ok, save for maybe Bird Box. At the heart of the story is Stefan, an ambitious young video game programmer played by Fionn Whitehead, who tries to create an interactive video game based on a book. Throughout all iterations of his story, he crosses paths with famous creator Colin Ritman, played by Will Poulter. If you couldn't figure out why Poulter looks so familiar, we've got the answers for you right here.
The 25-year-old British actor has been working since 2007, when he starred in the comedy film Son of Rambow. His early career definitely leaned more into the comedy side of things. Alongside his classmates, he starred in the British sketch comedy series School of Comedy, which had a cast entirely made up of student actors performing adult-level comedy sketches.
Poulter burst onto the...
The 25-year-old British actor has been working since 2007, when he starred in the comedy film Son of Rambow. His early career definitely leaned more into the comedy side of things. Alongside his classmates, he starred in the British sketch comedy series School of Comedy, which had a cast entirely made up of student actors performing adult-level comedy sketches.
Poulter burst onto the...
- 1/5/2019
- by Amanda Prahl
- Popsugar.com
Actor Will Poulter has announced that he is taking a “step back” from Twitter and reassessing his “relationship with social media” following abuse from online trolls over his looks in new “Black Mirror” episode “Bandersnatch.” Poulter tweeted Wednesday night that the move was “in the interest of my mental health.”
The British actor, who turns 26 later this month, said he made the decision “in light of my recent experiences.” “I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to everybody who has watched ‘Bandersnatch’ and for their responses (whatever they may be) to the material we created,” said Poulter, pointedly highlighting the word “material.”
“As we all know there is a balance to be struck in our engagements with social media. There are positives to enjoy and inevitable negatives that are best avoided,” continued Poulter. “It’s a balance I have struggled with for a while now and in the...
The British actor, who turns 26 later this month, said he made the decision “in light of my recent experiences.” “I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to everybody who has watched ‘Bandersnatch’ and for their responses (whatever they may be) to the material we created,” said Poulter, pointedly highlighting the word “material.”
“As we all know there is a balance to be struck in our engagements with social media. There are positives to enjoy and inevitable negatives that are best avoided,” continued Poulter. “It’s a balance I have struggled with for a while now and in the...
- 1/3/2019
- by Robert Mitchell
- Variety Film + TV
Lionsgate is proud to announce The Watcher in the Woods, starring Academy Award® winner Anjelica Huston, arriving on DVD September 11.
The thrilling reimagining of the ’80s cult classic film comes home when Lifetime’sThe Watcher in the Woods arrives on DVD September 11 from Lionsgate. Starring Academy Award® winner Anjelica Huston and executive produced by Melissa Joan Hart (TV’s “Melissa & Joey”), the film tells the tale of a family that rents a countryside manor for the summer and encounters the dark past hidden by the townspeople. The Watcher in the Woods DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.98.
When Jan Carstairs and her family rent a manor in the idyllic British countryside, the owner, Mrs. Aylwood, notices that Jan bears a striking resemblance to her daughter, Karen, who disappeared over twenty years ago. Mrs. Aylwood warns Jan to stay out of the surrounding woods, and when strange occurrences unnerve the family,...
The thrilling reimagining of the ’80s cult classic film comes home when Lifetime’sThe Watcher in the Woods arrives on DVD September 11 from Lionsgate. Starring Academy Award® winner Anjelica Huston and executive produced by Melissa Joan Hart (TV’s “Melissa & Joey”), the film tells the tale of a family that rents a countryside manor for the summer and encounters the dark past hidden by the townspeople. The Watcher in the Woods DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.98.
When Jan Carstairs and her family rent a manor in the idyllic British countryside, the owner, Mrs. Aylwood, notices that Jan bears a striking resemblance to her daughter, Karen, who disappeared over twenty years ago. Mrs. Aylwood warns Jan to stay out of the surrounding woods, and when strange occurrences unnerve the family,...
