Film Focus

Following his red-carpet antics at this year’s Academy Awards, there was huge anticipation around the kind of stunt Sacha Baron Cohen might pull-off at the World Premiere of his latest movie, The Dictator, in London last night. And his latest incarnation AKA the Wadiyan Dictator General Aladeen did not disappoint, rolling up at the star studded Royal Festival Hall in a tow truck after his bright orange sports car was clamped. It seems that even the last remaining Dictator is subject to London’s parking restrictions and diplomatic immunity isn’t granted to international criminals.

He might be ruthless and cold blooded, but you can’t help but like the world’s cruelest, most bigoted, most deluded yet most affable Dictator. Put a foot wrong in Wadiya and you could find yourself condemned to decapitation at the autocrat’s whim. Not surprising the resistance movement, masterminded by Aladeen’s right hand man Tamir (Sir Ben Kingsley) is planning a coup to oust the bearded leader and a New York state visit to address the United Nations provides the opportunity. A switched identity with one of his lookalike bodyguards, however, sees the General down and out in the Big Apple while the simpleton and malleable doppelgänger takes his place in international politics, a puppet manipulated by Tamir.

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The Royal Albert Hall, not a name you think of when there is a movies premiere but upon entering the auditorium it becomes apparent why it was chosen for the Titanic 3D world premiere.

It is a warm and sunny evening in Kensington as I approach the red carpet, walking past the cameras and catching a glimpse of the adoring fans that have waited hours for their screen idols. The walk takes me past Kate Winslet, star of the movie, who is in conversation with the press, as well as a few of the other supporting cast and celebrities in attendance.

Upon entering the screening we are treated to a live feed from the red carpet, watching as the stars of the movie make their way towards the venue, stopping briefly for photos and signatures with the fans who line the barriers.

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After the announcement of the 64^th Cannes line-up, the countdown has begun to another feast of filmic fun on the French Riviera. The competition at this year’s festival is already hotting up with an array of talent both behind the camera and on screen set to make it the best year yet. New films by Michael Haneke, Jacques Audiard, Lee Daniels, Abbas Kiarostami, Ken Loach and Wes Anderson are just a few to look out for.

Check out the full list below..

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The glitz and glamour of a film premiere can generate a euphoric atmosphere. Star struck onlookers with their pens and posters mix with the geeks and the media for a glimpse of the Hollywood elite as those lucky enough to hold a ticket are herded towards escalators, shuffling awkwardly down a red carpet that isn’t meant for them. I had been like Banner and The Hulk all day, trying to keep my excitement contained for a full 8 hours. I was so focused on seeing the heroes on screen I barely had time to notice them right in front of me as we were ushered along. I could have touched Scarlett Johansson. COULD have. But then I wouldn’t have been allowed in to watch the movie. Office hype was at fever-pitch due to news that she went ‘au naturel’ underneath that signature Black Widow cat suit. I was torn, but I made my choice and settled for a photo. She has a very photogenic shoulder and back (see below for proof). A few escalators later and we’re seated in the screen, watching the red carpet show unfold as Jonafon Woss patters with the celebrities one-by-one. It isn’t long before the film rolls, and we all look fetching in our Hulk/Iron Man/Thor/Captain America themed 3D Glasses.

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Almost by stealth, Jason Statham has become one of the most dependable action stars of the last twenty years. None of his films have been huge box office blockbusters but every year he releases one or two action films that tend to be tight as a drum and absolutely play to his strengths. I occasionally wonder if had he been a star in the 80s, whether he’d be held in the same regard as Van Damme and Seagal, or even the more exalted action stars, Stallone and Schwarzenegger.

Out on May 4^th, Safe could well be Statham’s best action vehicle yet. The plot is simple, a young Chinese girl with a photographic memory is forced by a Chinese gang in New York to memorise a code that contains the combination to a safe. Before she’s able to relay the code, she escapes the gang’s clutches and soon the Russian mafia and group of corrupt New York cops are after her too. However, none of these ruffians had counted on the presence of the city’s toughest ex-cop, Luke Wright, who after a chance encounter with the girl, makes it his job to protect her. Cue lots of bone-crunching fistfights, gunfights and one-liners.

