So a certain type of British film gets a bit of flack now and again. Normally its to do with East End gangsters usually has the line “You Mug” in it and it becomes something that those highbrow critics “love to hate.” Each to their own, however these films make huge amounts of money, they’re well made, open gateways to new actors and really portray the passion from their film makers like nothing I’ve ever seen.
So, as part of The Reel Deal, I will be fronting a brand new strand of content, which celebrates this type of film, why? Because I personally love them, and think that even if it doesn’t fit into everyone’s taste, we should be encouraging British cinema in all ways shapes and forms. Throughout this series I’ll be celebrating everything from first time British directors through to those considered some of the most prolific in the industry. I’ll also be looking at the taboo surrounding British cinema and what makes us love and loathe it.
To start with, I took the team off to the deepest darkest depths of Essex to meet with prison guard, come writer, come director (of films like Tower Block) Ronnie Thompson to talk about his brand new SAS based drama I Am Soldier – which hits cinemas today.
This film shocked me with how good it was. My dad was in the SAS and Paratroopers so it definitely has some personal interest and meaning to me, but I loved everything from the performances, to the story lines and even the grading! Every detail was thought about brilliantly and is a perfect example of why this type of film should be celebrated, so start saluting great cinema, because this is Becks’ Best of British.
Happy Valentines Day one and all – if you’re planning a trip to the cinema, back row, none of that nonsense, then I’ve got a great little nugget of information for you on what to watch. There’s something for every type of romantic out there, from the toe tapping through to the quirky and reserved, and even the big kid romantic in you.
There’s a super large amount of great stuff on at the moment, so if you don’t have any plans as yet then take advantage of your local multiplex. Spread the love for cinema if nothing else!
This weeks top flicks were hand picked by the brilliant @thereelfilmshow (follow them on Twitter please!) and there really is something for everyone, there’s also still some fab films out that were released in the last week or so, so make sure you check them out too, and don’t forget subscribe, subscribe, subscribe! (obviously subscribe to this blog but also The Reel Deal’s channel!)
Happy film watching and an even happier Valentines Day! x
Everyone’s going Lego crazy and I have to say I’m one very much joining the band wagon. Its a great film, nostalgic, funny and insanely clever, the animation is unprecedented!
So for our very first outing The Reel Film Show were invited along to a very special ‘celebrity screening’ of The Lego Movie (get us eh?!) and I had a chat or two with some famous faces (of sorts).
Bottom line is that everyone has and always will love lego and the excitement to see the film was incredible. Its out tomorrow and I’ll be bringing you my usual round up of films to watch in 60 seconds so please stay tuned for that, but in the meantime enjoy!
Get ready Efronites, as the High School Musical star is all grown up! Not only is he more of a twenty something man magnet rather than a tweenie twisting jazz hand sensation, its pretty clear from his new film That Awkward Moment that he’s trying to break free into the more adult marketed rom-coms. However the question remains, is this such a good thing?
Well lets take a look at That Awkward Moment, not just a film that Zac Efron stars in, he also Exec Produced it, so there’s definitely something a bit more grown up about this actor, he’s branching out. However the content of the film can still draw his stable audience of young (and not so young) fans.
The film follows Three best friends as they find themselves where we’ve all been – at that confusing moment in every dating relationship when you have to decide “So…where is this going?” They end up making a pact to stay single and enjoy avoiding “that awkward moment” and the moment the agreement is made, of course, they start to meet the girls of their dreams, sort of…
This is ultimately a fun film which you can take or leave. It’s more one for the girls who want to drool over the male eye candy rather than take away any deep and meaningful message about relationships and the like. However, it is fun in parts, there are some memorable scenes, particularly the mis-hap fancy dress scene where Efrons character Jason makes quite an impression on Imogen Poot’s (Ellie) parents, and it does show you how relationships can be fun and exciting when they’re just starting out. There is also the Viagra/toilet scene (which has been used to market the film where possible), where we see a naked Zac Efron trying to go to the toilet ‘post pill’ which caused one or two chuckles from the audience.
However, there are key factors in this film that really do bring it down. As it progresses, there are such cliché moments of chauvinism and male ‘wolf-pack’ bonding that really makes you feel like this film is just trying a bit too hard. There is also excessive dropping of the ‘F-Bombs’ which at times feel unnecessary and something that only the scriptwriter felt would make the film resonate with the 20 something generation of today’s society, sadly that is altogether slightly misunderstood.
