A Hijacking (Kapringen) DVD Review

Rating: 15
DVD/BD Release Date:
26th August 2013 (UK)
Director:
Tobias Lindholm
Cast:
Pilou Asbæk, soren malling, Dar Salim
Buy/rent:
[Blu-ray] [DVD]

It's not much of a pirate's life for ship's cook Mikkel (Pilou Asbaek), who becomes the victim of a hijacking in Tobias Lindholm's gruelling tale of piracy in the Indian Ocean.

Lindholn co-wrote last year's superbly tense The Hunt, and he excels once more with a drama is low on the sort of swashbuckling frippery that has been prevalent in much of the recent pirate fare Indeed, the vast bulk of the film plays out post-hijacking as the increasingly desperate Mikkel plays a long and excruciating waiting game; tortuously dragged out over many weeks.

Meanwhile, half a world away in his Copenhagen office, Mikkel's boss prowls the corridors and walks a psychological tightrope of his own as he plays chief negotiator with the captors via their irritable translator.
Lindholm's steady, brooding film is sparse on frills but flooded with tension. A documentary aesthetic gives the whole piece a hyper-real sense of desperate, miserable futility. For poor Mikkel and his shipmates trapped aboard their floating prison the abyss looms large with little hope of salvation.

Raw and glossless it may be, but A Hijacking is nevertheless tough, claustrophobic and relentlessly tense. If your idea of a great pirate movie is all chattering parrots and rum, do yourself a favour and hoist the white flag.

★★★★☆

Chris Banks

All-In Short goes 'All In' For action packed short

What happens when your true love needs rescued and she's been held by a ruthless crime boss, so what do you do? Fight your way in, kick every one's ass! In Tyler Williams All-In short film that's what happens but we didn't mention to you he's MMA fighter!

A struggling fighter faces long odds as he takes on a gambling den of criminals in an attempt to rescue his true love from the clutches of a ruthless crime boss.

After a fairly successful run on the festival circuit Williams 10 minute short film All-In is now available online to watch  plenty of action, nice few camera shots to make it worthwile a look.


source:Twitch

Rebellion (L'ordre et la morale) Blu-Ray Review

Rating: 15
Release Date:
26th August 2013 (UK)
Directed By:
Mathieu Kassovitz
Cast:
Mathieu Kassovitz, Labe Lapacas, Sylvie Testud, Steeve Une, Jean-Philippe Puymartin,
Buy:
[DVD] / [Blu-ray]
After several years floundering in Hollywood mediocrity actor come director Mathieu Kassovitz marks his welcome return to form with Rebellion (L'ordre et la morale). A no holds barred shameful account on a little unknown black spot on French colonial history.

Dividing his time behind and front of the camera Kassovitz plays Phillipe Legorjus a anti terrorist captain assigned by French government during the countries 1988 presidential elections. He is sent to the French colony of New Caledonia to track down separatists who killed  3 policemen as well as taking 26 more hostage too.

When Legorjus confronts the leader of the separatists Alphonse (Labe Lapacas) to defuse the situation and negotiate the hostages release. What he finds is a group of indigenous Kanak people (New Caledonian people)who want independence from France. As Legorjus slowly gains the trust of the group he finds himself frustrated by harassment from his peers who daily repress the local populous. As Legorjus gets closer to a peaceful solution, political fighting closer to home between Mitterand and Chirac (the presidential candidates) who both support different solutions to end the stand off. Legorjus now finds himself running out of time to prevent tragedy unfolding.

For many years we have always read/heard about America's so called 'crimes' against humanity but rarely do we get an account of another nation. Rebellion is that stark reminder no country is safe, if you have a black spot in your history it's a story that must be told, this film is one of those stories. Kassovitz is a man on a mission, an angry man delivering a tense harrowing story which  slowly grips you as your pulled into the chaos.

Thanks to a well written script Rebellion opens up with the film's final outcome and it's not a happy ending. For the next 2 hours you learn who the true victims are, the Kanaks who simply want independence from France, now forced to pick up arms. Subjected to violence, racism, political infighting, beaucracy leaving a bitter taste in your mouth questioning any justification of the actions of the French.

