Daily Archives: October 19, 2017

Trailers and News

Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond – Brand New Trailer!

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Do you remember what it was that made you love film? I do; it was Man on the Moon, and watching  a man I came to adore simply because he could pull stupid faces and make his arse talk transform into this astounding human being. Jim Carrey is the author of my film loving life – Whether or not he, his arse, or even I exist is apparently debatable – and this new Netflix documentary is an open look into the 1999 film, and the way he chose to portray famed performer Andy Kaufman…Both on set, and off.

Now I’m sure to many people, this is just another documentary to make for a good watch and learn a little bit something new about a great film, but to me, this is like Netflix is saying “Hey, Robbie, come and see in full detail the reason you do everything you do”. This is quite easily the most exciting thing I could possibly imagine, and the fact that it’s just under a month away is painful.

Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond will be available on Netflix from November 17th.

Trailers and News

I, Tonya – Brand New Trailer!

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Margot Robbie is simply wonderful; since her break out role in 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street, she’s definitely had ups and downs. She hasn’t always stayed in Focus, but has never quite committed career Suicide…Squad? Okay, point is, not everything is great but she’s always on top form, and we could be looking at her best performance yet in I, Tonya.

Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises among the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the sport is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.

It’s a short but thrilling teaser, giving us a little glimpse into the roller coaster of a film that we’re in for. Who knows, there may even be some Oscar glory in Robbie’s future.

I, Tonya is out 16th February.

Trailers and News

Living on Soul – Brand New Trailer!

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I’m not even going to pretend I have the slightest understanding or appreciation for this style of music, but funk and soul is a widely beloved genre that has great meaning to a lot of people. So for many, Living on Soul is bound to be one of the more interesting and exciting films of the year.

Filmed during their three-night, sold-out residency at the historic Apollo Theater, this hybrid docu-concert film features the late great Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley and the rest of the Grammy-nominated Daptone Records family.

If this style of music is important to you, then Living on Soul must not be missed; it looks to be a smooth and tender look at these great artists and their impact.

Living on Soul doesn’t yet have a UK release date, but the USA will have it on 23rd October.

On The Small Screen, Reviews

The Weekend Binge – Mindhunter

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Serial killers are haunting but horrifyingly interesting. What pushes a person to slaughter another? Not in a fit of rage or passion but by strategic planning systematic murders.

What are the motives? What are the causes? What can we learn about our own behaviours?

Some may want us to dismiss these people as monsters but the FBI Behaviour Unit has become famed at investigating patterns and types to predict crime and catch criminals. Now there is a television series all about their work.

Produced by David Fincher, ebbs of Zodiac, Gone Girl, and Seven flow through this precise and afflicting television series Mindhunter.

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Mindhunter revolves around Holton Ford, an FBI hostage negotiator who, after a failed case, is relegated to teaching. Whilst taking extra classes, Ford becomes interested in the behaviour of criminals, specifically “sequence” killer who have murdered three or more times. Enlisting Bill Tench to help him, Ford decides that to understand the root of evil, and use it to stop crimes, he must interview convicted serial killers in order.

Actor Jonathon Groff, who is best known in Loving, Glee, and on stage in Hamilton, is an adept and fantastic actor but here, he is phenomenal  here as the obsessive Ford. Groff starts his character as a man somewhat frustrated, turning him into a gleeful interpreters for the serial killers he interviews, and then finessing him into a character who is fuelled by his own pride, matching the twists and turns of the subjects he interviews that he is beyond terrified of his own nature. These intricacies are caught by Groff in this flawed lead man, but phenomenal lead performance.

As Tench , Holt McCallany is brilliant. Though he could’ve easily been played off as gruff, his uneasiness with the subjects plus family issues layer the bulky and angered Tench. Showing he is affected by the killers and murders he investigates, he never wavers from using his insights to help – although he does deliver one of the most chilling monologues about marriage and triggers.

Anna Torv as Dr. Wendy Carr and Hannah Cross and Ford’s girlfriend Deborah are welcome added additions to this thrilling piece, excavating social and psychological behaviours whilst also dealing with their own issues.

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The most fascinating characters, predictably, are the murderers. Bringing real life figures to the screen is no easy feat. Happy Anderson and Jackie Erdie highlight the difficulty of going under the skin of serial killer in effectively chilling ways. The most chilling, and also most celebrated, is Cameron Britton as Edmund Kemper. The way he holds himself, the slow drawl in which he speaks, the flitting between horror and humour is chilling. In one breath he talks about

Mindhunter has moments where the story dwindles, but that is part of the course: there is a slow pace and some of the side stories should be contained to one episode. But as a genre series, it twists and turns with an engrossing main story and taking a fascinating dive into the human psyche.

Mindhunter is available on Netflix! 

