A Dangerous Method DVD Review

★★☆☆☆

I know I'm not the only one waiting for David Cronenberg to go back to his roots. The man previously known as “the Baron of Blood” gave us the head-exploding Scanners and the fingernail-popping The Fly. However, of late, ol' Davey Croners seems more about “prestige” pictures than flesh-crawling horror. I'm not even a huge fan of horror, but I've always admired Cronenberg's way making things/ideas/images stick with you, like a splinter in your brain. This is something which I haven't really experienced with his latest output. Unfortunately, A Dangerous Method continues this trend and even struggles to contain anything memorable at all.

A Dangerous Method is based on the play A Talking Cure, which in turn was based on the book A Most Dangerous Method, which in turn was based on real, actual life that bloody well happened. The story follows the career of renowned psychiatrist Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), genital obsessed beardo Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), a woman who went from a certified maniac to becoming one of the first female psychoanalysts. Having only a passing knowledge of Jungian and Freudian principles and no previous knowledge at all of Spielrein, I felt the story was immersive, but only up to a certain point. I wanted to know more about Sabina, but had to deal with Jung and Freud debating whether everything boiled down to cocks or not. Both Fassbender and Mortensen were great, with the mercurial Mortensen giving an especially enigmatic turn as Freud. Less great is Knightley, who spends the first act of the film gurning and maniacally laughing like real mental patients don't. I have yet to be convinced by a Knightley performance and her appearance in A Dangerous Method doesn't do anything to change that. She's not necessarily a bad actor, just bad at making me forget she's an actor. Vincent Cassel also shows up, having a whale of a time as the philandering, polyamorous Otto Gross.

A Dangerous Method is basically a stage play writ large. There's nothing inherently cinematic about it and the film seems to work best when the various brainy people are endlessly arguing the inner workings of the mind and psyche. I liked some of the ideas the film toyed with and especially liked Jung's turmoil over his relationship with Speilrein. The mentor/friend/rival relationship between Freud and Jung was well done too. To me, repression is the big central theme of the film, with Sabina's BDSM leanings being too shocking to even consider in the early 1900s. Jung's repression is also important, with him struggling to contain his wild side and having to choose between animalistic rutting and spanking with Spielrein or the more socially acceptable nicey-nicey family life with his obscenely rich wife.

I just don't know what to really think of A Dangerous Method. It's well acted (for the most part) and deals with some interesting concepts. It made me want to find out more about the real story and the people, but I wasn't exactly entertained watching it. There's no sense of Cronenberg in this film and it could have been made be any number of the more “arty” directors out there. It's technically brilliant, but ultimately unsatisfying.

Ben Browne

Rating:15
UK DVD/Blu-Ray Release: 25th June 2012
Directed by:David Cronenberg
cast:Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Cassel
Buy:A Dangerous Method On DVD or Blu-ray

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EIFF 2012: Brake Review

★★★1/2☆

Stephen Dorff stars in Gabe Torres' claustrophobic thriller, Brake, which proves to be far more than another Buried. Receiving its UK premiere at this years' Edinburgh International Film Festival, Brake provides some highly entertaining B-Movie thrills alongside another stellar performance from Dorff.

Secret Service agent, Jeremy Reins (Dorff) wakes up trapped in the boot (or trunk, for the non-Brits) of a car, with no recollection as to how he got there. Reins is forced to endure a series of physical and mental tortures as terrorists attempt to extract the location of Roulette, the President's secret bunker.

Tim Mannion's screenplay may not be the most original piece of writing in recent years, with obvious parallels to Rodrigo Cortes' Buried being raised. However, Mannion does attempt to deviate from his predecessor with the inclusion of some well contained action. We're talking shootouts, flooding and bees (calm down Wicker Man '06 fans), all just some of the high-octane antics that you can expect from Brake. These thrills combined with Torres' tense, claustrophobic direction, make Brake, a enthralling, well contained action film. You have got to hand it to a team that can make eighty-five minutes of film set in one claustrophobic location, this engaging.

As the only actor on screen throughout the majority of Brake, Stephen Dorff truly excels in his performance, both physically and emotionally. The viewers' gaze rests firmly on the Somewhere star, feeling totally connected to the character of Jeremy - we are with him during this whole ordeal. Even when handling some atrocious dialogue or Jack Bauer style screams, Dorff's performance retains a sincerity and likeability whilst also managing to stay convincing as an action hero, surely no easy task when you are confined to a Perspex box.

