Watch UK Trailer For Richard Linklater's Bernie Starring Jack Black

Who said age matters or even the fact the pair in love might be a bit 'odd'? Step forward Jack Black and Shirley Mclaine as they star in Bernie, here's the UK trailer.

Bernie sees Black reunite with his School of Rock director Richard Linklater in a dark comedy based on a 'true life' story printed in the Texas Monthly Magazine. Bernie (Black) a funeral director who forms an unlikely relationship with Majorie (McLaine) a sour faced widower  who becomes dependent, whilst nagging and testing his limits. Majorie mysteriously dies leaving Bernie with a massive windfall, a death that leaves the little town they live in, shocked in disbelief and despite his renowned kindness to the locals the local district attorney (Matthew McConaughey) is determined to get to the bottom of Majorie's death.

Bernie is filmed part documentary part drama and it's refreshing to see Jack Black actually attempt to prove he does have some dramatic chops with in him even if this new film does have comedy elements in it. Want to know what we thought of Bernie? You can asThe Peoples Movies  Sophie Stephenson caught the film last month at Glasgow Film Festival, read our review here.

Bernie will be out in UK&Ireland on 26th April.

Synopsis

In the tiny, rural town of Carthage, TX, assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede was one of the town’s most beloved residents.  He taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Everyone loved and appreciated Bernie, so it came as no surprise when he befriended Marjorie Nugent, an affluent widow who was as well known for her sour attitude as her fortune. Bernie frequently traveled with Marjorie and even managed her banking affairs. Marjorie quickly became fully dependant on Bernie and his generosity and Bernie struggled to meet her increasing demands. Bernie continued to handle her affairs, and the townspeople went months without seeing Marjorie. The people of Carthage were shocked when it was reported that Marjorie Nugent had been dead for some time, and Bernie Tiede was being charged with the murder. source:Empire

GFF 2013 - Bernie Review

In a small town in Texas lives Bernie (Jack Black), a popular mortician who befriends the lonely, rich Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine). The pair do everything together, however Marjorie eventually becomes abusive, and after one demand too many Bernie makes a fatal decision. The film is presented in a documentary style, with the story told by residents of the town in interviews which flash back to the events, some of whom are in fact real-life Texan’s who took part in the real case.

Richard Linklater has assembled a great cast for his latest offering. Matthew McConaughey stands out as the district attorney, while this is Jack Black’s best role for a long time, and shows he has a wider range of ability than his usual performances would have you believe. The problem however lies in the narrative: it is just not engaging enough to care about the characters. There is no build-up of events, just a meandering plod from start to finish. While displaying moments of quirkiness and charm, the script does not contain enough humour for it to deliver as a comedy. It is difficult to guess what Linklater’s intentions were, as the light-hearted tone of the film persists from start to finish, despite the turn of events. Bernie is an enjoyable watch, just not satisfactory, and may leave you wondering: what was the point?

Sophie Stephenson

★★★☆☆

Rating: 15
Release Date: 15th February 2013 (Glasgow Film Festival) 26th April 2013 (UK&Ireland)
Director: Richard Linklater
Cast:  Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey

GFF 2013 - Watch The UK Trailer For Neil Jordan's Byzantium

Neil Jordan returns to the vampire genre for his next film but instead of interviews with vampires its vampires on the run with Byzantium and we have the new UK Trailer.

Byzantium stars Gemma Arterton, Saorise Ronan play Eleanor and Clara Webb 2 mysterious women who seek refuge in a run-down coastal resort. Struggling to make ends meet thanks to a lonely man called Noel the find refuge in the deserted Byzantium guesthouse. As they start to befriend the local its not long until their deadly secret is out, there vampires and the past they have been running from suddenly catches up with them with deathly consequence.

The vampire genre is in dire need of  TLC especially after a certain tween franchise made the sub genre very unpopular, Byzantium may just be that film to help the creatures of the night become a little more popular  once again. Oscar winning Neil Jordan knows how how deliver something a little bit different  and Byzantium does look a unique take on the vampire myth.With its grandoise visuals, opulent in nature, most of all chilling, atmospheric and melancholic something that you find throughout Jordan's work

Byzantium made it's world premier at Toronto Film Festival in 2012 leaving with some great positive reviews and later this month on 22nd February the film will make it's UK Premier at Glasgow Film Festival in the Film4 Frightfest strand with Jordan, Arterton and Ronan all confirmed to attend.

Studiocanal are releasing Byzantium in UK&Ireland with the film due to be released on 3rd May 2013, IFC will deal with the American release but no date has been confirmed yet. The film also stars Jonny Lee Miller, Caleb Landry Jones, and Sam Riley.

