Fifty Shades of Grey Finds Cast

Author E.L. James and Focus features have officially confirmed the cast of the much anticipated big screen adaptation of infamous erotic page turner Fifty Shades Of Grey.

Sons of Anarchy and Pacific Rim star Charlie Hunnam will be playing kinky billionaire heartthrob Christian Grey. Meanwhile model turned actress Dakota Johnson, the daughter of Melanie Griffiths and actor Don Johnson, will be playing precocious heroine Anastasia Steele. Johnson previously had roles in 21 Jump Street, The Social Network and short-lived sitcom Ben and Kate.

Fan reaction has been predictably mixed, with many lamenting the studios inevitable failure to cast their favourite man candy in the role, while other fans celebrate moving one step closer to seeing their fantasies becoming a big screen reality.

Check out our recent interview below with Charlie Hunnam on the red carpet at the Pacific Rim European premiere and let us know what you think about the casting news:

HBO Making Westworld TV Series

HBO are planning to produce a pilot for a new television series based on cult classic science fiction movie Westworld. The Dark Knight writer Jonathan Nolan is attached to write and direct the project with J.J. Abrams somehow finding time to produce.

The original 1973 film was written and directed by Michael Crichton, telling the story of visitors to a high tech historically themed amusement park who find themselves in real trouble when the android inhabitants malfunction. Yul Brynner famously played a homicidal robot cowboy and the film remains an iconic favourite for some fans.

A sequel Futureworld and a short lived 1980s attempt at a spin off TV series Beyond Westworld have also been made. Producer Jerry Weintraub had reportedly been fighting for over a decade for a big screen remake but has finally moved the project over to HBO for television.

About Time Review

The Plot:

When a young man learns an extraordinary family secret he discovers he has the ability to time travel and relive or even change the past. Exploring his newfound abilities he learns valuable lessons about life, love and family.

The Good:

Writer Director Richard Curtis is the undisputed master of heart-warming romantic comedy and with About Time he delivers another satisfying slice of feel-good. Confident in his well-practiced romantic formula Curtis adds even more whimsical fantasy with the added element of time travel. More interestingly About Time also looks beyond a predictable love story to explore the love between a father and son.

Curtis has always been able to rely of the effortless charms of leading men like Hugh Grant or Colin Firth and in young rising star Domhnall Gleeson he continues that tradition. Gleeson gives a performance packed with likeable everyman charm. Rachel McAdams is equally endearing as Mary the American object of his determined affections.  However as with Curtis’s definitive effort Love Actually, it’s actually Bill Nighy who steals the show as our heroes doting dad.

Nighy and Gleeson craft a sincere portrayal of the profound bond between a loving father and adult son as the film makes a surprising shift in focus at its halfway mark. It’s a relationship so rarely given proper focus on the big screen, but just as moving and powerful as any romantic love story. It’s a tribute to the film’s success at adequately capturing that love that over 90% of the audience will likely immediately call their family after leaving the cinema to tell them how much they love them.

The film could easily have stumbled over the confusing complexities of time travel. Luckily Curtis simply sidesteps unnecessary over thinking and keeps things as simple as possible. It’s an obvious source of easy comedy, but it’s also a clever vehicle for exploring love, loss, pain and joy.

The Bad:

Richard Curtis is often accused of being overly sentimental or saccharine and those who find his trademark romantic comedy formula more irritating than inspiring will probably have a similar reaction to About Time as his previous efforts. In essence, yet again likeable central characters fall happily in love surrounded by silly eccentric friends and whilst living mostly stress free lives.

While some will commend the film’s efforts to explore fresh territory and look beyond merely a simple story of boy gets girl, others may find it less purely romantic the Curtis’s past offerings like Notting Hill or Love Actually.

The Ugly Truth:

About Time is by his own admission Richard Curtis’s most personal work to date. Whilst it features all the familiar elements of his previous films it’s perhaps even more whimsical, thoughtful and profound.

Rush Review

The Plot:

Ron Howard re-creates the world of 1970s Formula One, dramatizing the electrifying rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, both on and off the race track. It’s a fascinating portrait of two very different champions; one a playboy daredevil and the other a neurotic technical genius. Focusing on their fierce battle for the 1976 world championship and the near fatal events which made it infamous.

The Good:

Simply put, Rush is a 200mph thrill ride packed with adrenalin, passion and personality. Screenwriter Peter Morgan proved with Frost/Nixon and The Queen that he could expertly craft the real life story of iconic figures locked in intimate battles. With Rush, Morgan once again provides a well worded study in contrasts, sincerely dramatizing familiar characters in their public and private moments.

A flawless cast, led by a star-making turn from Daniel Bruhl as fiery tempered Austrian Niki Lauda and a predictably charismatic performance by Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt, helps ignite the engine of a great script. Bruhl does a remarkable job of mimicking Lauda, expertly channelling his instantly recognisable voice and wry angry humour. Hemsworth likewise may surprise some people with his competent posh English accent and ability to add subtle layers to his innate rugged charms.

Hans Zimmers pulsing soundtrack exquisitely compliments the deafening roar of supercharged engines. A convincing combination of archival footage, CGI magic and on board cameras also puts audiences right in the driving seat of vintage Formula One races. Director Ron Howard showcases astonishing cinematography and a dedicated eye for historical detail. Overall the film easily equals past efforts like Apollo 13 and arguable represents his finest work to date.

