film reviews, interviews, features | BRWC

Author: BRWC

  • Love Gets Better With Age

    Love Gets Better With Age

    John Galsworthy once said, “Love has no age, no limit; and no death.”  In honour of the DVD release of Ruth & Alex, 28 September courtesy of Signature Entertainment, we are going to take a look at five movies that tell stories of older couples who have fiercely loved through the years, heartache, joys and trails life brings.

    RUTH & ALEX

    Romantic comedy and real-world satire collide when Hollywood heavyweights Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton unite to redefine the term ‘coming of age’ in RUTH & ALEX. When Ruth (Keaton) and Alex (Freeman) first moved to Brooklyn, it was the 1970s — years before gentrification, and years before they would realise that they won’t always be physically able to climb several flights of stairs just to get home. Still highly active, yet feeling the undeniable effects of age, the couple opts to put their apartment on the market, and over one crazy weekend they discover that finding a new apartment is not about winding down but starting a whole new adventure! Directed by Richard Loncraine and with hilarious performances from a brilliant supporting cast, including Cynthia Nixon and Carrie Preston RUTH & ALEX is a heart-warming coming of age story about life, love and real estate!

    IT’S COMPLICATED

    It’s Complicated is a story nothing short of its title. When Jane (Meryl Streep) falls into a secret affair with her ex-husband of ten years, Jake (Alec Baldwin) the couple viciously works to keep their romantic relationship a secret from their three children and Jake’s much younger wife, Agness. It is not until the two attend their son Luke’s college graduation that the real trouble begins. The story follows the twisted trail of events that follow along with the stress that comes with carrying out such a unique affair.

    SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE

    It’s never too late to find true love—even with someone you would never expect. Despite being in his 60’s, Harry (Jack Nicholson), has a record of only dating women under 30. This includes his latest girlfriend, Marin. The couple decides to holiday alone at her mother’s beach house in the Hamptons, but instead are surprised by Marin’s mother, Erica, (Diane Keaton) and her aunt, Zoe. After Harry experiences an unexpected heart-attack the doctor encourages him to stay around the area for a few days. Meaning, he would be staying with Erica. The two have conflicting personalities, which leads to an awkward living arrangement, but the more time they spend together, the more they realise opposites do attract.

    THE FACE OF LOVE

    When Nikki (Anette Bening) tragically loses her husband, Garret (Ed Harris), in a drowning accident she struggles to get on with her life. Until she visits an art gallery and sees a man whose resemblance to her late-husband is uncanny. She later identifies the mysterious man as a local college professor named Tom (Harris).  The two eventually become involved in a romantic relationship, whilst she tries to keep a secret from her family and friends, who would recognize the eerie resemblance.

    HOPE SPRINGS

    Sometimes all you need is a little hope to reignite the spark. Hope Springs tells the story of Kay and Arnold Soames (Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones), a faithfully devoted couple who have not slept in the same bed for years. Kay, realising their relationship is in jeopardy, signs the couple up for a week of intense marriage counselling in Maine, but Arnold denies anything is awry. The story follows the couple on the good, bad and awkward moments of falling in love all over again.

    RUTH & ALEX arrives on DVD from September 28, 2015, courtesy of Signature Entertainment

  • Legend: The BRWC Review

    Legend: The BRWC Review

    By Robert Andrews.

    Since the likes of Snatch and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, British gangster movies have more often than not failed to spark new life into the genre, relying on weak plot lines, two dimensional stereotypical characters and an orgy of both violence and foul mouthed cockney tongue. Whilst Legend certainly exceeds the usually low quality of recent British gangster flicks, unfortunately regardless of the magnificent performance(s) from Tom Hardy, the film suffers from common problems associated with the genre and at times appears to forget that it is in fact a gangster movie and not a dull lacklustre love story.

