(Weekly feature written for BritScene)
There’s not much going on film-wise this week, with only two films being released with a couple of British actors in and one animated re-telling of a British classic, but a couple of films have made it to the top of the Box Office from last week and we are likely to see them carry on doing well. So fear not, there’s still something for all to see at the theater this week featuring some brilliant British actors, so carry on reading to see what you can see on the big screen over the next seven days.
First up this week is Idris Elba (TV’s Luther) starring in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, the sequel to the 2007 film Ghost Rider. Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the franchise is based on the Marvel Comics anti-hero Johnny Blaze aka Ghost Rider, played by Nicolas Cage, who is called upon to stop the devil who is trying to take human form. Also starring British actor Ciarán Hinds (The Woman In Black), you can see the action-filled trailer below and see if the film is showing near you here.
Next up this week is Tom Hardy (Warrior) in romantic-comedy This Means War. After a special showing on Valentine’s Day, the film is set to be released worldwide on Friday (17th February). Directed by McG, the film follows two top CIA operatives (Hardy and Chris Pine) who, after they discover they are dating the same woman (Reese Witherspoon), wage an epic battle against one another. Not the typical film for Hardy, but this looks like it could be quite fun to see:
Finally this week is Secret World of Arreity (17th February), a Japanese animated fantasy film based on English children author Mary Norton‘s novel The Borrowers. Centering on the Clock family, four-inch-tall people who live anonymously in another family’s residence who borrow simple items to make their home, life changes when their daughter, Arrietty, is discovered by one of the big humans. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and written by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) and Keiko Niwa, there are no British actors involved in this film but it is a classic British story which you can watch the trailer for below and see where the film is showing here.
As for this weeks Box Office, Safe House has made it to number 2 in the list after making $40.2M in its first work. Featuring Irish actor Brendan Gleeson (The Guard) in a supporting role alongside Hollywood stars Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, the film follows the most dangerous renegade from the CIA (Washington), who comes back onto the grid after a decade on the run. When the South African safe house he’s remanded to is attacked by mercenaries, a rookie operative (Reynolds) escapes with him. Now, the unlikely allies must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. Gleeson plays an agent back in the states tracking them, while wondering if they are working together.
Finally for this week, the 3D re-release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace made it to number 4 of the box office making $22.5M this week. The Phantom Menace follows two Jedi Knights (Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson) who uncover a wider conflict when they are sent as emissaries to the blockaded planet Naboo, and also stars British actor Ray Park as Darth Maul.
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