Orson Welles The Trial Blu-Ray Review

★★★★1/2

Orson Welles’ The Trial was his penultimate feature length film. His last proved to be Falstaff : Chimes at Midnight but there are fragments of unfinished films such Don Quixote floating about.The Trial is a radical adaptation of Franz Kafka’s novel which itself was a radical novel, he changes the book’s already fragmented order up and changes the ending. Welles was offered the chance to make any film from a public domain source by the producer Alexander Salkindso and Welles eventually picked The Trial partly due his son’s insistence and after he re-read it. However he later found it wasn’t in public domain at that time (it now is) but the producer and Welles decided to continue with the project.

The plot is relatively simple Josef K. (played brilliantly by Anthony Perkins) is woken in his apartment by some police officers who arrest him for a crime he is accused of committing, however he is never told of his offence. This starts a increasing downward spiral for Josef K. and increasing surreal events.

Anthony Perkins gives a brilliant nervous wreck of a performance at Josef K. It also really shows his really underused acting talent that sadly few films showed Psycho and On The Beach are the only others that come to mind. The film has a extra level of surrealism by the fact Orson Welles dubbed a lot of characters himself (which he also did in some other films) and the blu-ray makes it a lot more obvious with some dubbing noticeably out of synch at times. Orson himself has a supporting role as a strange law advocate and it seems like Welles redubbed his lines in adr. It also stars French star Jeanne Moreau as Josef’s neighbour.

 The film’s cinematography and sets’ are best Welles did since Citizen Kane with the exception of THAT tracking shot in Touch of Evil and that’s saying something! The film was mostly shot in Croatia (not Kafka’s native Czech Republic) and a lot of the sets weren’t sets at all but strange surreal futuristic buildings in the city of Zagreb.

The film’s structure is fragmented which is partly due to the novel’s structure. The film’s pacing is slightly off which is annoying at times but the film’s quality overcomes this. However it could probably loose about 15 minutes off it’s running time. Overall it’s one of the most flawed masterpieces to be made, which was partly because it’s financial limitations. However Welles’ inventiveness makes a it’s one of his most fascinating films in a career of fascination. It also boosts a stunning performance from Anthony Perkins who deserved a lot more juicy parts in his career. It is also worth noting that Welles believed Josef was guilty but you can make your own mind u[.

Ian Schultz

Rating:PG
Blu Ray Release Date: 10th September 2012 (UK)
Directed by:Orson Welles
Cast:Anthony Perkins, Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Elsa Martinelli, Orson Welles

The Aggression Scale DVD Review

Win Studiocanal's CloClo On DVD

A musical icon, an incredible story. His masterpiece will live forever, that legend is Claude Francois better known to his fans as CloClo. Tomorrow 3rd September, Studiocanal will release CloClo on DVD, Bluray and to celebrate the release we have 3 copies of the film on DVD to be won!

While England was rocked by The Beatles, France was going crazy for Claude François, aka CLOCLO. Directed by Florent-Emilio Siri (Hostage) and written by Julien Rappeneau (Burma Conspiracy, 36) CLOCLO is, in the vein of La Vie en Rose, a powerful biopic of one of the most famous French singers.

Starring Jérémie Renier (In Bruges, Potiche) CLOCLO draws the portrait of a complex character who became a legend in his country and reached international fame with his famous song Comme D’Habitude adapted as My Way by Frank Sinatra.

The destiny of Claude François, who died at the age of 39, continues to fascinate fans more than 30 years later. He was a much-loved star and shrewd businessman, great showman and marketing magician, hit machine and magazine publisher, but also family man and ladies’ man.

CLOCLO is the fascinating story of a man whose ambition drove him straight to the top, but ultimately led him to a tragic end.

