Film Review: The Favourite

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and set in early 18th-century England, The Favourite is period black comedy that examines the mostly-true relationship between two cousins, Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), Duchess of Marlborough, and Abigail Masham (Emma Stone), who later became Baroness Masham, who compete to charm and be the favourites of a frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). With England at war with the French, the politics of war has become quite time-consuming for Lady Sarah, a close friend of the Queen who has been governing the country in her stead. Seeing her chance at a return to her aristocratic roots, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion.

Film Review: My Cousin Rachel

Based on the 1951 novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier and directed by Roger Michell, My Cousin Rachel tells the story of a young Englishman, Philip (Sam Claflin), who plots revenge against his mysterious, beautiful cousin, Rachel (Rachel Weisz) believing that she murdered his guardian. But his feelings become complicated as he finds himself falling under the beguiling spell of her charms.

Film Review: The Light Between Oceans

Based on M.L. Stedman‘s 2012 debut novel and directed by Derek Cianfrance, The Light Between Oceans follows war veteran Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender), who returns home to Western Australia after fighting in the western trenches of World War I in Europe. After meeting and quickly falling in love with the young Isabel (Alicia Vikander), the newly married couple move to an isolated island where Tom maintains the upkeep of a working lighthouse, and Isabel gets used to married life away from her family. But as Tom struggles with his numb emotions from serving in the war, and after the heartache of not being able to start a family of their own, the couple rescue a baby girl who has washed up on an adrift rowboat.

Believing their prayers may have finally been answered, Isabel encourages Tom to informally adopt her as their own but, as a man of principle, Tom is torn between reporting the lost child and pleasing the woman he loves. Against his better judgement, he agrees to let Isabel keep the child, naming her Lucy and informing their families that she is their own. But when Tom and Isabel return to the mainland a few years later, they soon discover that their actions may have had devastating consequences for the lives of others.

Book v Film: The Light Between Oceans

“There are still more days to travel in this life. And he knows that the man who makes the journey has been shaped by every day and every person along the way. Scars are just another kind of memory. Isabel is part of him, wherever she is, just like the war and the light and the ocean. Soon enough the days will close over their lives, the grass will grow over their graves, until their story is just an unvisited headstone. He watches the ocean surrender to the night, knowing that the light will reappear.”

Based on M.L. Stedman‘s 2012 debut novel and directed by Derek Cianfrance, The Light Between Oceans follows war veteran Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender), who returns home to Western Australia after fighting in the western trenches of World War I in Europe. After meeting and quickly falling in love with the young Isabel (Alicia Vikander), the newly married couple move to an isolated island where Tom maintains the upkeep of a working lighthouse, and Isabel gets used to married life away from her family. But as Tom struggles with his numb emotions from serving in the war, and after the heartache of not being able to start a family of their own, the couple rescue a baby girl who has washed up on an adrift rowboat.

Believing their prayers may have finally been answered, Isabel encourages Tom to informally adopt her as their own but, as a man of principle, Tom is torn between reporting the lost child and pleasing the woman he loves. Against his better judgment, he agrees to let Isabel keep the child, naming her Lucy and informing their families that she is their own. But when Tom and Isabel return to the mainland a few years later, they soon discover that their actions may have had devastating consequences for the lives of others.

You Should Be Reading: The Light Between Oceans

“There are still more days to travel in this life. And he knows that the man who makes the journey has been shaped by every day and every person along the way. Scars are just another kind of memory. Isabel is part of him, wherever she is, just like the war and the light and the ocean. Soon enough the days will close over their lives, the grass will grow over their graves, until their story is just an unvisited headstone. He watches the ocean surrender to the night, knowing that the light will reappear.”

The Light Between Oceans is a 2012 debut novel by M.L. Stedman, which follows war veteran Tom Sherbourne, who returns home to Western Australia after fighting in the western trenches of World War I in Europe. After meeting and quickly falling in love with the young Isabel, the newly married couple move to an isolated island where Tom maintains the upkeep of a working lighthouse, and Isabel gets used to married life away from her family. But as Tom struggles with his numb emotions from serving in the war, and after the heartache of not being able to start a family of their own, the couple rescue a baby girl who has washed up on an adrift rowboat.

DVD Review: The Lobster

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Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, The Lobster is set in a dystopian near future, where single people, according to the law, are taken to a hotel where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in 45 days, or else they are transformed into an animal of their own choice and sent off into the woods.

The film follows David (Colin Farrell), who enters the hotel with his brother, a dog, after his wife leaves him for another man.