Whilst popular stories of struggle are fascinating, lesser known struggles are even more intriguing and with Rebellion Kassovitz gives the Kanaks a voice, solidifying the legality of the Kanak's struggle to be a nation of their own. I laugh at Alec Salmond's cries of 'injustice' of the Scottish people (I'm Scottish) but if he really wants to talk about real injustices as the New Caledonians, the Kanak's fight to be independent, now that's true injustice.

Rebellion is a slow burning compelling film. The pace of the film may not be to everyone's liking but if if you enjoyed the Oliver Stone films of the 1980's this one will be right up your street. This is a powerful film that's intelligently written with Kassovitz delivering his best film probably since his best directorial flick since 195, Le Haine.

★★★★☆

Paul Devine

The Five Best Movies about Adult Films

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Don't Mess With Tony's Hair, Saturday Night Fever Coming Back To UK Cinemas September

John Travolta is back as Tony Manero. The original uncut version of Saturday Night Fever will be lighting up dancefloors and illuminating screens nationwide on 24 September. It put the subculture of disco on the map and shot Travolta to Hollywood stardom, bringing him an Oscar-nomination in the process. The Bee Gee’s iconic soundtrack then became one of the most successful albums of all time and remains the only disco album to win Best Album of the Year at the Grammys.

This Cineworld Exclusive Special Presentation of the pop culture classic is back on the big screen across 78 cinemas for a one-day special.



"Would ya just watch the hair. Ya know, I work on my hair a long time and you hit it. He hits my hair" - Tony Manero

Every Saturday Tony puts on his wide collared shirt, flared trousers and platform shoes and heads out to the only place where he's seen as a god rather than some young punk. Away from the strobe lights and glitter ball though, Tony’s story as a Brooklyn paint store clerk becomes one of tragic disillusionment, violence and heartbreak. Highlighting issues of gang culture and racial tension, Saturday Night Fever remains a powerful and provocative tragedy that carries as much weight now as it did in 1977.

It is more than just a film that defined the music and fashion of a generation. It is a provocative urban tragedy that will attract audiences old and new upon its return to cinemas.

The Cineworld Exclusive Special Presentation of Paramount Pictures’ Saturday Night Fever screens nationwide for one-day only. So dust off the cobwebs, dig out the old suit , iron the that perfect crease up your trousers but if your too young get your dad's old suit as 24th September is the your body will move once again.

The Keeper Of Lost Causes Trailer Will Bring Smile To Fans Of Nordic Noir

The recent Nordic wave of Movie and Television has kept fan gripped to the edge of their seats for a long time now but just when you think things are about to quieten down another one appears. The urge for something of a higher quality keeps dragging fans back to Scandinavia for inspiration and the latest film to join the line is The Keeper Of Lost Causes.

From the Director of Klown, Mikkel Norgaard, The Keeper Of Lost Causes (Kvinden i buret) is based on the popular Department Q novels by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Detective Carl Mørck(Nikolaj Lie Kaas) is a burned out police detective reassigned to the the department Q to investigate old cold cases and his first been a dissapearence of a female politican. The original verdict was suicide however Mørck is not convinced and with the help of his assistant Assad (Fares Fares) the case takes them into the seedy underworld of abuse and malice.

No word on exactly when this will arrive in UK, Ireland or even USA for that matter, but below is the film's official trailer which comes with English subtitles, so something must be in the works already. The Keeper Of Lost Causes is due out in its native Denmark on 3rd October.

Synopsis

Following a shootout that left his two partners respectively dead and paralyzed, chief detective Carl Mørck is assigned to the newly established Department Q, a department for old, terminated cases. The department consists only of himself and his new assistant Assad. Although they get explicit orders to only read and sort through the cases, only a single day passes before Carl’s stubborn nature throws them headfirst into the mystery of Merete Lynggaard’s disappearance; a well-known female politician who vanished five years ago from a passenger ferry. The only witness is her brain-damaged brother who was found on the car deck, screaming at the top of his lungs. The case was put to rest as an apparent suicide. Unconvinced by this explanation Carl and Assad venture on a journey that will take them deep into the undercurrent of abuse and malice that lurks beneath the polished surface of Scandinavia.

source:Twitch / Nordisk

The Look of Love - Coogan the Chameleon

Steve Coogan, forever tied to his legendary comic creation Alan Partridge, has appeared in a varied range of film roles in recent years, acting in biopics, voicing animated characters and of course recently starring as the aforementioned Partridge in the long awaited ALPHA PAPA. To celebrate the release of THE LOOK OF LOVE out on DVD & Blu-ray on August 19th, we take a look at a selection of Coogan’s cinematic roles.