- 8/29/2018
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The ’80s cult classic The Watcher in the Woods has been retold by director Melissa Joan Hart and is headed to DVD September 11, from Lionsgate. Below are all the details on the release.
The thrilling reimagining of the ’80s cult classic film comes home when Lifetime’sThe Watcher in the Woods arrives on DVD September 11 from Lionsgate. Starring Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston and executive produced by Melissa Joan Hart (Melissa & Joey), the film tells the tale of a family that rents a countryside manor for the summer and encounters the dark past hidden by the townspeople. The Watcher in the Woods DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.98.
Official Synopsis
When Jan Carstairs and her family rent a manor in the idyllic British countryside, the owner, Mrs. Aylwood, notices that Jan bears a striking resemblance to her daughter, Karen, who disappeared over twenty years ago.
The thrilling reimagining of the ’80s cult classic film comes home when Lifetime’sThe Watcher in the Woods arrives on DVD September 11 from Lionsgate. Starring Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston and executive produced by Melissa Joan Hart (Melissa & Joey), the film tells the tale of a family that rents a countryside manor for the summer and encounters the dark past hidden by the townspeople. The Watcher in the Woods DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.98.
Official Synopsis
When Jan Carstairs and her family rent a manor in the idyllic British countryside, the owner, Mrs. Aylwood, notices that Jan bears a striking resemblance to her daughter, Karen, who disappeared over twenty years ago.
- 7/4/2018
- by Chris Salce
- Age of the Nerd
What better time for a rollout of To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story than on Friday the 13th?! Courtesy of Epic Pictures Releasing and Dread Central Presents, To Hell and Back on Blu-Ray and DVD comes packed with 90+ minutes of bonus features. We also have the DVD debut of Melissa Joan Hart's Watcher in the Woods, starring Anjelica Huston, and Kickstarter information for the new film Ex Voto.
To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story Release Details: Hollywood, CA – On Friday, July 13, 2018, Epic Pictures Releasing via its horror label, Dread Central Presents will release To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story, both On Demand and as part of a fully loaded Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack.
Directed by Derek Dennis Herbert, To Hell and Back tells the harrowing story of famed stuntman and actor Kane Hodder, who overcame a dehumanizing childhood filled with torment and bullying in Sparks,...
To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story Release Details: Hollywood, CA – On Friday, July 13, 2018, Epic Pictures Releasing via its horror label, Dread Central Presents will release To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story, both On Demand and as part of a fully loaded Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack.
Directed by Derek Dennis Herbert, To Hell and Back tells the harrowing story of famed stuntman and actor Kane Hodder, who overcame a dehumanizing childhood filled with torment and bullying in Sparks,...
- 7/3/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Author: Ben Robins
Gothic romance, tortured siblings and a needlessly huge-’n’-haunted manor house hidden right out in the sticks; you can bet your lucky stars it’s another period-set Irish horror. And although Brian O’Malley’s sumptuously shot The Lodgers compounds plenty of the old-school genre nuts-and-bolts, with some slick effects work and solid performances, it’s far from the sort of spirit-stalking shake-up a lot of the horror crowd might well be hoping for.
Finding some sort of new ground in the Anglo-Irish conflicts of early 1920s Ireland, there’s a decent-enough central dynamic in a pair of outcast twins; orphans hidden away in a grubby old mansion off the beaten track, governed by a couple of omni-present, omni-pissed-off local ghosts. And when Charlotte Vega’s Rachel finally starts to rebel, hanging out with a local soldier and giving the finger to white-sheet mum-and-dad, the necessary...
Gothic romance, tortured siblings and a needlessly huge-’n’-haunted manor house hidden right out in the sticks; you can bet your lucky stars it’s another period-set Irish horror. And although Brian O’Malley’s sumptuously shot The Lodgers compounds plenty of the old-school genre nuts-and-bolts, with some slick effects work and solid performances, it’s far from the sort of spirit-stalking shake-up a lot of the horror crowd might well be hoping for.
