Hollywood BlockBusters

Starring In Hollywood Blockbusters Los Angeles Man’s Only Claim To Fame

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Movie review: Burke and Hare

Every time a new Simon Pegg film comes along, a gaggle of geeks get all excited.

The sitcom Spaced was the vehicle that brought Pegg to the attention of the majority of the country’s nerd population thanks to its offbeat wit and being peppered with enough movie quotes and references to make fan boys salivate.

As a result, his many fans wait with eager anticipation for his next project in the hope it will be the next Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz.

Sadly, since reaching the dizzying heights of Hollywood stardom, Pegg’s output has been laced with a far greater number of misses than hits.

After damp squibs like Run Fatboy Run, How To Lose Friends and Influence People and now the lame (yes, lame) Burke and Hare, he dilutes his value as a commodity and, importantly, his credibility even further.

In Burke and Hare, Pegg plays Irishman William Burke, one half of the notorious real-life 19th century body-snatching duo who not only sold deceased bodies to Edinburgh-based anatomical scientist Dr Robert Knox (Tom Wilkinson) but also resorted to murder as a method of purloining cadavers to offload for a handsome profit.

As the death toll rises and the money starts to roll in, eyebrows are raised, not least because Burke has taken up with a local floozy named Ginny (Isla Fisher), an aspiring actress who lives on his promise of funding an all-female production of Macbeth.

Surely it’s just a matter of time before the long arm of the law, led by the short arm of Ronnie Corbett as militia man Captain McLintock, catches up with him and fellow partner-in-crime William Hare (Andy Serkis)?

Although director John Landis is more than adept at artfully blending comedy with horror – think Innocent Blood and classic comic horror masterpiece An American Werewolf in London – the balance here is off.

But it isn’t his fault. Burke and Hare is disappointing – largely because of its uninspired screenplay.

Humour is frequently obvious, with bursts of broad slapstick mixed with moments of uncomfortable comedy. You’re often not sure whether to laugh, cringe or recoil. The ‘comedy’ sex scenes between Andy Serkis and Jessica Hynes, who plays Hare’s wife, are particularly awkward and disconcerting.

The subject matter – a real story about actual grisly killings – is also odd material for a comedy such as this and adds to our discomfort.

Landis indulges his penchant for gore which elicits a degree of repulsion from the audience and sits uncomfortably with the film’s broad humour.

Had they utilised the writing skills of League of Gentlemen alumnus Reece Shearsmith, who has a role in the film, Burke and Hare may well have had the right blend of off-the-wall humour, horror and way-out weirdness to make this work.

Cameos from an array of British talent including Christopher Lee, Stephen Merchant, Bill Bailey, Hugh Bonneville, Jenny Agutter and Tim Curry – not forgetting Paul Whitehouse who is responsible for the film’s standout moment – are a strong draw.

You’ll most likely leave the cinema willing for Simon Pegg to make a return to his successful partnership with Edgar Wright and Nick Frost for something to really get your laughing gear round

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Composer Awards: Yared Gets Achievement in World Cinema, Desplat Named Composer of The Year

The European Film Awards are giving their Achievement in World Cinema award to Gabriel Yared, a self-taught musician and composer. He first composed for Jean-Luc Godard’s Every Man for Himself (Sauve Qui Peut La Vie), won a Cesar for his work on Jean-Jacques Annaud’s The Lover (L’Amant), and went on to collaborate with Anthony Minghella for multi-award winning The English Patient, followed by The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain, and 2006’s German Oscar-winner The Lives of Others, for which he was nominated for an EFA. Yared will receive his award at the 23rd annual European Film Awards ceremony on December 4.

This past Saturday in Belgium, another great composer, Alexandre Desplat [pictured] was named Composer of the Year at the tenth Annual World Soundtrack Awards. Desplat’s work includes The Queen, Julie & Julia, The Ghost Writer, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and The Fantastic Mr. Fox (best original film score winner). Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett took home the award for Best Original Song Written for Film for Crazy Heart‘s “The Weary Kind,” while A Single Man composer Abel Korzeniowski was named Discovery of the Year, and the film’s score won the Public Choice Award.

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THE AUBIN SILENT CINEMA THURSDAY 28TH OCTOBER 2010 IN THE SELFRIDGES

Aubin and Wills are staging the first ever cinema event on October 28 in the Selfridgesʼ car park, to celebrate the very successful first year of their Men’s and Women’s shops in the Oxford Street store.

In partnership with Silent Cinema they will create the ultimate Halloween themed screening. Guests will be treated to an extra-scary screening of the horror classic ‘Halloween’ in a dedicated area of the car park. Be afraid, be very afraid!

Aubin & Wills customers will receive a pair of complimentary tickets on spending £100 or more at the A&W concession in Selfridges or any of their other outlets in the UK and will have the opportunity to enjoy the Silent Cinema experience in a scary setting complete with specially terrifying tasty treats and deliciously ghoulish drinks.

Purveyors of excellence in British design, Aubin & Wills will also be showcasing the work of young British creatives, who will help create a unique cinematic experience.

