film reviews, interviews, features | BRWC

Author: Alton Williams

  • Saliba Edition: Bits & Pieces

    Saliba Edition: Bits & Pieces

    Saliba Edition: Bits & Pieces – Netflix and Universal Pictures are proud to present Tom Hanks starring in News of the World, a moving story written and directed by Paul Greengrass, reuniting for the first time with his star from their 2013 Best Picture nominee Captain Phillips. 

    Vertigo Releasing is proud to announce the release of PVT CHAT from writer, director, and Bodega front-man Ben Hozie (Annunciation; The Lion’s Den). The film stars Peter Vack (Love Life; Mozart In The Jungle), Julia Fox (Uncut Gems) andBuddy Duress (Good Time; Heaven Knows What), and will be released on 12th February 2021.

    Arrow Video is excited to announce the first wave of the February 2021 lineup of their new subscription-based ARROW platform, now also available to UK subscribers, joining the US and Canada. Building on the success of the Arrow Video Channel and expanding its availability across multiple devices and countries, ARROW boasts a selection of cult classics, hidden gems and iconic horror films, all passionately curated by the ARROW team.

    Anthony is 80, mischievous, living defiantly alone and rejecting the carers that his daughter, Anne, encouragingly introduces. Yet help is also becoming a necessity for Anne; she can’t make daily visits anymore and Anthony’s grip on reality is unravelling. As we experience the ebb and flow of his memory, how much of his own identity and past can Anthony cling to? How does Anne cope as she grieves the loss of her father, while he still lives and breathes before her? The Father warmly embraces real life, through loving reflection upon the vibrant human condition; heart-breaking and uncompromisingly poignant – a movie that nestles in the truth of our own lives.

    Eureka Entertainment to release STRAIGHT SHOOTING & HELL BENT: TWO FILMS BY JOHN FORD, two early films from the greatest Western director of all time, on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK as part of The Masters of Cinema Series from 19 April 2021. Both features presented on Blu-ray from 4K restorations with a Limited-Edition O-Card Slipcase (First Print Run of 2000 copies) and reversible sleeve artwork.

    Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began.

    In the not too distant future, Todd Hewitt (Tom Holland) discovers Viola (Daisy Ridley), a mysterious girl who crash lands on his planet, where all the women have disappeared and the men are afflicted by “the Noise” – a force that puts all their thoughts on display. In this dangerous landscape, Viola’s life is threatened – and as Todd vows to protect her, he will have to discover his own inner power and unlock the planet’s dark secrets.

    Republic Film Distribution are delighted to announce the release of RARE BEASTS, the directorial debut of Billie Piper, across the UK and Ireland on 7th May 2021, in cinemas and on select digital platforms. The film received its world premiere in Critics Week at the Venice Film Festival before going to play the London Film Festival and SXSW.

    Strap yourself in for hard-hitting action this March with Silent Action, the explosive and provocative crime saga from Sergio Martino, the legendary Italian filmmaker behind giallo classics Torso, The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh and All the Colours of the Dark. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS1n2UDqYzU&feature=youtu.be

    A legendary artist at a legendary location: Tripping with Nils Frahm captures one of the world’s most sought-after live acts performing at one of Berlin’s most iconic buildings.

    Inspired by true events, featuring a stunning performance from James Norton (Happy Valley, War & Peace, McMafia) and a heart-warming debut by Daniel Lamont, NOWHERE SPECIAL follows a thirty-five-year-old window cleaner, John, who has dedicated his life to bringing up his son after the child’s mother left them soon after giving birth.

    Always feeling like they have to say NO to their kids and co-workers, Allison and Carlos decide to give their three kids a YES DAY — where for 24 hours the kids make the rules. Little did they know that they’d be going on a whirlwind adventure around Los Angeles, that would bring the family closer to each other than ever before.

  • Number 1 Comeback On The Official Film Chart!

    Number 1 Comeback On The Official Film Chart!

    Number 1 Comeback On The Official Film Chart! – The Greatest Showman enjoys a fresh surge of popularity in the UK, as it swoops back to Number 1 on the Official Film Chart – for the first time in over two years.

    Notching up the highest digital tally of the week, the record-breaking film returns to the Official Film Chart Top spot for the first time since January 2019. Data from the Official Charts Company recently revealed The Greatest Showman has sold over 3.27 million copies across disc and digital, and lays claim to the most weeks on the Top 40 in Film Chart history with 109 non-consecutive weeks, 32 of which have been spent in the Top 10.

    Meanwhile at Number 2 is this week’s highest new entry Saint Maud. This unnerving Horror stars Morfydd Clark as the eponymous nurse Maud, who makes it her purpose to save her terminally ill patient’s soul from eternal damnation. Flying back up the chart and landing at Number 3 is 1997 sci-fi classic The Fifth Element, whilst Godzilla: King of the Monsters (4) continues to enjoy a stint in the Top 5 ahead of the release of Godzilla vs. Kong next month.