Finding some sort of new ground in the Anglo-Irish conflicts of early 1920s Ireland, there’s a decent-enough central dynamic in a pair of outcast twins; orphans hidden away in a grubby old mansion off the beaten track, governed by a couple of omni-present, omni-pissed-off local ghosts. And when Charlotte Vega’s Rachel finally starts to rebel, hanging out with a local soldier and giving the finger to white-sheet mum-and-dad, the necessary...
- 2/26/2018
- by Ben Robins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Film comes from UK outfit Bad Penny Productions.
UK production outfit Bad Penny Productions has released a first look at director Robert Mullan’s latest feature, This Weekend Will Change Your Life.
Source: Paul Stephenson
This Weekend Will Change Your Life
Production has now wrapped on the film, which stars David Bamber (Valkyrie) and Adam Paul Harvey (Son Of Rambow). It marks director Mullan’s follow up to the David Tennant and Elizabeth Moss-starring Mad To Be Normal, which premiered at last year’s Glasgow Film Festival.
The story follows seven people who leave London for a therapeutic weekend in the Cotswolds, which they are told will change their lives.
The project is being produced by Bad Penny Production’s Phin Glynn and Daz Spencer Lovesey, Norman Merry is executive producer.
Next up for Mullan is James And Lucia, starring Aidan Gillen as iconic Irish writer James Joyce. Bad Penny’s upcoming projects include an adaptation of [link=nm...
UK production outfit Bad Penny Productions has released a first look at director Robert Mullan’s latest feature, This Weekend Will Change Your Life.
Source: Paul Stephenson
This Weekend Will Change Your Life
Production has now wrapped on the film, which stars David Bamber (Valkyrie) and Adam Paul Harvey (Son Of Rambow). It marks director Mullan’s follow up to the David Tennant and Elizabeth Moss-starring Mad To Be Normal, which premiered at last year’s Glasgow Film Festival.
The story follows seven people who leave London for a therapeutic weekend in the Cotswolds, which they are told will change their lives.
The project is being produced by Bad Penny Production’s Phin Glynn and Daz Spencer Lovesey, Norman Merry is executive producer.
Next up for Mullan is James And Lucia, starring Aidan Gillen as iconic Irish writer James Joyce. Bad Penny’s upcoming projects include an adaptation of [link=nm...
- 1/26/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
This story of an oddball being let out into the world succeeds in its character portrayal even as it stumbles over reality
If you can get past the fact that the film was precision-tooled for the quirky feelgood slot of the Sundance film festival; if you can forgive the glaring product placement and the nerd-gasm casting of Mark Hamill in a key role of a film about fan geekery, then there is a fair amount to recommend this solid feature debut.
A narrative that combines the domestic dysfunction of Yorgos Lanthimos’s Dogtooth with the unabashed movie-buff joy of Garth Jennings’s Son of Rambow or Michel Gondry’s Be Kind Rewind, this is a study of a very singular character, shaped – or scarred – by a unique upbringing.
Continue reading...
If you can get past the fact that the film was precision-tooled for the quirky feelgood slot of the Sundance film festival; if you can forgive the glaring product placement and the nerd-gasm casting of Mark Hamill in a key role of a film about fan geekery, then there is a fair amount to recommend this solid feature debut.
A narrative that combines the domestic dysfunction of Yorgos Lanthimos’s Dogtooth with the unabashed movie-buff joy of Garth Jennings’s Son of Rambow or Michel Gondry’s Be Kind Rewind, this is a study of a very singular character, shaped – or scarred – by a unique upbringing.
Continue reading...
- 12/10/2017
- by Wendy Ide
- The Guardian - Film News
To many who grew up in the ’80s, The Watcher in the Woods is remembered as their first taste of horror. The 1980 cult classic is back in the spotlight thanks to a Lifetime TV movie remake starring newcomer Tallulah Evans.
Here are five things to know about the actress on-the-rise.
1. Evans Began Acting Professionally at Age 7
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve always just wanted to act because it’s so much fun,” Evans tells People. “I could never think of wanting to do anything else, really.”