The Bad:

It’s hard to find fault with the superb ride Rush offer audiences. Ron Howard delivers a near perfect package of technically accomplished action, fuelled by wit and passion. You certainly don’t need to be an expert Formula One fanatic to enjoy great storytelling.

The harshest of historical critics may quibble over the extent to which the film sensationalises the rivalry of two men who were in truth actually more friends than bitter adversaries in real life. However given everything the film does right it’s only fair to forgive it a little Hollywood oversimplification. Reducing Hunt and Lauda to caricatures, the playboy and the perfectionist, is a deliberate choice to streamline the narrative and ramp up the tension.

The Ugly Truth:

Rush is easily one of the finest films on release this year and an obvious early contender in several Oscar categories. Excellent storytelling makes it just as accessible for the uninitiated as for dedicated racing fans.

Red Carpet video Interviews below from the Rush World Premiere in Leicester Square:

BFI London Film Festival 2013 Official Line Up

The programme for the 57th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express® launched today with BFI’s Head of Cinemas and Festivals, Clare Stewart returning for her second year with a rich and diverse programme of international films and events from both established and upcoming talent over a 12 day celebration of cinema.

The Festival will screen a total of 234 fiction and documentary features, including 22 World Premieres, 16 International Premieres, 29 European Premieres and 20 Archive films. There will also be screenings of 134 live action and animated shorts. A stellar line-up of directors, cast and crew are expected to take part in career interviews, master classes and other special events. The 57th BFI London Film Festival will run from 9-20 October 2013.

Taking place over 12 days, the Festival’s screenings are at venues across the capital, from the West End cinemas – Odeon West End, Vue West End, Odeon Leicester Square and a new addition this year the Cineworld Haymarket; central London venues – BFI Southbank; the ICA, Curzon Mayfair, and Ciné Lumière; and local cinemas – Ritzy Brixton, Hackney Picturehouse, Renoir, Everyman Screen on the Green and Rich Mix. Additional screenings and events will take place at the Curzon Chelsea, BFI London IMAX and Village Underground.

OPENING & CLOSING NIGHT GALAS

The Festival opens with the European Premiere of Paul Greengrass’ CAPTAIN PHILLIPS a high-stakes thriller based on true story of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates with Tom Hanks playing the eponymous lead role.

The European Premiere of Disney’s SAVING MR. BANKS will close the festival, the film which tells the untold story of how Mary Poppins was brought to the big screen stars Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins and Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. Continuing the initiative from last year the Closing Night red carpet event and screening will be screened simultaneously to cinemas across the UK.

SPONSOR GALAS

Among the other highly anticipated Galas are the previously announced American Express Gala of Stephen Frears’ PHILOMENA, the true story of one woman’s search for her lost son, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. The Accenture Gala is the European Premiere of Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Brad Pitt. The American Airlines Gala is Alfonso Cuarón’s 3D sci-fi thriller GRAVITY starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. The Centrepiece Gala supported by the Mayor of London is the Coen Brothers’ INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake which is set in the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 1960’s, the film took home the Grand Prix at Cannes earlier in the year. The May Fair Hotel Gala is the European Premiere of Jason Reitman’s literary adaptation LABOR DAY starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin. The Festival Gala is the European Premiere of Ralph Fiennes’ second directorial feature THE INVISIBLE WOMAN staring Fiennes as Charles Dickens, Felicity Jones, Kristin Scott Thomas and Tom Hollander.

STRAND GALAS

The nine programme strands are each headlined with a gala, they are: the Love Gala, Abdellatif Kechiche’s BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR; the Debate Gala, Kelly Reichardt’s NIGHT MOVES; the Dare Gala, Alain Guiraudie’s STRANGER BY THE LAKE; the Laugh Gala, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s DON JON; the Thrill Gala, Ivan Sen’s  MYSTERY ROAD; the Cult Gala, Jim Jarmusch’s ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE; the Journey Gala, Alexander Payne’s road-trip NEBRASKA; the Sonic Gala, Lukas Moodysson’s WE ARE THE BEST!; and the Family Gala is Juan José Campanella’s FOOSBALL 3D. In addition to which the previously announced Archive Gala is the World Premiere of the BFI National Archive restoration of THE EPIC OF EVEREST.

FILM GUESTS

Key talent due to attend the Festival’s gala screenings include: Paul Greengrass, Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Faysal Ahmed, Barry Ackroyd, John Lee Hancock, Emma Thompson, Alison Owen, Stephen Frears, Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, Steve McQueen, Chiwetel Eijofor, Alfonso Cuaron, David Heyman, Sandra Bullock, Joel & Ethan Coen, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Ralph Feinnes, Abdellatif Kechiche, Lea Seydoux, Adele Excharchopoulos, Alain Guiraudie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Alexander Payne, Lukas Moodysson.

Additional talent attending for films in competition include: Catherine Breillat, Isabelle Huppert, Richard Ayoade, Yasmin Paige, Craig Roberts, Noah Taylor, Pawel Pawlikowski, Hirokazu Kore-Eda, Ahmad Abdalla, Clio Barnard, David Mackenzie, Jonathan Glazer, Jim Wilson, Jessica Oreck, Frederick Wiseman, Zachary Heinzerling, Mark Cousins, Nicolas Philibert, Greg Barker, Matt Wolf, Daniel Radcliffe, Michalis Konstantatos, Fabio Grassadonia, Antonio Piazza, Rob Brown and Vivian Qu.

The Festival will announce its complete guest line-up in early October.