As well as the clichés to be found in Brake's dialogue, they can also be seen through several narrative features like Jeremy's remorseful phone call to his distant wife or through Tom Berenger's shady CIA big shot character. However, Brake does make up for this with some unexpected paranoia-infused twists lurking in its conclusion.

Brake is an enjoyably tense thriller, boasting a stellar performance from the inimitable Stephen Dorff. Several high-octane thrills and an unexpected conclusion ensures that Torres' claustrophobic film is a completely worthwhile watch.

Andrew McArthur

Release: 29th June 2012 (EIFF)
Director: Gabe Torres Stars: Stephen Dorff, Chyler Leigh ,Tom Berenger,

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Win Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisi​e Posters

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the film’s original release,STUDIOCANAL and the ICO are very pleased to announce that they will be releasing a re-mastered digital print of Luis Buñuel’s surreal comedy THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE in cinemas on June 29th, including an Extended Run at BFI Southbank as part of their Jean-Claude Carrière season. Carrière has written the screenplays for many classic films including:  Belle de Jour, The Milky Way, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Tin Drum, La Piscine, Sommersbyand The Unbearable Lightness of Being. He is an Oscar winner for the short filmHappy Anniversary. To celebrate the upcoming re-release of this fantastic film courtesy of Studiocanal we have 3 posters to give away (see above for artwork)

In Luis Buñuel’s deliciously satiric masterpiece, six pillars of society repeatedly try to have dinner together, their plans interrupted by events both real (scheduling mix-ups, a restaurateur's death) and increasingly surreal (including a series of typically Buñuellian dream sequences).Jean-Pierre Cassel, Delphine Seyring, Stéphane Audran, Bulle Ogier and long-time Buñuel collaborators Fernando Rey and Paul Frankeurhead the extraordinary cast of a film made when Buñuel was 72 years old. Full of passion and fire, it was the 1972 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film and BAFTA winner for Best Screenplay.

Alternately laugh-out-loud funny and disquietingly bizarre THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIEremains one of Buñuel's most popular films.

To this fantastic piece of artwork answer the following question:

Q.What was the name of the next film Luis Bunuel Directed After this film?

A.The Phantom Of Liberty

B. Tristana

C.Belle De Jour

Send your answer , name, address, to have your email to  cinehouseuk@gmail.com header As ‘bunuel’. Deadline:July 15 th, 2012 (2359hrs) .

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THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE will be in cinemas on June 29th,then on DVD, and for the first time on blu-ray, on July 16th 2012.

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.
• The Prize is to win The Discreet Charm of The Bourgeoisie on poster
• To enter this competition you must send in your answer, name, address only, Deadline July 15th, 2012 (2359hrs)
• Will only accept entries sent to the correct email (cinehouseuk@gmail.com), any other entry via any other email will be void.
• The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse takes no responsibility for delayed, lost, stolen prizes
• The competition is opened to Aged 13  and over 
• Unless Stated Please  Do Not Include Telephone Numbers, we don’t need them
• The winning entries will be picked at random and contacted by email
• 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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Mischa Rozema's SUNDAYS Short Needs Your Help

Here at cinehouse (and at times The Peoples Movies) we do get alot Kickstarter film projects, we try our best to cover most if not all them. Today's project was spotted by our Canadian friends at Twitch and one type of short film we adore is horror, sci-fi (we love genres though) especially and Mischa Rozema's SUNDAYS does seem to fill our fix. The Amsterdam based commercial director hopes her Sci-fi short will soon become a full feature a story built around the idea that one day a computer based intelligence will exceed a human one arriving via a technological singularity.

Visually this looks great, storyline decent my only concern like many people with great short films can the story be easily adapted or will it be overstretched? Whatever you think you can check out the film below and below that read the kickster information. You can support the film here.