Evans landed her first acting role at the age of 7 in the 2006 film Penelope,...
Here are five things to know about the actress on-the-rise.
1. Evans Began Acting Professionally at Age 7
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve always just wanted to act because it’s so much fun,” Evans tells People. “I could never think of wanting to do anything else, really.”
Evans landed her first acting role at the age of 7 in the 2006 film Penelope,...
- 11/28/2017
- by Madison Rossi
- PEOPLE.com
Mark Harrison May 19, 2017
From the currently playing Their Finest to the likes of Bowfinger and Boogie Nights, we salute the movies about making movies...
If you haven't caught up yet, Their Finest is currently playing in UK cinemas and it's a gorgeous little love letter to perseverance through storytelling, set against the backdrop of a film production office at the British Ministry of Information during the Second World War. Based on Lissa Evans' novel, Gemma Arterton and Bill Nighy play characters whose access to the film industry has been contingent on the global crisis that takes other young men away from such trifling matters, and it's a real joy to watch.
Among other things, the film got us thinking about other films about making films. We're not talking about documentaries, even though Hearts Of Darkness, the documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now, may be the greatest film about...
From the currently playing Their Finest to the likes of Bowfinger and Boogie Nights, we salute the movies about making movies...
If you haven't caught up yet, Their Finest is currently playing in UK cinemas and it's a gorgeous little love letter to perseverance through storytelling, set against the backdrop of a film production office at the British Ministry of Information during the Second World War. Based on Lissa Evans' novel, Gemma Arterton and Bill Nighy play characters whose access to the film industry has been contingent on the global crisis that takes other young men away from such trifling matters, and it's a real joy to watch.
Among other things, the film got us thinking about other films about making films. We're not talking about documentaries, even though Hearts Of Darkness, the documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now, may be the greatest film about...
- 5/3/2017
- Den of Geek
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Jennifer Saunders, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Kroll, Beck Bennett, Nick Offerman | Written by Garth Jennings | Directed by Christophe Lourdelet, Garth Jennings
Whilst Disney seem to be raiding their animated back-catalogue in the hopes of finding their next big cinema hit, abandoning the joyous nature of the animated movie for more dour live-action versions, it’s left to other studios – like Dreamworks, Illumination etc. – to keep the slew of animated kids film coming. Current kings of the CG-animated movie Illumination Entertainment, who also have Despicable Me 3 out later this year, hit cinemas early with Sing, a truly family-orientated film that takes it’s story from the current popularity of the TV talent show.
Sing tells the story of Buster Moon (McConaughey) a koala who grew up with a passion for theatre. However that passion does not...
Whilst Disney seem to be raiding their animated back-catalogue in the hopes of finding their next big cinema hit, abandoning the joyous nature of the animated movie for more dour live-action versions, it’s left to other studios – like Dreamworks, Illumination etc. – to keep the slew of animated kids film coming. Current kings of the CG-animated movie Illumination Entertainment, who also have Despicable Me 3 out later this year, hit cinemas early with Sing, a truly family-orientated film that takes it’s story from the current popularity of the TV talent show.
Sing tells the story of Buster Moon (McConaughey) a koala who grew up with a passion for theatre. However that passion does not...
- 2/3/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
The writer/director of Son of Rambow on surviving his first animation, using his sons as piglets, and the French view of Brexit
As half of producer-director duo Hammer & Tongs, Essex-born Garth Jennings started out making music videos for the likes of Blur, Fatboy Slim, Rem and Radiohead, before moving into films with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Son of Rambow. He has now written and directed animated musical comedy Sing. He lives in Paris with his wife, four sons and a “bloody lazy” French bulldog.
Is it true the idea for Sing started over a cup of tea?
It genuinely did. How very British. The boss of Illumination studios, Chris Meledandri, had seen Son of Rambow and had this idea for a musical based around a singing contest for animals. Like me, Chris loves The Commitments – and Sing Street more recently – where you follow multiple characters...