On the plus side, the characters are fun, likeable in parts and laughable in others, so its not a film that you will go and see and wont like. It is a more mature performance for Zac Efron, he definitely is trying to strike that balance of trying something new whilst not alienating his current fanbase, which is a wise move. Michael B. Jordan plays the married too young, quarter life crisis character with ease and believability and Miles Teller’s ‘Geek Chic’ sidekick completes the boys club well. Imogen Poots is great as the slightly quirky, pretty love interest and provides the voice of reason throughout.
So That Awkward Moment, isn’t totally awkward in itself. Its definitely one for selective audiences of the Efronite movement and maybe a few more, the acting is good and if you can believe that young twenty-something’s can really live in those large bare-bricked Manhattan apartments with cool creative jobs designing book covers for a big publishing house, then this film is the film for you.
So you may all remember that last week I posted a pilot of some content from a brand new film channel that I am presenting called The Reel.
Well, move over pilot and hello Episode 1! Sound fixed and every Friday you’ll be able to see my top recommendations for whats hitting the cinema each week. So, if you’re stuck for something to do this weekend, never fear Becks is here!
This week is totally action packed, there’s loads of great things going on at the cinema, so all I ask is you please support this show by sharing, following, tweeting (@thereelfilmshow) and subscribing. Also, it would be great to hear what YOU want from a film show.
In February we’re bringing you a bigger brighter version of a film show, hopefully something a little different that celebrates everything film has to offer from Independent Cinema, to fun facts and of course our very own thoughts on the big films coming out each week. So please do follow all the platforms which we’re posting on to stay tuned, if you love films then we’re creating this just for you!
Thanks for all your support and look out for Gone in 60 Seconds every Friday!
Well its been a busy start to 2014 for me, I’ve brought together some of my favourite people and my favourite subject to develop a brand new film show for YouTube called The Reel. Its launching in February, but we wanted to start getting some of the content out there, including a very quick round up of the weeks hottest films that will be hitting the cinema every weekend.
So, introducing the pilot episode of Gone in 60 Seconds, our top tips to watch at the cinema this weekend. As it is a pilot episode please forgive the couple of technical hitches that have been happening (mainly the sound) but regardless of this you get the gist, so it would be great to see what you all think.
If you like this please do share it, follow our brand new Twitter handle @thereeldeal2014 and subscribe to the channel on YouTube. We want to create something fun for all you film fans out there, so hoping that this could be the start of something great! Stay tuned, wish us luck and please, do send me your thoughts and suggestions.
The road to the Oscars has officially been paved! Not the most surprising list of nominees but great to see the predicted big hitters present in full force. Gravity and American Hustle are leading the way with 10 nominations, followed hotly by Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave.
Its great to see a couple of surprises such as Her being nominated for Best Picture, and very little for Inside Lleywn Davis but hey! You can’t win them all. Also fab from the Brits with Sally Hawkins and the team behind Philomena picking up some nominations, so lets hope that they truly dominate on 2nd March 2014.
Well what a night it was last night. The first really big milestone (which most of the world is interested in – probably more because of the fashion than the film sadly!) in the road to the Oscars. There were some expected big winners – Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave picking up the coveted Best Film award, Jennifer Lawrence scooping Best Supporting Actress, putting her front of the queue for an Oscar second year in a row, Cate Blanchette for her tour de force masterpiece in Blue Jasmine and Leonardo Di Caprio for his outstanding performance as Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street (this picked up Best Actor in the Musical or Comedy section). It was also great to see Alfonso Cuaron picking up the Best Director award for the technically astonishing Gravity, the only other real contender to pip Steve McQueen to the Oscar post later this year – that will be an interesting race!
There were however a few surprises – which were totally deserved if not initially predicted. Firstly Matthew McConaughey picked up Best Actor for his role in Dallas Buyers Club, something I thought was slightly missed off the BAFTA radar, but to be fair is going to be released in February so its understandable why its not yet nominated on this side of the pond, never the less greatly recognised in Hollywood and makes the Oscars race that little bit more unpredictable. I was however hoping for Chiwetel Ejiofor to scoop the Best Dramatic Actor award for 12 Years A Slave, and also something for Michael Fassbender in a supporting category, but they were both content supporting their director as he, rather unprepared and breathlessly accepted the Best Film win (as if he was really THAT surprised!)
Anyway, win, lose, it looked like a fantastic night with American Hustle doing very well and some of our homegrown talent being recognised across the pond – Idris you did very well!!!
What did you think of the Award winners, happy? Surprised? Annoyed? Let me know in the comments below, but for now, I’ll leave you with the full list of winners including the TV categories too (well done Breaking Bad and Michael Douglas for Behind the Candelabra!)
