Pi Blu-Ray Review

Rating:15
Blu-Ray Release Date:
12th August 2013 (UK)
Director:
Darren Aronofsky
Cast:
Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman
Buy:
Pi - 15th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray]

Darren Aronofsky’s debut feature Pi celebrates its 15^th anniversary this year with a refurbed and repackaged Blu-ray release, so it’s the perfect time to revisit everyone’s favourite head-fuck mathematics film.

                Following the exploits of paranoid mathematician Maximillian Cohen (Sean Gullette), the film explores the relationship between math and nature, detailing the vast intricate system of numbers that determine the movements of waves and the growing of natural forms. As Max stumbles upon a system of numbers that may hold the key to breaking this universal equation, his hold on reality begins to slip, plunging him into a hell of dangerous obsession.

                Aronofsky’s first film shows many markers of his later exploits: the intensity, internal chaos, and lack of particular interest in definitive narrative all culminate to prove time again that he is indeed a director interested in making films that question human behaviour as well as  typical methods of conveying story. The expressionist influences are abound not simply in his high contrast black and white filming and use of shadow and frenetic close up, but also in the narrative and the performance of the film’s lead. Lynchian influences are difficult to disband, but rather than holding back the piece, here they wind into a pre-Requiem tale of misery and addiction. 

                Gullette shines through as the schizophrenic Max, a character who has built his own disturbing rabbit hole then flung himself in head first.  His is the doomed character, the man on the edge asking the questions which are probably left best at rest.  It is Gullette’s performance that maintains the viewer’s interest when the second act begins to indulge itself a little too much. As Max becomes caught up in his work Aronofsky does a great, though- eventually- tedious job of relaying true obsessive behaviours. Viewers with a keen interest in Lynch will have no problem following the often nonsensical hallucinatory experience of watching Max’s mind unwind.

Pi is sharp and intense, clever, but perhaps too much for its own good, there are genius moments of grunge sci-fi/thriller and more than a few boring patches that dull the point of an otherwise streamlined example of total visual control. Aronofsky’s Pi plays out like the German expressionist Fight Club: elusive, startling, intense, but utterly bonkers at more than just a few points.

★★★☆☆

Scott Clark

Jealousy enthralls in a Steamy Clip For Brian DePalma's Passion

This Monday, 12th August Brian DePalma's erotic thrillerPassion will arrive on DVD in UK&Ireland. To celebrate the film's UK home release we have  a steamy clip to share  which Rachel McAdams manipulates her females staff.

Passion is directed by Scarface, Untouchables  director and is based on  the final film of late French filmmaker, Alain Cornea's Crime D'Amour (Love Crimes). The film explores he destructive power of rivalry between a manipulative boss (Rachel McAdams) and her talented protégée (Noomi Rapace), where romantic and professional jealousy escalates from punishing public humiliation to cold blooded murder.

In this clip we see Christine (McAdams) complete a business deal, as the businessmen leave a emotionless Isabelle (Rapace) however jealousy hits Dani (Karoline Herfurth) when she walks in on the pair. It's been 17 years since we could say Brian DePalma had a directorial hit with Carlito's Way(1996), could Passion be that film? Possibly the early reviews have been mixed but from what what we've see from clips and trailers, there is signs of the old DePalma we all love in this film!

Check out the new clip...



Did you miss the UK trailer? Watch it here..


Passion will be released on DVD in UK&Ireland from 12th August, limited cinema release in USA from 30th August.
First posted: ThePeoplesMovies

The Place Beyond The Pines Blu Ray Review

Rating: 15
DVD/BD Release Date: 12th August 2013 (UK)
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Bradley Cooper, Ray Liotta
Buy The Place Beyond The Pines: [Blu-ray] or [DVD]
The Place Beyond The Pines is the latest film by Derek Cianfrance, who made the bonafide modern classic Blue Valentine a couple years ago. The Place Beyond The Pines like his previous film stars that actor of the moment Ryan Gosling. It also stars that actor who seems to have elevated himself out of being typecast as that guy from The Hangover films Bradley Cooper. It also has a very fine supporting cast with Eva Mendes (Gosling’s real-life girlfriend), Ray Liotta, Ben Mendelsohn (one of the finest actors working today) and Bruce Greenwood.

