The Fifth Element enters at Number 1 on the Official Film Chart following its release on 4K UHD for the first time. Starring Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman and Milla Jovovich the sci-fi adventure lands at Number 1 with 64% of its weekly sales tally made up of physical copies.
The film ends Trolls World Tour’s record-breaking reign of six weeks at Number 1, knocking the star-studded animated sequel to Number 3. Sonic the Hedgehog climbs back to Number 2. War epic 1917 drops to Number 4 while DC villains Joker and Harley Quinn and her Birds of Prey rise one place each to Numbers 5 and 6 respectively. Robert Downey Jnr’s Dolittle stumbles three steps to Number 7.
Sci-fi horror Deep Blue Sea 3 climbs nine places to Number 8, entering the Top 10 for the first time. Tania Raymonde stars as a marine biologist studying the effects of climate change with her team off the coast of Mozambique when they are confronted by three genetically enhanced Bull Sharks.
Following this weekend’s tragic news of the death of Chadwick Boseman, fans are reliving his outstanding performance in Black Panther, sending the 2018 Marvel film into the Top 10 for the first time at Number 9.
In the movie, following the loss of his father the King of Wakanda, T’Challa (Boseman), returns to the isolated but technologically advanced African nation to take his rightful place on the throne. However, when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa must convene his allies and realise the full power of his alter-ego Black Panther in order to secure the safety of his people.
Finally, former Number 1 Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker flies 23 places to return to the Top 10 following its limited edition SteelBook release.
This week’s Official Film Chart features a sneak peek at comedy drama Misbehaviour, which tells the true story of a group of women who plan to protest the 1970 Miss World beauty contest, and is available to buy on DVD from September 7.
The Official Film Chart Top 10 – 2nd September 2020
Like many highly anticipated movies in 2020, Black Widow’s standalone film has been delayed due to COVID-19. Although this means eager fans are having to wait until November to see one of their favorite superheroes in action, it also allows for an in-depth discussion of Black Widow and her now intergral role in the MCU. This is the approach taken by Clayburn Griffin and Nikhil Kasbekar, the hosts of the nerd-adjacent and superhero-focused podcast, We Understood That Reference. The first episode of their podcast is dedicated to the development of the Black Widow character.
Despite the fact that Black Widow is now a beloved avenger with an upcoming solo movie, Clayburn and Nikhil pose the question– was Black Widow always considered a good guy? The answer seems to be a complicated one as she was a grey character for awhile. Black Widow joined the Avengers Team in #29 of the Marve comics and actually started off as an Iron Man villain, which began her rise from antihero to good guy. Clayburn suggests that Black Widow’s character complexity also partially stems from the fact that she has always seemed very “S.H.I.E.L.D.-like.” He states: “She seems like a character that is not so much a superhero, but more of a company man.”
Black Widow’s initial introduction to the MCU seems to be due to her easy backstory as well as Marvel’s need for a female character to round out the Avengers. Now, she has become one of the most important avengers, especially considering her role in End Game with her self-sacrifice to save the whole universe.
It is also interesting to note that Black Widow’s integral role was not established by Marvel Comics, but rather Marvel Studios and its parent company Disney. In their Black Widow episode, Nikhil explains that the Wasp was a much bigger character in the comics and was a founding member of the avengers and really filled the female role that Black Widow occupies today. Black Widow’s role became more prominent because the superheroes chosen to be on screen by Marvel are actually based on who would sell the most action figures. Apparently, the Wasp didn’t cut it and Black Widow began her rise to fame.
When considering beloved superhero movies, it would be unfair to not acknowledge the actor who brings the character to life. That being said, it is undeniable that Scarlett Johansson elevates Black Widow herself and shares the responsibility of making her a household name, not only through her fame but also with her intriguing and compelling portrayal of the character.
If you would like to learn more about Black Widow’s evolution in anticipation of the upcoming film and consider more aspects of her character (like the development of her look and if the MCU has made good use of her skills as well as the ways she compare with other female icons) check out the We Understood That Reference podcast. They also cover superhero movies and comic book stuff in general. You can find them on their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. They’re all over the place!
Bella Thorne Edition: Bits & Pieces – Widow’s Point, Gregory Lamberson’s highly-anticipated, award-winning adaptation of the book of the same name, premieres on DVD and Digital in the USA and Canada September 1 via 101 Films. Craig Sheffer (A River Runs Through It, Nightbreed) leads the cast of the film, alongside KateLynn E. Newberry (Homecoming Revenge).