As half of producer-director duo Hammer & Tongs, Essex-born Garth Jennings started out making music videos for the likes of Blur, Fatboy Slim, Rem and Radiohead, before moving into films with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Son of Rambow. He has now written and directed animated musical comedy Sing. He lives in Paris with his wife, four sons and a “bloody lazy” French bulldog.
Is it true the idea for Sing started over a cup of tea?
It genuinely did. How very British. The boss of Illumination studios, Chris Meledandri, had seen Son of Rambow and had this idea for a musical based around a singing contest for animals. Like me, Chris loves The Commitments – and Sing Street more recently – where you follow multiple characters...
- 1/29/2017
- by Michael Hogan
- The Guardian - Film News
This tale of cute warbling creatures aimed at a family audience is impossible to dislike but hardly memorable
Here’s a bright, breezily sweet-tempered animation written and directed by the talented Brit Garth Jennings, who made The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Son of Rambow. His movie features the regulation array of talking animals and star vocals; it’s impossible to dislike and impossible to love.
Sing is designed and built to the highest standards of professionalism; it’s a Volkswagen Passat of a family animation and there’s nothing wrong with that. But somehow the flash of creative anarchy or inspiration that we once remembered from the Pixar or DreamWorks meisterwerks seem as far away as ever.
Continue reading...
Here’s a bright, breezily sweet-tempered animation written and directed by the talented Brit Garth Jennings, who made The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Son of Rambow. His movie features the regulation array of talking animals and star vocals; it’s impossible to dislike and impossible to love.
Sing is designed and built to the highest standards of professionalism; it’s a Volkswagen Passat of a family animation and there’s nothing wrong with that. But somehow the flash of creative anarchy or inspiration that we once remembered from the Pixar or DreamWorks meisterwerks seem as far away as ever.
Continue reading...
- 1/26/2017
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Brendon Connelly Jan 27, 2017
As Sing arrives in UK cinemas, we chat to its director, Garth Jennings, about lunchbreaks, the movie, and Roald Dahl.
I’m a huge fan of Garth Jennings’ work, from his milk-carton music videos to funny monkey TV ads, and into his feature films, The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy and Son Of Rambow. It’s been a long time coming but, after five years of work, Jennings’ third feature, Sing, is about to get its UK cinema release. When we caught up to chat last week, we talked about those five long years of hard work, about the projects that didn’t come together beforehand, and just a little of the plans that Jennings has for now. Here’s how our conversation went.
See related Luc Besson interview: Valerian, sci-fi, Adele Blanc-Sec Valerian: first trailer for hugely ambitious sci-fi film
Before you got Sing started,...
As Sing arrives in UK cinemas, we chat to its director, Garth Jennings, about lunchbreaks, the movie, and Roald Dahl.
I’m a huge fan of Garth Jennings’ work, from his milk-carton music videos to funny monkey TV ads, and into his feature films, The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy and Son Of Rambow. It’s been a long time coming but, after five years of work, Jennings’ third feature, Sing, is about to get its UK cinema release. When we caught up to chat last week, we talked about those five long years of hard work, about the projects that didn’t come together beforehand, and just a little of the plans that Jennings has for now. Here’s how our conversation went.
See related Luc Besson interview: Valerian, sci-fi, Adele Blanc-Sec Valerian: first trailer for hugely ambitious sci-fi film
Before you got Sing started,...
- 1/25/2017
- Den of Geek
Author: Stefan Pape
Having sat down with Taron Egerton, who voices Johnny the gorilla in Sing, we then had the pleasure to speak the man who directed him, chatting to the affable filmmaker Garth Jennings.
Jennings, renowned primarily for Son of Rambow (not to mention the excellent Blur music video for Coffee and TV), has made his first deviation into the world of the animation, presenting this all singing, all dancing extravaganza, featuring the vocal talents of Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson amongst many others.
We asked whether the animation genre was one he had always intended to try his hand in, and how he initially envisaged the characters, and why he choose specific personality traits for specific animals. He also tells us about working with this dream ensemble cast, and what his favourite karaoke song is…
Sing is released on January 27th.