The film is starts with being about Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling), a motorcycle stuntman who is working the fairs. He is currently in Altamont, New York and pays a visit to an ex-lover of his Romina (Eva Mendes) and finds out he the father of her son. He decides to stay out and provide for his son but Romina does want him in the kid’s life and she also has a new boyfriend anyway. He eventually gets a job as a mechanic work for a man called Robin (Ben Mendelsohn) and he is getting minimum wage and askes for more money and Robin reveals he use to rob banks and suggest he should do the same. They eventually become a bank robbing team with Robin as the getaway driver and Luke as the robber.

They are very successful at the start but then the film takes a sudden swift and focuses on Bradley Cooper playing Avery Cross who is a cop. He is pronounced a hero after he kills a criminal by his fellow officers and the media. He is uneasy about the media attention and his fellow cops try to get him involved with police corruption. The story of Luke is integral to Avery’s story and also his son’s story later on.

The opening scene is a truly spellbinding long take of Ryan Gosling walking to a circus tent to perform a stunt. The film is full of great long takes thought out especially during the first half and the bank robbery scenes. Ryan Gosling gives his usual great too cool for school performance. However the real revelation is Bradley Cooper who shows why he was accepted into the very exclusive actor’s studio many years ago. Ray Liotta; who is seaming to be making a much welcome comeback and his fellow Killing Them Softly cast member Ben Mendelsohn who seams to be in anything good at the moment.

The story has been remarked on my many other critics as being very mythological and full of classic Greek Tragedy and it certainally does. The coincidences of the last act of the film as first may seem very far-fetched and contrived. This however isn’t necessarily the case if you think of classical storytelling and also the size of the small town the characters inhabit. I’ve seen the film twice now and I’m still not quite sure the last act fully works. It does however not ruin the film like some other endings do and also it doesn’t seem forced.

The film has been compared to The Godfather in story but this is lazy journalism. The film is about family and it’s consequences like that classic and both are films about crime but that’s where the comparisons end. The film reminds me more of films like Straight Time, Goodfellas (the director’s favourite film) or even the more recent Killing Them Softly cause the criminal characters are much more realistic than something as romantic as The Godfather.

The Place Beyond The Pines is one of the cinematic events of the year and should not be missed. The film is much more epic in tone and scope than Blue Valentine which is in turn becomes one of it’s flaws but there is very much to admire to make it a possible contender for my top 10 at the end of the year.

★★★★☆

Ian Schultz

Extortion Rears its Evil Claw In The Short for Larry Cohen's The Worst

 You wonder when you here in Dr.Pepper TV what's the worst that can happen?In the short film The Worst, it's leaving your bag and mobile on the metro train. Ryan (Britt Lower) was in a bewildered state when she reached her stopped without thinking  she got off but left her bag and mobile on the train. Whilst her night might be going downhill an off duty worker Nick (Dean Winters) maybe a shining night in armour and get Ryan's bag back but for a price...$200 (£175).

The Worst delivers a solid well balanced 15 minute film delivering a balanced genre film with drama, comedy even a little action. If you ever wondered what it's like when a person finds themselves at the lowest ever point, distressed,lost easily manipulated, The Worst delivers with precision.

Synopsis

Ryan had a bad night. Her phone is dead. And in a moment of indecision, she just left everything on the F train. Desperate, she turns to Nick, an off-duty MTA worker of suspect morals. The two strangers enter into a contentious deal to chase down the subway, before it vanishes with Ryan’s luggage and any chance of her getting home. What's the worst that can happen?

source:Vimeo

Watch The UK Trailer For Stephen Frear's Philomena

Whilst we know all about  Steve Coogan's comedy talents many may not know of his versatility and deliver something serious as well as dramatic, this November we will see that side of Coogan we don't see much off. This afternoon we will get a glimpse of his dramatic chops when we enjoy the UK trailer for Philomena.

