Midnight in Paris
A Woody Allen Film
Starring Owen Wilson, Rahel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Carla Bruni and an all star cast
On DVD February 6th, 2012

Welcome back Woody!!! Woody Allen is finally back on form with the amazing film Midnight in Paris. Starring Owen Wilson as the neurotic lead male character and Paris stepping in for Woody’s usual New York, Midnight in Paris is very worthy of its Best Picture Oscar nomination.

As with most Woody Allen films, the city itself is as much of a character as the actors play. As the title would suggest, this film’s leading city is Paris. A city of nostalgia, art, history, culture and allure. Owen Wilson’s character Gil is drawn into the city’s mystique, unfulfilled by his writing career and impending marriage to Rachel McAdams’ Inez, he believes he belongs in a different era in the city of Paris. Through the magic of “it’s just a film”, he magically time travels every night at the stroke of midnight to the streets of Paris during the time of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway and Picasso. He meets and interacts with his heroes and falls in love with artist muse Adriana, played beautifully by Marion Cotillard.

This film is charming, beautifully structured, with timeless themes of not belonging, searching for something more, and finding one’s self in general. The scenery is fantastic as the film travels across all of Paris, even stopping into my favourite restaurant the Polidor where we meet Hemingway for the first time. In addition to the amazing characterizations of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, look out for an underused and hilarious Adrian Brody as Salvador Dalí and his obsession with rhinoceroses.

This film needs to be seen by Woody fans, Paris fans and film fans alike. Woody is on form like he hasn’t been in years. Owen Wilson has embodied the Woody persona as good as Woody himself. Paris is portrayed with the same love Woody has always shown to New York. Having watched this film on Sunday, I had booked my train ticket to Paris by the following Tuesday. An inspiration.

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Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Starring: Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon and Ryan Gosling’s Abs
On Blu-ray and DVD January 30th, 2012.

At 40-something, straight-laced Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is settled in his life with three kids, a house, and a highschool sweetheart of a wife. Cal’s wife (Julianne Moore) asks for a divorce, is sleeping with David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon) and Cal’s world begins to unravel. Cal, who hasn’t dated in decades, is about as smooth as Carell’s 40-year-old-virgin character and seeks the help of womanizer Jacob (Ryan “Photoshopped-Abs” Gosling) and the rest is history.

This film is not at all as flawless as Ryan Gosling. In fact, it is far from it. There is no build up to this film, in the first 2 minutes Julianne Moore is asking Steve Carell for a divorce and we’re OFF! All of the different relationship dynamics are interesting and entertaining with some endearing performances by Moore and Gosling. Unfortunately, this film is primarily ruined by yet another wise-beyond-his-years kid who deserves a punch in the face and at the very least, a haircut.

If you’re in the mood for a mildly amusing film about love and character interrelationships, then look no further. Notable for the scene-stealing display of washboard stomach from man of the hour Ryan Gosling. Totally would!!!

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The Descendants
Directed by Alexander Payne
Starring George Clooney
In UK Cinemas January 27th

The Descendants just picked up the Best Drama and Best Actor in a Drama accolades at The Golden Globes. I have no idea why. It is a quite decent film with an interesting enough story and all, but the acting throughout is stunted, the dialogue forced at times, and well, it seems more self-indulgent than a genuine expression of art.

Director Alexander Payne, famed for directing Sideways and About Schmidt, has taken an interesting story of Matt King (George Clooney) whose wife is in a fatal coma, with two daughters who are acting up, and the discovery of his wife having taken a lover; and has made it about HIMSELF! Should’ve named it About Payne.

I can’t directly explain how this film emits the self-indulgence as it does, but it just does. Let me give it a go: First case in point – the acting. Sure, he cast George Clooney in the lead role, but it’s like he got his mates to play the supporting cast around him! Hire some professional actors - Surely you have the budget!?

Also, George Clooney annoys me. The only film I have ever liked him in is The American and that’s because he doesn’t say much in it. I know I’m in the minority on this point here, so just ignore me if you’re a fan of “the silver fox”. But come on – he doesn’t act… he plays himself in every film. I wish I could win an award for playing myself! Oh wait… I have… it’s the award of LIFE. Scew you untalented Hollywood posers.

Anyway, this film isn’t as terrible as I’m making it out to be, but it has angered me by its potential that it fails to live up to, due to some terrible directing on Payne’s part. On the whole, you wouldn’t be worse off for having seen this film, but perhaps there is a better way to spend your evening than watching a merely decent film? I am hereby re-christening this film as The Decentants.


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War Horse
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring a horse and Bernadette Cumberbund amongst an allstar talented cast
Based on the book by Michael Morpurgo and the recent stage play by Nick Stafford
In Uk Cinemas January 13, 2012

The real star of this extravagant film isn’t the War Horse himself, but rather Steven Spielberg and all his directing might. It is a Spielberg film of epic proportions, with all of his signature stylings on grand display. Yes, it is predictable and a bit sappy at times, but in that classic Spielberg way that is reminiscent of many of his older classics.

It was quite nostalgic in that fashion. A return to the Spielberg you knew growing up, with a bit of Saving Private Ryan gruesome war action thrown in for good measure. Perhaps this isn’t the moving or mature film you’d expect it to be after the rave reviews of the stage production, but it is an enjoyable watch, and a film adventure for the Spielberg generation of film lovers.

It’s not without its flaws (did anybody understand why that French girl was cast???), but between Spielberg pulling out all the punches and a traditionally ostentatious John Williams score, I dare you not to be enthralled for the better part of the 2.5 hours.

