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
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!
---
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.
---
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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