Starring  Dame Judi Dench, Philomena  is a tragic true tale set in 1950′s Ireland  of Philomena Lee (Dench) who falls pregnant giving birth to a boy in a Catholic home for unmarried mothers. Years later she is forced to give up her child and has  to become a nun made to sign a declaration not to ever look  for her Son.Years later now living in UK with help from local news reporter Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) to hunt her son down.

Whilst Look Of Love (and What Maisie Knew out this month)gave us a insight to what Coogan to offer, Philomena  is also co-written by Coogan which has even sparked Oscar talk, especially as this film has the emotion levels the Academy love. What mustn't forget  Judi Dench looks like she'll deliver deeply moving and powerful, if your looking for something with humour, Coogan told Variety....

"The film is a comic tragedy or a tragic comedy,It's about two very different people, at different stages of their lives, who help each other and show that there is laughter even in the darkest places."

Philomena arrives in UK on 1st November 2013.

Synopsis

Judi Dench and Steve Coogan play unlikely friends in PHILOMENA, the moving, funny and at times shocking true story of one woman’s search for a lost son.

Directed by BAFTA winner Stephen Frears (The Queen), PHILOMENA will open in the UK and Ireland on 1 November 2013.

Falling pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena was sent to the convent of Roscrea to be looked after as a “fallen woman”. When her baby was only a toddler, he was taken away by the nuns for adoption in America. Philomena spent the next fifty years searching for him but with no success.

Then she met Martin Sixsmith, a world-weary political journalist who happened to be intrigued by her story. Together they set off to America on a journey that would not only reveal the extraordinary story of Philomena’s son, but also create an unexpectedly close bond between Philomena and Martin.

The film is a compelling narrative of human love and loss that ultimately celebrates life, showing that there is laughter even in the darkest places.

Sixsmith’s book "The Lost Child Of Philomena Lee" was published in 2009. It acted as a catalyst for thousands of adopted Irish children and their ‘shamed’ mothers to come forward to tell their stories. Many are still searching for their lost families.

first posted at : Thepeoplesmovies 

Horror Channel Presenter Emily Booth To Produce And Star In Selkie

Horror Channel presenter and actress Emily Booth steps behind the lens to make her first short film – SELKIE, a dark revenge fairytale, in which she also stars in the title role - as a beautiful and vengeful sea creature.

The plot, based on an ancient Celtic myth, sees Selkie enslaved to a drunken fisherman when he finds her shedded skin on the beach. Refusing to return her skin to her, the Selkie law of nature means she is now bound to him as his 'land wife' unable to return to her true form, and to the sea. Until one day, many years later, when she exacts her revenge and finally is able to transform back into her true form.

Emily assembled her own team for the project including concept artist Danny McMahon (who came up with the original drawings of the Selkie creature) and SFX artist Robbie Drake (Nightbreed, The Seasoning House)

Emily said today: “My aim is to create something truly unique and memorable, a dark and haunting adult fairytale, with a spectacular creature transformation sequence, all shot in Medieval locations. Yes it’s a challenge and will not be cheap which is why I’m using the innovative crowd funding site Kickstarter.”

Check out concept art image for Selkie below  and for more information plus a video of Emily Booth sharing her passion for the project head over to the film's Kickstarter page where you also donate to the film too.

Selkie Kickstarter Page link 

FF2013 - History Repeats Itself In the UK Trailer For Renny Harlin's The Dyatlov Pass Incident

Yipee Kai Yeh Mother Russia! If there was a action thriller to be made in the 1990's you could bet Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger) would be involved in some shape or size. Since then his career has sidelined into mostly direct to DVD affairs and for his latest we will be trekking wintery climbs of The Urals for the trailer for The Dyatlov Pass Incident.

