Author: BRWC

By Naseem Ally. Taron Egerton from the Kingsman stars in ‘Rocketman’, a music biopic based on the life of Elton John.  Sub-titled ‘based on a true fantasy’, this film takes us from his early days at the Royal Academy of Music through to his musical partnership with Bernie Taupin. 

The title is named after Elton’s 1972 hit ‘‘Rocket Man’’.

This biopic had been in the works since it was announced in January 2012 and it went through a number of changes over the duration of its development.  Previously it was rumored that either Tom Hardy or Justin Timberlake would portray the iconic sunglass wearing performer, however, the mantle was up for grabs and Taron would eventually be the one to pull on those famous shades. 

Attendees at this years Cannes Film Festival are set to catch the first glimpse of the movie as it makes it premiere at the French Riveria. 

I can’t think of a more glamorous setting than that.  Hey, it’s Elton John after all.  After doing some further research on the film, I’ve come to find out that it was in fact Elton John himself who decided to develop a biopic…about himself. 

I’m a bit concerned it could be slightly biased with it being commissioned by him, rather than a production company coming towards Elton to pitch the idea for the biopic. 

Nonetheless, I just hope it’s a balanced outlook into his life thus far rather than following the same formula of most music biopics were used to seeing. 

Rocketman will make its debut on the 24th of May.

By Naseem Ally. The recent protests in London by Extinction Rebellion were radical attempts to bring attention to climate change.  Instead, let’s tone down it a notch and I’ll draw your attention to a character in the thick of it. With polar bears and all sorts!

Arctic is a survival film where a man gets stranded after an airplane crash, resulting in him now having to kick into fight or flight mode.  He has to decide whether to stay in the safety of his makeshift camp or eventually succumb to embarking on a life or death trek through the unknown, in hopes of making it out alive. 

It stars Mads Mikkelsen, commonly associated with playing a villain, however, he turns that notion on its head with Arctic.  He plays Overgard, whose steel gets severely tested over this duration.  I highly doubt as an audience member you’d not be rooting for him to pull through. 

Overgard has no choice but to fend for himself in these extreme conditions.  From fighting off polar bears looking to kill him, to thinking of unconventional ways to catch the attention of rescue services, if luck is on his side.  Arctic was shot over 19 days in Iceland. 

In interviews, Mads Mikkelsen has referred to this role being his most challenging ever.  Critics at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where Arctic made its debut, sighted this as being the best performance of his career to date. 

The film is directed and written by Joe Penna along with input from his co-writer Ryan Morrison.  Mind you this film is not dialogue heavy, so it will rely on the sheer talent of Mikkelsen which of course, he has in abundance. 

This should be quite the cinematic experience. 

Arctic is released on the 10th of May.

By Naseem Ally. Mid90s is the coming of age comedy-drama that is centered on 13-year-old Stevie played by Sunny Suljic, who confides in a clique of older skaters that he warms to whilst getting up to various escapades in 1990s Los Angeles. 

Jonah Hill makes his directorial debut with this film and admittedly he’s off to a great start. In Mid90s, Stevie is essentially an awkward kid who is looking for a sense of belonging. This is something I’m sure most of us can relate to. 

For instance, unbeknownst to his older brother, Stevie sneaks into his room and is enthralled with the collection of hip hop albums, posters, clothes and video games that defined this golden era.   However, the older brother, Ian, is not too fond of the 13-year-old and is often looking to inflict pain on Stevie. 

As well as not getting along with their single mother, Dabney, Stevie finds solace with the skateboarders that hang out at the Motor Avenue Skateshop. 

At the Skateshop he meets an equally awkward young skater, Ruben, who introduces Stevie to the rest of the crew.  Eager to prove himself with gnarly, daredevil-esque tricks on his new skateboard, he begins to win the respect of his peers and gets affectionately known as ‘‘Sunburn’’.  

With this new found acceptance, Stevie feels a lot bolder and starts to partake in anti-social behaviour with the skaters in the City of Angels. 

His mother begins to get concerned with his antics and attempts to refrain Stevie from socialising with them.  At this point, Stevie is on board with whatever the crew decides to get up to, and there is no turning back as far as he’s concerned.  With this turn of events leading Stevie to break out of his shell in an extreme manner, Ian feels the need to reel back in his younger brother. 

