Category: Features

The latest feature articles including Top 5 ____ … posts!

Features

My Evening With Al Pacino

Garry Arnot2 Comments
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With an acting career spanning nearly half a century featuring iconic performances in The Godfather, Scarface and Heat to name but a few, Al Pacino this year graced the UK with his presence to discuss his staggering back-catalogue in depth and at length. His whistle-stop tour went to just Glasgow and London, and I was lucky enough to be in attendance for the former, eager and excited to hear all of his Hollywood stories. Following a suspenseful montage of some of his finest big screen moments, he was met with a rapturous applause and cries of ‘We love you Al!’ to which he responded humbly and with bags of humour and charisma, replying ‘Hoo-ah!’, a phrase or sound in which he coined in his Oscar winning role as blind ex-Army officer Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman.

The night took a format comparable to the Inside the Actor’s Studio television series hosted by James Lipton, where Hollywood faces enjoy reflecting on their past glories and are met with posing questions from aspiring actors. This provided structure to the chat between Mr Pacino and the interviewer, Scottish journalist Billy Sloan but had its pros and cons in reining in the talkative interviewee. Sloan’s questions kept the discussion in a logical flow which took us from his upbringing in The Bronx through to his rise to fame and preventing tangents, though at times Pacino’s rambling into the unexpected areas brought about the best moments. For example, he told an anecdote of meeting eccentric Italian director Federico Fellini and being awe-struck at the very prospect. Fellini grabbed a hold of Pacino’s cheeks and in his broken English said he was a ‘beautiful boy’…but continued with ‘too beautiful for a part in my films’, quickly nipping Pacino’s hope of landing a role in the bud.

Fascinating insight came from his name-dropping as he spoke openly of interactions shared with the likes of Marlon Brando, Francis Ford Coppola and later with Robert De Niro, an actor he is always closely associated with. He painted a vivid picture of the film industry circles with his words, and was a showman in his delivery, taking the stage to carry out scenarios whenever he felt it was necessary. The classiness of the evening took a temporary downturn when the audience were invited to ask questions, resulting in a mixed bag consisting of either the obvious or the ridiculous. Fortunately when the crowd participation was drawn to a close and Billy Sloan exited stage left, Al Pacino was left to his own devices to entertain the adoring fans with not only an Oscar Wilde poem recital, relating to his film Wilde Salomé from 2011, but live acting! Yes, he concluded proceedings with a re-enactment of a scene from David Mamet’s play American Buffalo, of which he appeared in London’s West End stage production in 1983. It was a wondrous experience to see one of the greatest actors of his generation do what he does best in the flesh.

Al Pacino’s latest release Danny Collins has received rave reviews and is showing in cinemas nationwide, and his next project Manglehorn will screen at this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival. It features in my Top 5 Films to see at EIFF 2015!

See the Manglehorn trailer:

Features

Top 5 Films to see in June 2015…at the Edinburgh International Film Festival!

Garry Arnot2 Comments
For Scottish film bloggers and cinema-goers alike, June means only one thing…EIFF! Yes, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is here again for its 69th year, with new Artistic Director Mark Adams pulling the strings. So, this month’s ‘Top 5’ post is a special Edinburgh edition, listing the must-sees of what is a cracking line up running from Wednesday 17th through to Sunday 28th…
1. The Legend of Barney Thomson
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Black comedy ‘The Legend of Barney Thomson’ marks the directorial debut of actor Robert Carlyle, and has an intriguing storyline which centres around a boring barber who turns serial killer! Ray Winstone and Emma Thompson co-star alongside Carlyle.
2. Manglehorn
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Indie director David Gordon Green has enjoyed a run of form, making Prince Avalanche and Joe in recent years, so his next project ‘Manglehorn’ is hotly anticipated. The iconic Al Pacino takes the leading role as a downtrodden locksmith.
3. Black Mountain Poets
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‘Black Mountain Poets’ is the final part of Jamie Adams’ modern-romance trilogy, following Benny & Jolene and A Wonderful Christmas Time. Continuing his improvisational approach to comedy filmmaking, his latest sees Alice Lowe and Dolly Wells star as sisters who assume the identities of wordsmiths. A follow-up interview with director Adams is coming soon!
4. The Road Within
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What do you get if you cross someone with Tourette’s, an anorexic and an OCD sufferer? You get ‘The Road Within’ featuring performances from Robert Sheehan, Dev Patel and Zoe Kravitz. It is written and directed by Gren Wells.
5. 45 Years
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’45 Years’ is a relationship drama starring veteran British acting talent Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling, and is directed by Andrew Haigh. Exploring the fragilities and complexities of a lengthy marriage, it is sure to be a powerful and thought-provoking watch.
Find all the listings and ticket info for EIFF 2015 at www.edfilmfest.org.uk!
Features