From Disney To Michael Gondry 2013 Glasgow Youth Film Festival Programme Announced

The programme for the fifth annual Glasgow Youth Film Festival – the only film event in the UK curated entirely by 15-18 year olds – launches today, at Tramway’s Fresh Faced Winter Fayre. Working with staff at Glasgow Film Festival, the team of young programmers have organised workshops, special preview screenings of soon-to-be-released films, and even an outdoor dance party on the banks of the Clyde!

This year’s opening gala will be an advance preview screening of Disney’s latest, video game-themed release, Wreck-It Ralph, starring John C Reilly and Sarah Silverman; the festival closes with a preview of The We and the I, the hilarious, off- beat new film from director Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

A number of extra special events make the programme particularly unique this year. A team of street dancers and DJs will take over the River Clyde Embankment, creating a live homage to the innovative music/dance film Girl Walk // All Day, which saw dancers interacting with the public all over New York; the film will be simultaneously projected onto the riverbank. Elsewhere, London’s Paper Cinema company use puppetry, live animation, music and performance to create a one-off big screen version of The Odyssey, and members of the cast and crew of Channel 4’s hit sitcom Fresh Meat drop by for a masterclass. Enduring teen icon Ferris Bueller gets another day out, and a number of films get UK premieres, including Dutch comedy The Deflowering of Eva van End, Belgian drama The Day of the Crows, and from the US, Matthew Lilliard’s Fat Kid Rules the World, about a suicidal teen rocker.

The programme also includes a vibrant, internationally-focused range of animation, documentaries and films reflecting issues and experiences of young people around the world, and a series of workshops where industry professionals offer advice, tips and practical experience to young people interested in making a career in cinema. There’s plenty for little brothers and sisters too, from innovative family-focused short films to a live appearance by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson.

The 2013 festival will run from 3-13 February 2013, the actual Glasgow Film Festival starts the day after Glasgow Youth Film Festival finishes,running from 14-24 February.

Glasgow Film Festival announces 3 New Strands For The 2013 Line-up

They may not call themselves an international film festival but the Glasgow Film Festival is growing in stature every year with 8th, 2012 film festival proving they are the fastest growing film festival in UK. The third biggest film festival will hold there 9th festival next February between 14 and 24th February 2013.

With 3 months to go until the next festival, the festival organizers have announced 3 of the strands. The films of James Cagney will take centre stage in the very popular retrospective strand. New cinema will focus on the films of Brazil and a brand new strand which has a big screen look at video games.

Robert Florence of BBC Scotland’s Burnistoun will join the GFF team to curate a gaming strand called Game Cats Go Miaow! The highlights of the strand is a live review of the new Aliens: Colonial Marines game with James Cameron's Aliens been shown right after the review. Also a special costume Gala Cosplay Go Miaow! With a very special film been screened possibly anime or comic book film.

Brazil is fast becoming a leading light in cinema and in the Buena Onda: New Brazilian Cinema Strand Xingu (dir Cao Hamburger), Prime Time Soap (A novellas das 8) (dir Odilon Rocha), Neighbouring Sounds (O som ao redor) (dir Kleber Mendonca Filho) and Southwest (Sudoeste) (dir Eduardo Nunes), will all play showcasing the diversity and quality of the films from the country.

After very popular Gene Kelly Retrospective, the 2013 festival's James Cagney will go down a treat with adoring film fans. The Public Enemy (1931), Angels With Dirty Faces (1938), The Roaring Twenties (1939), White Heat (1949) and Love Me Or Leave Me (1955) are all set to play and like every year the strand finishes with a bang Gene Kelly's finished with The Gene Kelly ceilidh, this years I can guarantee will beat this, all will be revealed at press launch!

The official press launch will  happen 16th January 2013 and we will be in attendance and nearer the time we will share you the programme details when we get them. Public tickets will go on sale the following day, 17th January 2013.

Official Press Release:

Glasgow Film Festival announces the addition of three innovative new programming strands to the 2013 festival.

Glasgow Film Festival's growing popularity is anchored in the programme's wide range of individual strands that target specific areas of interest, bringing together themed screenings, special guests and an outstanding programme of city-wide tie-in events to reach a huge spectrum of audiences. The Festival today announced three exciting new strands:

JAMES CAGNEY: TOP OF THE WORLD, MA! focuses on the extraordinary life and times of Hollywood's Oscar-winning tough guy. As Brazil edges every-further into the global spotlight, BUENA ONDA takes a look at new cinema coming from the emerging superpower. Meanwhile, the star of BBC Scotland's Burnistoun (and obsessive gamer) Robert Florence joins the GFF team to curate GAME CATS GO MIAOW!, which takes a star-studded big-screen look at video games - as they grow ever-more cinematic, could they begin to challenge the movie-going experience?

This month also saw the launch of the festival's official trailer which was directed by Lesley Barnes in a collaboration with animator Bruce Cameron both members of Toads Caravan. Sound comes from members of Glasgow Indie pop band Belle & Sebastian