Author: BRWC

Brooklyn has been singled out as one of those rare features that strikes the elusive balance between being a perfectly pitched, beautifully shot mainstream romantic drama and a film that has Awards panels champing at the bit from the outset. The film’s Outstanding British Film BAFTA win and three Academy Award® nominations are testament to this. Chief amongst a sea of stand-out performances is the central role of Eilis, played by Saoirse Ronan. With Brooklyn available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD from Monday, February 29^th, what better time to re-live some of the remarkably talented 21 year old’s career highlights to date?

Brooklyn (2015)

This adaptation of Colm Toibin’s award-winning novel, with an Academy Award®-nominated screenplay by Nick Hornby, needs little introduction but for many it was their first glimpse of the talent that is the BAFTA and Academy Award-nominated Saoirse Ronan. As the homesick Eilis, who ships out to America in the hope of a life filled with better prospects than her home in Ireland can offer her, Ronan delivers an affecting, career-best performance defined by its subtlety and restraint. This didn’t go unnoticed with voters at the Screen Actors Guild, London Critics’ Circle, British Independent Film Awards, Palm Spring International Film Festival and the Hollywood Film Awards – all of whom awarded gongs for her performance.

How I Live Now (2013)

Ronan stars as Daisy in this coming-of-age drama centring on what happens to a young American girl who finds love (with George MacKay – Pride, Sunshine On Leith) while holidaying with relatives in England. It is the combination of an unexpected global war breaking out and Ronan’s unique screen presence that elevates this to something a lot more interesting than the average drama, despite budgetary constraints limiting the apocalyptic parts to some slight charring of the English countryside. Ronan’s chemistry with MacKay, however, is a lot more incendiary.

Hanna (2011)

Perhaps the first film to cement Ronan’s range and adaptability, Hanna sees the young star playing the eponymous ‘perfect assassin’, who has been trained for the role since birth by her father (Eric Bana – Munich, Hulk). Sent on a mission that has her tracking a target across Europe, Ronan still manages to imbue the tortured, soulless killer with a range of delicate emotions that belie the film’s action cinema tropes. That she holds her own opposite not only Bana but also the ever impressive Cate Blanchett (Carol, Cinderella) is testament to both the young star’s skill and range.

The Lovely Bones (2009)

Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Alice Sebold’s international best-seller in which a young girl copes with her own death at the hands of a local paedophile, whilst also dealing with her parents’ grief as she observes them from heaven might not sound exactly like a laugh riot – because it’s not. However, Sebold’s novel elicited almost universal praise on its release and Peter Jackson, riding high on the success of his Lord of the Rings trilogy, crafted a beautifully realised fantasy drama, at whose heart beats the force that is Ronan – tasked with displaying every possible emotion, often all at once. An arresting film that arguably, and certainly critically, didn’t achieve the heady heights of its ubiquitous source novel but that once again caused audiences everywhere to sit up and notice its faultless star.

Atonement (2007)

The film that really brought Ronan to prominence, Atonement may have been the door opener for her career but it was also a cruel mistress given the character of Briony Tallis is amongst the most reprehensible kids in cinema history. Solely responsible for the downfall of James McAvoy’s (Filth, The X-Men franchise) Robbie – and all as the result of a childish pique from which she never has the courage to climb down – Ronan is called upon to channel an endless level of demure spite; something she manages with an aplomb that easily explains the career that opened up as a result.

Brooklyn is available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD from Monday, February 29^th courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

By Kate Helen.

It was the death of a million memes. Twenty-two years and five nominations after he made his first appearance as a nominee at the Academy Awards, Leonardo DiCaprio was named the 2016 Oscar Winner for Best Actor. The Hollywood heavyweight took home the award for his role in the movie The Revenant, in which he played Hugh Glass, a fur trapper in the 1820s who undertakes a long and arduous journey for revenge after surviving a brutal mauling by a bear. Leo took the stage to accept his long-awaited award amid roaring applause before using his acceptance speech to encourage action on clean energy and climate change.