Top 5 Al Pacino Performances

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Next month, the iconic Hollywood actor Al Pacino visits the United Kingdom to take part in ‘An Evening With…’ events in both London and Glasgow. I will be hoping to grasp the opportunity to ask him a question about his hugely impressive career. Until then, let’s celebrate how much of a talent he is, and reflect on the film performances that helped make him the legend he is today.

5. Scarface

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‘Say hello to my little friend’ is arguably one of the most quotable lines in cinema culture, epitomising the egotistical drug-lord Tony Montana whom Al Pacino played in Brian De Palma’s crime thriller ‘Scarface’. It is set to be remade in the coming years but I doubt any actor of today could match the sheer screen presence of Pacino in his heyday.

4. Serpico

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In a rare good-guy appearance, Al Pacino brilliantly took the eponymous part of patrolman Frank Serpico in Sidney Lumet’s police corruption drama. Sick and tired of the constant pay-offs taken by his cheating colleagues in the force, he goes out to expose his co-workers, but at what cost does justice come at?

3. Godfather Part I

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In the performance that launched him into the limelight, he is the soft-spoken youngest son of Don Vito Corleone in the first instalment of Francis Ford Coppola’s mafia trilogy ‘The Godfather’. His cool, calm and collected exterior is put to the test when the safety and well-being of his family is threatened, and he takes drastic action.

2. Dog Day Afternoon

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In a ‘how not to rob a bank’ masterclass, Al Pacino co-stars as hapless dreamer Sonny Wortzik alongside John Cazale, who plays his on-screen brother in the entries that sandwich this one in the list. Sidney Lumet directs again and we see another side to Pacino where his character quickly loses control of a high-intensity situation and he is forced to face the consequences of his foolish decision-making.

1. The Godfather II

Al Pacino In 'The Godfather: Part II'Woody Allen And Mia Farrow In 'A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy''

In the second part of Coppola’s gangster epic, the reserved youngster from the original becomes a fully fledged boss of the crime family, and will stop at nothing to keep his empire and his reputation intact. The transformation of Michael Corleone goes a long way to showcase the colossal talent of Al Pacino, and is recognised as one of the greatest character arcs in film history.

Features

Write Shoot Cut: 23rd February 2015

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Founded by Edinburgh-based screenwriter and director Neil Rolland, Write Shoot Cut offers a platform to up and coming filmmakers to discover their talent and also showcases their work at local cinemas. Whatever aspect of the creative process you are interested in whether it is writing, directing, editing or producing, the opportunity is there to get involved, learn new skills and most importantly have fun. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend events held by the Write Shoot Cut team and have taken the opportunity to network with those involved. The enthusiasm behind the projects is inspiring. As part of new movement Tartan Features which encourages and celebrates micro-budget feature filmmaking, Neil Rolland’s debut titled ‘Take it Back and Start All Over’ screened at Edinburgh Filmhouse ahead of short film ‘James and the Urn’ by Louis Clark.
James and the Urn

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 Originally written as part of a ‘death trilogy’, themes of loss and mourning are ever-present in Louis Clark’s short ‘James and the Urn’. The dialogue light narrative follows the eponymous James (Ryan Gerrard) who finds his grandmother dead in her home. The grief-stricken boy struggles to cope as life moves on around him, so takes action in order to come to terms with death. An impressive mix of tight camera work, efficient editing and unnerving sound design help convey an atmosphere of melancholy and loneliness as James blocks out the world around him.
Take it Back and Start All Over