    That is not to say that Legend is without its merits. Whilst the film holds up well on a visual level with elements of costume, locations and lemon sherbets contributing to the creation of a crisp 1960’s image, unsurprisingly, as is often the case with projects associated with Tom Hardy, it is the lead actor’s performances that truly elevates the quality of the final product. His portrayal of both Ronnie and Reggie Kray is reminiscent of both the comedic and dark qualities embodied in his earlier performance of Charles Bronson, as Hardy regularly provides a frequent stream of comedic excerpts, whilst at times demonstrating a dark and twisted mind set. The image of Ronnie arguing with Reggie and subsequently Hardy arguing with Hardy remains fresh in the memory long after exiting the cinema and is evidently just another example of the unrivalled quality Hardy brings to the table film after film regardless of genre. Cockney powered insults so elegantly roll off of Hardy’s tongue to the desired effect, as even when words are absent Hardy’s body language alone (especially in terms of Ronnie’s portrayal) indicates more about characterisation than any amount of dialogue could manage. Whilst both Kray Twin’s occupy differing roles in the story with Ronnie more often than not posing as an antagonistic force to protagonist Reggie, Hardy’s performances will undoubtedly be the key talking point when discussions are raised regarding the merit of the film as a whole due to his ability to adapt so well to both roles.

    With such a memorable duo of performances from an actor at the height of his popularity, I can’t help but feel that his acting efforts, as well as the efforts behind the camera in order to accurately duplicate Hardy on screen, are wasted when it comes to the film’s plot. The plot feels loose, like a wonder in the woods, unsure of the destination we the audience are heading towards. The reason for this I believe lies in one key issue. The Kray’s are gangsters. Legend is a gangster film. Yet the criminal endeavours of the Kray’s and the activities which justify their title as ‘Gangsters’ are widely unexplored. Story lines relating to this (most notably the Las Vegas deal) are set up and aren’t really paid off in the sense that the incident becomes forgotten when the film is attending to its other plot lines. Whilst the foundations are there to explore the Kray’s gangster endeavours, it becomes very apparent approximately half an hour into the film that the story will be hindered and ultimately consumed by a dull love story, void of any complexity that could separate it from any other love story in films of this type. Unfortunately this doomed tale of love consumes the plot up until the point where by the female lead played by Emily Browning provides a voice over as a means of unnecessary exposition, telling us what characters feel and think when we could so easily interpret this for ourselves. With so many interesting narrative directions that ultimately go unexplored, especially the detioriating relationship between the two gangster twins, the dominating and less interesting  romantic subplot occupies too much screen time better spent on other more pressing and more importantly ‘gangster’ related plot lines.

    Unfortunately this problem as aforementioned has major implications for other areas of the film’s narrative and ultimately proves to be the film’s downfall in terms of living up to the hype prior to its release. That is not to say the film is without enjoyment, as certainly Tom Hardy’s performances alone assures audiences of cinematic pleasure. It is just a matter of a dull love sub-plot dominating the film’s gangster proceedings that prevents Legend from rising to the heights that it had the potential to reach.

  • Book Review: Star Wars FAQ By Mark Clark

    Book Review: Star Wars FAQ By Mark Clark

    By Andy Swidenbank.

    This unauthorised guide to the miscellany and minutiae of the creation of Star Wars makes for an interesting and amusing read.

