Behind the scenes on Papadopoulos & Sons.
Ready, Camera, Action!
Papadopoulos & Sons: Early reviews are in!
ARTS DESK **** “In a just world, Papadopoulos & Sons should join Bend it Like Beckham, East is East and The Full Monty in the micro-genre of thoughtfully entertaining, low-budget British feel-good hits… Stephen Dillane’s Harry is the heart and soul of why Papadopoulos & Sons feels genuine, not mass-produced and manipulative…”
WHATS ON LIVE **** “A low-key, sweet and strangely life-affirming comedy… the film is a winning take on contemporary, minority Britain…”
TOTAL FILM *** “There’s a warmth and charm about Marcus Markou’s feature debut that makes it hard to resist…”
CELLULOID HEROES **** “Most protagonists undergo major changes through experience and character interaction, but rarely is it achieved with such spirited passion and in a believable way. Dillane shows a thorough understanding of and commitment to the role, which is unusual in today’s fast paced industry…”
SCREEN JABBER **** “A gentle, warm-hearted comic drama from first-time filmmaker Markou. The plot is perfect for our cash-strapped times, and the solution rings true too… it’s so well crafted, and the performances so engaging, that you cannot help but enjoy the ride.”
BEST FOR FILM ***** “Markou was repeatedly told that Papadopoulos & Sons just wouldn’t sell. I’ve seen the film five times and I see something different and amusing with each sitting.”
Find out more by clicking here.
Look it’s Toby from Labyrinth all grown up and very attractive. He is called Toby both in real life (Toby Froud) and in the movie and now works in animation.
I bet David Bowie couldn’t throw him quite so high in the air these days…
Contrarah does #MTOS - Romantic comedies
If you don’t already know - Movie Talk On Sunday involves everyone in the wonderful Twitter film community (including you) in a debate about film topics. I have the honour of hosting this week (June 3rd at 8pm BST), on a subject very close to my heart - the romantic comedy. I’ve pretty much seen all of them - although there’s always an undiscovered gem somewhere.
MTOS means the host asks ten questions (see below) on the chosen subject, inviting everyone who follow me or types in the hashtag #MTOS to answer them. Anyone can answer but it’s easiest if you put the question number that you are answering and the hashtag #MTOS in your tweets.
To find out more on how #MTOS works - click here.
I worry about the romantic comedy. In a sea of blockbusters, sequels and superhero movies, these type of films aren’t being made in the numbers that they used to.
So I want to know what you all think about this movie genre. Here are my ten questions for us to ponder and discuss:
1) What are your favourite romantic comedies?
2) Are romcoms just for girls? Discuss.
3) What is the recipe for the perfect romcom?
4) Which directors utilise this genre most effectively? How?
5) Which romcoms should be wiped from existence? Why were they so bad?
6) What’s the best screen chemistry you’ve seen between romcom leads? Is there a dream pairing?
7) Were the screwball days, the Eighties excess, the alternative Noughties or another decade the best for romcoms?
8) What’s your romcom guilty pleasure (I won’t tell)?
9) Who does romcoms the best? UK, US, Europe or elsewhere, and why?
10) Is romcom a dying genre? Can it be revived? If so, how?
Looking forward to debating with you on Sunday!
(photo - the RomCom Disease - from ommster.com)
Work those abs Crush of the Week - This is the trailer for Magic Mike, the semi-autobiographical film retelling of Channing Tatum’s life as a stripper.
What, you want more information? Do I look like I care about the non-existent plot?
No it’s all about the hard bodies. Channing, Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, hell even Olivia Munn - this is a glorified, seedy advert for the perks of the gym…and I’m sold.
Damsels in Distress – the one where noone can hear you…laugh
First published for liveforfilms.com
Oh reviewing. It’s like fighting an uphill battle. Sometimes I feel like I am hitting myself over the head with a hammer, typing through the haze of pretty birdies flying around me.