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  This ambitious film was shot over just five days on a budget of £1000 and is a fantastic example of using the resources available to you to the very best effect. The plot tracks the turbulent relationship of Jennie (Kerri Clarence) and Brian (Neil Rolland) as they struggle with the domesticities of marriage following the birth of their daughter. The message at the film’s core is one that most of us can relate to whereby the humdrum routine of day-to-day life continually gets in the way of the desire to follow your dreams. For Jennie, her dream is music and she yearns to rediscover her self as a singer-songwriter, despite the lack of support from her selfish husband. The strain ultimately takes its toll on the couple and the acting out of their struggles is always very natural and often moving, helped by the fact that Jennie and their daughter Evie are played by Neil’s actual wife and daughter. This allows for a Blue Valentine-esque flashback which really works, contrasting wedded bliss with marital misery. The supporting cast, which includes Kyle Titterton and Game of Throne’s star Kate Dickie are equally excellent in their roles. ‘Take it Back and Start All Over’ is very much a personal project for Neil Rolland who was writer, director, actor, editor, producer as well as writing all of the original songs used in the film, so to take all that on board and have a great film at the end of it all is an astounding achievement.
See the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi11DmamZF0

Features

Top 5 ‘American __________’ Films

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Off the back of the release of ‘American Sniper’, Clint Eastwood’s patriotic biopic of the US military’s deadliest shooter Chris Kyle, I run down five of the best ‘American _______’ pictures.
5. American Psycho
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Who can forget Christian Bale’s crazed performance as investment banker Patrick Bateman? Based on Bret Easton Ellis’ book of the same name, ‘American Psycho’ is a bloody good film.
4. American Pie
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Often, the original is best and this definitely applies to teen comedy franchise ‘American Pie’. The first film saw Jim and his friends make a pact to all lose their virginity on prom night, leading to hilarious cringe-worthy incidents of humiliation. After the initial trilogy, the embarrassment continued with poorly received spin-offs.
3. American History X
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In ‘American History X’, Edward Norton stars as neo-Nazi extremist Derek Vinyard. After serving time in prison for manslaughter, he and his views are released to influence his younger brother and those around him. Remembered for its brutality and non-linear narrative, it is a modern masterpiece that came 311th in Empire’s list of the Greatest Movies of All Time.
2. American Gangster
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Ridley Scott has been a little bit hit and miss in the past decade or so but his crime epic ‘American Gangster’ was undoubtedly a high point. With colossal performances from Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, the story of drug-smuggling Frank Lucas was exhilarating from start to finish.
1. American Beauty
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Taking the top spot is the iconic ‘American Beauty’ directed by Sam Mendes. The plot follows the midlife crisis of office worker Lester Burnham, played brilliantly by Kevin Spacey, who falls in love with his teenage daughter’s best friend. If his wife finds out, it’ll be no bed of roses…
Features

Top 5 Tim Burton characters that aren’t played by his wife or Johnny Depp…

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It’s common knowledge that hair-brained director Tim Burton loves to cast his wife Helena Bonham Carter and his pal Johnny Depp in almost ALL of his films. As The Cult Den celebrate the iconic filmmaker and his collection of work, Cinema Perspective picks his five greatest characters that weren’t played by the aforementioned pair!
5. Bela Lugosi (Ed Wood)
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Ed Wood is known as one of Hollywood’s worst directors with a cross-dressing habit and in 1994, Tim Burton endeavored to direct a biopic of his life. Martin Landau starred alongside Johnny Depp and played the part of actor Bela Lugosi who was an idol of Wood’s.
4. The Oompa-Loompas (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
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In a modern interpretation of Roald Dahl’s classic novel, the Indian actor Deep Roy appeared as all of Willy Wonka’s helpers. A distinct change from the orange-faced versions in the original film version, the choreographed dance sequences were described by one critic as ‘Busby Berkeley on crack’.
3. Adolfo Pirelli (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street)
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In 2007, Burton turned his hand to adapting another famous story, this time re-telling the Victorian musical tale of barber turned serial killer Sweeney Todd. Comedy actor Sacha Baron Cohen co-starred as Todd’s wicked adversary Adolfo Pirelli.
2. Alice Kingsleigh (Alice in Wonderland)
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In another modern adaptation of a classic (there’s a pattern here), Tim Burton’s version of Lewis Carrol’s fantasy fairytale Alice in Wonderland was met with a mixed response. One of the highlights though was Mia Wasikowska’s performance as Alice, bringing the suitable Burton-esque darkness to the role.
1. The Joker (Batman)
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Finally there’s an entry in the list that doesn’t star Johnny Depp! Tim Burton’s trip to Gotham brought the comic book to the big screen in a way that few other filmmakers could pull off. Stealing the show from the caped crusader himself was The Joker, played by the great Jack Nicholson. Let’s face it, the baddies are always more fun anyway!
Features