The powerful, timely thriller WATCH LIST, from Dark Star Pictures and Uncork’d Entertainment, arrives in virtual theaters friday before an On Demand release September 1. The film expands into more theaters August 28.
Since 1962, the name ‘007’ and ‘James Bond’ is one everyone in your household knows. The international man of mystery, the constant espionage of thrills and an agent who never encountered a villain he could not defeat. Over the years, many critics and Bond fans have ranked the success of each and every film and some have been criticised as not a true Bond film.
A raw and audacious fly-on-the-wall expose documentary on the life of a long-haul airline captain, DTF charts filmmaker Al Bailey, who follows a widowed airline pilot around the planet as he searches to find new love via the dating app Tinder. The well-intended quest spirals into a controversial cautionary tale of one man’s addictive and outlandish behavior in a bubble of vice and depravity that conflicts with his consummate professionalism.
David Blech wanted to be remembered for creating an industry that saves millions of lives. Instead, he finds himself $11 million dollars in debt, struggling to keep his family afloat and awaiting a jail sentence. Mental Illness and addiction are the powerful nemeses that threaten to bring down the one-time biotech titan as he races to develop a potential cure for Alzheimer’s Disease that could reverse his fortunes and rebuild his legacy.
Claire (Lena Olin) lives a quiet domestic life in the Hamptons as the wife of celebrated artist Richard Smythson (Bruce Dern). Once a promising painter herself, Claire now lives in the shadow of her husband’s illustrious career. While preparing work for his final show, Richard’s moods become increasingly erratic, and he is diagnosed with dementia. As his memory and behavior deteriorate, she shields his condition from the art community while trying to reconnect him with his estranged daughter and grandson from a previous marriage. Challenged by the loss of her world as she knew it, Claire must now decide whether to stand with Richard on the sidelines or step into the spotlight herself.
After waking up convinced that she is going to die tomorrow, Amy’s (Kate Lyn Sheil, You’re Next) carefully mended life begins to unravel. Following a visit from her initially pragmatic friend Jane (Jane Adams, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), it becomes clear that Amy’s delusions of certain death have become contagious to those around her. Amy and her friends’ lives begin to spiral out of control in a tantalising descent into madness.
Munro Films has confirmed the release of their insane, action packed thriller, Voodoo Apocalypse. The tribute to 70s grindhouse will be available on Digital Download from 9th November and will be available across iTunes, Amazon, Google, Microsoft with more to be confirmed.
Based on the inspiring true story of Virginia Walden Ford’s fight to create positive educational opportunities for African-American students in Washington D.C., Miss Virginia is a gripping drama about community empowerment with a powerhouse central performance from Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black).
Emily is a recovering cancer survivor of three years. Faced with her fear of getting sick again, her best friend Nina plans a weekend away. Six friends venture out to a country holiday house to party over a weekend. Cut off from the rest of the world they soon learn the inhabitants are unsettling red neck individuals who terrorize and humiliate travelers. At the same time a para-normal monster seen as the faceless man haunts the house pushing the friends to their limits.
Fueled with determination and a passion for science, a bright young girl builds a rocket ship to the moon to prove the existence of a legendary Moon Goddess. There she ends up on an unexpected quest, and discovers a whimsical land of fantastical creatures. Directed by animation legend Glen Keane, and produced by Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou, Over the Moon is an exhilarating musical adventure about moving forward, embracing the unexpected, and the power of imagination. The film stars Cathy Ang, Phillipa Soo, Ken Jeong, John Cho, Ruthie Ann Miles, Sandra Oh, Robert G. Chiu, Margaret Cho, and Kimiko Glenn.
Sky Cinema are excited to launch the official main trailer for The Secret Garden, a Sky original starring Colin Firth, Julie Walters and introducing Dixie Egerickx, who plays the beloved character Mary Lennox. Step into a magical world of nature and imagination whenThe Secret Garden comes to cinemas and Sky Cinema across the UK and Ireland on 23rd October.
Ahead of the FrightFest World premiere of DON’T CLICK, director G-Hey Kim talks about the challenges of making her debut feature
Your 2017 DON’T CLICK short was hugely successful on the festival circuit. Is that when you decided to expand it, or was that always the plan?
I never planned to extend my film because I never expected it to actually happen. Only a few short films have had the opportunity for a full feature version such as Saw(2004), Mama (2013) and Lights Out (2016). So I wasn’t expecting that my short film would ever get that chance. When I got a call from George Mihalka about creating a full length production of my film, I was very surprised and incredibly glad. From then on I began to think of my film as a full length feature
Was it difficult to think of ways to elongate the concept into feature length?
