31st Jul2022

Thor: Love and Thunder – Film

by timbaros
Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Marvel Studios' THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER. Photo by Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER. Photo by Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER

Released: Thursday 7 July

Synopsis: Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Love and Thunder” finds the God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But Thor’s retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late. Directed by Taika Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok,” “Jojo Rabbit”) and produced by Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum. Bale deserves an Oscar for his performance.

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson 
Director: Taika Waititi

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31st Jul2022

Beauty and the Beast – Theatre

by timbaros

Cogsworth (Nigel Richards), Mrs Potts (Sam Bailey) and Lumiere (Gavin Lee)-1One of the most well-loved Disney musicals is back in London, and it’s just as fantastic as ever.

‘Beauty and the Beast,’ now playing at The Palladium Theatre in Central London, invites you to be their guest in this beautiful re-telling of a tale that is as old as time. Step into this fairy tale where music, romance and fantasy blend to enchant you in a story that we all know.
Belle (Courtney Stapleton), who lives in a small house with her father Maurice (Martin Ball), is a beautiful young woman who is being wooed by Gaston (Tom Senior), handsome and wanted by all girls of the village, but also not very nice and very egotistical. When Maurice goes missing Belle searches for him and finds him in a huge castle in the dark deep words where he is being held hostage by a prince who was transformed into a Beast (Shaw Taylor). The servants in the castle are household objects, and there is a rose that is slowly losing its petals and once all the petals fall off the Beast and the household objects will remain as they are – with no hope to be turned back into normal human bodies. The only way to stop the petals from falling off is if the Beast falls in love, and he does so with Belle. And while Belle tells the Beast she will take her fathers place as a hostage, slowly slowly slowly the Beast learns how to be a gentlemen and slowly slowly slowly Belles starts falling for him. In the meantime, Gaston finds out about Belle being held hostage in a castle and heads there with some of the townspeople to kill the Beast and bring back Belle back home to safety.
It’s a beautifully told story and everything is just about perfect in the show, especially the household objects (played by Emma Caffrey, Nigel Richards, Gavin Lee, Samantha Bingley and Sam Bailey). ‘Beauty and the Beast is romantic fantasy and to be enjoyed by everyone, no matter how old or how cynical. it’s a love story that has stood against the test of time.
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31st Jul2022

Minions: Rise of Gru – Film

by timbaros
MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRUThis summer, from the biggest global animated franchise in history, comes the origin story of how the world’s greatest supervillain first met his iconic Minions, forged cinema’s most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled in Minions: The Rise of Gru. 

Long before he becomes the master of evil, Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) is just a 12-year-old boy in 1970s suburbia, plotting to take over the world from his basement. 
It’s not going particularly well. When Gru crosses paths with the Minions, including Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto—a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please—this unexpected family joins forces. Together, they build their first lair, design their first weapons, and strive to execute their first missions. 
 
When the infamous supervillain supergroup, the Vicious 6, oust their leader—legendary martial arts fighter Wild Knuckles (Oscar® winner Alan Arkin)— Gru, their most devoted fanboy, interviews to become their newest member. The Vicious 6 is not impressed by the diminutive, wannabe villain, but then Gru outsmarts (and enrages) them, and he suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. With Gru on the run, the Minions attempt to master the art of kung fu to help save him, and Gru discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends. 

Featuring more spectacular action than any film in Illumination history and packed with the franchise’s signature subversive humor, Minions: The Rise of Gru stars a thrilling new cast, including, the Vicious 6: Taraji P. Henson as cool and confident leader Belle Bottom, whose chain belt doubles as a lethal disco-ball mace; Jean-Claude Van Damme as the nihilistic Jean Clawed, who’s armed (literally) with a giant robotic claw; Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck, whose traditional nun’s habit hides her deadly nun-chucks; Dolph Lundgren as Swedish roller-skate champion Svengeance, who dispenses his enemies with spin kicks from his spiked skates; and Danny Trejo as Stronghold, whose giant iron hands are both a menace to others and a burden to him. 
 
The film also stars Russell Brand as Young Dr. Nefario, an aspiring mad scientist, Michelle Yeoh as Master Chow, an acupuncturist with mad kung fu skills, and Oscar® winner Julie Andrews as Gru’s maddeningly self-absorbed mom.
 