Top 5 Tom Hardy Performances

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On the back of his latest portrayal in The Drop, proving himself yet again as one of the greatest actors of his generation, I remember my top five Tom Hardy performances. Click the images to see the trailers!
5. Locke
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 In Stephen Knight’s car drama Locke, there is only one actor on-screen throughout the whole film. When that actor is Tom Hardy though, it doesn’t matter. He went on to work with Knight again in BBC gangster series Peaky Blinders as the terrifyingly brilliant Alfie Solomons.
My review: Locke
4. The Take
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Based on a novel by crime writer Martina Cole, the Sky series helped spring-board Tom Hardy to the maniacal film roles he has become known for. This was the first time I witnessed his work and I instantly became a fan.
3. The Dark Knight Rises
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 In a mainstream turn, Tom Hardy took the part of Bane in his stride. His crazed eyes and unique voice as the Batman villain probably makes this his most iconic performance to date.
2. The Drop
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 In The Drop, directed by Michaël R. Roskam, he plays bartender Bob Saginowski in a subtle, measured performance. Alongside the late great James Gandolfini, the film showcases the art of acting at the highest level.
My review: The Drop
1. Bronson
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Tom Hardy has had his fair share of psychopathic characters to get his teeth into but none more nuttier than notorious prisoner Charles Bronson. Directed by the auteur filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, the film is a whirlwind and Hardy is at the core.
Notable omissions include Inception, Lawless and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Tom Hardy is soon to star in a Mad Max reboot, a Kray twins biopic where he will play not one but both brothers, and is also in talks to play Elton John. Diverse!
Features

Film review: A Wonderful Christmas Time

Garry Arnot5 Comments

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  Christmas films are typically full of schmaltz, sentimentality and festive cheer, building up the hype for yet another fun-filled day spent with family, playing games, eating and drinking to excess and telling bad cracker jokes. To combat this idealised depiction of 25th December, writer-director Jamie Adams continues his indie-rom trilogy of sorts to bring us ‘A Wonderful Christmas Time’, which comes closer to capturing what the time of year can really be like for the single twentysomethings of the modern age. Noel (Dylan Edwards) has returned to his hometown of Porthcawl in Wales after splitting up with his long-time girlfriend to find that his parents are going away over Christmas. This leaves him alone with his thoughts, reminiscing and reflecting over where it has all gone wrong and what to do next. In an attempt to move on past this grey period, he turns to old friends, the local pub and a therapy which involves primal screaming at the edge of a cliff. Here, he meets Cherie (Laura Haddock) who tells him that ‘everything is going to be OK’.

  The improvisational style implemented into the script, as well as the documentary-esque camera work means that the story, and the few characters within it seem incredibly natural. We can relate to Noel as he stumbles his way through uncomfortable conversations and scenarios and this appeals to the very British downtrodden sense of humour where we quite happily cheer for the misfits or losers of society. Because of the free-flowing dialogue, the jokes filter in seamlessly and laughs come both in the deliberately cringey lines and attempts at freestyle rapping, and in the moments of awkward silence. The realism techniques are continued on from the Adams’ last project ‘Benny & Jolene’ which used the music industry as its platform for a dysfunctional love story, and music works its way into the narrative again as well as cinema when Noel and Cherie bond over their shared tastes.

  At the heart of the piece is the forced preconception that everyone should be happy at Christmas and should be having ‘a wonderful time’, despite what they may be going through for the other 364 days of the year. Noel and Sherry’s friendship tackles this idea as well as the emotions we go through at the end of romantic relationships, both wanting to be together but neither wishing to be seen as nothing more than a rebound. Their despair is disguised by alcohol and good company, and the highs are accompanied by an upbeat indie-laden Christmassy soundtrack. Dylan Edwards is superb, a natural at appearing unnatural with his equally impressive co-star Laura Haddock, best known for her roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and The Inbetweeners Movie.

  ‘A Wonderful Christmas Time’ brilliantly sidesteps the notions of joy and celebration surrounding the end of the year, poking fun at traditions to illustrate the true, if pessimistic, sense of the holiday, where we can escape the mundanities to drink and be merry until the hangover sets in and we’re back to the daily grind. That might seem a negative prospect but it is refreshing to see the genre handled in this way, dragging it into the 21st century. The aforementioned indie-rom trilogy from the Jolene production team is two down with one to go, going from strength to strength to reinvent the worn-out formula, presenting the rom-com from new angles with a quirky twist in an ultimately more satisfying way.