It would have been difficult without my amazing writer, Courtney. It’s hard to extend the plot of a short film without it dragging or feeling bloated. But Courtney was a fantastic writer. She understood the exact concept I was going for and knew the best way to get there. I enjoyed developing the story for the feature version with her.
Your executive producer is slasher royalty! How did you get George Mihalka (MY BLOODY VALENTINE) on board?
I may have had a bit of help in that regard, due to the fact that when I created my short film Don’t Click, it was as an assignment for a class that he was teaching. He was really impressed by the film and recommended I submit it to some festivals. He’s been a good mentor, helping me a lot to get this project off the ground. I’m so thankful I got the chance to work and learn from him.
Had you seen Valter Skarsgard in LORDS OF CHAOS? Did he jump at the chance to play Josh?
I hadn’t seen the film before his name was brought up during the casting meeting but after I had seen his work, I was convinced that he would be perfect for the role of Josh. We sent the script off to his agency and we were all incredibly pleased when word got back that he was interested. It was a huge relief because he was definitely the right person for the job.
You didn’t want to act in the feature like you did in the short?
Seeing as it was my first time as the director of a feature film, I wanted to make sure I was focused and wasn’t taking on more than I could handle. That’s why I decided to stay behind the camera this time as otherwise it could quickly become overwhelming. It turned out to be the right decision, but the experience that I had as an actor did come in handy while working on the feature film. It helped me to communicate with the actors, knowing what they were experiencing on the other side of the camera.
Websites, technology, the nasty side of the Internet, is DON’T CLICK a warning for our times?
Absolutely. Due to the ever evolving nature of technology and science, our lives are rapidly becoming more convenient. But we’re also facing new problems that we’ve never seen before, such as what I show in my film – the disconnection to criminal and pornographic violence when viewed over the Internet. It may feel like something that only happens in movies. But the online chatroom sex abuse case in South Korea was real. It’s time for us to really sit down and think about it.
What were the main challenges for you as director this time around?
As I mentioned before, it was my first time as a director of a feature film. I went from having a crew of 3 to having a crew of 45. It often made it difficult to communicate everything I needed to the right people. I made some mistakes, but luckily the crew I was working with were amazing people with lots of experience. They were experts in their fields and they always supported throughout the project. Not only the staff, but the actors were fantastic as well. The feature film is a well-made horror film thanks to their efforts, dedication, and passion.
The feature was shot in Canada and we are seeing so much talent emerging from that territory. Why is that, because it’s easier to fund genre pictures?
One of my favorite genres is horror. What I believe is that a director can make a film very well when he likes the genre and understands it fully. Ideas are popping up left and right and filmmakers here are clamoring to make them. Hopefully. this surge of talent continues, and helps Canada grow more and more on the global stage.
FrightFest is delighted to be hosting the World Premiere of DON’T CLICK at their virtual August event. What does that mean to you, and is it the perfect platform considering the subject matter?
Don’t Click is about the disconnect in the virtual world. So it’s meaningful to me to show it to the audience for the very first time through a virtual event. I think the audience may feel more scared watching at home alone on their laptop, just like the characters Josh and Zane did. They may find that on the internet, anyone can find themselves in Josh and Zane’s place.
Finally, what’s next for you?
The feature film Don’t Click was a great opportunity for me. I have learned a lot of things from it. I almost feel as though it were my first love. But now I need to think about my next step. I’ve been looking into making some short films and I’m currently shopping around some feature length scripts that I’m hoping will get picked up.
DON’T CLICK is showing online on Saturday 29 August, 8.45pm, in the Arrow Video Screen, as part of the Arrow Video FrightFest August Digital event.
The Crown Edition: Bits & Pieces – Budgeting fintech bank, thinkmoney, have uncovered the ‘real’ salaries of 14 of the wealthiest and most popular TV characters, before calculating the cost of their fictional homes to reveal which ones could truly afford their lifestyles. And, it appears, not all can…
An authentic extension of Katherine’s stand-up comedian stage persona, The Duchess explores the unique world view of a fashionably disruptive all-round bad person whose redeeming quality is that she’ll sacrifice everything to be a good parent. Olive is the love of Katherine’s life, and The Duchess wonderfully illuminates the intricacies of very modern and celebrated single motherhood in London.