Film
Best Drama – 12 Years a Slave
Best Comedy/Musical – American Hustle
Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama): Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical): Leonardo DiCaprio –The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama): Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine
Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical): Amy Adams –American Hustle
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Jennifer Lawrence –American Hustle
Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity
Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze – Her
Best Foreign Language Film: The Great Beauty
Best Animated Film: Frozen
Best Score: Alex Ebert – All Is Lost
Best Song: “Ordinary Love” – Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom
TV
Best TV Series (Drama): Breaking Bad
Best TV Series (Comedy): Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Best Actor in a TV Series (Drama): Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad
Best Actor in a TV Series (Drama): Robin Wright – House of Cards
Best Actor in a TV Series (Comedy): Andy Samberg – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Best Actor in a TV Series (Comedy): Amy Poehler – Parks And Recreation
Best Mini-Series or TV Movie: Behind The Candelabra
Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie: Michael Douglas – Behind The Candelabra
Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie: Elisabeth Moss – Top Of The Lake
Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series, Mini-Series, or TV Movie: Jon Voight – Ray Donovan
Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series, Mini-Series, or TV Movie: Jacqueline Bisset – Dancing On The Edge
After you’ve picked yourself up from your chair following the three plus hour rollercoaster ride of entertainment that is The Wolf of Wall Street, you’ll reflect (for hours, possibly even days) on what this film contained before coming to the inevitable conclusion that Di Caprio and Scorsese have a) the best bromance in Hollywood, and b) that The Wolf of Wall Street really is a modern day masterpiece.
Unbelievably, this is a true story and follows the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort a Long Island penny stockbroker who served 36 months in prison for defrauding investors in a massive 1990s securities scam that involved widespread corruption on Wall Street and in the corporate banking world, including shoe designer Steve Madden.
Now this all sounds like thrilling, serious stuff, and of course it is, but cleverly intertwined with this is the knowledge that Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his merry band of stockbroker men, lived the most zany, outlandish lifestyle that really does only exist in the movies until their time is up.
Martin Scorsese is back to his very best in this punchy screen sensation that reminds us of the great and the good films from the late 1980’s and early 90’s. It’s hard not to describe this as Goodfellas meets Wall Street where DiCaprio plays our modern day Gordon Gekko to perfection! Although The Wolf of Wall Street is not for the feint hearted (it contains lewd behavior, copious amounts of drug taking, full frontal nudity and enough swearing to send your granny to an early grave) you cannot help but love and laugh through every minute of it!
Proving he’s the most qualified and under awarded man in Hollywood history Leonardo DiCaprio pulls off another stellar performance as Jordan Belfort, from the wide eyed rookie stock broker taken under the wing of Rothschild Bank to the greedy owner of his own unorthodox company, we see a true transformation of character right before our eyes, that will have us laughing and crying at the same time, and secretly urging him to come out OK in the end.
Jonah Hill again is perfectly cast as Belforts’ sidekick Donnie Azoff, the ‘loveable douchebag’ who supports his colleague and mentor to the end (sort of) and is often happy to remain the brunt of the jokes and rakes in the rewards of living this lavish lifestyle laid out for him. Margot Robbie is a surprise as the trophy wife Naomi Lapaglia who dons a fantastic New York accent and bombshell look to not only bring Jordan Belfort to his knees in lust, but to also secure her place as Hollywood hot property.
The only downside to The Wolf of Wall Street is that there are some excellent cameos throughout that you just wish would have hung around longer. Jean DuJardin plays the shrewd and straight talking Swedish banker who appears in the latter part of the film, and is a world away from his silent Oscar winning star in The Artist. But the real master cameo performance is Matthew McConaughey as Belforts’ first boss Mark Hana. In only a fraction of screen time, he captures the essence of the craziness of life on Wall Street in the late 80’s and hooks Di Caprio’s impressionable character onto the biggest drug of all, money. Its outlandishness will have you howling in your seat with laughter and re-creating a certain ‘chest chant’ for days to come!
The Wolf of Wall Street may be sexist, brash, punchy and full of what was wrong with the world pre-crash, but you’ve got to admit once watching this film, that they had one hell of a ball in their work hard, play hard lifestyles. The costumes, the humour, the references and the brilliant acting all captures this era perfectly, and with this creates, as previously stated, a modern masterpiece, three hours promises to whizz by like three minutes and you’ll be grinning and laughing all the way home. This film really has set the bar for 2014.
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