    Further down, Black Panther zooms 24 places this week to Number 6 following the release of a new 4K SteelBook edition of the film. It lands just ahead of last week’s Number 1, Bill & Ted Face The Music at 7. Finally, Trolls World Tour rebounds into the Top 10 at Number 10, its highest chart placing since early December.

    This week’s Official Film Chart online show features a preview of Alec Baldwin in irish Comedy-Drama Pixie, available to Download & Keep from 15 February.

    Now, as well as OfficialCharts.com, the Official Film Chart can also be found on FindAnyFilm.com – the ultimate site for Film and TV fans to discover all the legal ways to buy the entertainment they want on disc and digital formats.

    The Official Film Chart Top 10 – 10th February 2021

    LWPosTitleLabel
    21THE GREATEST SHOWMAN20TH CENTURY FOX HE
    NEW2SAINT MAUDSTUDIOCANAL
    RE3THE FIFTH ELEMENTSTUDIOCANAL
    34GODZILLA – KING OF THE MONSTERSWARNER HOME VIDEO
    55ROALD DAHL’S THE WITCHESWARNER HOME VIDEO
    306BLACK PANTHERMARVEL FILMS
    17BILL & TED FACE THE MUSICWARNER HOME VIDEO
    78SPIDER-MAN – FAR FROM HOMESONY PICTURES HE
    69TENETWARNER HOME VIDEO
    1110TROLLS WORLD TOURDREAMWORKS ANIMATION

    © Official Charts Company 2021

    VIEW THE FULL TOP 40 – https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/film-chart/

  • Interview: Chris Bell On The Heiress

    Interview: Chris Bell On The Heiress

    Ahead of the UK Digital release of THE HEIRESS on March 15, 2021, director Chris Bell talks about familial horror influences, his South London ‘hooligangster’ phase and learning new lockdown skills.

    How did you get the idea for THE HEIRESS?

    Chris: I was in my local library when I came across a painting. The artist was a local lady. I was drawn to this eerie artwork and I knew I had to meet her. When we did meet I told her that I was going to write a film inspired by this painting. Not only that but I promised to feature her in the movie – and I did just that. 

    Myself, alongside Danny and Kelly Prescott, created the script for what became The Heiress. I’d arranged a meeting with producer Jezz Vernon, whom I had recently worked with on another movie. We pitched the script to him and from there he came on board.

    How would you describe the film? 

    The Heiress is high concept horror that charts the story of four generations of a rural British family dominated by the female line. These women have been gifted an unusual supernatural patron who over the generations has become deeply possessive of them. The patron – an aggressive spirit loosely based on the ancient myth of Lilith – wants to protect them from ‘man’, but modernity has suffocated her mythology in the present generation of the female line, and we come to understand that her maternal dominance and hatred of men is now destroying the lives of the youngest women in the family. 

    The cast absolutely smashed the roles and the crew made the visuals exactly how we imagined the film to look like. It was a 100% team effort and I’m so proud of everyone who worked on it.

    It’s a very contemporary horror film, rooted in familial dysfunction. What was the influence behind that?

    Chris: My first question to myself was: “What scared me as a child?” This isn’t something I’ve spoken about before but here goes…It wasn’t a scary movie or a monster in the closet but hearing the screams from my father’s epileptic seizures. I can remember being a toddler and diving under the covers when I heard these screams. For those that have ever witnessed someone having a seizure would know how frightening they are. I knew that this would HAVE to be the subplot to this story. I also wanted to know what would happen if you told your family, doctor, priest etc. “I’m seeing things”..!

    For me, it was also a family movie. By this I mean my family were involved, I had my three kids on screen and my wife running the catering. We even shot some scenes inside my mum’s house! (after we took our shoes off).

    Any scary stories during filming?

    Yes! We had the odd lights flicker and doors slam! All have logical explanations but as this is an interview for a horror movie I will say it was definitely ghosts

    You began life as an actor. What kicked it off for you? 

    Chris: I was around fourteen years old in the mid to late nineties at a secondary school in London. I was passionate about Drama. My drama teacher always thought of me as the class clown who didn’t take much very seriously. For me this lesson was an escape. It was the first time I realised I could use this time as an escape from my parent’s divorce. It’s an escape skill which I carry to this day. I mean can you think of another job where you can go to work and cry, laugh and be whoever the hell you want to be for that split second? You see an actor on TV crying and you clap. As performers we see something very different. 

    Do you remember your first role? 

