Film News – Cinema Releases – Trailers – Clash Music

See New Film 'Harry Brown' First

ClashMusic — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:01:19 +0000

New thriller Harry Brown is being tipped to be one of the finest films of the year. You can be the first to see it when Clash hosts a series of special previews on Monday 9th November before the film opens nationwide on 11th November.

The film sees Harry Brown (played by Michael Caine) embark upon a terrifying journey of revenge following the brutal murder of his best friend. The cast also includes the talents of Ben Drew (better known as rapper Plan B), Emily Mortimer (Lars And The Real Girl), Liam Cunningham (Hunger) and Joseph Gilgun (This Is England).

Previews are at the following Cineworld cinemas: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, Castleford, Cheltenham, Chichester, Crawley, Didsbury, Edinburgh, Enfield, Glasgow, Ipswich, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Wandsworth and West India Quay.

To download tickets simply go to www.seefilmfirst.com and enter code: 611882

Ctrl Alt Shift Competition

Robin Murray — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:55:01 +0000

This year's Crtl Alt Shift contest is about to honour some of the finest young film making talent in the UK - and they need your help!

The competition opened last year and brought in a huge amount of entries. Judges from across the spectrum of visual art were invited to pick four contestants worthy of continuing on and making a short film.

The four contestants chosen were Ben Newman (War School), Fern Berresford (Man Made), Joe Patrick (The Treatment) and Tim Travers Hawkins (Untitled Animation).

Aside from the life saving (well nearly) injection of funds associated with the prize the film makers will also receive a score by such artists as Metronomy, Shy Child and Young Knives. The winners are also given a notable directing mentor (including Noel Clarke and Paul Andrew Williams).

But the judges work has been left deliberately unfinished. There will be a fifth winner selected by a public vote from those listed
on the website who gets all of the above advantages.

Just click here to view selected work by the finalists and give your vote.

Remember the unknown artists of today are the Oscar winners of tomorrow!

Young Auteurs Take Control

Si Hawkins — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:16:15 +0000

Getting your feet on the filmmaking ladder isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but five budding auteurs are about to get a priceless leg-up.

Ctrl.Alt.Shift is an ambitious audio/visual project that aims to both uncover new talent and raise awareness of some gravely important causes, in cahoots with some well-established Clash-friendly artists.

Open to 18-25 year-olds, interested hopefuls should prepare a treatment for a short film based around the three issues that Ctrl.Alt.Shift are shining a spotlight on: HIV + Stigma, War + Peace and Gender + Power.

The authors of the five most impressive proposals will be assigned to a mentor drawn from the cream of contemporary filmmaking talent, from Noel Clarke (Adulthood) to Paul Andrew Williams (London to Brighton). The resulting films will then be soundtracked by similarly auspicious musical acts, from Young Knives to Metronomy.

It’s quite an opportunity then, and runs until the end of this month, so get those treatments started. First of all, though, head along to www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk for the full brief. Your Hollywood career may just start here…

Flaming Lips Cinema Treat

Robin Murray — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:18:08 +0000

Flaming Lips seven years in the making cinematic extravaganza 'Christmas On Mars' is set to be unleashed this festive season, with the band scheduling some very special UK screenings.

The band have been working on their forthcoming feature film for some time now. Shot almost entirely in singer Wayne Coyne's backyard, 'Christmas On Mars' is a psychedelic blend of 'Eraserhead' and 'The Wizard Of Oz'.

The film is set on Mars, and the newly founded colony, helmed by Major Styris (Steven Drozd) is organising a pageant to celebrate the birth of it’s first space baby. Unfortunately, the oxygen system is shutting down, the space station is self-destructing and Santa has committed suicide in an airlock. Cue the arrival of a mysterious mute Martian (Coyne) who might just be able to save the holiday season.

With a soundtrack by the Flaming Lips themselves, 'Christmas On Mars' looks to be a seasonal feast for the senses. The film will be shown in London's Barbican venue with an introduction by Wayne Coyne himself.

The Flaming Lips' film 'Christmas On Mars' will be shown from December 12th - 14th in the Barbican, London.

TCM Crime Scene 2008

Ben Hopkins — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:06:38 +0000

The seventh annual TCM Crime Scene commences on September 24th with the premiere of Taken, a visceral chase thriller co-written by Luc Besson that stars Liam Neeson and Famke Janssen.

Running until September 28th, this year's TCM Crime Scene once again unites film and literature in a celebration of the best of the genre's contemporary creations.

The film segment also offers an early chance to see the likes psychological thriller Lakeview Terrace (starring Samuel L. Jackson and Patrick Wilson), World Cup heist movie Daylight Robbery and Ole Bornedal's Danish noir Just Another Love Story.

TCM's literary events include personal appearances by Mark Billingham, Stella Rimington and Peter James, while television is also represented with a behind the scenes look at Spooks.