Features, Unpopped Kernels

Unpopped Kernels: Third Contact (2013)

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It’s one of those inspiring stories. Third Contact was filmed by Simon Horrocks for an extremely low budget of £4000, on a hand held camera and having to space the filming out because he had to fit it around schedules. Raising the money on Kickstarter for PR and publication, this truly independent film made waves and gained momentum, including a premiere at the BFI Imax . What Horrocks proved is that no matter what the production value is, if you have an extreme amount of talent and a strong cast then it will be a masterpiece. And with Third Contact, Horrocks has created a dark, complex but ultimately stunning movie.

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Third Contact is a chilling tale centred on psychiatrist Dr David Wright. Depressed and disillusioned in his work, David finds himself emotionally torn after the suicide of a patient and the loss of his lover. When the patient’s sister comes to collect his things and investigate the strange surroundings of her brother’s death, Wright discovers a more sinister force is afoot. After another suicide of patient, he investigates further and finds that life and death as he knows it may not be all they seem. Captivating till the last minute, Third Contact is a thought provoking thriller that keeps twisting and turning.

Third Contact is a dark and somewhat disturbing movie that keeps you blissfully bewildered, slowly revealing the story minute by minute. Reminiscent of movies such as Le Jetee and Blade Runner, Third Contact drags you through profound thought and increasing tension by slicing the plot up and making you work for the conclusion. Dealing with physics and life after death (or seemingly, life and death existing as one) this complex story is written with genius perfection. Not willingly to treat the audience as fools, Horrocks screenplay has delved us into a puzzle that sticks with you long after screening.  Hauntingly, we are swept on this mystery with David (played impeccably by Tim Scott-Walker) and given the clues as he sees them. Horrocks has used the low budget and production to enhance the story. Filmed mostly in black and white, Third Contact is shot from confusing angles, with blurred and colourful memories merging into one. You are plunged into David’s state of mind as he journeys through the entangled web he has been lead into. This captivating slightly off cinematography adds to the depth of the story and on the whole envelops you in a thrilling piece that sinks into your pulse.

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This movie really is a piece of art and with a strong cast and crew, Horrocks has produced a film that Hollywood has been yearning for. More fool the production companies that swept this film aside, because Horrocks, off his own back, has produced a ridiculously tantalizing movie. Third Contact is brave and beautiful. It is a layered movie that is a question of philosophy and mortality, where the happy are insane and “death is an outdated concept.”

Third Contact is available on Amazon Prime!

East End Film Festival, Reviews

Access All Areas – Review

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Summer has been and gone– sunshine, drinks in the park and of course festivals loom over as excitement and smiles spread across faces from ear to ear. For most of us music is a cathartic release; a form of escapism to shut the real world up for a bit and for rebel of a teen Mia it’s exactly that. As part of the East End Film Festival earlier this year, with a general release this Friday, director Bryn Higgins teams up with writer Oliver Veysey to bring us a pumping story of beats, happiness and above all else overcoming the hardships life throws at us.

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School starts in a week and after losing her mother to cancer Mia (Ella Purnell) has taken to ignoring her father, drinking copious amounts and well not really caring about anything. Best friend Natalie (Georgie Henley) helps her to some extent but what she really needs is to let go of all of her anger and bring some normality back to her life. Cut to the fluffy haired, guitar playing likeable Heath (Edward Bluemel) who seems slightly more together than Mia apart from his slightly troubled mother he has to keep a constant eye on and the fact he is a repeat offender on probation. Unable to miss another shift at work and despite his ‘straight-edge, clean-living’ friend Leon (Jordan Stephens) trying to talk him into going to the ‘Isle of Sounds’ as a musical recluse Kurtz (Jason Flemyng) is rumoured to be performing after 12 years out of the industry it’s still a no from Heath. That is until Mia steals his bike and makes her way to the festival on it.

Ultimately, this is every young singers dream to play to a packed tent at such a big festival. Managing to score VIP tickets and literally letting go, having the time of their lives is the medicine they all needed – especially the parents. This musically inspired tale becomes an important journey for all involved, including the parents. Irritated that they have run away, This is England’s Jo Hartley as the hippy Libby goes on a road trip with Mia’s concerned Dad Mack (Nigel Lindsay) offering lots of laughs along the way. As they deal with thoughts that plague their minds, director Higgins gives us serene scenes in amidst the manic music tents offering a real sense of understanding when it comes to just taking that one step back in order to truly advance forward in life. Our young cast hold their own here and perhaps if this doesn’t land them other roles perhaps it might land them a record deal.

Access All Areas brings festival vibes and warmth, not to mention a little performance by the one and only The Who! With a happy ending of young love and hope, this will undoubtedly leave you with the fuzzies, a tap in your foot and the uncontrollable urge of wanting to grab your laptop to book up the next festival you see – minus the vomit and walking on hot coals (unless that’s your thing).

Access All Areas is out Friday!