Worth the Wait

Leonardo DiCaprio was 19 years old when he received his first Oscar nomination for his supporting role in the film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, which he lost to Tommy Lee Jones. He rocketed to international superstardom three years later thanks to Titanic, yet Academy Award success still eluded him. He received Oscar nominations for his roles in 2004’s The Aviator, 2006’s Blood Diamond and 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street, but fell short each time, each loss adding fuel to one of the Internet’s longest-running memes: Leo DiCaprio and the Oscar that got away.

But then he won, and instead of taking the stage to engage in a bit of well-earned basking, Leo used the opportunity to shine a light on a range of issues from climate change to corporate greed to the protection of indigenous peoples. Calling climate change “the most urgent threat facing our entire species,” DiCaprio noted that production on his film “needed to move to the southern tip of this planet just to be able to find snow.” He urged viewers to support leaders who will take action on the issue and stand up to corporate greed and pollution before exiting to a roar of applause.

Leonardo DiCaprio: Eco-Warrior

While it’s become popular in recent years for celebrities to lend their names to various environmental causes, the roots of Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental activism go a little deeper than most. Leo traces his activism to a 1998 meeting with Al Gore in the White House, which prompted the founding of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and set DiCaprio on a course toward becoming one of Hollywood’s most outspoken voices on matters of climate change, clean energy and environmental protection. The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation offers grants for various initiatives, participates in public campaigns and supports widespread efforts aimed at ocean and wildland conservation, climate change and biodiversity protection.

DiCaprio and his foundation have partnered with a range of organizations, including The Solutions Project, Oceans 5, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society, to fund and organize environmental projects. As part of the Divest-Invest movement, Leo has also pledged to pull any personal investments related to fossil fuels and reinvest in clean, sustainable power. In 2014, he was named a United Nations representative on climate change, and in 2016, his work on humanitarian and environmental initiatives earned him the prestigious Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Leaving a Legacy

While Leo DiCaprio remains most recognized for his film roles, it’s his work as an environmental and humanitarian advocate that may leave the most lasting legacy. One of Leo’s greatest passions is clean energy, and he’s worked to hasten the transition to more renewable forms of energy both in Hollywood and around the world. DiCaprio has worked with various organizations to support a movement toward 100 percent renewable energy, but the results have been slow to come. According to Ohio Gas, the United States currently receives about 13 percent of its energy generation from renewable sources, making up about 9.8 percent of the energy consumed nationally. Of these renewable sources, biomass accounts for 50 percent and hydroelectric represents another 26 percent.

The 2016 Oscars may have been Leonardo DiCaprio‘s biggest audience yet, but his activism on climate change and other issues has been decades in the making. While some have rightly criticized DiCaprio for his massive carbon footprint – including several large mansions, frequent private jet flights and the fifth-largest private yacht in the world – there’s no denying that Leo has used his tremendous popularity and platform to spread the message of clean energy, environmental conservation and climate change action. No matter how many more awards he racks up for his actions on the silver screen, his tireless work as an activist may be his role of a lifetime.

In Daniel Lee’s action epic DRAGON BLADE, Oscar-winner Adrien Brody plays the role of the ruthless and power –hungry Roman General Tiberius. The ambitious General, who killed his father and blinded his younger brother, is pitted against Huo An (Jackie Chan) and Roman legion leader General Lucius (John Cusack), who have been wrongfully accused of treason and are trying to clear their names. Brody’s character is motivated by a merciless desire for ultimate power, and his line “I like people to hate me. Their hatred makes me feel alive” encapsulates Tiberius’s aggressiveness. To mark DRAGON BLADE’s arrival on Blu-ray and DVD from 14^th March 2016, courtesy of Signature Entertainment, we take a look at Adrien Brody’s diverse range of past roles.