    Star Wars is the definition of a phenomenon. Arguably the most significant pop culture movement ever created, it has spawned am intimidatingly vast universe of stories and products. How then, is there room for yet anotherbook on the subject? Mark Clark’s book, Star Wars FAQ fits in to little niche that allows it to justify its existence, dealing with random facts and explanations about the production and universe created by the original movie trilogy. Did you know that Darth Vader body-actor David Prowse was so miffed that his strong West Country accent wasn’t being used to voice cinema’s most iconic villain that he started deliberately messing up his lines, changing words like ‘asteroids’ to ‘haemorrhoids? Or that George Lucas and The Empire Strikes Back writer Lawrence Kasdan wrote multiple fake scenes to keep the cast and crew in the dark so that plot details wouldn’t leak? Well now you do.
    Clark’s book is a treasure trove of little details, designed to be picked up and dipped in to on any page. As the author himself notes in the foreword, the book isn’t really an FAQ (it follows in a line of …FAQ books, of which he has written two on Star Wars’ perennial media rival, Star Trek). The chapters move on in chronological order from 1977’s A New Hope, taking in all facets of the Star Wars juggernaut including merchandise, production and spin offs.
    It benefits the read that LucasFilm and Disney have no involvement here, as Clark digs in to some Star Wars history that the corporate monoliths would rather forget. A whole chapter dedicated to the ill advised ‘what-were-they-thinking-athon’ Star Wars Holiday Special is particularly entertaining, walking us through the slow-motion car crash variety show that Lucas has disowned entirely.
    Clark is clearly a fan, punctuating the prose with personal experiences and opinions, and he’s not afraid to offer some gentle criticism. The book is packed with intriguing tidbits and some interesting photos including a frankly startling image of Margaret Thatcher standing next Darth Vader and two Stormtrooper sentries – we’ve always wondered what it would be like if one of the most evil figures in living memory met a Sith Lord.
    You’d be forgiven for thinking there was nothing left to be written about the most remarkable movie trilogy in film history, but Mark Clark’s tome is a worthy addition to the bookcase-creaking collection of Star Wars literature. Whether there’s anything left to write after this is another question. It’s not like there’s anything new coming out soon, is there?
  • Tenerife: Europe’s Most Versatile Filming Location

    Tenerife: Europe’s Most Versatile Filming Location

    The fifth instalment in the Bourne series has begun filming in Tenerife (http://www.webtenerife.co.uk/tenerifefilm/), using Santa Cruz de Tenerife – the island’s capital – as Athens.  The highly renowned thriller series, starring Matt Damon, is by no means the first Hollywood blockbuster to have used Tenerife as a filming location.

    Other notable films to have used Tenerife’s striking scenery as a backdrop include Fast & Furious 6 – the 50th highest-grossing film of all time – and the Clash of the Titans and Wrath of the Titans films, which were huge box-office successes.

    The island is also a popular destination for commercial filming and stills shooting.  Iconic brands such as Audi, BMW, Halifax, Lamborghini, Louis Vuitton and Swarovski – among many more – have all used Tenerife as a backdrop to their campaigns.

    What draws world-leading brands and film production companies to Tenerife (http://www.webtenerife.co.uk/tenerifefilm/about-tenerife/why-tenerife/) – one of seven islands in an isolated archipelago almost 200 miles from the African coast?

    1. Exceptional and varied filming locations

    In an area of just over 2,000km2 (slightly larger than Greater London), Tenerife has a huge range of potential film settings.  The island has deserts, subtropical forests and volcanic areas, historic cities and avant-garde architecture, black sand beaches and breath-taking cliffs.  There are two UNESCO World Heritage sites in Tenerife: the Teide National Park– containing the world’s third-largest volcano – and San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a colonial city founded at the end of the fifteenth century.

    1. Excellent transport links

    Although its landscape and weather are unlike those found in Europe, Tenerife’s relative proximity makes it an attractive film destination.  Only a two-and-a-half hour flight from Madrid and four hours from other major European cities and with the same time zone as the UK, Ireland and Portugal, it is very close to Europe.

    1. Experienced professionals

    Tenerife has a healthy local film industry.  Whether actors, extras, producers or equipment is needed, the Tenerife Film Commission (www.tenerifefilm.com) helps to connect foreign production companies with the best local talent.

    1. A film-friendly island

    Having welcomed many film, television and commercial production companies to the island, Tenerife’s government and residents have earned a reputation for being film-friendly.  For example, a section of newly-built motorway was made available to the makers of Fast & Furious 6.

    1. Consistently good weather

    Tenerife’s latitude and its position in the Atlantic mean that it enjoys 3,000 hours of sunshine a year (an average of eight hours and fifteen minutes a day) and average temperatures of 23°C. This makes it ideal for outdoor filming.