Out in cinemas now.
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31st Jul2022

I Will Tell International Film Festival – Film

by timbaros

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I Will Tell International Film Festival announced its return to London cinemas, with additional outdoor and virtual screenings of films from around the world including the UK, US, Canada, Iran, India, Ukraine, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Australia. The long running festival expands throughout London with screenings at venues across the city, including Prince Charles Cinema in Leister Square, The Tabernacle in Notting Hill and a special outdoor screening at Portobello Green, Notting Hill as part of Community Day, as well as offering virtual screenings via the Festival’s streaming platform, iwilltell.com/virtual.

The I Will Tell International Film Festival Opening Night Gala will be hosted by BFI Southbank on 7th July where the film CLOCK, a British urban coming of age story directed by Lola Atkins, will premiere. The film is led by an ethnically diverse, and predominately female, cast and crew and will set the for the festival’s 16th annual lineup. which includes inspirational untild stories from around the world.

Justin Johnson, Lead Programmer at BFI Southbank says, “We’re delighted to host the Opening Night of the I Will Tell International Film Festival at BFI Southbank this year and to be supporting director Lola Atkins and the cast and crew of CLOCK. We look forward to welcoming audiences to a Festival that has been working tirelessly to champion underrepresented filmmakers for more than 15 years”

CLOCK director Lola Atkins has stated, “I’m delighted that we have phenomenal platforms like I WILL TELL, which have deliberately chosen to be the voice and legs for those who have often not been included in the conversation.” She adds, “To be a part of the Opening Gala at the esteemed BFI Southbank, where many great works have graced the screens for an impeccable select few is an incredible opportunity.”

Ahead of its 16th edition, I WILL TELL International Film Festival founder, Jenny Lee, is challenging the film industry to better support greater inclusion and equality of ethnically diverse filmmakers within the industry. In the UK, more than 90% of films are distributed by a handful of distributors from a specific demographic with its own bias. “I Will Tell International Film Festival creates a space at the table to help adjust the current imbalance. It follows then that the festival would showcase the work of an exciting black female filmmaker alongside a Ukrainian epic,” says Lee.

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31st Jul2022

London Indian Film Festival – Film

by timbaros

Little English-1World Premieres, In Conversations, Cutting edge documentaries, Acclaimed Directors, Retrospectives and Asian Music Events.

Supported by title sponsor Blue Orchid Hotels, Integrity International, the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Bagri Foundation and Arts Council of England, this year’s London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) spans 11 days from 23rd June – 3rd July. Selection of the programme will be available on BFI Player and the LoveLiffatHome Online Player/ 

LIFF opens on 23rd June with the World Premiere of DOBAARAA directed by the acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap and starring award winning actress Taapsee Pannu. The highly anticipated thriller is produced by Shobha Kapoor & Ektaa R Kapoor (Cult Movies, a new wing under Balaji Telefilms) and Sunir Kheterpal & Gaurav Bose (Athena). The Opening Night screening at BFI Southbank will be followed by a Q&A by Kashyap.

Female filmmakers are at the forefront of this year’s festival including the European premiere of THE RAPIST starring Konkana Sen Sharma and Arjun Rampal. The screening of the powerful, award winning film will be followed by a Q&A with its director Aparna Sen, India’s most prolific female filmmaker. Konkona Sen is also expected to be attending.  

Rebana Liz John’s documentary LADIES ONLY explores feminist themes through observing the female only compartments of Mumbai’s hectic trains.   

Among other U.K. premieres are Pan Nalin’s uplifting homage to celluloid CHELLO SHOW and Anik Dutta’s APARAJITO – a tribute to legendary director Satyajit Ray’s journey of making his first film, the cult classic ‘Pather Panchali’. An intimate look at modern day Calcutta, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CALCUTTA by Aditya Vikram Sengupta also features in the festival line-up. Set against a score by Academy Award winning AR Rahman, who is also Executive Producer, NO LAND’S MAN stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui as a man dealing with the complexities of identity. Q&A by the film’s director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki follows the film’s premiere. 

Under the festival’s ‘Save the Planet’ strand, ecological and climate themes are explored in THE ROAD TO KUTHRIYAR, NO GROUND BENEATH MY FEET and HATIBONDHU. Among the films in the ‘Extraordinary lives’ strand are DUG DUG and PAKA: THE RIVER OF BLOOD.

The ‘Young Rebels’ strand includes GIRLS FOR FUTURE and THE VERY FISHY TRIP.  

Cultures collide in selections from the diaspora including British Indian comedy LITTLE ENGLISH, the Pakistani American film AMERICANISH from the US. Archival screenings include classic 1990s music documentary ASIAN VIBES LONDON & MUMBAI, plus a special screening of Richard Attenborough’s GANDHI celebrating the 40th anniversary of this multi Oscar winner.