Their complex relationship makes for some powerful scenes, one in particular, involving Ian witness Stevie arriving home intoxicated.

This constant push and pull is done to great effect, as although Stevie’s family seem to be cold towards him, there is a sense of remorse that they have been the catalyst of Stevie’s isolation.  As a result, forcing him to find a new family with these skaters that do care and look out for him, but sometimes it can be to the detriment of Stevie.  

In other words, skating comes with ollies as it does with bumps and bruises on the asphalt.  This film manages to cover a few of the themes found in coming of age movies, but Mid90s does this extremely well. 

Supplemented by an amazing score, Jonah Hill has captured the sound and vibe of the 90’s beautifully.  His work with Martin Scorsese on The Wolf of Wall Street seems to be paying off as well, as there are some truly wonderful tracking shots in this film of Stevie’s friend making his way through a house party. 

There is a great shot of the group skating through busy traffic in Los Angeles.  For a directorial debut Jonah Hill has made a solid piece of work, backed by a fairly unknown cast that have been able to hold their own and really carry this film. 

No small feat at all. 

With Mid90s I get the feeling that Jonah did not aim to create a critically acclaimed darling, but more of a passion project that he’s kept close to his heart.  It’s been described by some critics as a film made in the mid-nineties, put in a shoebox, shoved under a bed and then opened up twenty years later revealing all its nostalgia…yeah, that’s just about right. 

Thumbs up from me!

By Naseem Ally. The third installment in the John Wick franchise starring Keanu Reeves, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, sees Keanu back for more vengeance in this action thriller. 

Following on from the events of John Wick and John Wick: Chapter 2 which if you haven’t seen, I highly recommend you do; John is now on the run in the aftermath of his assassination of Santino D’Antonio at the Continental. 

It doesn’t help that he now also has a $14 million bounty on his head.  As a result, he’s banned from every single Continental service, forcing him to fight and shoot his way out of New York with the help of a hitwoman, Sofia, played by Halle Berry. 

The title was inspired by a Roman military quote ‘‘Si vis pacem, para bellum’’ translated as ‘‘If you want peace, prepare for war’’.

Such a tease. 

Audiences should expect this film to be even bigger and bolder than ever. With the amazing global reception the franchise has had so far, and of course, it’s reminiscence to Keanu’s former days as Neo in the Matrix, I have high hopes for this third instalment. 

Chad Stahelski returns as the director, along with writer Derek Kolstad. The visuals for the trailer look superb, with the film being shot in a number of locations around the world including Morocco, Spain, and New York City.  

There’s an awesome shot of Keanu riding on a horse at full speed in the middle of New York being chased by some angry bikers. 

What’s not to love?

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is released on the 17th of May. 

By Naseem Ally. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, And Vile: From starting out as the all-American teen heartthrob Troy Bolton in High School Musical to now portraying the life of an infamous American serial killer…who saw that coming? Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile starring Zac Efron sees him dramatically transform into the man that was once Ted Bundy in this biographical crime thriller.   

This film is based on a memoir from Bundy’s former girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer, played by Lily Collins. The other key figures in Bundy’s life included his wife Carole Anne Boone and Judge Edward Cowart, played by Kaya Scodelario and John Malkovich respectively. 

This sets us up nicely for getting an insight into his world whilst trying to figure out what on earth drove him to commit these heinous crimes? Ted Bundy’s fascinating trial is covered in the film, where he had been described by former girlfriends as extremely charming, and ultimately someone who would not be capable of carrying out a killing spree.   

The film has received plaudits from critics and there’s been particular praise for Zac Efron’s performance as Ted Bundy.  Extremely Wicked, Shocking Evil and Vile came to fruition initially as a script posted on the site The Black List, where it was then picked up by the director Joe Berlinger. 

After a number of attempts to get the film made, the wheels were eventually set in motion and with its imminent release audiences don’t have long to wait. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is released through Sky Cinema and select cinemas on the 3rd of May.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is a 2019 American biographical crime thriller film, told from the point of view of serial killer Ted Bundy‘s former girlfriend Elizabeth Kendall. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, And Vile: From starting out as the all-American teen heartthrob Troy Bolton in High School Musical to now portraying the life of an infamous American serial killer…who saw that coming? Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile starring Zac Efron sees him dramatically transform into the man that was once Ted Bundy in this biographical crime thriller.