To win this film on DVD we have 3 copies to give away and to win a copy all you have to do is 3 things:

1. Send us your name, address and postcode only to winatcinehouseuk@gmail.com 
2. Retweet and like& share this post at facebook (include your twitter/facebook name in email)
3. Answer to 5+6 (include in email too)

Deadline for contest is Sunday 23rd September 2012 (2359hrs)


Terms and conditions

Terms and conditions

• This prize is non transferable.
• No cash alternatives apply.
• UK & Irish entries only
  The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse and Studiocanal  have the right to alter, delay or cancel this competition without any notice
• The competition is not opened to employees, family, friends of The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse,Studiocanal employees
• This competition is promoted on behalf of Studiocanal.
• If this prize becomes unavailable we have the right to offer an alternative prize instead.
• The Prize is to win Cloclo on 3 DVDs
• To enter this competition you must send in your answer, name, address only, Deadline September 23rd, 2012 (2359hrs)
• Will only accept entries sent to the correct email (winatcinehouseuk@gmail.com), any other entry via any other email will be void.
• automated entries are not allowed and will be disqualified, which could result you been banned.
• The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse takes no responsibility for delayed, lost, stolen prizes
• Prizes may take from days to a few months for delivery which is out of our control.
• The competition is opened to Aged 13  and over 
• Unless Stated Please  Do Not Include Telephone Numbers, we don’t need them and if you include your telephone number Cinehouse and The People’s Movies are not responsible for the security of the number.
• The winning entries will be picked at random and contacted by email
• This competition is bound by the rules of Scotland,England & Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland.
• By sending your entry for this competition you are confirming you have read and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
UK Competitions and Prize Draws at UKwins
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ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions

Albert Nobbs DVD Review

★★1/2☆☆

Amidst the economic hardships and social prejudices of 19th century Dublin, unassuming butler, Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) tries to eke out a living as a waiter in an upmarket hotel. Serving tea to the cream of Ireland’s landed gentry, Albert dreams of opening a tobacconist, while attempting to keep a lid on the fact that he is actually a she.

Albert’s plans to work his/her way into occupational and fiscal independence are complicated by the arrival at the hotel of Hubert (Janet McTeer), a painter who discovers Albert’s secret and alerts him/her to a hitherto unknown world of possibility.

By all accounts Albert Nobbs was a labour of love for Close who toiled for a number of years to bring the story to the big screen, and earlier this year she was rewarded with an Academy Award nomination for her effort. One might be forgiven for thinking that nomination was more for the grim determination with which she dragged the contents of the novel, via the stage, onto the big screen, rather than for the grim, stoic determination with which her character serves dinner.

Alarmingly, Nobbs is a transvestite whose uptight nature and general lack of personality singularly fails to generate any interest, sympathy or emotion in himself/herself whatsoever. It’s also a performance which is massively overshadowed by Janet McTeer’s hard-yet-understanding husband.

Brendan Gleeson’s brief moments of humour bring some relief from the pretty relentless drudgery; and there’s just enough charm to be found in the first 45 minutes to maintain interest for the film’s opening act. But it’s a charm which evaporates far too quickly, leaving the film to trudge to a conclusion.

For a film which seeks to address the issue of unconventional or illicit sexual liaisons, Albert Nobbs is a surprisingly joyless, sexless affair.

Chris Banks

@Chris_in_2D Rating:12
UK DVD/BD Release Date:3rd September 2012
Directed by:Rodrigo García
Cast: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Brendan Gleeson, Aaron Johnson, Pauline Collins

Win Fullmetal Alchemist Movie 2: The Sacred Star of Milos On DVD

Alchemist brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric return in a second movie-length addition to the massively popular Fullmetal Alchemist franchise. Spectacular battles and plot twists abound as the siblings are plunged into a high octane steampunk adventure, complete with runaway trains, rampaging werewolves, forbidden rituals and a deadly new villain.

Fullmetal Alchemist Movie 2: The Sacred Star of Milos (Manga Entertainment) comes to DVD and Blu-ray 3rd September!

Pursuit of a dangerous criminal with devastating alchemical powers takes Ed. and Al. Elric to Table City, a remote location on the border of Amestris and neighbouring Creta. There the brothers rescue a young alchemist named Julia Crichton from the clutches of their mysterious quarry, only to find themselves embroiled in a sinister story of corruption, rebellion, murder and betrayal.

Julia is the leader of the Black Bats, a resistance group fighting for the rights of the ancient Milos race, who have been forced out of Table City to live in the slums of the Milos Valley. With her people oppressed by Amestris and Creta alike, the strong-willed teen resolves to win their freedom by harnessing the energy of the Philosopher’s Stone. However, Julia isn’t the only one who wants to wield the artefact’s enormous power…

We have A of Fullmetal Alchemist Movie 2: The Sacred Star Of Milos On DVD, to enter Please answer the following question:

Q.What Is The Name of The city The Black Cats Are forced out?