Called The Devil's Pass in USA,The Dyatlov Pass Incident follows 5 American students who head into the Urals in Russia to investigate the mysterious deaths of 9 skiers in 1959 from extremely odd circumstances. 50 plus years on as the team try to uncover the mystery, strange phenomena start to affect them looking like history is about to repeat itself.

When 'Based On True Events' and found footage find themselves in the same sentence  it doesn't hold well amongst cinehepiles, however when done right it can be insanely stupid most of all highly entertaining. For those fortunate to have caught this have enjoyed the questionable CGI.

New Blair Witch Project? Find out on 23rd August when the The Dyatlov Pass Incident gets a limited release in UK &USA and Film Four Frightfest when the film opens the festivals first full day. The film stars Gemma Atkinson, Matt Stokoe, Richard Reid, Holly Goss and Luke Albright.

Synopsis

In February 1959, nine ski hikers went missing in a remote area of the Ural Mountains in Russia. Two weeks later all nine were found dead, half dressed and hundreds of yards from their camp, their bodies giving off high levels of radiation and bearing severe internal injuries, including broken ribs and fractured skulls, but showing no discernible external wounds or any signs of a struggle. Their deaths have remained a mystery, with rumours attributing the incident to everything from alien encounters, government conspiracies and the supernatural.
Now, five American college students are hoping to solve the mystery of what has become known as the Dyatlov Pass Incident by retracing the steps of the original ill-fated expedition and documenting their findings on film. But what they are about to discover in the remote, icy wastes will prove to be more shocking and unexpected that anything they could possibly have imagined.

Watch Provocative New Trailer For Francios Ozon's Jeune Et Jolie (Young & Beautiful)

Whilst Cannes might be missing eccentrics and controversies of Lars Von Trier, whilst Nymphomaniac might not be ready Francois Ozon's Jeune Et Jolie might deliver what they might be missing.  With the film focused on teenage girl and sex , a 17 year old prostitute it's obvious eyebrows are going to be raised maybe not so much Von Trier but Ozon. No matter what the story that surrounds premise underage girl, sex will raise a scandal whatever country.

Jeune Et Jolie (Young&Beautiful) tells the story of 17 year old Isabelle (Marine Vacth) who comes from a well of family goes on a sexual adventure of self discovery. A coming of age story set over four seasons with four distinctive songs. .

With French release only 11 days away a brand new trailer has been released curiosity will drive people to see how far Ozon will go. Isabelle's relationship with her parents and what made her become a prostitute ?

Jeune Et Jolie arrives in French Cinemas 21st August.

source:QuietEarth

Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine Has UK Trailer, Watch Now

After To Rome To Love you wondered if Woody Allen has finally lost his unique touch? Fear not next month the old magic looks like it's returning when Blue Jasmine is Released and this afternoon we have the film's official UK trailer.

Starring Cate Blanchett as Jasmine a middle aged New York Socialite whose life has went from riches to rags thanks to the action of her husband (Alec Baldwin). With no Jasmine is forced to move to San Francisco to stay with her sister (Sally Hawkins) to attempt to get her life back together whilst drinking the the remainder of her drinks cabinet.

When you start talking about Oscars when when talking about Woody Allen films you know the film has a sign of quality. With the film already out Stateside some of the reviews are saying Cate Blanchett has delivered one of her best performances in a long time and others are saying Blue Jasmine is up there with the likes of Annie Hall which will please Allen's loyal fanbase.



Blue Jasmine will be out in UK on 27th September,the film co-stars Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Andrew Dice Clay ,Bobby Cannavale , Louis C.K and Peter Sarsgaard.