Held at London's ICA and the Piccadilly branch of Waterstones, further information and booking details can be found at www.tcmonline.co.uk/crimescene

London Film Festival launched

Ben Hopkins — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:29:36 +0000

This year's Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival runs from October 15th-30th, offering an early chance to see films including Che, W, Hunger, Frost/Nixon and Slumdog Millionaire.

See the festival's artistic director Sandra Hebron introduce some of this year's highlights with the following video clip.

http://media.clashmusic.com/video/film/LFF_Launch_Medium.flv

Spraying Pavements

Ben Hopkins — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:11:19 +0000

Adele joined the cast and crew of new hip-hop film The Wackness at the film's premiere last night. Cast your eyes left for a rare pic of her making her, ahem, mark at the event that was also attended by This is England / Somer's Town / Eden Lake star Thomas Turgoose.

The tale of a teenage dealer who trades weed for shrink sessions, The Wackness stars Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, Josh Peck, Olivia Thirlby and Method Man and is released on August 29th.

A full review will be posted next week, although eager beavers can check it out in the current issue of Clash.

Lennon Film Due

Robin Murray — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:40:27 +0000

A new film titled "Nowhere Man" based on the early life of John Lennon is set to be made after writer Michael Greenhalgh recieved UK Film Council funding.

Greenhalgh is most famous for directing last year's celebrated Ian Curtis biopic "Control" - based on the the autobiography of the singer's wife, "Touching From A Distance".

The new film will concentrate on Lennon's early life in Liverpool, where he was brought up by his Aunt Mimi after his mother Julia died following an accident with a police car. The film will be based on the controversial book "Imagine This: Growing Up With My Brother John Lennon" written by Lennon's sister, Julia.

According to a report in the Guardian, Greenhalgh was reluctant to make another film about a musician, but relented when he learned it was on the legendary Beatle saying:

"He is beyond music; above it even. And his early life as told in Julia's book took me into a world that illuminated so much about this legendary genius. I could see the drama and film immediately."

There is no release date for "Nowhere Man".

The Earth Stood Still... Twice

Robin Murray — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:03:01 +0000

The writers strike has slowed Hollywood progress, but not halted it altogether. Those wily producers have made a big announcement regarding a remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic “The Day The Earth Stood Still.”

With Scott Derickson in the director's chair, and Keanu Reeves cast as the alien Klaatu, the supporting roles have now been made public. Jennifer Connelly will play the role of Helen Benson, a kindly mother who befriends Klaatu. Kathy Bates has also been announced in a starring role, though there are no indications as to what that role might be.

"The Day The Earth Stood Still; is set to begin shooting in December.

The reply from the picket line has not been made public.

Marianne Faithful Nominated

Robin Murray — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:31:54 +0000

Marianne Faithful's leading role in the acclaimed film “Irina Palm” has earned her a nomination as 'Best European Actress' in the European Film Awards 2007.

Sam Garbarski's film debuted at the Berlin Film Festival and was rewarded with a nomination for the Golden Berlin Bear as best film. Since then, Faithful has already picked up the Liz Ullman Prize at the Norwegian International Film Festival.

The winners of the 20th European Film Awards will be announced on Saturday 1st December in Berlin – once all 1,800 members have voted, of course.

New Iron Man Trailer

Robin Murray — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:25:21 +0000

In another of those barely legal promotional moves a new trailer for Jon Favreau's “Iron Man” movie has hit the internet. Looking like the effects-laden masterpiece we all knew it would be, the movie has been expertly promoted thus far.

View the trailer below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYZ3954lqag

Hollywood Writers Go On Strike

Robin Murray — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:14:13 +0000

Its official: Hollywood writers are on strike. The Writer's Guild of America, the union to which nearly all screenwriters belong, is on strike as of last night (November 4th). US TV will no doubt grind to a standstill, and unfinished blockbuster scripts lie in piles on American pavements (or sidewalks, if you will).

The strike has been caused by an argument over internet broadcasting rights. The current WGA contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) ran out on Halloween. In order to sign a new one, the WGA are demanding a share of the profits made from streaming films and shows online – a request the AMPTP feel unable to meet.

The two sides seem far apart on this issue, and commentators believe the strike will last weeks or months, rather than days, with picket lines already formed outside of studios on both coasts.

How will this affect you? Well, current affairs shows have already stopped filming, so if you're a fan of The Daily Show be prepared for a break. Equally, blockbuster scripts must be extensively re-written, so a dip in quality should be expected. Some good may come out of this though: with a break the script writers may come back with new and refreshing ideas. Furthermore, with schedules to fill the networks might start repeating Mork and Mindy.

But the negatives outweigh the positives. This strike will have a deleterious effect on film fans, so lets hope the two sides can bash out a deal.