1.Table City
2.Chair City
3.Cat City

Deadline:Sunday 23rd September 2012 (2359hrs)  Send your answer, name, address, postcode and the answer to 25+25x5=  to winatcinehouseuk@gmail.com Must be 15 years or over to enter

Terms and Conditions

• This prize is non-transferable.
• No cash alternatives apply.
• UK & Irish entries only
  The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse and Manga UK  have the right to alter, delay or cancel this competition without any notice
• The competition is not opened to employees, family, friends of The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse,Manga UK  employees
• This competition is promoted on behalf of Manga UK
• If this prize becomes unavailable we have the right to offer an alternative prize instead.
• The Prize is to win Fullmetal Alchemist Movie 2: The Sacred Star of Milos On DVD 1 DVD
• To enter this competition you must send in your answer, name, address only, Deadline September 16th, 2012 (2359hrs)
• Will only accept entries sent to the correct email (winatcinehouseuk@gmail.com), any other entry via any other email will be void.
• automated entries are not allowed and will be disqualified, which could result you been banned.
• The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse takes no responsibility for delayed, lost, stolen prizes
• Prizes may take from days to a few months for delivery which is out of our control.
• The competition is opened to Aged 15  and over 
• Unless Stated Please  Do Not Include Telephone Numbers, we don’t need them and if you include your telephone number Cinehouse and The People’s Movies are not responsible for the security of the number.
• The winning entries will be picked at random and contacted by email
• This competition is bound by the rules of Scotland,England & Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland.
• By sending your entry for this competition you are confirming you have read and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
UK Competitions and Prize Draws at UKwins
Loquax Competitions
Free Competitions
ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions

That Obscure Object of Desire Blu-Ray Review

★★★★★

That Obscure Object of Desire was Luis Buñuel’s last film in 1977 after a very long career. His career started in 1929 with the classic surrealistic short film Un Chien Andalou. That Obscure… was one of his most critically successful films where it got nominated for numerous awards including a Oscar noms for “Best Foreign Language Film” and “Best Adapted Screenplay”. It stars Fernando Rey who worked frequently with Buñuel during the 60s and 70s. It was also based on the novel “The Women and the Puppet” by Pierre Louÿs which has been adapted many times to film, That Obscure… was the 5^th and final to date.

It tells the story of a middle age wealthy French man Mathieu (Fernando Way) and meets Conchita (played by both Carole Bouquet AND Ángela Molina). They start a dysfunctional romance to say the least against the backdrop of terrorist bombings in France and Spain. The film starts with Mathieu getting on a train, Conchita is running towards the train and he pays a train worker to get a bucket of water and he dumps it on her and he believes their relationship is finished but she sneaks on.

Mathieu meets a group of people a midget, a friend of cousin, a mother and her daughter on the train. He tells them his’ story of their extremely complicated relationship.  The flashbacks consist of Mathieu trying to screw Conchita (who claims to be a Virgin) and failing miserably by escalating absurd reasons why they can’t have sex and the reasons and at one point she wears a pair of tightly laced canvas shorts to protect her groin region.

The film as always expected with Buñuel is a wonderfully twisted satire on the Bourgeoisie, Religion, Sex and Politics. It’s rip roaringly funny as places and one of the most astute films on the games women play on men. Fernando Ray is great even though his lines are actually dubbed by Michael Piccoli but his sense of being madly in love, frustration and despair is obvious despite this. Carole Bouquet and Ángela Molina are also great as Conchita, the beautiful but totally wicked girl of his dreams.

The film is also one of his least surreal films. However it’s got very subtle surrealist touches such as the randomness of a dwarf in Michael’s train cabin, the use of 2 actresses, a woman carrying a pig like a baby.

It’s a wonderfully twisted end of the career of one cinema’s true artists and originals. It may not be the best starting point for a new person to Buñuel (something like The Exterminating Angel would be more fitting). I think any man can relate to the Mathieu and it’s a true classic at this point. It has been recently reissued as part of the StudioCanal collection on Blu-Ray.

Ian Schultz

Rating:18
Re-release Blu-Ray: 10th September 2012 (UK)
Directed by:Luis Buñuel
Cast: Fernando Rey, Carole Bouquet, Julien Bertheau, 

OI Dead Geezer, Cockneys VS Zombies Invading UK Home Releas This October

STUDIOCANAL are ‘eaven and ‘ell chuffed to announce that ‘orror comedy ‘Cockneys vs Zombies’ will be available on DVD & Blu-Ray from 29th October.