Synopsis

After everything in her life falls to pieces, including her marriage to wealthy businessman Hal (Alec Baldwin), elegant New York socialite Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) moves into her sister Ginger’s (Sally Hawkins) modest apartment in San Francisco to try to pull herself back together again.
Jasmine arrives in San Francisco in a fragile mental state, her head reeling from the cocktail of anti-depressants she’s on. While still able to project her aristocratic bearing, Jasmine is emotionally precarious and lacks any practical ability to support herself. She disapproves of Ginger’s boyfriend Chili (Bobby Cannavale), who she considers another “loser” like Ginger’s ex-husband Augie (Andrew Dice Clay). Ginger, recognizing but not fully understanding her sister’s psychological instability, suggests that she pursue interior design, a career she correctly intuits that Jasmine won’t feel is beneath her. In the meantime, Jasmine begrudgingly accepts work as the receptionist in a dentist’s office, where she attracts the unwanted attentions of her boss, Dr. Flicker (Michael Stuhlbarg).
Feeling that her sister might be right about her poor taste in men, Ginger starts seeing Al (Louis C.K.), a sound engineer whom she considers as a step up from Chili. Jasmine sees a potential lifeline when she meets Dwight (Peter Sarsgaard), a diplomat who is quickly smitten with her beauty, sophistication and style.
Jasmine’s flaw is that she derives her worth from the way she’s perceived by others, while she herself is blind to what is going around her. Delicately portrayed by a regal Cate Blanchett, Jasmine earns our compassion because she is the unwitting instrument of her own downfall. Woody Allen’s new drama BLUE JASMINE is about the dire consequences that can result when people avert their eyes from reality and the truth they don’t want to see.

FF2013 -They Are Amongst Us, They Know Who You Are, Watch The Conspiracy UK Trailer

Come off the fantastic reviews and buzz from the likes of Fantastic Fest, their now coming to the UK to take us over, who are they? Watch the UK trailer For The Conspiracy.

Conspiracy theory films are that can of worms we love filmmakers to open, sadly not enough as the world of possibilities is endless. If your looking for the darker more sinister theory film  The Conspiracy might just deliver what your looking for. The buzz from the film's early festival reviews  have been nothing but fantastic and it been a  'found footage' film makes it even more intriguing making wonder if there;s still life left in the old dog?

The film follows a couple of young  documentary film makers(Aaron Poole & James Gilbert) who track down,a seemingly mad  conspiracy  theorist Terrence(Alan C.Peterson)  suddenly disappears.The pair begin to uncover some unnerving truths  in Terrence's patterns and as they retrace his work, which leads them into the depths of a terrifyingly powerful secret society known as the  The Tarsus Club.



Will The Conspiracy deliver the answer to all those theories who desire to be answered? Is Elivs  alive? The Freemasons? Who killed Kennedy? September 11th who is responsible? Who are the Illuminati ?Hopefully one theory maybe revealed the one of who are The Taurus Club?

The Conspiracy will be released in UK cinemas 11th October then on DVD, Blu-ray 14th October but if your heading to Film4 Frightfest this month you can catch the film's UK premier Sunday 25th August (6.45pm)

Synopsis

When two young filmmakers select a crazed conspiracy theorist as the subject of their new work the task seems simple enough: Befriend him, gain his trust, and let the madness speak for itself. But things prove more complicated than that. Despite his street preaching their subject proves to be an articulate and intelligent man. One prone to seeing patterns others do not, yes, but hardly the expected lunatic. Listen long enough and his arguments even start to make an unnerving sort of sense. It’s enough to make them wonder if maybe, somehow, there’s some basis to what he’s saying...

And then he simply disappears. No word. No trace. Just gone.

While one of the filmmaking pair is prepared to walk away the other becomes obsessed. This shouldn’t be possible. People do not just disappear…. unless someone wants them to. What if he was correct? What if he was on the verge of exposing some greater scheme? And what if he was taken? So begins an obsessive effort to reconstruct his work, an effort that points the duo to a high-powered retreat and networking organization for the political and business elite.

Inspired by real conspiracy theories and secret organisations, THE CONSPIRACY is more than just entertainment. It is a sharp, topical commentary of a world in which the most important question is not “What happened?” but “Who is telling us?”
source:ThePeoplesMovies