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See the trailer:

Features

Top 5 Films that Broke the Fourth Wall

Garry Arnot4 Comments
Definition of FOURTH WALL
:  an imaginary wall (as at the opening of a modern stage proscenium) that keeps performers from recognizing or directly addressing their audience
An old term related to audience participation in theatre but in film terms, the fourth wall is essentially the screen. Usually used for comic effect, here are my five favourite uses of the technique where a character disturbs the passive audience to speak directly to camera.
  1. The Wolf of Wall Street
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Director Martin Scorsese is no stranger to breaking the fourth wall and in his latest masterpiece, Leonardo DiCaprio regularly lets the audience in on his illegal operations. Playing the part of Wall Street stockbroker Jordan Belfort, he takes time out from his scamming to explain financial jargon and how much money he is making. How nice of him!
For my review, click here!
  1. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
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Matthew Broderick tells it like it is in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, talking the audience through his foolproof plan to pull a sickie from school and have a day of fun. The cheeky-chappy style and delivery is copied by Saved by the Bell’s lovable rogue Zack Morris.
  1. Filth
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The list takes a darker turn onto the gritty cobbled streets of Edinburgh with Jon C. Baird’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel Filth. Alcoholic junkie cop Bruce Robertson is not a well man, physically or mentally, and we, as an audience, are complicit to his wicked mind games as he turns colleagues against each other and betrays his friends.
For my review, click here!
  1. Funny Games
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In Michael Haneke’s psychotic thriller Funny Games, the fourth wall is well and truly smashed when a character not only speaks into the camera but rewinds the film back a few minutes so that he can play it out his own way! The Austrian original version is excellent but if you don’t want subtitles, Haneke remade his own work for a wider English speaking audience with Boardwalk Empire star Michael Pitt holding the remote.
  1. Annie Hall
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We’ve all been frustrated in a queue, being subjected to the thoughts of the outspoken, wanting to challenge them or simply tell them to keep their idiotic opinions to themselves! In the Oscar winning romantic comedy Annie Hall, stand up comedian Alvy Singer speaks up to defend the work of highly regarded philosopher Marshall McLuhan. When discussing the scene, director Woody Allen said ‘I felt many of the people in the audience had the same feelings and the same problems. I wanted to talk to them directly.”
For more analysis of Woody Allen’s work, click here!
Features

Top 5 Bruce Willis Performances

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As The Cult Den celebrates one of the most famous faces in film, I remember my five favourite Bruce Willis performances.
  1. Looper
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The most recent of my selections, Rian Johnson’s time travel flick ‘Looper’ was a mind-bending success. Set in 2044, Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) plies his trade as an assassin picking off targets sent back in time. Confused? Bruce Willis plays an old Joe sent back to be killed by his younger self, which would in turn also mean his younger self would cease to exist. If you don’t want to think about it too much, you can at least enjoy the efforts of the make-up team transforming JGL into a young Willis.
  1. Die Hard
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When you think of Bruce Willis, there’s a good chance the first film you will think of is Die Hard. As officer John McClane, his far-fetched antics wowed audiences around the world and despite the varying success of the various sequels, it will always go down as one of his crowning moments. Yippee Ki Yay!
  1. Armageddon
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Who can forget Bruce Willis’ performance as Harry Stamper, the leader of the Freedom shuttle drill team? Michael Bay’s sci-fi disaster thriller was big, bold and ridiculous, as was the all-star cast. However, that takes nothing away from the powerful closing scenes which see Willis make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good. What a hero!
  1. The Sixth Sense
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The surprise ending so publicised that it sort of failed to surprise anyone, Bruce Willis gave a memorable performance as child psychologist Dr Malcolm Crowe in M. Night Shyamalan’s supernatural chiller The Sixth Sense. When he meets nine year old patient Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), he tries to help him with his unusual problem, leading to the much parodied line ‘I see dead people’.
  1. Pulp Fiction
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Quentin Tarantino’s crime epic quickly became a cult classic but sadly Bruce Willis’ part as boxer Butch Coolidge is often overlooked. In an famously structured non-linear narrative, his section entitled The Gold Watch is wedged in between tales of a dysfunctional contract killer duo but despite perhaps not being as iconic, for me it showcases Willis at his very best. When Butch double crosses the local mob boss, his carefully planned getaway plan goes sodomitically awry!