The Pianist (2002)

In this gut wrenching adaptation of Polish composer and World War II survivor Wladyslaw Szpilman’s autobiography, Brody gives the best performance of his career. He plays Szpilman, a renowned Jewish pianist who is separated from his family as they’re sent off on cattle trucks to Auschwitz. Left to hide and fend for himself in an occupied Warsaw, he witnesses firsthand the horrors of the Holocaust. It’s almost as hard for us to watch as it is for Szpilman, as the scenes director Roman Polanski creates are a devastating insight into the dehumanising experiences people were forced to endure during 1940s Eastern Europe. Brody’s performance is just as chilling, from the dramatic physical transformation he goes through to the emotions he expresses despite little dialogue. This breakout role resulted in Brody becoming the youngest actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor and established him as a true force in the industry.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Brody has a small supporting role in this fantastically unique Woody Allen film, alongside other megastars such as Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, and Kathy Bates. The films centres on Gil (Owen Wilson), a screenwriter who dreams of attaining the literary success of his idols Hemingway and Fitzgerald. On vacation with his fiancée (Rachel McAdams) in Paris, he is enthralled by the poetic undertones he sees amongst the Paris streets and inexplicably time travels back to the 1920s, where he comes face to face with literary and artistic legends. Adrien Brody makes his appearance as Salvador Dalí, a flashy, over-the-top Surrealist painter.  His hilarious depiction of Dalí’s strange eccentricities provides one of the most entertaining and memorable scenes in the movie.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Adrien Brody is the star of this Wes Anderson comic tale, alongside Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman, who play three brothers that reunite for a “spiritual” trip to India after Wilson’s character attempts to take his own life. This is the brothers’ first encounter in over a year – their last meeting occurred at their father’s funeral, for whom they spent their life competing for his affection and approval. Through exquisite attention to aesthetic detail, complicated characters and intricate story lines, the filmmakers are able to explore the finer beauties of India and the complexities (and humour) of familial relationships. Brody gives a particularly strong performance in his Anderson debut as Peter, the troubled middle brother grappling with his soon-to-be role as a father. One of the most poignant scenes is when Peter has a firsthand experience with tragedy in a small Indian village, and how he reacts gives his character an added layer of complexity. It shifts his perspectives and forces him to re-evaluate himself and the life he’s been living, and the remarkable acting on Brody’s end only contributes to the depth of the film.

Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Brody assumes the role of moustache-twirling villain Dmitri in another Wes Anderson film, the award winning Grand Budapest Hotel. Inherently evil, his character kills his mother, has the protagonist Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) wrongly imprisoned for a murder, and orders a lot of people to be killed. His main motivations are to track down and steal a valuable painting that his mother left to Gustave in her will. However, his efforts are often thwarted by his lack of genius – he’s more of a bumbling villain than a manipulative mastermind. However, the quirkiness of the character masks some darker undertones – such as Dmitri’s ZZ officers being a reference to the Nazi SS officers. Brody depicts the role well, and through the quirk and humour he leaves us with subtle hints of something darker.

King Kong (2005)

Fresh off the Lord of the Rings trilogy, director Peter Jackson tackles this blockbuster reboot which stars Adrien Brody in one of the leading roles. He assumes the role of Jack Driscoll, a struggling playwright that starts working on a script for filmmaker Carl Denham (Jack Black). He meets love interest Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) aboard the ship taking them to the mysterious Skull Island where they intend to start filming. However, it’s upon this island that Ann is kidnapped by Kong, who she subsequently befriends. The casting of Brody as Driscoll drew some criticism because a few critics didn’t think he was typical hero material, but that’s exactly why we like him in the role. He’s simply an unassuming writer, so it’s refreshing to have a non-traditional hero at the forefront of this epic tale.

Detachment (2011)

It’s a wonder how this film managed to stay so under the radar considering its all-star cast: Marcia Gay Harden, James Caan, Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu, Bryan Cranston and of course, Adrien Brody. Brody takes the leading role as substitute teacher Henry Barthes, who safeguards himself from any emotional attachment by constantly changing schools. This changes when he lands a job at a struggling public school, where he becomes a role model to his students and forges meaningful relationships with them and his fellow teachers. The film criticises the American public school system, but an area it also delves into is the notion of human loneliness. This is where Brody is able to show his emotional range and bring a unique sense of depth to the film.