Additional shorts categories include hit LGBTQIA+ programme Too Desi Too Queer, the films of Mumbai queer pioneer filmmaker Riyad Vinci Wadia, new British Asian emerging filmmakers and shorts competing in the festival’s annual Satayjit Ray Short Film Competition. 

Canadian Indian documentary SUPERFAN: THE NAV BHATIA STORY, uplifting tale on basketball team the Toronto Raptors greatest fan, closes the festival. 

LIFF has announced a new title sponsor – the Blue Orchid Hotels. With its excellent locations, exceptional standards and commitment to making a difference within communities, the partnership positively demonstrates the support of the arts by private business. The company also pursues a number of charitable endeavours, including raising awareness of child trafficking and women’s rights which are complementary to themes and causes that the festival also platforms. 

Participating Cinemas include: BFI Southbank, Barbican, Ciné Lumière, Rich Mix, Bertha DocHouse, Picturehouse Central, Picturehouse Stratford, Roof East Stratford, MAC Birmingham, Electric Birmingham, Birmingham City University, Everyman Manchester St John’s, Home Manchester & stream UK wide at www.LoveLIFFatHome.com

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31st Jul2022

The Car Man – Theatre

by timbaros

rah_64346431150-1I’m glad to have finally seen ‘The Car Man’ as it is a sight to see!

‘The Car Man’ is sexy, sultry and very dramatic. The show literally ropes you in in the first five minutes where we get to see about a dozen men take their clothes off to shower – and from then the show kicks off!

The first production of Mathew Bourne’s dance sensation was back in 2000 at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth and then transferred to London’s Old Vic. And it has come and gone, most recently at Sadlers Wells in 2015. It’s now back on one of the famous stages in London – Royal Albert Hall – and it’s not to be missed! 

Blending in romance, violence, skin – lots of skin – the show is a nod to the dark and erotic film noirs of the 1950’s and 1960’s with lots of dancing, and lots (over 30) of performers, in a show that’s a take on ‘Carmen.’

We are in a diner in an Italian American city called Harmony in the 1960’s. A stranger arrives into town who takes a job as a mechanic hence the title of the show. His arrival affects everyone in town, where the rest of the story is beautifully told through dance and via a well-tuned orchestra led by Brett Morris in a show that also has touches of ‘West Side Story.’ There is dancing everywhere on stage – it’s hard to take it all in – but the dancers manage it all beautifully, all they way through to the compelling climax. 

Music is composed by Terry Davies in a show brought to us by the comparable Sir Matthew Bourne. 

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31st Jul2022

Elvis – Film

by timbaros

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A description of the new film ‘Elvis’ can be summed up in two words – it’s fantastic, and Austin Butlers performance can be described as mesmerising. 
Butler becomes Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmanns newly-released film on the trials and tribulations in the life of the king of rock who died at the young age of 42 in 1977.

Told through the eyes of Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks in a performance that is a bit distracting from the main larger than life character) who micro-managed every bit of Presley’s career, right down to not allowing him to travel internationally (Parker emigrated illegally to the United States at the age of 20.) But while the film begins and ends with Parker, it’s really all about Austin – I mean Presley.

It’s really hard to distinguish Austin from Presley because Austin looks like, sounds like, and acts like Presley, it’s actually like Presley himself is starring in his own movie. And the scenes of Elvis on stage in Las Vegas will send chills down your spine as Austin nails down all of Elvis’s movements, right down to his swivelling hips (which was too racy for American television at that time that he was filmed above the waist).

We get to see Elvis’s close relationship with his mother Gladys(Helen Thomson), and his father (a one-note performance by Richard Roxburgh), to when he went into the army where in a television moment he got his hair cut, to meeting 16-year old Priscilla (Olivia DeJonge) – whom he went on to marry in 1967. Then we are treated to his Las Vegas years which are the highlight of the film where you’ll get goosebumps watching Butler swivel on stage – it’s almost too much for the heart to take.

Luhrmann throws us for a loop in his direction as one might be expecting a Moulon Rouge fantasy style musical but ‘Elvis’ is pure biographical and it’s showcase is Butler. While Hanks has star billing but might be playing a bit too over the top , Butlers performance is just about perfect – and literally a star is born where he is a shoo-in come awards season. 
And while the film is not 100% perfect, it’s a great tribute to Elvis.

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