Sundays (working title) is a feature film idea created and written by Dutch commercials director Mischa Rozema. It is a project he has been living and sleeping with for the past years. It is the result of stories inhabiting his head, images that need to be visualised and the the desire to create a film completely different to anything we’ve seen before. The story is there, so is the research. What we are asking your help with is the opportunity to create a short film - the first step on the path to realising a feature film - using the skills and passion of Mischa and his team at PostPanic and Savage.
We're raising money through Kickstarter to make this short film. We want to show what is visually possible when creative integrity is closely guarded from the beginning. We don’t want to risk diluting Mischa’s vision by 3rd parties forcing him to become more mainstream and commercial. We want to show what he is capable of as a storyteller when he has complete control over the direction.

What is 'Sundays' about?
We are fast approaching an event, unparalleled in our history. A tipping point known as a technological singularity. It's the moment when computer power surpasses human intelligence. This moment is inevitable. Our world will change forever.
We are on the verge of having to decide the future of humanity. In order to maintain we might have to change the very definition of what it means to be human. So what exactly is 'human'? Where does it begin and where does it stop. Are we willing to stretch its definition and our ethics to corners we never could have imagined. Is there an infinite deadline on our existence?
This is the story of what it means to be human and how the characteristics of what makes us special stand the test of time. It's evident that technologies are now tied to our evolution as a species. Does our biology define us as human beings or is it the ideals for which humanity stands for?

Liliana Cavani’s THE NIGHT PORTER Getting UK Blu-Ray& DVD Release This July

Love it or hate it's been released this July on DVD and Blu Ray in UK&;Ireland Liliana Cavani’s THE NIGHT PORTER(Il portiere di notte). One of the most shocking and controversial movies ever made, this scintillatingly sexy story of forbidden love and the aphrodisiacal effects of decadence and cruelty comes to Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. The film by many critics was slated eroticising Nazi iconography as well as been 'pro-fascist', it kick-started the 'Naziplotation' sub genre too which saw a barrage of similar nazi themed sex films too.

Vienna, 1957. Max (Dirk Bogarde), a former Nazi concentration camp officer, is now employed as a respectable night porter at one of the city's most luxurious hotels. Still anguished by the guilt of his actions during the war, he attempts to relieve his conscience by devoting himself to his work while awaiting the upcoming trial of himself and his fellow Nazi officers. But one fateful evening Max's disturbing past catches up with him in the form of the beautiful and alluring Lucia (Charlotte Rampling). Now the wife of a respected American classical composer, almost 15 years earlier Lucia was a teenage concentration camp inmate and Max's lover in an aberrant sado-masochistic relationship. Bound by their memories and uncontrollably drawn to each other, Max and Lucia rekindle their bizarre love affair. But their future together becomes threatened by other ghosts from the past…

Despite having long divided critical and public opinion due to its shocking subject matter and imagery (respected critic Roger Ebert famously described it as “as nasty as it is lubricious, a despicable attempt to titillate us by exploiting memories of persecution and suffering. It is – I know how obscene this sounds – Nazi chic.”) The Night Porter is a courageous and uncompromising piece of filmmaking that has come to be regarded as a classic of European cinema. Comparable to Visconti’s “The Damned”, Bertolucci’s “The Conformist” and Tinto Brass’ “Salon Kitty”, this is a powerful cinematic experience that, once seen is impossible for forget.

The Night Porter will be released on DVD & Blu-ray on July 30th thanks to Anchor Bay Pre order your copy on DVD or Blu-ray

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【TRAILER】The Night Porter Published via LongTail.tv

EIFF 2012: Red Band And International Trailer For V/H/S

This coming week here at Cinehouse (& The Peoples Movies) one of the films we're really looking forward too is the screening of Horror Anthology V/H/S. The film looks like it might potentially give the found footage a kick back into popular cinema bringing together 6 of the best /some upcoming horror directors Ti West (House Of The Devil, The Innkeepers), Adam Wingard and Simon Barret (A Horrible Way To Die), David Bruckner (The Signal), Joe Swanberg (Silver Bullets), Glenn McQuaid (I Sell The Dead).

The premise of the story is about a gang of  criminals who are hired to break into a house to steal a VHS tape. To find the tape the gang must trawl through the large collection tapes on offer  watching them one by one watching everything from masked killers, vivisection, sexy female vampire, lots of blood, screaming and did I say screaming? Wishing they probably never watched them! The past few days a red band trailer has found its way online really showcasing the chaos, the shock and screams that lie ahead for the viewer with each director providing a little vignette probably catch some viewers unexpectedly too.

