Film News

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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It’s difficult to watch any new Mel Gibson film without thinking about his very chequered recent past and with the release of his last film, The Beaver, it would appear that most people chose not to watch it all. However, with the release of his latest attempt to get back into the big time, How I Spent My Summer Vacation, regardless of what you may think of Gibson, it is still apparent that there are few actors in the world today who can carry a film as well as him.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation utilises Gibson’s charms as both an action star and a knowing, mischievous screen presence. It won’t win any prizes for originality but it’s a lean, efficient thriller that like the recent Safe, doesn’t over-reach. The majority of the film takes place in a Mexican jail where it seems that absolutely anything goes and Gibson, who’s sent inside for stealing a considerable amount of money, wastes little time in manipulating the many unsavoury inmates to his whims. The lean, nasty plot has shades of an Elmore Leonard novel as Gibson plays different groups off each other in an attempt to gain his freedom.

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Prior to this year, the world’s most celebrated film festival for independent cinema had previously confined itself to the US, and predominantly Park City, Utah. However, in March 2011 Sundance founder and screen legend Robert Redford announced that the inaugural Sundance London would take place this past weekend at the O2 Greenwich featuring some of the highlights of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival proper and would also feature some special concerts and the usual selection of industry panels and workshops.

Rather than spend a whole weekend at the soulless O2, I opted instead to see a few choice films and have a more relaxed festival experience. From looking at the films selected to be screened, it was quickly obvious to anyone familiar with the line-up from Park City that there was a huge omission. Ben Lewin’s The Surrogate picked up the audience award and the special jury prize at Sundance in January and is already tipped for Oscar success next year. For unknown reasons it was conspicuously absent from the London line-up but despite this there was still plenty to excite lovers of independent cinema. Here’s a short summary of the three films I saw

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At DCM we love sharing the magic of cinema and on 17 April 2012 the inaugural DCM Tuesdays did just that!

DCM Tuesdays is a monthly free film club for selected figures from the media industry and after walking down the red carpet, our guests were treated to champagne on arrival before enjoying an exclusive screening of one of the year’s most talked about movies, ‘The Cabin in the Woods’.

The evening was a fantastic industry networking opportunity with more than 130 attendees from companies such as Walker Media, MEC Global, MediaCom, Carat and Mindshare and the critically acclaimed horror movie we screened had the audience jumping with fright in their seats as they tucked into their free popcorn.

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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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This weeks film schedule updates:

• Casa De Mi Padre has now been added to the schedule, releasing 8 June 2012
• Ill Manors has now been added to the schedule, releasing 8 June 2012
• Chernobyl Diaries has now been added to the schedule, releasing 29 June 2012
• Broken City has now been added to the schedule, releasing 25 January 2013
• Elysium has now been added to the schedule, releasing 1 March 2013
• Oz: The Great And Powerful 3D has now been added to the schedule, releasing 8 March 2013
• The Croods has now been added to the schedule, releasing 22 March 2013
• Jack The Giant Killer has now been added to the schedule, releasing 22 March 2013
• Ender’s Game has now been added to the schedule, releasing 29 March 2013
• The Host has now been added to the schedule, releasing 29 March 2013
• Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters has now been added to the schedule, releasing 29 March 2013

The film schedule has been updated to reflect these changes.

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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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