The Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival is delighted to announce two additions to the 2008 programme in advance of public booking opening this weekend.
The UK premiere of Spike Lee’s MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA will screen on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 October.
With a script adapted by James McBride from his own acclaimed novel, Spike Lee gives new voice to the conventions of the epic war movie by reclaiming the experiences of America’s black servicemen during World War II. Stationed in Tuscany in 1944, Staff Sergeant Stamps (Derek Luke), Sergeant Bishop Cummings (Michael Ealy), radio operator Hector Negron (Laz Alonso) and Sam Train (Omar Benson Miller) are members of the all-black 92nd Division Buffalo Soldiers who find themselves trapped behind enemy lines. Balancing high action combat scenes with the human stories of the characters involved, Lee leavens his scrupulously authentic approach with magical realism, welcome humour and deeply felt emotion.
The UK premiere of Jesús Ponce’s LAZY DAYS (Dejate caer) will screen on Thursday 16 and Saturday 18 October.
Writer-director Jesús Ponce’s warm and witty story follows the lives of three slackers who spend their days sitting on a bench in a Seville suburb where they pass time drinking beer and commenting on the activities of the neighbourhood. Ponce’s droll Andalusian dialogue defies easy translation but together with the wacky posse of characters, it offers a rhythm and pacing to the action that lifts the film beyond the realms of realism to a comic absurdism that casts a discerning eye over masculine myths and mores.
With the UK release of ‘Burn After Reading’ nearly upon us, Hypefilm would like to take the opportunity to wish ‘The Big Lebowski’ a slightly belated happy 10th birthday. What better excuse to re-watch the film, drink a white Russian, stick on some Creedance and take it easy!
WHITE RUSSIAN
2 oz Vodka
1 oz Kahlua
Half and Half (Suitable substitutes: Milk or non-dairy creamer)
Served over ice in a rocks glass.
Enjoy.
”The Dude abides. I don’t know about you but I take comfort in that. It’s good knowin’ he’s out there. The Dude. Takin’ ‘er easy for all us sinners”
The full lineup for this year’s BFI London Film Festival has just been announced – and it features a total of 15 world premieres in amongst the wide range of exciting new films from the best of the current world cinema scene.
In between Ron Howard’s Frost/Nixon world premiere, which opens the spectacle on October 15th and Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire finale on the 30th, there is a wide selection of new material being offered up.
Artistic director Sandra Hebron said this year’s festival had an emphasis on “politics, history, memory.”
The main talking point for this year’s festival will surely be the BFI’s capture of the first screening of the latest James Bond installment – Quantum of Solace. Other notable screenings are Oliver Stone’s “W,” a piece about President Bush, Steven Soderbergh’s Che Guevera biopic, Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, Rian Johnson’s “The Brothers Bloom” and Alex Gibney’s “Gonzo” a documentary on The Life and Work of Dr Hunter S Thompson.
There is also an impressive ensemble of British films at this year’s festival ranging from Steve McQueen’s “Hunger,” to Michael Winterbottom’s “Genova,” starring Colin Firth to “Telstar,” Nick Moran’s film about legendary music producer Joe Meek.
Galas and Special Screenings
“W.,” Oliver Stone
“Genova,” Michael Winterbottom
“Waltz With Bashir,” Ari Folman
“Quantum Of Solace,” Marc Forster
“The Other Man,” Richard Eyre
“Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” Woody Allen
“The Brothers Bloom,” Rian Johnson
“Easy Virtue,” Stephan Elliott
“Che (Part 1 & Part 2),” Stephen Soderbergh
“The Class,” Laurent Cantet
“Hunger,” Steve McQueen
“Gonzo: The Life And Work Of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson,” Alex Gibney
“The Secret Of Moonacre,” Gabor Csupo
For further details on all the Gala presentations and all the latest London news check out our special London Film Festival homepage.
Will Smith looks set to play God inRandall Wallace’s “The Last Pharaoh,” according to Variety. The script was originally brought to Wallace by Smith and follows the story of Taharqa, the pharaoh who battled Assyrian invaders in ancient Egypt.
A teacher (Nicolas Cage) opens a time capsule that has been dug up at his son’s elementary school; in it are some chilling predictions – some that have already occurred and others that are about to – that lead him to believe his family plays a role in the events that are about to unfold.
The film is due to be released in the UK on 27/3/09 and the US on 20/3/09.
Darren Aronofksy’s drama “The Wrestler,” starring Mickey Rourke as Randy (the Ram) Robinson, a washed out pro-wrestler in comeback mode -both on and off the screen, it turns out – has pinned down the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion, providing the Lido with a grand finale.”I think the reason people are reacting to this film is that there is a great talent revealing his soul,” said Aronofsky.
Details
Director: Pierre Morel Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen Running Time: 93 Minutes Status: US – 23/1/09 / UK – 26/9/08 Genre: Action / Thriller Synopsis: An ex-soldier (Liam Neeson) traveling through Europe embarks on a frantic quest to rescue his daughter (Maggie Grace) after the young girl is abducted by slave traders in District B13.
Details
Director: Marc Forster Cast: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric Running Time: n/a Status: US – 14/11/08 / UK – 31/10/08 Genre: Action / Thriller Synopsis: Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loved, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal. Pursuing his determination to uncover the truth, Bond and M (Judi Dench) interrogate Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) who reveals the organization which blackmailed Vesper is far more complex and dangerous than anyone had imagined.
Details
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz Cast: Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Gerard Depardieu Running Time: 90 Minutes Status: US – 29/8/08 / UK – 29/8/08 Genre: Sci-Fi / Thriller Synopsis: In the near future, Toorop (Vin Diesel) is a mercenary who takes the job of escorting a woman named Aurora from Central Asia to New York. While he thinks this is just an ordinary mission, he gradually finds out that his guest is carrying twins that have the potential to become the next Messiahs – and everybody wants to get their hands on them.
Details
Director: Adam McKay Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen Running Time: 95 minutes Status: US – 25/7/08 / UK – 29/8/08 Genre: Comedy Synopsis: When Robert and Nancy marry and move in together, their children, Brennan and Dale are forced to live with each other as step brothers. As their narcissism threatens to tear the family apart, these two middle-aged, immature, overgrown boys will orchestrate an insane, elaborate plan to bring their parents back together. To pull it off, they must form an unlikely bond that maybe, just maybe, will finally get them out of the house.
Posted by hypefilm 
Posted by hypefilm 
Posted by hypefilm 
The full lineup for this year’s BFI London Film Festival has just been announced – and it features a total of 15 world premieres in amongst the wide range of exciting new films from the best of the current world cinema scene.