The film has been picking up some great buzz on the festival circuit and this week the film will arrive in UK and Edinburgh Film Festival(stayed tuned for our review) which at the moment is the films only UK date.Once we get word on when this scaremonger of a beast of a film will arrive in blightly we will share the good news with you, our inklings are that the films next UK viewing will be London Film4 Frighfest! It would be a good bet late Ocotber onwards we will see this one be released in UK however August 31st for VOD and October 5th theatrical release dates for USA !

Whilst creating this post the good people at Traileraddict have posted the International trailer for the film which is posted below

 source Yahoo

EIFF 2012: Don't Expect Too Much

Mark Hamill Going AIRBOURNE This July

Hell quite literally breaks loose at 30,000 feet as passengers on board a Trans-Atlantic bound for New York come face-to-face with an ancient evil. But wait we have a Jedi Master on hand so will the terrified passengers be rescued only one way to find out is to watch Mark Hamill's  first stint in front of the camera in many years in Brittish chiller AIRBOURNE.

As a severe storm front rapidly closes in on the UK, all flights out of East Midlands airport are cancelled – all save Atlantic Sky Airways Flight 686, bound for New York. Shortly after take-off, several passengers become concerned when one of their number inexplicably goes missing. Their anxieties are further increased when it becomes apparent that the flight has veered off course and it is revealed that the plane is carrying an interesting item of cargo: a rare and extremely valuable ancient Chinese vase. The assumption is that terrorists are responsible, but nobody on board is showing their hand – for now. With tensions rising amongst the passengers and crew, violence soon breaks out, forcing those behind the deadly plot to expose their identities.

Meanwhile, on the ground, concerned aviation chiefs and the military have together authorised the launch of fighter jets to deal with what they believe could be a deadly hijack situation. But hijacking is soon proved to be the least of anybody’s worries when the owner of the vase recounts a myth surrounding its ancient origins.

In the fine tradition of other high-altitude thrillers such as“Executive Decision”, “Snakes On A Plane”, “Passenger 57”, “Red Eye” and “Con Air” and the winner of the British Lion Award at the 2012 British Independent Film Festival, Airborne is a Twilight Zone-esque thriller with a hint of the supernatural and some amazing production values that, for us, places it leagues ahead of what we’ve come to expect from the usual “gangster flick-centric” British indie genre movies. To top it off, it also features a welcome return to the screen for Mark Hamill who in recent years has almost been reclusive while establishing himself as one of the most in-demand voiceover artists in the business. 

Airbourne will be terrifying British skies when it's released by Chelsea Films on DVD July 30th (new release date). The film also stars  Julian Glover (Games Of Thrones), Gemma Atkinson (Boogie Woogie), Simon Phillips (The Rise And Fall Of A White Collar Hooligan), Alan Ford (Snatch), and Fiona Ryan (The Tudors).

EIFF 2012: PUSHER (2012) Review

★★★★☆

Luis Prieto's British made update of Nicolas Winding Refn's 1996 film, Pusher, receives its world premiere at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival. The Spanish director has presented us with a gripping, adrenaline fuelled ride, which is by far one of the most exciting British crime thrillers in recent years. Frank (Richard Coyle) may just be London's most unlucky drug dealer. After a deal goes horrendously wrong, he finds himself owing a ruthless Serbian crime boss over £55,000. In a desperate search for money, Frank soon finds his life spiralling out of control and relationships with those around him beginning to crumble.

It is hard to deviate from certain traditional elements in this genre, for example, risky deals and unrelenting Mr. Big figures are always going to feature. However, these elements feel utterly fresh and skilfully handled in Pusher, thanks to Prieto's energy as a storyteller. The Spanish director's film feels like a fusion of the classic British crime thriller (Coyle's performance drawing some parallels to that of Stacey Keach in 1977 feature, The Squeeze), with an added vibrant, modern twist.

