film reviews, interviews, features | BRWC

Author: Alton Williams

  • Chloe Moretz Is Kick Ass

    Actress Chloe Moretz endured months of demanding physical training for controversial new movie Kick-Ass – she had to perform 1,000 crunches every night and learn how to take apart a gun.

    The 13 year old was cast as assassin Hit Girl, a character who uses bad language throughout the movie and is seen savagely killing numerous villains.

    And to prepare for the physically intense role, Moretz learned martial arts and spent two months in a challenging training program, prompting co-star Aaron Johnson to dub her a “mini-Schwarzenegger”.

    She says, “Two months before the movie started I started training to be Hit Girl. I knew it was going to be physical, but I didn’t know it was going to be that physical. First I did basic training – how to take apart a gun and how to put it back together. I then did more technical training, like the bow staff and butterfly knife. They made me do 1,000 crunches a night and 50 pull-ups. I loved learning the martial arts moves. Learning to flip a butterfly knife was fun and challenging too.”

    But despite her role, Moretz is adamant she hates bloodthirsty films: “I would never want to see that kind of violence. I’m a chicken. I’m scared of spiders. I like romantic comedies. I’m totally a chick-flick girl.”

    © BRWC 2010.

  • Butler Bored Of His Own Face

    Gerard Butler is delighted his new animated movie How To Train Your Dragon has taken attention away from his role in The Bounty Hunter – because he’s fed up with seeing his face on posters promoting the action film.

    The Scottish actor’s turn as a bounty hunter received huge press attention after it was rumoured he was romancing his co-star Jennifer Aniston off screen.

    The pair laughed off the claims, insisting they are just pals – but Butler admits he’s tired of being subjected to tabloid speculation.

    And he’s pleased his new DreamWorks project, which topped the US box office charts at the weekend, has taken some of the media glare away from him.

    He explains, “I do admit that it’s got a little weird seeing my mug (face) everywhere. I have my face on posters and buses and I don’t need it on everything.

    “It has been a pleasure to go behind the scenes and be just the voice of a character. It’s good to lie low for a while.”

    © BRWC 2010.

  • Cemetery Junction Q&A

    April 12 at 5pm, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant will be sitting down LIVE with MySpace to answer your questions on the making of their first feature film, Cemetery Junction.

    © BRWC 2010.

  • Mike’s Kick Ass Review


    With No Power, Comes No Responsibility…

    When I was growing up, like any young boy, I had many fantasies and daydreams (some of which are probably not suitable to talk about here). One of those fantasies was to end up like my greatest role model, someone who enforces justice, puts the bad guys behind bars and does it all in a nifty suit.

    That person?… Columbo

    I also wanted to be a Super Hero.

    So, how come no one’s ever tried to be a Super Hero?

    Enter Kick Ass.

    Directed by Matthew Vaughn and based on a comic book series written by Mark Millar, Kick-Ass tells the story of Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a floppy haired high school teenager who spends most of his time being ignored by girls and masturbating to the tribes women of National Geographic. After being mugged, Dave decides to become a real life super hero, albeit one problem… he has no super powers. Way over his head, Kick-Ass inspires two other vigilantes, Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) & Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) and soon finds himself caught up in an increasingly violent blood feud with mob boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong).

    The film was everything I wanted, funny, gory and very well cast.

    Chris Hewitt from Empire Magazine says:
    “A ridiculously entertaining, perfectly paced, ultra-violent cinematic rush that kicks the places other movies struggle to reach.”

    To be honest, I find it hard to disagree!

    © BRWC 2010.

  • Claudia Winkleman Is Film 2010


    The very pretty Claudia Winkleman has been named as the new presenter of Film 2010, succeeding Jonathan Ross, the BBC has announced.

    The star, who currently has her own weekly arts show on BBC Radio 2, said: “I am completely over the moon about being given this enormous honour.”

    The long-running BBC One show, which started as Film 71, was presented by film critic Barry Norman for many years, with Ross taking over in 1999.

    TV presenter Winkleman will begin her new role in September.

    “Everyone has an opinion on film and I’m looking forward to debating the biggest news and releases with a whole variety of guests each week,” Winkleman said.

    “I am incredibly proud to be to be presenting the new look Film 2010. It’s an honour to follow on from the brilliant Jonathan Ross.

    “I have been lucky enough to cover the Baftas and present the UK broadcasts of the Oscars and the Golden Globes for years and now to be able to work with the producers on Film 2010 is just amazing.”

    She also explained that the format of the show would be changing slightly.

    “And also, just so people don’t panic, it’s not just me, because that would be horrifying. So it will be brilliant critics and all kinds of people sharing their knowledge, because I’m rubbish on horror.”

    © BRWC 2010.