    Oh yes. I auditioned for a part in the school pantomime “Aladdin”. Naturally I wanted to play the lead but I was told I wasn’t good enough. I then noticed a character that I wasn’t familiar with – The Ring Genie. I asked my drama teacher if I could audition and she laughed and said “I don’t think this would be right for you dear”. I then heard someone say that this character needed to be very flamboyant and camp. It was only from watching The Birdcagethat I actually knew what these characteristics meant. I remember walking out onto that stage, arms out with the biggest swag I could do. I made Julian Clary look butch! Needless to say I got offered the part. 

    Besides acting, you’ve produced, directed and written a number of films and have said your South-East London upbringing inspired you to create some ‘hooligangster’ films. Can you elaborate?

    Chris: It was pretty rough growing up in South East. When I look back, we got into some minor mischief but nothing to the degree of what I have portrayed on screen. 

    My first film, Three Stops Down From Plaistow (2013), was shot on the streets of Bermondsey. We had no money, we were just a bunch of pals playing with a camera and some crazy ideas. Little did I know back then that the film would end up on the shelves of HMV and get overdubbed in several countries.

    I remember being asked at the premiere of Essex Boys: Law of Survival, which I wrote the story for, what I’d do if my wife was killed in real life like in the film. I think she was hoping I’d say “round up the troops and go after the bad guys”. I don’t think she was expecting me to say “Call the Police”.

    It was fun making those films – there was also Hooligans at War – North vs South (2015) and I am Hooligan (2016), but I don’t think I’ll be returning to that genre any time soon. I think people have seen enough football associated violence and shotgun wielding hard men.

    How did you get into directing?

    Like many actors I watched directors at work and thought: “how hard can that be”? Little did I know that it meant being the first to arrive on set and the last to leave. I think actors make good directors because they’ve been there. They know the pressures and how to get into an actors mind and how not to f*** with their brain. I say this as it only takes a second for someone to break your character and your’re screwed. You think ghosts are scary? You should meet an actor with the hump!!!

    I think it was always in me. When I look back as a child playing with my action figures, I was directing my toys. I would have a story in my mind like Action Man fights the Terminator to win April from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You may think I’m crazy but how many times have you heard a builder say that as a child he was obsessed with Lego or a chef saying how much they took to cooking as a child. Sometimes you can look back and just see things that were always there.

    How are you coping with lockdown?

    Chris: I’m trying to keep as busy as possible. Doing lots with the family and also working on some new material. I’ve invested in a tripod as self-tapes are now the way forward for many castings and auditions. I think Mrs Bell finally got the hump with me asking her to hold the camera every time my agent got me a casting. All I need to do now is work out how to use the bloody thing! I’ve learnt some new skills, namely ZOOM and SKYPE. Danny and I are still writing together and sharing ideas.

    Finally, what’s next for you?

    Well, writer and co-collaborator Danny Prescott and I have a few projects on the go. All on hold due to the pandemic but we have the words on paper. We can’t really say much other than we have a thriller in development which is inspired by true events and will be rather disturbing. Oh, and a little six part sitcom for TV.

    Chris Bell’s THE HEIRESS will be available to download from all major platforms including iTunes, Amazon & SKY Box Office, from Monday 15th March, 2021.

  • London Critics Name Nomadland Film Of 2020

    London Critics Name Nomadland Film Of 2020

    London Critics Name Nomadland Film Of 2020 – The improvised American road movie Nomadland won three top honours including Film of the Year, at the 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, which were held in a virtual ceremony on Sunday night. The film’s lead Frances McDormand was named Actress of the Year, while writer-director Chloé Zhao won Screenwriter of the Year. Acclaimed British dramatic horror Saint Maud also won three awards: British/Irish Film of the Year, British/Irish Actress of the Year for Morfydd Clark, and Breakthrough British/Irish Filmmaker for writer-director Rose Glass.

    Double London Critics winners included Sarah Gavron’s London coming-of-age drama Rocks, with lead actress Bukky Bakray named Young British/Irish Performer of the Year and Lucy Pardee given the Technical Achievement Award for casting. Steve McQueen was presented with Director of the Year for his five Small Axe films, while Shaun Parkes won Supporting Actor of the Year for the first drama in the collection, Mangrove. Riz Ahmed was named British/Irish Actor of the Year for his work in Sound of Metaland Mogul Mowgli. And the short that Ahmed wrote, produced and starred in, The Long Goodbye directed by Aniel Karia, was named British/Irish Short Film of the Year.

    The late Chadwick Boseman won Actor of the Year for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and his award was accepted in a moving video message from costar Coleman Domingo. Maria Bakalova also appeared virtually to accept Supporting Actress of the Year for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. In addition, Alexander Nanau’s journalistic documentary Collective won Documentary of the Year, while Thomas Vinterberg’s alcohol-infused black comedy Another Round was named Foreign-Language Film of the Year.