Predators (2010)

Brody’s role in this film is another example of how dedicated he is to fully getting in character. Similar to how he chose to become emaciated for his role in The Pianist, Brody put on almost 25 pounds of muscle for his role as Royce, an ex- U.S. Army Special Forces soldier turned mercenary. Royce finds himself parachuting onto a strange island with no idea how he got there, and soon discovers that he is joined not only by other trained killers, but also by creatures called “Predators” that are intent on slaughtering the humans. While this isn’t one of Brody’s stronger films, it still shows his commitment to the craft of acting and how seriously he takes each role.

Backtrack (2016)

In Backtrack, the brisk pulpy psycho-horror, Brody plays psychologist Peter Bower, whose life is thrown into turmoil when he discovers that the patients he has been seeing are ghosts. Risking his own sanity, Peter delves into his past to uncover a terrifying secret which only he can put right. This spine-chilling ghost story from the acclaimed writer-director, Michael Petroni, also stars Sam Neill as Peter’s fellow shrink and mentor, but it is Brody who steals the show. His portrayal of a man whose conscience is tearing him apart from the inside is moving and horrifying in equal measure, providing a psychologically damaged protagonist against Petroni’s sustained atmosphere of ominous tension.

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DRAGON BLADE arrives on Blu-Ray and DVD from the 14^th March 2016, courtesy of Signature Entertainment

To star in a martial arts film takes intense training, athletic talent and charisma. Actors including Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and Jackie Chan have mastered this art and are widely recognised as international superstars both for their martial artistry and their on-screen presence. Jackie Chan re-introduces his magnetising energy later this month as producer, choreographer and lead actor in DRAGON BLADE, which arrives on Blu-ray and DVD from 14th March. To celebrate Mr Chan’s return, let’s take a look at some of the top martial arts films of recent times…

DRAGON BLADE (2016)

The living martial arts legend that is Jackie Chan made his long awaited return to action in DRAGON BLADE this year, the riveting martial arts historic action flick, starring John Cusack and Adrien Brody. Set two thousand years ago, General Lucius’ (Cusack) legion of Roman soldiers marches East along the famous Chinese Silk Road to protect Publius, the youngest son of Consul Crassus, from his vicious brother Tiberius (Brody). After becoming lost in the desert they arrive at Wild Geese Gate, where Lucius meets Huo An (Chan), the Commander of the Silk Road Protection Squad of the Western Region. The two men – who have each been framed for treason – earn each other’s respect and form an allegiance against Tiberius. To protect his country and to clear his name of treason, Huo An gathers all the allies of China to unite together and take on Tiberius in an epic battle that will be remembered forever… A soaring martial arts epic where East brutally meets West. Jackie Chan’s inimitable style is put to unforgettable effect.

KUNG FU KILLER (2015)

Donnie Yen stars as Hahou, a former martial arts instructor imprisoned after accidentally killing an opponent. When a vicious killer played by Wang Baoqiang starts targeting martial arts masters, Hahou offers to help the police capture him in return for his freedom. Donnie Yen displays his incredible ability once again in this all-action feature.

IP MAN (2008)

This 2008 semi-biographical martial arts film is loosely based on the life of Yip Man, a martial arts grandmaster, founder of the martial art Wing Chun and master of Bruce Lee. It centres on the events in Ip’s life during the Sino-Japanese war. Donnie Yen stars as Yip Man, once again bringing his martial arts expertise to the big screen. Sammo Hung and Tony Leung Siu-hung designed the martial arts choreography for the film. Ip Man was hugely successful and soon became part of a franchise, the third instalment of which was released last year.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA (1991)

Jet Li stars in Once Upon A Time In China – a film that alerted the world to the incredible talents of the unknown, but extremely gifted martial artist and actor. It follows his character Wong Fei-Hung and sees the locals become concerned with the growing influence and presence of Westerners and foreigners in Foshan. General Liu Yong Fu of the Black Flag Army approaches Wong Fei-Hung and requests that he helps gather and train a militia to assist in defending the town. Directed by Tsui Hark, the film is a dazzling and colourful spectacle. Once Upon A Time In China was one of the first to cross over into western pop-culture in the post-Bruce Lee era, and is a firm favourite of martial arts fans around the world.