The post Exclusive: Garth Jennings on animated...
Having sat down with Taron Egerton, who voices Johnny the gorilla in Sing, we then had the pleasure to speak the man who directed him, chatting to the affable filmmaker Garth Jennings.
Jennings, renowned primarily for Son of Rambow (not to mention the excellent Blur music video for Coffee and TV), has made his first deviation into the world of the animation, presenting this all singing, all dancing extravaganza, featuring the vocal talents of Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson amongst many others.
We asked whether the animation genre was one he had always intended to try his hand in, and how he initially envisaged the characters, and why he choose specific personality traits for specific animals. He also tells us about working with this dream ensemble cast, and what his favourite karaoke song is…
Sing is released on January 27th.
The post Exclusive: Garth Jennings on animated...
- 1/25/2017
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Sing is much more than the animated X-Factor-style film it appears. Here's our review...
Sing is just the third film to be directed by Garth Jennings, the man bold enough to try and bring The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy to the big screen in 2005, and responsible for the sublime Son Of Rambow in 2007. Off the back of the box office numbers his new animated feature, Sing, notched up in America over Christmas, it’s unlikely to be long before he’s at work on Sing 2. And, pleasantly, that’s a welcome proposition.
Cards on the table: I’ve had grumbles in the past about some of the work of Illumination Entertainment to date, and in particular, its continued struggle to find narratives to marry up to its quite excellent work in creating characters, and in on-screen comedy. As much as I chuckle through the Despicable Me movies, when...
Sing is just the third film to be directed by Garth Jennings, the man bold enough to try and bring The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy to the big screen in 2005, and responsible for the sublime Son Of Rambow in 2007. Off the back of the box office numbers his new animated feature, Sing, notched up in America over Christmas, it’s unlikely to be long before he’s at work on Sing 2. And, pleasantly, that’s a welcome proposition.
Cards on the table: I’ve had grumbles in the past about some of the work of Illumination Entertainment to date, and in particular, its continued struggle to find narratives to marry up to its quite excellent work in creating characters, and in on-screen comedy. As much as I chuckle through the Despicable Me movies, when...
- 1/24/2017
- Den of Geek
I like unconventional superhero stories and Adam Randall's new movie certainly looks like it fits the bill - I just wish it had a better title.
iBoy, yes, that's *actually* what it's called, is based on a book of the same name and stars Bill Milner (Son of Rambow, X-Men: First Class) as an awkward teenage boy who has a crush on a girl played by Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones).
She invites him over to hang out and in a case of wrong-place-wrong-time, is shot by a group of thugs. He survives the ordeal but fragments of his cell phone lodged in his brain have tweaked something and now he seems to have some sort of x-ray vision along with some other extrasensory abilities so of course, he tries to use his powers for good - with mixed results.
:::Break [Continued ...]...
iBoy, yes, that's *actually* what it's called, is based on a book of the same name and stars Bill Milner (Son of Rambow, X-Men: First Class) as an awkward teenage boy who has a crush on a girl played by Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones).
She invites him over to hang out and in a case of wrong-place-wrong-time, is shot by a group of thugs. He survives the ordeal but fragments of his cell phone lodged in his brain have tweaked something and now he seems to have some sort of x-ray vision along with some other extrasensory abilities so of course, he tries to use his powers for good - with mixed results.
:::Break [Continued ...]...
- 1/12/2017
- QuietEarth.us
Netflix has released the official trailer for its original film “iBoy,” starring “Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams and Bill Milner (“X-Men: First Class,” “Son of Rambow”). Watch the trailer below.
Read More: Netflix Releases 8-Bit Online Arcade Game Starring Original Series Characters
The film follows Tom (Milner), an average 16-year-old whose world is turned on its head after a violent encounter with local thugs who try to attack his best friend and high school crush, Lucy (Williams). During the attack, Tom gets shot and ends up in a coma. He awakens to discover that fragments of his smartphone have embedded in his brain, giving him super powers; now, returning to normal teenage life is impossible. With these new abilities, Tom sets out to seek revenge on the gang who attacked him and his dear friend.