    “As always, the critics have spread the love around among a range of films this year, particularly recognising female filmmakers and a diverse range of talent both behind and in front of the cameras,” said Film Section Chair Rich Cline. “This year, our 160 members watched an unusually large number of films, both theatrical and streaming releases, and they’ve sifted out the best of the best for our awards. We look forward to holding a party in-person, and of course getting back into cinemas, as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

    The event was held on the Critics’ Circle’s YouTube channel for the first time, with awards presented by member critics who serve on the event’s organising committee and acceptance videos from almost all of the winners. An in-person celebration with nominees and winners is planned for later in the year along with long-time sponsors The May Fair Hotel and Audi.

    Full list of winners:

    FILM OF THE YEAR
    Nomadland

    FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
    Another Round

    DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
    Collective

    The Attenborough Award:
    BRITISH/IRISH FILM OF THE YEAR
    Saint Maud

    DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
    Steve McQueen – Small Axe

    SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
    Chloé Zhao – Nomadland

    ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
    Frances McDormand – Nomadland

    ACTOR OF THE YEAR
    Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
    Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

    SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR
    Shaun Parkes – Mangrove

    BRITISH/IRISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR (for body of work)
    Morfydd Clark – Eternal Beauty, Saint Maud

    BRITISH/IRISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR (for body of work)
    Riz Ahmed – Mogul Mowgli, Sound of Metal

    The Philip French Award:
    BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH/IRISH FILMMAKER
    Rose Glass – Saint Maud

    YOUNG BRITISH/IRISH PERFORMER
    Bukky Bakray – Rocks

    BRITISH/IRISH SHORT FILM
    The Long Goodbye

    TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
    Rocks – Lucy Pardee, casting

    NB. Small Axe is a collection of five films: Alex Wheatle; Education; Lovers Rock; Mangrove; Red, White and Blue.

  • Arrow Is Ready For Lift-Off In The UK!

    Arrow Is Ready For Lift-Off In The UK!

    Arrow Is Ready For Lift-Off In The UK! – February​ sees the launch of ​ARROW​ – a superb new streaming site for exclusive film premieres, cult and arthouse classics,​ and critically acclaimed TV from all over the world. It’s an absolute must for connoisseurs of the finest in screen entertainment.

    ARROW​’s new UK subscription video-on-demand service brings their passion-driven approach to deliver an incredible line-up of titles, hand-picked and curated by the ​ARROW​ team,

    including cult classic ​DONNIE DARKO​, a season of films from director Lars Von Trier (including ANTICHRIST​ and ​THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT​), Park Chan-Wook’s ​OLDBOY​, Spanish chiller [REC]​, David Cronenberg’s ​CRASH​, and the ​HELLRAISER​ trilogy.

    ARROW​ will also strive to debut the very best in new releases each month, with the exclusive world premiere of Adam Stovall’s festival smash-hit ​A GHOST WAITS​ this February. New titles already available include the extraordinary documentary ​THE EL DUCE TAPES ​and slow-burn horror standouts ​THE BLOODHOUND ​and​ AFTER MIDNIGHT​. Future debuts will see the exclusive premiere of the sensationally shocking ​THE STYLIST ​in March, whilst must-see film documentary ​CLAPBOARD JUNGLE​ will debut on the platform in April.

    Expanding beyond the Arrow Video label, ​ARROW​ will feature the very best international cinema and TV, such as Giuseppe Tornatore’s ​CINEMA PARADISO​, and outstanding crime series GOMORRAH ​and ​THE BRIDGE​; as well as brand-new short films from upcoming filmmakers, original ​ARROW​ productions, and curated seasons. ​ARROW​’s ​Digital Deluxe​ editions include rarely-seen and newly-created extras and exclusive interviews, to give audiences a deeper enjoyment of the films they love, while ​ARROW Essentials​ makes navigating through the world of ARROW much easier with collections based on genre, decades and theme; and ​ARROW Stories​ takes a fresh look at the world of film and TV with exclusive documentaries, interviews and video essays digging deeper into the many curated seasons and titles on the platform for a much richer and deeper viewing experience.

    https://youtu.be/lLSIlV0Q0Z0

    With a slickly-designed and user-friendly interface, and an unparalleled roster of quality content from westerns to giallo to Asian cinema, trailers, Midnight Movies, filmmaker picks and much much more, ​ARROW ​is ​the​ place to go for the very best in on-demand entertainment.

    Where to get it

    Try the alternative – head over to ​ARROW​ ​and start your 30-day free trial. Available in the UK from February 1st 2021 on the following Apps/devices: Roku (all Roku sticks, boxes, devices, etc), Apple TV; iOS devices, Android TV and mobile devices, Fire TV (all Amazon Fire TV Sticks, boxes, etc), and on all web browsers here.

    Subscriptions are available for £4.99 monthly or £49.99 annually

    Arrow Is Ready For Lift-Off In The UK!