Cockneys vs Zombies follows a group of plucky cousins as they try to rob a bank to save their grandparents care home from developers. Little do they know, whilst they’re cleaning out the vault, zombies as cleaning up the east end and shuffling towards Bow Bells’ care home with an appetite for OAPs.

Starring a host of Britain’s finest acting talent including; Honor Blackman (Goldfinger, ‘The Avengers’, Bridget Jones’s Diary), Rasmus Hardiker (Starter for 10, I Want Candy, ‘Saxondale’), Harry Treadaway (Fish Tank, Control), Michelle Ryan (4.3.2.1, ‘Bionic Woman’), Ashley ‘Bashy’ Thomas (4.3.2.1, Shank), Jack Doolan (Cemetery Junction, ‘The Green Green Grass’) and Alan Ford (Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). Cockneys vs. Zombies is written by James Moran ('Torchwood', Severance) and directed by Partizan's Matthias Hoene.

Cockneys vs. Zombies is a new breed of zombie adventure filled with equal edge-of-your-seat-tension and rocking-in-your-seat-with-laughter moments. If you ever wanted to see how a zimmer frame could turn into a lethal weapon, pick up Cockneys vs. Zombies on DVD or Blu-Ray on 29th October 2012, released by STUDIOCANAL.

When you’re robbing a bank, a zombie invasion makes things a lot harder.

As contractors at an East London building site unlock a 350 year old vault of seriously hungry zombies, our hapless team of wanna-be bank robbers are in the wrong place at the right time. Katy (Michelle Ryan), Andy (Harry Treadaway), Terry (Rasmus Hardiker) and bank robbing “experts” Mental Mickey (Ashley 'Bashy' Thomas) and Davey Tuppence (Jack Doolan) find themselves the unlikely heroes of a zombie attack.

Equipped with all the guns and ammo they can carry, it’s up to the gang to save not only their grandparents but the East End from Zombie-Armageddon. When it’s the living vs. the undead... it’s Cockneys vs. Zombies.

Cockneys Vs. Zombies stars Harry Treadaway, Michelle Ryan, Rasmus Hardiker, Ashley Thomas, Georgia King, Jack Doolan, Honor Blackman,Alan Ford, Richard Briers and Dudley Sutton

Available Extras – DVD &Blu-Ray

Behind the Scenes: - The Maguire Brothers – 4’ 35’’
- The Bank Robbery – 3’ 25’’
- The Care Home – 3’
- At The Docks – 2’ 50’’
- Special Effects – 3’ 40’
- The Filmmakers – 5’
- Andy TV – 1’ 30’’

Zombie School - 4’ 09’’

Trailer - 2’ 20’’

Cockneys Vs Zombies Will be released by Studiocanal in UK&Ireland, October 29th, read our review here

Watch Horror Channel UK's Horror Bites September Edition

It's been a while since we've shown you a ’Horror Bites with Emily Booth’ – a monthly round-up of previews, exclusive interviews, movie clips & trailers plus the latest news of what is premiering on Horror Channel. 

September is a beastly mix of sinful Satanism, evil embryos and frightful fairytales, including the World SINema season featuring Guillermo Del Toro’s The Devils Backbone, Italian Exorcist “homage” The Antichrist, and the little-seen French horror Baby Blood. September also sees the Horror Channel premieres of Breadcrumbs and Botched; along with an eclectic mix of world horror including Link from the USA, Holocaust 2000 from Italy and Night Drive from South Africa! Plus this month see The Cabin in the Woods director Drew Goddard takes over the channel for Director’s Night on 27th September – with An American Werewolf in London, Hellraiser and The Stepfather…

A big thanks to our friends at Blogomatic3000 who bring us this edition and we like to extend that thanks to the Blogomatic 3000 guys  for helping us out with Film4 Frightfest 13th reviews

The Lost Coast Tapes DVD Review

★★★☆☆

Unlike the majority of films to ride the lucrative “handheld” wave that has flooded horror since Blair Witch and more recently Paranormal  Activity, The Lost Coast Tapes actually holds its own as an enjoyable addition to a painfully tired sub-genre. Avoiding the now predictable “students in an abandoned whatever” or “campers investigate bumps in the night” the film makes the legend of Bigfoot its focus with its tongue very nearly in its cheek.  The story follows an investigative journalist, his cameraman, a sound guy, and a producer who journey to Northern California’s “Lost Coast” to create a documentary around a hunter who claims to have the body of an actual Sasquatch. As night falls and the crew settle into the hunter’s small compound in the heart of the forest they discover the truth behind they legend of Bigfoot.