Not to mention the all star British cast that pops up throughout. It’s a who’s up next kind of ensemble plotline. Don’t worry – not in the same vain as Love Actually / Valentine’s Day at all… but more like…. classy British actors that you probably don’t know the name of but you’re like, “Hey, it’s that guy!”.

Overall, War Horse is a treat for the Spielberg fans of the world, allowing you to marvel at the Director’s talents, helping to reaffirm why he is the legend that he has become. For those not super into Spielberg, I wouldn’t recommend bothering with this film as you just won’t appreciate it and clocking in at nearly 2.5 hours, I am sure you have better things to do? Who am I to judge what you do with your time. I don’t care. But don’t say I didn’t warn you all you Spielberg-haters out there.

War Horse – A great nostalgic portrayal of a familiar story. Spielberg + Ensemble British Cast + Horse = FTW!

 

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The London Korean Film Festival 2011
www.koreanfilm.co.uk

The month of November saw the Korean Film Festival swoop down on the city of London. The city is still in recovery from the big BFI London Film Festival, but there's always room for a niche festival. Our correspondant Malin Arvidsson checked out the festival for us. Here's what she thought:

 


Suicide Forcast
London Korean Film Festival
10th Nov 2011

“Enjoy Suicide!” the PR lady said, and I was hoping she didn’t mean my own. Although I assumed not as the name of the film I was going to see was “Suicide Forecast”.

After trying to find the ICA for 30 minutes and then finding out that they didn’t serve popcorn, I was in a slightly bad mood as the film started, which could have resulted in me not enjoying the beginning. I found the jokes too basic and the fact that lots of people around me were laughing at them annoyed me. And I had the feeling they couldn’t think of a better way to tell the story than to get the main character to talk to himself constantly. But halfway through the film, it started to feel more like the kind of Korean film I had expected - slightly crazy in a good way.

The story is about a superficial, career-driven guy who, in order to become the top life insurance seller in the company, also sells insurances to people with a history of suicide. When one of them commits suicide, he realises he’s in trouble and he has to make sure all his potential suicide clients change their life insurance to pension insurance before the non-payable time limit of two years ends. But it turns out to be harder than he’d expected and he ends up in situations he would never have imagined in order to stop them from committing suicide. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone who’s into the Asian film market, although it’s probably not a film I would see twice.

I would have loved to see more films at the Korean Film Festival as I love Korean film, but the dates I was available seemed to be fully booked. The ICA was packed with both Koreans and Europeans so it was obvious that this festival is one popular event!


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The Wilmington Players
Long Form Improv
Sundays at The Wilmington Arms

British audiences are very familiar with improvisational comedy from the likes of Whose Line is It Anyway and more recently Fast and Loose. Improvisation, or Improv as it's more commonly known, has always been a source of comedy in Britain, but what you more often tend to see here is the short form, which is more game and quicker payoff.

Improv in America, however, is quite different. With the biggest Improv scene coming from Chicago from such notable institutions as The Second City and I/O, most American comedians that we know and love, including Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Jane Lynch and many more come from this background.

While Long Form Improv has indeed been present on the UK comedy scene, it hasn't quite had the following or success rate as it has in North America. The British scene finally feels like it's on the cusp of change with more and more groups choosing to perform Long Form.

One such group is The Wilmington Players, which consists mainly of students of David Shore, a prominent improviser who ran the successful improvised talk show Monkey Toast in Toronto. David, who is an alumnus of The Second City Mainstage and The Improv Olympic West, moved to the UK about 1 year ago and started running Long Form Improv classes here in London.

These classes have attracted many up and coming comedic talents, many of whom were originally recommended David by improvisational hip-hop comedian Rob Broderick, otherwise known as Abandoman. These students have now trouped up to form The Wilmington Players. Let's meet a few of these players, shall we?


John Henry Falle - Beta Male and Impersonator of that guy from Police Academy:

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Simon Fazey - Comedy Writer and self-proclaimed Awesome guy!

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Jon Gracey - Beta Male and loves playing animals!

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Lexa Freshwater Burton - Also loves when Jon plays animals!

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Gareth Morinan - Twat.

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Matt Thomas - Vaguely resembles Gordon Ramsay.

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Juliet Stephens - Comedienne and lady of The Good Ship Comedy Club.

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Stewart McCure - Australian AND talented!

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Julian England - British comedian with a patriotic surname!

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Clare Kerrison - Improv teacher and performer!!

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Edward Bennett - Thinks improv is like dreams!

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The Wilmington Players play Sundays at The Wilmington Arms in London. And you also may see me performing with them on occasion as I've been studying with David Shore as well for the past year! I can tell you firsthand that this Long Form Improv is enlightening stuff!


Lexa & Ed as ZOMBIES!!!


Jon as a CHICKEN! One of his many animal portrayals.


Stewart takes centre stage.


Jon doing something non-animal related.


John Henry commanding attention.


Lexa pre-zombification.

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The Wilmington Players sometimes include, but are not limited to:

Gareth Morinan
Matt Thomas
Juliet Stephens
Stewart McCure
Clare Kerrison
Ed Bennett
Jon Gracey
John Henry Falle
Me (Joanna Orland)
Simon Fazey
Lexa Freshwater Burton
James Burwood
Julian England
Richard Soames
Jess Mandeville


Directing of the team is currently shared between Gareth, Julian, Ed and Jess.

www.wilmops.co.uk
www.facebook.com/wilmops
@wilmops

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