Directed by Adam Randall, the film also stars Miranda Richardson (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,...
Read More: Netflix Releases 8-Bit Online Arcade Game Starring Original Series Characters
The film follows Tom (Milner), an average 16-year-old whose world is turned on its head after a violent encounter with local thugs who try to attack his best friend and high school crush, Lucy (Williams). During the attack, Tom gets shot and ends up in a coma. He awakens to discover that fragments of his smartphone have embedded in his brain, giving him super powers; now, returning to normal teenage life is impossible. With these new abilities, Tom sets out to seek revenge on the gang who attacked him and his dear friend.
Directed by Adam Randall, the film also stars Miranda Richardson (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,...
- 1/12/2017
- by Yoselin Acevedo
- Indiewire
Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams stars opposite Son Of Rambow's Bill Milner in young adult scifi thriller iBoy and while the premise of the feature film adaptation of Kevin Brooks' acclaimed novel - in which a working class teen interrupts a home invasion and is shot in the head for his troubles, the gun shot embedding fragments of his mobile phone into his brain thereby giving him the ability to manipulate electricity and information technology - may sound a little bit goofy on the surface it is played dead serious here. Tom is an average teenager whose world is turned on its head when a violent encounter with local thugs leaves fragments of his shattered smartphone embedded in his brain. He wakes from a...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 1/12/2017
- Screen Anarchy
Netflix has released the first official trailer from its original movie iBoy starring Bill Milner (X-Men: First Class, Son of Rambow) and Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones). Directed by Adam Randall, story follows an average teenager whose world is turned on its head when a violent encounter with local thugs leaves fragments of his shattered smartphone embedded in his brain. He wakes from a coma to discover that returning to normal teenage life is impossible because he has…...
- 1/12/2017
- Deadline
Author: David Sztypuljak
Following on from the first images for the movie yesterday, here’s the brand new first look at present day sci-fi movie iBoy. The film is the first to come from the UK wing of streaming service Netflix and from what we’ve heard and now seen looks fabulous.
The idea comes from the mind of novelist Kevin Brooks and has been turned into a movie by Adam Randall. Yesterday while writing the images piece, I stumbled upon a concept video piece created a few years ago which showed X-Men star Will Poulter in the lead role as a teenager who after getting assaulted by some thugs, ends up with shards of smartphone inserted into his brain. After waking up from hospital, it’s clear that the incident has left him rather a different young man than he used to be.
Poulter doesn’t appear in the...
Following on from the first images for the movie yesterday, here’s the brand new first look at present day sci-fi movie iBoy. The film is the first to come from the UK wing of streaming service Netflix and from what we’ve heard and now seen looks fabulous.
The idea comes from the mind of novelist Kevin Brooks and has been turned into a movie by Adam Randall. Yesterday while writing the images piece, I stumbled upon a concept video piece created a few years ago which showed X-Men star Will Poulter in the lead role as a teenager who after getting assaulted by some thugs, ends up with shards of smartphone inserted into his brain. After waking up from hospital, it’s clear that the incident has left him rather a different young man than he used to be.
Poulter doesn’t appear in the...
- 1/12/2017
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Author: David Sztypuljak
Here’s the first look at this new Netflix original feature film called iBoy. The movie sees a wonderful cast which includes Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams, Son of Rambow star Bill Millner who more recently starred in Anthropoid and the brilliant veterans Miranda Richardson and Rory Kinnear.
iBoy tells the story of a young teenager (Millner) who is assaulted by a gang of local bullies. During one of the violent attacks, his phone shatters lodging pieces of the phone in his brain. When he awakes in hospital he has developed a rather strange set of superpowers and uses those powers to plot revenge on those who beat him and his best friend played by Maisie Williams.