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Metaphorically this ship is still sailing as the 3D re-release of Titanic cruised to the top of the UK box office with £2.9m (including £97k from previews). Although this is a is a good deal fewer than the original Titanic’s £4.8m opening weekend in 1997, it’s a big improvement on Star Wars – Episode 1’s 3D re-release in February (£1.5m) and similar to The Lion King 3D’s performance in October (£2.8m). Love for the epic film is still high and its performance is particularly impressive when you consider that the film is 194 minutes long, so less screenings can be scheduled per day. Including Easter Monday, James Cameron’s lavish romance has a cume of £3.9m.

In second place after another strong weekend was The Hunger Games. A further £2.4m, just a drop of 20%, takes the thriller to a very impressive £16.2m (including Monday). Although it may fall short of New Moon’s £27.5m total, it is already way ahead of the first Twilight’s £11.2m final total. Just behind in third place was Mirror Mirror, also with £2.4m. This weekend figure is inflated due to the film opening on Monday 2^nd, so includes £1.3m from previews. Including Easter Monday, the film now has a cume of £3m. In fourth place was The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists with £2.2m. This is a fantastic hold for the film, actually improving on its opening weekend when the figure for previews is removed. Strong word of mouth should be in full flow for this title and its cume is now at £9.1m.

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Scandinavian fiction is proving a fertile ground for Hollywood at present, as producers feverishly look for new material to adapt into the next slate of potential hit movies. Hot on the heels of David Fincher’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Headhunters (Hodegerjerne to use its Norwegian title) is the latest Scandinavian book to film adaptation that is set for a US remake. Having caught up with the original Norwegian film this week, I’d urge anyone who is contemplating waiting for the US remake not to delay and see this version upon its release on April 6^th.

Adapted from the Jo Nesbø book, Aksel Hennie plays Roger Brown, a man short of stature (his opening voiceover explains that he’s 1.68m tall) but big on confidence. He has a beautiful, statuesque wife who he keeps happy with expensive gifts that are priced out of his means as Oslo’s top headhunter. He affords such gifts by stealing and selling on valuable works of art.

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With hindsight it seemed a very strange thing for me to do. Having a child-free weekend, I decided to venture to the cinema to watch Mirror Mirror. In my defence, the girlfriend wanted to see it, and with this not being a “must watch” for me, I went along safe in the knowledge I was gaining numerous brownie points.

Mirror Mirror is the first of two Snow White inspired films this year, and to my surprise it proved very enjoyable. I am assuming most people on planet earth know the plot line of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, so I will spare you all the synopsis. However, this story line came with lots of laughs, plus a few twists along the way. For a start the dwarves were actually a band of robbers – hold on I thought – this is a bit different. Plus the dwarves names had been upgraded to a more macho group of Napoleon, Chuckles, Half-pint, Grub, Grim, Woolf and Butcher. After all, imagine being mugged by somebody called ‘Happy’?!

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Aardman have once again proven that they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Pixar when it comes to big screen animation with their brilliantly bonkers new film, The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists. Its release date just ahead of the Easter holidays may indicate its status as great entertainment for younger audiences but any film featuring a barking mad Queen Victoria as the main villain and a traitorous Charles Darwin clearly has its eyes set on the more mature viewers too.

A terrific Hugh Grant plays the noble Pirate Captain who’s not very good at amassing huge quantities of bounty but with the help of his loyal crew, he sets out to win the annual ‘pirate of the year’ competition. His quest takes him to Victorian London where he encounters the aforementioned Queen Victoria, who just so happens to have a vendetta against pirates. What follows involves endless sight gags, a case of avian mistaken identity and the best soundtrack of any ‘family’ film likely to be released this year.

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It has been difficult to escape The Hunger Games over the last couple of months. As buzz for the film has steadily grown, discussion has often turned to whether or not the films could fill the void soon to be left by the conclusion of the Twilight series. With the release of the film on Friday, anyone expecting a cloying romance along the lines of Twilight, is going to be surprised as The Hunger Games is tense, exciting film-making that packs a real emotional punch.

Set during an unspecified future date in what was once North America but now known as Panem, The Hunger Games are an annual event where each of the twelve districts of Panem provide one teenage boy and girl to participate in a nationally televised contest. The contest involves twenty four contestants fighting in a constructed woodland environment until the last one is left standing, ie, twenty three of them will cease to be living.

When, on her first time in the draft, 12 year-old Primrose Everdeen is selected to enter the Games, her elder sister Katniss selflessly volunteers to take her place. After a lengthy period of grooming, combat training, and television appearances, Katniss enters the arena with the twenty three other contestants, with only her survival instinct to rely on to keep her alive.

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