James Absolon explains how this Pope-themed film, despite its risky premise, works
Alex Pollard reviews Hollywood's biopic of the controversial Margaret Thatcher
-Disaster struck for comic book and cinema fans alike when Requiem for a Dream (2000) and Black Swan (2010) director Darren Aronofsky dropped out of The Wolverine, the upcoming follow-up to X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). However, it now seems that the project is back on track; James Mangold of 3:10 to Yuma (2007) fame has been given directorial duties and the film’s star Hugh Jackman has said that filming will likely begin this October.
-October will also see the release of Clint Eastwood’s latest directing project: J. Edgar. The film is a biopic of the controversial ex-director of the FBI J. Edgar Hoover. It stars Leonardo Di Caprio in the titular role.
-Conrad’s classic colonial critique ‘Heart of Darkness’ looks set to be given the feature film treatment, though not in the traditional sense. Francis Ford Coppola adapted the novella very loosely for Apocalypse Now (1979), and the latest attempt looks to be similarly distanced from the book. Titled Into the Darkness, the film will be a sci-fi adventure set in space. It will be directed by Peter Cornwell, who helmed The Haunting in Connecticut (2009).
The classic World War II film The Eagle Has Landed (1976) is showing on BBC2 at 15:00 on Saturday 2nd July. The universally acclaimed Good Will Hunting (1997) is on BBC1 at 23:35 on Saturday 2nd July. Classic family tale The Railway Children (1970) is on ITV3 at 16:35 on Sunday 3rd July. Danny Boyle’s gritty sci-fi drama Sunshine (2007) is showing on Channel 4 at 22:00 on Sunday 3rd July, closely followed by Stanley Kubrick’s controversial film A Clockwork Orange (1971) which starts the same evening on ITV1 at 22:45.
-Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Summer blockbuster season is truly here with Michael Bay’s (Transformers 1 & 2, Bad Boys 1 & 2) latest cash cow. A brash vulgar mess of a movie that may well be better than Revenge of the Fallen, but then again what film isn’t. That said a minority of critics have claimed that it is just mindless fun, but it is hard to find anyone who really loves this new instalment of a franchise that is essentially just a load of effects shots.
-Larry Crowne
Tom Hanks first feature film as director is a cheerful, upbeat romance in which the title character, who after losing his job reinvents himself at college, were he inevitably meets Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts); no prizes for guessing what happens next. The result is apparently very polite and cheerful, but in essence clichéd and dull according to critics.
-The Conspirator
The new film from Robert Redford (Ordinary People, Quiz Show) follows the trial of Mary Surrat (Robin Wright) for her involvement in the assassination of President Lincoln. Yet despite starring James McCavoy and having a rather interesting concept the film has only achieved mediocre reviews, with criticism being raised by its large number of messages and slow, stage-like feel - a real shame all things considered.
-A Seperation
This acclaimed Iranian drama tells the story of a family struggling and breaking apart due to their desire to leave the country. Apparently a well acted and intelligent piece, that works well to discuss politics as well as create suspense. Definitely something to look out for.
-Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo
Not the Godzilla wannabe the title suggests, but a documentary on insects and the Japanese fascination with them, most particularly as pets. It’s apparently rather interesting but also rather slow, and as such garnered good but not great reviews.
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