Back in 2015 this concept teaser was made for the movie which was interestingly voiced and starred Millner’s Son of Rambow co-star Will Poulter. It’s not available to be...
Here’s the first look at this new Netflix original feature film called iBoy. The movie sees a wonderful cast which includes Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams, Son of Rambow star Bill Millner who more recently starred in Anthropoid and the brilliant veterans Miranda Richardson and Rory Kinnear.
iBoy tells the story of a young teenager (Millner) who is assaulted by a gang of local bullies. During one of the violent attacks, his phone shatters lodging pieces of the phone in his brain. When he awakes in hospital he has developed a rather strange set of superpowers and uses those powers to plot revenge on those who beat him and his best friend played by Maisie Williams.
Back in 2015 this concept teaser was made for the movie which was interestingly voiced and starred Millner’s Son of Rambow co-star Will Poulter. It’s not available to be...
- 1/11/2017
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Mark Harrison Jan 6, 2017
Viola Davis, John Goodman, Bryce Dallas Howard and more, in our rundown of 2016's underrated movie acting work.
This article contains minor spoilers for Pete's Dragon, Suicide Squad and Warcraft: The Beginning.
Nobody is likely to look back on 2016 fondly, whether because of global political instability, celebrity deaths or the rejection of Boaty McBoatface as a suitable name for a research vessel. In the world of film, we note that a lot of the contenders in this year's awards season haven't even been released in UK cinemas yet, and it was hardly a banner year for blockbuster cinema either.
On the plus side, there were some exemplary smaller films, of the kind that awards bodies tend to overlook, released in the last 12 months. Without any apparent genre contenders, like The Martian or Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, this is a year in which performers are more likely...
Viola Davis, John Goodman, Bryce Dallas Howard and more, in our rundown of 2016's underrated movie acting work.
This article contains minor spoilers for Pete's Dragon, Suicide Squad and Warcraft: The Beginning.
Nobody is likely to look back on 2016 fondly, whether because of global political instability, celebrity deaths or the rejection of Boaty McBoatface as a suitable name for a research vessel. In the world of film, we note that a lot of the contenders in this year's awards season haven't even been released in UK cinemas yet, and it was hardly a banner year for blockbuster cinema either.
On the plus side, there were some exemplary smaller films, of the kind that awards bodies tend to overlook, released in the last 12 months. Without any apparent genre contenders, like The Martian or Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, this is a year in which performers are more likely...
- 1/4/2017
- Den of Geek
The year closed with a very uneven holiday period.”Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “Sing” were the standouts, contributing most of the $160 million that comprises the Top 10 total. (“Sing” is a particular surprise, coming within $9 million of “Rogue One.”) Wider, more-expensive holiday studio releases were mixed at best, with only “Passengers” showing above-average life. However, awards contenders “Fences,” “Manchester by the Sea,” and “La La Land” are thriving.
Read More: ‘La La Land’ and ‘Hidden Figures’ Thrive at the New Years’ Box Office
(Note: the estimates below are for the Friday-Sunday numbers, including projections for Sunday. Disney and Sony failed to provide their numbers at deadline, so the estimates come from other sources.)
The Top 10
1. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Disney) Week 3 – Last weekend: #1
$49.8 million (-22%) in 4,157 theaters (no change); PTA (per theater average): $11,978; Cumulative: $425.179 million
2. Sing (Universal) Week 2 – Last weekend: #2
$41.45 million (+18%) in 4,029 theaters...
Read More: ‘La La Land’ and ‘Hidden Figures’ Thrive at the New Years’ Box Office
(Note: the estimates below are for the Friday-Sunday numbers, including projections for Sunday. Disney and Sony failed to provide their numbers at deadline, so the estimates come from other sources.)
The Top 10
1. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Disney) Week 3 – Last weekend: #1
$49.8 million (-22%) in 4,157 theaters (no change); PTA (per theater average): $11,978; Cumulative: $425.179 million
2. Sing (Universal) Week 2 – Last weekend: #2
$41.45 million (+18%) in 4,029 theaters...
- 1/1/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
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