Paul Raymond – The Look of Love (2012)

Paul Raymond, otherwise known as the King of Soho, was a bold and brave businessman during a time of social change. He is most famous for his strip clubs in Soho during the 1960’s that brought him an obscene amount of wealth, which led to the launching of Paul Raymond Publications and soft porn magazines. After watching video footage and talking with the Liverpudlian’s family and friends, Steve Coogan was able to bring his character back to life, showing his close relationship with his daughter Debbie Raymond and how drugs were the downfall of his family.

Alan Partridge – Alpha Papa (2013)

After he first appeared on BBC Radio 4 with On The Hour back in 1991, Alan Partridge has become a UK phenomenon and Steve Coogan’s 20 year long comedy masterpiece. Coogan has mastered Alan’s insecure, superficial, social status obsessed personality, this year culminating in his very own action film. Acting as a negotiator during an armed takeover of the news station, Partridge looks to take advantage of the media buzz. As witty as he’s ever been, Coogan’s alter ego looks to be a hit with critics and viewers.

Tony Wilson – 24 Hour Party People (2002)

Despite being another biopic of a media mogul, 24 Hour Party People is a very different film. Tony Wilson, Cambridge educated journalist, knew he’d found ‘the future of music’ one night at a small concert featuring the Sex Pistols, and later sets up Factory Records who would sign Joy Division. Using a healthy dose of artistic license, the film depicts the defining foundations of the punk movement in Manchester and the later era-defining ‘Madchester’ scene of the late 80s and early 90s. See if you can spot a cameo from the real Tony Wilson.

Tristram Shandy – A Cock & Bull Story (2005)

In this book within a book within a film within a film, Coogan plays himself playing an actor. Based on the humourous eighteenth century book Tristam Shandy, famous for its long discussions of metaphysical concepts, the film employs layers of this outside the production of the film being made on screen. Using a documentary style, the lack of plot focus from the novel allows Coogan freedom to riff amusingly with co-star Rob Brydon unhindered by relevance to anything happening within what can be loosely described as the story.

Damien Cockburn – Tropic Thunder (2008)

With a $92 million budget, this comedy action movie is only the fourth from director Ben Stiller. Coogan plays a fledgling director attempting to shoot an adaptation of a war novel written by John Tayback (Nick Nolte). What he and the rest of the production don’t realise is that their location is actually the territory of a violent heroin gang who view the film crew as a threat. The frustrated Coogan is a month behind schedule and stressing about his project, to amusing satirical effect. When he is blown up by a land mine, the actors believe it is a trick to add realism to their roles.

Phileas Fogg – 80 Days Around the World (2004)

Taking David Niven’s role in the Oscar winning 1956 version of the film, the modern update with Jackie Chan is an amusing retelling that doesn’t take itself nearly as seriously. Coogan fits the shoes of mad inventor with surprising ease. His outlandish CGI inventions and trademark British humour in the face of almost certain death give the film a warm charm, and is representative of a self-awareness that the grandeur of its older adaptation won’t enthral modern audiences in the same way that it did half a century ago.

Ambassador Mercy – Marie Antoinette (2006)

The cult period film by Hollywood royalty Sophia Coppola put Coogan in a more minor role. Speaking of the director, he said “You know that if Sofia Coppola’s going to make a costume drama it’s not going to be ordinary ... The reason I did that movie was because of her.” Like many in the industry, he prefers the freedom of independent filmmaking, but made exception on this occasion. An uncommon non-comedic role for the actor, Coogan proves he can tackle this type of character with a flourish.
The Look Of Love will be released on 19th August on DVD and Blu-ray.

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