Book, Film & TV Reviews
Directed by Sam Mendes and based in part on an account told to Mendes’ grandfather, 1917 tells the story of two young British soldiers – Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) – during the First World War who are ordered to deliver a message calling off an attack that will stop 1,600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap. This message is especially important as Blake’s brother is due to take part in the attack, but it is a race against time.
The third Avengers ensemble film and the nineteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Infinity War sees The Avengers – Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Vision (Paul Bettany), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) – and The Guardians of the Galaxy – Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Baby Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) – come together for the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, these new superhero allies have to sacrifice everything in an attempt to prevent the powerful Thanos (Josh Brolin) from amassing the all-powerful Infinity Stones before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Directed by Scott Derrickson, Doctor Strange is the fourteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It follows a brilliant but arrogant surgeon named Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) who, after his career is destroyed, goes on a journey of physical and spiritual healing. Under the tutelage of a mystic known as the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), Doctor Strange is drawn into the world of the mystic arts, as he trains to become a powerful sorcerer. Taught to defend the world against evil, he soon finds himself facing one of the Ancient One’s former students, Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen).
Directed by Morten Tyldum and based on the biography Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges, The Imitation Game tells the true story of British mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst and pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing, Benedict Cumberbatch, a key figure in cracking Nazi Germany’s Enigma code that helped the Allies win World War II, only to later be criminally prosecuted by the UK government in 1952 for his homosexuality which the country deemed illegal.
August: Osage County, directed by John Wells and based on scribe Tracy Letts‘ own Pulitzer Prize-winning play, looks at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family. With an ensemble cast led by Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, the drama follows this family as they are brought back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, after their father has gone missing and their dysfunctional mother is struggling to cope, suffering from oral cancer and an addiction to narcotics.
Based on a true story and in part on Solomon Northup‘s memoirs of the same name, 12 Years A Slave, directed by Steve McQueen, follows the remarkable true story of a free black man from upstate New York, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who is abducted and sold into slavery. Forced to work on a plantation in New Orleans in the 1800s, experiencing the brutalities of those who believe they have the right to abuse their slaves such as Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) and carpenter John Tibeats (Paul Dano), and ignorances of the population, including that of plantation owner William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch), will Solomon ever make it back to his family and home?
(Weekly feature written for BritScene)
The Christmas season is over, and 2012 is now well in play. Some films did well over this period, with many that we mentioned in our last post remaining at the top of the Box Office, with many that we mentioned in our last post remaining at the top of the Box Office. This weekend there are a couple of great films being released too, including action thriller Contraband and coming-of-age drama Albatross, as well as a few others that are expanding their release to more theaters. Carry on reading to find out what British movies and actors you can see on the big screen over the next seven days, as well as where you will be able to see them.
(Written for HeyUGuys)
J. J. Abrams attended the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour yesterday to talk about his latest television series, Alcatraz. With his latest film Star Trek 2 going into production on Thursday, we were also offered some more details about the sequel to his 2009 film, for which Abram discussed his recent casting choice of Benedict Cumberbatch, his decision to convert the film into 3D after filming, and how long he expects the production of the film to run for.
(Weekly feature written for BritScene)
This week we’re doing a Christmas round-up of films, so you know what will be on in theatres up until New Years Day. There’s three new releases to be looking forward to – The Adventures of Tintin, War Horse and The Iron Lady – and there’s also a few of last week’s films still doing well, with Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows placing itself at the top of the box office.
Continue reading “Brits At The Box Office: Jamie Bell, Simon Pegg, Daniel Craig & More!”
With the release of Peter Jackon’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey earlier today, I’ve written a cast list so we know who to expect in this epic two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s novel, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
(Written for BritScene)
Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first trailer for Peter Jackson‘s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey online today. Not only is the trailer brilliant, but there’s also a lot of British actors in this, and we already can’t wait to see it.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first of a two-part series of films to be adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien‘s novel of the same name, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings, returns as director and also serves as producer and co-writer.
Continue reading “First Trailer & Poster for ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’”
(Weekly feature written for BritScene)
This week we’re bringing back our weekly feature ‘Brits At The Box Office’, where we pull together all the information you need about the British cinema heading your way over the next seven days. It’s a great week for cinema too, with some brilliant films full of spies, sex addicts, and a little bit of Christmas. What better way to kick off December?
(Written for BritScene)
There have been eight new clips for Steven Spielberg’s war-time drama, War Horse, released online this week.
Last week we showed you a featurette highlighting the British cast, but these new clips show the actors in their characters, with a focus on Albert, played by Jeremy Irvine (TV’s Life Bites) and his mother, played by Emily Watson (Oranges & Sunshine).
Continue reading “8 New Clips For Steven Spielberg’s ‘War Horse’”
(Written for BritScene)
A new featurette for Steven Spielberg‘s upcoming war-time drama, War Horse, has been released this week, focusing on the film’s British cast including Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
War Horse follows a young boy, Albert, played by Jeremy Irvine (TV’s Life Bites), and his horse, Joey. Despite being too young to enlist in to the cavalry, Albert heads to France when his horse is sold and sent into the trenches of War. War Horse is a compelling tale of their bond, and is Spielberg’s seventh film set in the World War era.
Continue reading “New War Horse Featurette Highlights All British Cast”
(Written for BritScene)
This week sees the release of the first trailer for Steven Spielberg’s war-time drama, War Horse, which follows the story a young boy, Albert, played by Jeremy Irvine (TV’s Life Bites), and his horse, Joey. Despite being too young to enlist in to the cavalry, Albert heads to France when his horse is sold and sent into the trenches of War. War Horse is a compelling tale of their bond, and Spielberg’s seventh film set in the World War era.
The film is based on both a children’s novel of the same name, written by Michael Morpurgo and first publishes in the UK in 1982, and also on the 2007 stage adaptation.
Continue reading “The Latest Trailer for ‘War Horse’ Gallops Onto Our Screens”
(Read this in my publication In Retrospect – Issue 2 and on BritScene)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief.
This month has got many film critics talking about Gary Oldman and, with the release of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy this month, it’s not hard to see why. Alongside Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Hurt and Tom Hardy, this film adaptation, directed by Tomas Alfredson, is a traditional British spy thriller based on the novel written by John le Carré in 1974.
Read, Watch & Drink Coffee 