When I announced on Twitter that Indie director Whit Stillman’s Damsels in Distress was one of the funniest, most delightful films that I had seen in years I was met with one of two responses.
The first and usual response I call ‘set-to-automatic’, with people looking blankly at me saying ‘Que?’ In the cartoon that is my life, these viewers are the tomcats from Tom & Jerry. They run around smashing themselves in the face with a tray of nachos, mindless repeating ‘I can’t wait for Transformers 4 ‘.
The second kind – the viewers who know film but find themselves constantly disappointed, reacted along the lines of ‘That film was terrible – I prefer The Last Days of Disco – who does this aging Indie hipster Stillman think he is?’ This group remind me of the housekeeper in Tom & Jerry, the one who shouts ‘THOMAS!” They try to sweep away the mayhem while intoning ‘It’s all about Prometheus darlings’.
I have nothing against the high-brow or the low-brow of cinema. We need both. But we also need voices proclaiming more than just what we’re fed by advertising campaigns blinding us with repetitive TV spots and free posters.
You might have already guessed it – I see myself as little Jerry. I’m a small mouse with my own separate mission to introduce viewers to films that they would never consider before, but might, just might, if I squeak loudly enough: consider, view and even enjoy.
And boy do I pick the films to champion. Damsels in Distress has not been advertised at all and is currently being shown at precisely one cinema in London. It’s a hard sell. But… IT IS BRILLIANT – FUNNY, HEART WARMING, APPEALING TO BOTH SEXES AND A FEEL-GOOD MOVIE FOR 2012.
(Did anyone hear me? Squeak up if you did)
http://youtu.be/5yJfVnmd6BI
Along the way Lily and Violet meet Adam Brody’s Charlie who might be the path to their salvation – or he might just be a trying to get them drunk.
This film, like Brick and Clueless before it, has a language all of its own, a clever pastiche on all the college stereotypes. Paying as much homage to Animal House as it does American Pie – Stillman’s witty knack for dialogue and surrealism casts a spell over keg parties and stoner chic, all with a pastel sheen and a cartoonish style.
To say more would be the spoil the experience. Damsels in Distress is random. It might seem girly, but it was the males in my audience who were laughing the loudest, and the male characters are great at the slapstick.
Naysayers will say it’s arch, that some of the humour might be a touch too clever for its own good, but this little mouse is going to paraphrase Jed Bartlet from the West Wing – it’s not my job to appeal tothe lowest common denominator (of film-goer), it’s my job to raise it.
Damsels in Distress is unique and funny. Go and see it. A little mouse told you to.
Thank goodness Bella isn’t a huge wuss anymore. A teaser trailer for Breaking Dawn Part 2 has hit the net. I do pity that poor deer though…
It’s Hunger Games week - hurrah. I’ve always had admiration for Kristen Bell. She looks like an All-American cheerleading weed but once I saw her freaking out about sloths (which are one of my favourite animals) I knew she was the girl for me.
My adoration has been cemented by finding out that Kristen also loves The Hunger Games, possibly more than me (say it isn’t so). She’s even had a Hunger Games’ themed birthday party - I am a bit jealous.
Watch her obsessing over Katniss and co above.
Inappropriately Aged Crush of the Week.
I assure you my readership, I did see him first. When watching The Kids Are Alright two years ago, I found myself feeling strangely attracted to the (seemingly) under-age boy star. His role had one of the coolest names in movie history (Laser!) making him even more attractive. Such feelings hadn’t occurred within my beating loins heart since my even-more-inappropriate Jacob crush in Twilight.
But handsome and talented Josh Hutcherson is in fact nineteen years of age! Phew.
No doubt he’ll soon go stratospheric, given he is a delight playing Peeta Mellark, a character embodying the heart of upcoming teen-bloodbath The Hunger Games.
But til then, I’ll keep smothering on the anti-wrinkle cream and calling things ‘sik’…yeah?