    1. Unbeatable tax incentives

    Tenerife is in the Special Canary Zone, which means that businesses pay 4% corporation tax, compared to a European average of 25%.  On top of this, foreign producers can qualify for a 35% tax rebate if they invest at least €1 million in the Canary Islands and hire a local production company.

    1. Brilliant accommodation and service infrastructure

    Tenerife’s hotels are regarded some of the best in Europe, and it has 75,000 beds at three, four and five-star establishments.

  • First Impressions: The Witch 

    First Impressions: The Witch 

    By Ryan De La Rosa.

    Now that it’s Fall, and the air is getting crisp, staying inside seems to be a bit more acceptable. While we never fully avoid going to the flicks or checking out what’s new on Netflix, it does seem like a better time of year to lay on the couch, grab a beverage, and begin the horror fest as we countdown the days to Hallows Eve. What better way to revisit classics like Evil Dead and The Shining?

    Although we don’t have to dig for the classics during this time, it does seem preferable. Horror, in my opinion, has been a less than great genre for the last few years. This year seems to be slightly different, and one film studio, A24, is what’s changing my opinion. And they’ve done it with a series of great films, and now, just a preview for The Witch.

    The Witch (stylized as The VVitch, for some reason) seems like it could be one of the best horror films to come about in recent memory.  Director Robert Eggers doesn’t really have much under his belt though. So who has the guile to believe he’s the next big thing in horror.

    Firstly, we need to discuss the importance of a horror soundtrack. Flashback to Zombi 2. That’s correct, I’m talking about the 1979 basically B-movie horror film that was originally proposed as a non-cannon sequel to Dawn of the Dead. The soundtrack makes this film. It’s one of the cheesiest splatter-fest grind houses that insinuate zombies originated in the African jungle.  But the Saving grace actually comes from Director Lucio Fulci in the form of a soundtrack.  I’d bet that VVitch actually has a great soundtrack too, and can only help to aim this movie toward greatness.

    I state this with confidence because the composer working on the Witch worked on a great sci-fi film in the past, called Cube. Though the film features low budget early Sci-Fi Channel original production, the concept and the follow through make it worth revisiting, if you’ve never seen it. In short, Cube is about a device that shifts many rooms about in geometric patterns as a trap for groups of (basically) reality show contestants. Think Saw meets rubix cube: the movie.

    Drawing form Director of The Witch

    Drawing from Director of The Witch, Source – http://roberteggers.com/

    Cube takes it’s horror element from the maze-driven insanity that it’s captives experience. The Witch will do something similar I believe. While the movie takes place just sixty years before the Salem Witch Trials, it focuses on the same kind of events. However, the witch-hunt only comes on when the family loses their main source of crops and begins to descend into domestic turmoil, trapped in their bad situation, they turn on each other.

    It’s these kind of psychological aspects to horror movies that are ultimately rewarding, if not for sheer terror, for their layers of density. This scenario combined with the terror of realism is what made The Babadook successful,combining motherhood stress and fear with inner psychotic turmoil.

    Perhaps we are in for a revolution in horror films where this is the trend.  Psychological manifestations take over and put people in a situation of horror. This surely makes the concept seem more frightening, as it can be uniquely real and seen through the eyes of the antagonist.

    Another haunting aspect of this film could be the use of time. We don’t know exactly when the film is taking place. This seemed to be one for the winning factors for the recent horror expose ‘It Follows’. The director took you in a little deeper by never fully stating what time period the film was supposed to take place, and that technique only adds to the sense of claustrophobia the viewer enjoys.

    image2

    Source – https://www.bookbyte.com/product.aspx?isbn=9781515057260

    If you have any reservations about checking out this film it’s pretty recommended you read the feedback on rotten tomatoes, which features plenty of fresh reviews from the film’s premiere at Sundance. Although it appears the film will be missing us this October, and that’s a big shame because a later release might just miss the desired market altogether. Before too late we might be seeing a flux of movies with this style. While The Witch seems like it could be before its time, let’s hope the red tape it’s production house is able to get the movie out soon.

    Ryan De La Rosa is counting down the days to Hallows Eve; follow him on twitter @fernsandmoss