An atmospheric, coming-of-age love story steeped in eerie mystery; a reimagining of Sheridan Le Fanu’s 19th century novella of the same name. 15-year-old Lara (Hannah Rae) lives with her father (Greg Wise) and her strict governess, Miss Fontaine (Jessica Raine), in total isolation and is struggling to find an outlet for her curiosity and burgeoning sexuality. When a carriage crash nearby brings a young girl into the family home to recuperate, Lara is enchanted by the eponymous Carmilla (Devrim Lingnau).
A small Texas town awakes when a high school wrestler gets involved with a drifter and her ruthless lover. Lives intertwine and spiral violently out of control once he becomes her escort driver and risks everything to save her.
Premiering on Demand August 28, this Australian horror film took home 6 major awards at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival including Best Director and Best Film.
Gutting the Sacred Cow is a unique movie podcast that takes a whole distinct look at the movie review genre. Each episode, hosts and comedians Kevin Gootee and Kevin Israel invite on a guest to “take down” a beloved, critically acclaimed, of a financially successful film – anyone can trash Friday the Thirteenth: Part VIII, but it takes some effort to go after Star Wars or The Godfather. There are tons of movie review podcasts and even more comedy podcasts, but Gutting the Sacred Cow combines the two with an original format and the sharp wit of its seasoned comedy hosts.
Filmmaker John Scheinfeld’s (Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary, The US vs John Lennon) documentary Herb Alpert Is… a passionate and inspiring exploration of Alpert’s personal and creative journey that reveals the critical events, experiences and challenges that have shaped an extraordinary life and instilled deep within the Grammy-winning trumpeter the desire to make a difference each and every day. Colleagues ranging from Questlove to Sting to Bill Moyers bring their unique voices and perspectives to telling this remarkable story.
Three childhood Kung Fu prodigies have grown into washed-up, middle-aged men – now one kick away from pulling their hamstrings. But when their master is murdered, they must juggle their dead-end jobs, dad duties, and overcome old grudges to avenge his death.
Eureka Entertainment to release Stephen King’s SLEEPWALKERS; a supernatural thriller about the small-town exploits of shape-shifting, incestuous, psychic vampires; on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK as part of the Eureka Classics range from 19 October 2020, featuring a Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase and Collector’s Booklet [First Print Run of 2000 copies ONLY].
Anime Limited is delighted to reveal that the hauntingly beautiful Children of the Sea, which features a score by legendary Studio Ghibli collaborator Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away), will headline the latest curated line-up of their Screen Anime online film festival from 25th August. This marks the first wide release of the film in the United Kingdom & Ireland, following appearances at film festivals such as Scotland Loves Anime, where it screened in competition.
After months of being closed due to lockdown, cinemas are back, rolling out the red carpet for audiences to experience the sheer joy of escaping for a couple of hours, leaving their everyday lives behind and enjoying a film in all its technicolour glory, asserting that now more than ever, stories need to be seen on the big screen.
Ahead of the upcoming release of David Attenborough:A Life On Our Planet, which will premiere in cinemas across the globe on Monday 28th September 2020, we are delighted to share the first official clip taken from the film.
Thomas Vernay’s Miss Chazelles shares the tale of a rivalry between two beauty queens and their families, only for things to take an unexpected turn. This live-action short has won many high profile Awards including the Best Drama Award at the 2019 Aesthetica Short Film Festival and the Best Actress Award (Megan Northam) at the 2020 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. It has been selected to be screen at the Oscar-qualifying Odense International Film Festival in August.
Having just completed another round of treatment for chronic anorexia, acclaimed war photographer Stephanie (Sian Brooke) is working hard to reconnect with her family. Her mother Susan (Amanda Burton) is supportive but preoccupied by her forthcoming wedding to Annette (Kazia Pelka). Meanwhile Stephanie’s teenage daughter, competitive swimmer Pearl (Fabienne Piolini-Castle), is angry and full of resentment, refusing to give her mother a second chance. Stephanie will need all her strength to keep her head above water.
Jeff Schneider’s captivating new horror film Evil Under the Skin, starring Helen Udy (My Bloody Valentine, The Dead Zone), arrives on DVD and Digital September 8.
Today, the powerful title track “Rising Phoenix” written and performed by George Dorman (known as georgetragic), Toni Hickman and Keith Jones, and written and produced by Daniel Pemberton is released on streaming services. The artists, who all have a disability, form part of the artist collective Krip Hop Nation. Krip Hop Nation is led by Leroy F Moore whose mission is to shine a light on the talent, history, rights and marketability of Hip-Hop artists and other musicians with disabilities – The Crown Edition: Bits & Pieces