The tension rarely drops in Pusher, creating a truly gripping ride. This is furthered by Simon Dennis' striking cinematography - creating a visually impressive piece taking on pulsing neon infused clubs to dank warehouses, with equal impact. Pusher also captures the ruthless and gritty criminal underworld of London through Frank's encounters with Serbian crime Boss, Milo (Zlatko Buric, star of Refn's original Pusher Trilogy) - most notably in one suspenseful scene involving bolt cutters and a finger. The high octane thrills are paired with a energetic electronic dance score from Orbital, fitting the tone of Pusher perfectly.

Even Pusher's day by day narrative structure acts as reflection of Frank's impending deadline, ebbing closer. This means it is hard not to feel part of the dealers' journey as he uses every resource he has to get money - whether it be calling in on old loans from vulnerable customers or simply by taking it from the sleaziest clients. Even Pushers' emotive conclusion is cut off in the height of anguish and tension, leaving the viewer to question the outcome.

Richard Coyle's solid lead performance thrusts us into the desperation and angst that faces the character, however, we as the audience are always on his side. Agyness Dean's supporting turn as Frank's girlfriend, Flo, proves equally flawless. Flo simply wants a better life for herself and Frank - she works as a dancer and escort, careers that are beneath her, and as viewer you want to see her and Frank happy. Zlatko Buric's intense performance as Milo also proves to be a chief scene stealer throughout Pusher.

Luis Prieto's Pusher proves to be an exhilarating, thrill ride that holds the viewer in a vice-like grip from start to finish. The vibrant cinematography combined with an outstanding lead performance from Richard Coyle and a razor sharp score from Orbital, help make Pusher one of the strongest British crime thrillers in recent years.

Andrew McArthur

Rating: 18
UK Release Date: 12th October 2012 (World Premiere Edinburgh 21st June 2012)
Director: Luis Prieto
Stars: Richard Coyle, Agyness Deyn , Zlatko Buric, Paul Kaye

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EIFF 2012: Fred Review

★★★★☆

Richard Ledes' heartfelt drama, Fred, receives its world premiere at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival, and this poignant feature is likely to strike an emotional chord with many of us.   

Elliott Gould stars as Fred, an elderly man living in his house of over fifty years, with his Alzheimer's suffering wife, Susan (Judith Roberts).  Fred's grown-up children (Fred Melamed and Stephanie Roth Haberle) try to convince him to move to a care home with Susan, but he is not ready to leave yet.  

Fred is a delicately handled film, with Ledes directing in an almost fly on the wall style. As a viewer, we feel part of the family's most intimate moments, which results in a completely absorbing watch. It is impossible not to get drawn in as the family sing Susan's favourite songs to her or reminisce with Fred.

Alongside some striking cinematography from Valentina Caniglia, Ledes has the ability to make almost any shot seem poignant and heartfelt. This is at its most prevalent through shots of the slow withering of the exterior of Fred's home or the near spiritual representation of the nature that surrounds it.

Ledes' screenplay is a wonderful fusion of deadpan comedy (mostly courtesy of the perfectly timed comic skills of Gould and Melamed) and touching drama. Fred also has its share of challenging moments - it is difficult to watch Fred's struggle with his wife's condition as he also attempts to battle his own ailing health. This is shown in one such sequence where Fred attempts to make Susan grip the telephone, but loses his temper at her inability to do so.

Fred reflects issues that are likely to strike a chord with many of us, excelling in its delicate portrayal of the aging process. These well crafted characters ensure the viewer feels the dilemma of Fred's children, as well as empathising with Fred's desire to grasp to his independence at home. These issues are perfectly represented from a wonderful cast.

Judith Roberts truly excels in her turn as Susan, a strong willed woman that the audience completely warm to. Seeing Susan coping with the struggles of everyday life and finding joy with her loved ones, amidst the effects of Alzheimers is heart warming.  Elliott Gould is perfectly cast in the title role, shining through welcome moments of humour, as well as more emotionally heavy scenes. Fred Melamed, impresses greatly with his deadpan wit, whilst Stephanie Roth Haberle gives a touching performance as Fred's exasperated daughter.

Fred is a delicately crafted and heartfelt portrayal of the aging process. The combination of touching drama and deadpan humour alongside stellar performances from the main players, proves a winning combination.

Andrew McArthur

Stars: Elliott Gould, Judith Roberts, Fred Melamed , Stephanie Roth Haberle
Director: Richard Ledes
Release: 22nd June 2012 (EIFF)