Film Review: Oz The Great and Powerful

(Published in the April edition of Sage)

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Discovering the origins of L. Frank Baum‘s classic children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and a sort-of prequel to the classic 1939 film of the same name, Oz: The Great and Powerful follows a small-time magician (James Franco) who arrives in an enchanted land ruled by three witches – Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams). Directed by Sam Raimi, the film focuses on how the Wizard arrived in Oz and became the ruler. But will he be a good man or a great one?

Some Of The Wonderful Things He Does: Oz The Great And Powerful Images & Trailer

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

A new trailer and several new images have been released for Sam Raimi’s upcoming fantasy adventure, Oz: The Great And Powerful, this week, and they are certainly very impressive.

Discovering the origins of L. Frank Baum‘s classic children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the film is a prequel to his work, looking at how the Wizard arrived in Oz and became the ruler.

New Trailer for ‘Oz The Great and Powerful’, Comic-Con Say It Looks Outstanding

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

The first trailer for Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful has been released this week, as The Disney panel at Comic-Con presented an exclusive promo reel for the film at this year’s convention.

Discovering the origins of L. Frank Baum‘s classic children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the film is a prequel to his work, looking at how the Wizard arrived in Oz and became the ruler.

New Trailer and Poster for ‘The Deep Blue Sea’ Starring Rachel Weisz & Tom Hiddleston

(Written for BritScene)

A new poster and the second trailer for the upcoming romantic drama, The Deep Blue Sea, have been released this week. Directed by Terence Davies’ (The House of Mirth), the film is based on Terence Ratigan’s 1952 play and stars British actors Rachel Weisz (Page Eight) as a London socialite and Tom Hiddleston (Thor) as an ex-RAF pilot.

Did I Miss Something? A Wizard Of Oz Re-Telling With a Very Decent Cast?

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

Whilst the news was announced earlier this month, over at the Multiplex we are yet to report on the news of Sam Raimi‘s re-telling of the classic Wizard Of Oz adventure.

When Perez Hilton posted what is apparently the first look at the make-up for a flying monkey in the latest re-imagining of L. Frank Baum’s classic children’s novel, see below for the image, the news didn’t appeal to my interests until, only this week, I saw the cast list.

Scheduled for an 8th March, 2013 release, the fantasy adventure, which has been titled Oz The Great and Powerful, stars James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, Joey King and Bruce Campbell.

Rachel Weisz To Join Colin Firth in ‘The Railway Man’

(Written for BritScene)

Rachel Weisz will star opposite Colin Firth in the classic war autobiography, The Railway Man, Variety have reported this week.

The film will be directed by Jonathan Teplitzky (Burning Man), and is based on the best-selling autobiography by Eric Lomax, who throughout his childhood has possessed a passion for trains.

Film Review: Dream House

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex and published in Issue 4 of In Retrospect)

Dream House, directed by Jim Sheridan, follows publisher Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) who quits work to move his wife Libby (Rachel Weisz) and their two daughters into their dream home. The family soon discover, however, that their seemingly idyllic house was once the murder scene of a mother and her daughters, and that the crime was supposedly committed by the father who is now being held at a psychiatric hospital in town. Will begins to investigate into the murder himself when strange things start happening around him, but whilst most seem to be keeping what they know to themselves, he finds a lead in neighbour Ann (Naomi Watts) and her ex-husband Jack (Marton Csokas).

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Book v Film: The Lovely Bones

“Murderers are not monsters, they’re men. And that’s the most frightening thing about them.”

Directed by Peter Jackson, The Lovely Bones is based on the best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, and tells the compelling story of Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan), a 14-year-old girl in suburban 1970’s Pennsylvania, who is raped and murdered on her walk home from school. Susie’s body is never found, thus finding herself trapped in the ‘in-between’, haunted by the man who ended her life. Susie must now accept her fate as she sits in her “own perfect world” in heaven, watching her family – her father Jack (Mark Wahlberg), her mother Abigail (Rachel Weisz), and her Grandmother (Susan Sarandon) – fall apart in dealing with their despair.

Film Review: The Lovely Bones

Directed by Peter Jackson, The Lovely Bones is based on the best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, and tells the compelling story of Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan), a 14-year-old girl in suburban 1970’s Pennsylvania, who is raped and murdered on her walk home from school. Susie’s body is never found, thus finding herself trapped in the ‘in-between’, haunted by the man who ended her life. Susie must now accept her fate as she sits in her “own perfect world” in heaven, watching her family – her father Jack (Mark Wahlberg), her mother Abigail (Rachel Weisz), and her Grandmother (Susan Sarandon) – fall apart in dealing with their despair.