From the second the camera kicks into gear, it’s impressive how well-scripted the dialogue is. A snappy engrossing pace builds around an opening which sees the last loose ends of the pre-production wrapped: the funding is collected, a last minute drop-out is replaced, and then it’s on the road. The rest of the film creeps forward in a suitable foreboding tone, rarely does the film reach a truly taught atmosphere but it’s still pretty enjoyable to watch if only to find out what the fuck is going on.  Sometimes the pace is lost and there are short sequences of boredom, but in the grand scheme of the film these exist to protect the anonymity of the subject. A blatant assault from Bigfoot (plural being Bigfeet? Bigfoots?) or proof of hoax would shake the audience out of the film’s most important function: mystery. The brains of the film lie in successfully hoodwinking the audience right up until the end.

 Some of the dialogue pops the bubble in a big way. Kevin’s (Noah Weisberg) entire character threatens to pull the film into the murky depths of some mystery black comedy that it just shouldn’t be going for. His bumbling leaves the rest of the cast looking like they are working on a separate film.  Similarly Frank Ashmore’s Mr Drybeck seems laughably dramatic, wandering out of the woods to deliver a lone hunterperformance right out of the horror canon. His potentially wobbly slice of cheesy brooding thankfully simmers down, devolving from sideways glances and long pauses to a more subtle performance that actually makes him the most enjoyable person to watch on screen.

As for the actual Bigfoot? It’s surprising that the concept of a nine-foot throwback trundling around in the forest is actually particularly unnerving. Incredibly subtle shadow-play goes a long way here. Blink-and-you’ll miss-it moments are rewarding and far creepier than the all-out approach. The sightings are unfortunately too few and a real sense of menace isn’t properly achieved until the last fifteen minutes which throws everything in the air and lets the characters race around on the verge of breakdown. A hard-hitting climax shows that the director can deal with fast-pace mayhem, but leaves us wishing he’d pulled more moments like it earlier on.

Earlier on I mentioned tongue and cheek, but it’s firm direction, well-crafted dialogue, and good acting that ensures the film doesn’t spiral into a childish mess. Some dud ideas and a lack of enough going on stop the film being consistently good, thankfully the finale leaves the piece in good stead.

Scott Clark

Rating:15
UK DVD/BD Release Date: 3rd Spetember 2012
Directed By:Corey Grant   
Cast: Drew Rausch, Rich McDonald, Ashley Wood

[Rec] Invades Twitter Universe with 'Rec Twitter Theatre'

Last Friday, 24th August 2012, the long-awaited and highly anticipated third instalment of the planned four-part saga has finally arrived and, boy, was it worth the wait, [Rec]3:Genesis. To celebrate the release of the third movie - Genesis, a seven hour epic world first twitter-based theatre performance will take place as infected discs of the film find their victims!

People will be able to follow this using the Hashtag #RECvirus


The show starts at 12pm UK time today Saturday 1st September.

Our Friends  at Fetch Publicity  responsible for the film's promotion  kicked off the events at their offices where the person who mailed out the infected discs out to the reviewers  met a grisly end leading to this web-wide appeal:

On a serious note fans of the Rec films will love this event which is about to start anytime , lots of fun and we've been told lots of great twists too.

In the third movie - Genesis - (out now in UK cinemas and out on UK DVD and Blu-ray Monday 3rd September) the virus spreads out of the original building to a wedding - what we didn't reckon on was it spreading to the Fetch offices and resulting in this hideous incident!Scott our resident Horror writer has reviewed the film, you can read his review here. Here at Cinehouse & The People's Movies HQ are concerned about Scott who hasn't been seen since he reviewed the film but we've been hearing of mass panic in Scott's hometown of Edinburgh.

We're appealing to anyone who got a disc not to touch them - the girl in the video was the one who did the mailing and now unconfirmed reports of similar outbreaks after the screening of the film in London at Frightfest last week.