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000)

This absolute classic is synonymous not only with the genre of martial arts films, but martial arts itself, winning numerous accolades over the years, including the 2000 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film tells the story of Master Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) an expert swordsman and martial artist and his warrior friend Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) on their search for a stolen sword. Crouching Tiger… combines action packed kung-fu seamlessly with a truly moving love story, thanks to the genius director that is Ang Lee, who also introduced the Matrix’s choreographer, Yuen Woo-ping, to orchestrate the film’s incredibly complex fight scenes.

ENTER THE DRAGON (1973)

A blockbuster hit, Enter the Dragon is rightfully considered one of the best martial arts films of all time and was Bruce Lee’s final film before his death. The film was the first Chinese martial arts film to be produced by a Hollywood Studio (Warner Brothers) and the story follows a master martial artist who agrees to spy on a reclusive crime lord by entering a martial arts tournament as a cover. It is an exotic and extravagant spectacle and Lee is a unique and humble star who exudes emotion and unsurpassable martial arts prowess.

HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS (2004)

Set during the Tang dynasty in China, this film follows two police captains (Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro) on their search for the leader of the counterinsurgency group, the flying Daggers. Jin (Kaneshiro) poses as an average citizen and busts Mei (Zhang Ziyi) out of jail because they believe her to be a secret member of the Daggers, but it turns out that nothing is quite what it seems. Directed by Zhang Yimou, this film contains fantastic fight choreography, dancing, traditional Chinese music, and of course: martial arts.

A TOUCH OF ZEN (1971)

A Touch of Zen made cinematic history when it became the first Chinese film to win an award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1971. It stars Feng Hsu as Ku, an artist who meets the beautiful Yang and discovers that she is being pursued by agents of an Imperial noble who have murdered her family.  He becomes entangled in her struggle to survive, and many fierce battles are fought before there is any resolve. The story effortlessly combines elements of comedy and romance along with its drama and action.

KILL BILL VOL. 1 and 2 (2003 & 2004)

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Uma Thurman, Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2 follow the story of The Bride, as she seeks revenge on an assassination squad led by Bill (David Carradine) due to his assassination attempt on her and her unborn child. The film received both critical and commercial success and is considered one of Tarantino’s best films to date. Kill Bill is extremely unique in the martial arts genre as it stars an American female protagonist as opposed to the more traditional Asian male. It also co-stars Daryl Hannah and Lucy Lui proving that women can be deadly too!

HERO (2002)

Another Jet Li film, Hero is a wuxia film that is based on the story of Jing Ke’s assassination attempt on the King of Qin in 227 B.C. When the film was released it became the highest grossing motion picture in Chinese film history. The film was nominated for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Li stars as Nameless, a master swordsman and the primary conspirator in the assassination attempt. He brings his usual style and energy, while the film also stars Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung and Chen Daoming.

ONG-BAK (2003)

In Ong-Bak, Tony Jaa stars as a young martial artist living in rural Thailand who goes to the big city to retrieve the head of his village’s sacred statue: Ong-Bak. The film used no special effects or stunt doubles, but you wouldn’t believe it when you watch Jaa’s speed and execution of his martial artistry. The film was directed and written by Prachya Pinkaew and features stunt choreography by Panna Rittikrai. The fights are staged excellently as Jaa takes down every enemy that gets in his way.  It was so successful that it also inspired two prequels: Ong-Bak 2 and Ong-Bak 3.

THE RAID: REDEMPTION (2012)

As a rookie member of an elite special-forces team, Rama (Iko Uwais) is instructed to hang back during a covert mission involving the extraction of a brutal crime lord from a rundown fifteen-story apartment block. But when a spotter blows their cover, boss Tama (Ray Sahetaphy) offers lifelong sanctuary to every killer, gangster, and thief in the building in exchange for their heads. Now Rama must stand in for the team’s fallen leader (Joe Taslim) and use every iota of his fighting strength – winding through every floor and every room to complete the mission and escape with his life. The Raid showcases the traditional Indonesian martial art Pencak Silat, with fight choreography by Uwais and Yayan Ruhian.

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DRAGON BLADE arrives on Blu-ray and DVD from 14^th March 2016, courtesy of Signature Entertainment