Artist / designers Jamie Elliot and Liam Healy of Jail Make have designed the cinema seating – reusing wooden palettes to create original and eco-friendly chairs, built in collaboration with furniture designers, Boro. Textile up-cyclers Crafty Bitches have hand-sewn cushions from a choice of recycled fabrics to make the whole experience comfortable and beautiful.

Both designer-makers are based at the South London creative hub Deptford Project, where Silent Cinema recently had a month long residency.

Silent Cinema provides the perfect private-public cinema experience – immerse yourself in the soundtrack through individual wireless headsets. It’s like enjoying a movie at home only you’re in the company of a group of like-minded people, enhancing your experience.

You can laugh, crunch and scream as loud as you like – in Silent

Cinema no one can hear you!

Aubin & Wills customer screening 10pm. Complimentary tickets will be allocated on purchases of over £100 at any Aubin & Wills store and via facebook. Full details on the tickets.

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TOP 10 HORROR MOVIES YOU HAVE NOT SEEN

I have done a Halloween list every year since I have been at UAB, and in my fourth—and likely final—year here, the trick was finding a fairly obscure horror movie I haven’t mentioned in a previous article! So I did some heavy-duty web-searching, and here’s what I came up with. Enjoy!

1. “LET THE RIGHT ONE IN”
Sick of all those wussy teen vampires clogging up the movie and TV screens? Check out this nifty Swedish shocker about a pre-teen female vamp that is way more disturbing than anything you’ll see in the likes of the “Twilight” movies. And don’t worry if you fear subtitles more than vamps - there’s a dubbed option on the DVD.

2. “DEAD SNOW”
Another Swedish import, this one revolves around the ever-popular zombies, also still making waves with the recent “Zombieland.” However, this one features Nazi zombies! How can you go wrong? Not here, with the flick that stole the show at the recent Sidewalk Festival. It equal parts of “Evil Dead” and “Scream,” with an amusingly tongue-in-cheek, self-referential tone that translates into any language.

3. “MARTYRS”
Just when you thought it was safe to avoid torture porn comes this belated entry in the much maligned (often deservedly so) genre. This French import is far superior to most films of its ilk, adding a dense psychological subtext that makes it cut deeper than most horror movies. That said, it is definitely not for the faint of heart, least of all in the super-gory unrated version. The French have been on a roll as of late –see also the excellent “High Tension” (by the director of the “Hills Have Eyes” remake), “Inside,” and “Frontier(s).”

4. “BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE”
Gore-fests not your cup of tea? Try this underrated flick, based on a young adult novel of the same name, which tried to do for werewolves what “Twilight” did for vampires before that film was released. It is flawed, but beautifully shot and well-acted, and is more for those who prefer light horror or so-called “paranormal romance” than die-hard horror fans - in other words, it’s much more girl-friendly than the other films on this list if you’re looking for date night material. If you like this, see also the excellent French period-piece werewolf flick “Brotherhood of the Wolf” or the Canadian teen-wolf series “Ginger Snaps.

5. “THE WOODS”
Like “Blood and Chocolate,” this also features rising starlet Agnes Bruckner, plus horror stalwart Bruce Campbell of “Evil Dead” fame and celebrated indie actress Patricia Clarkson (“Six Feet Under”). Revolving around mysterious happenings at a girl’s school in the mid-60s, it’s a subtle, mood-driven chiller that makes up in atmosphere what it may lack in gore. See also director Lucky McKee’s fantastic “May,” featuring a rare straight performance from funny girl Anna Farris (“Scary Movie”). For even more girl-school thrills, check out the tres-campy “Satan’s School for Girls” with - who else? - notorious bad girl Shannen Doherty.

6. “TALE OF TWO SISTERS”
Sure, Asian horror is old hat by now, to the point that the recent remake of this film, “The Uninvited,” was not even promoted as such. However, this one is well worth a look, even for those burnt-out on Asian horror. For one thing, it’s not your typical Asian horror movie; It’s grounded in reality, and though there are ghosts of a sort, it’s not anything like “The Ring” or “The Grudge” or what have you (not that there’s anything wrong with those films). This one is more of a psychological thriller than a ghost story, and that makes all the difference. See also the excellent Mexican chiller “The Orphanage,” presented by Guillermo Del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) for a similar flick that moves as much as it chills.

7. “THE FUNHOUSE”
Director Tobe Hooper has taken his lumps over the years, somewhat deservedly, despite having created two of the all-time best horror movies: “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Poltergeist.” However, there are a few hidden gems in his repertoire that few talk about, including this shocker set largely in a carnival ride—hence the title. The main monster’s gruesome makeup is by Academy Award winning effects man Rick Baker (“Hellboy,” “An American Werewolf in London”). Other Hooper movies worth checking out: “Eaten Alive,” featuring a pre-Freddy Robert Englund and a hungry crocodile, and “Lifeforce” about space vampires (!). For an ideal double feature, check out the also-carnival-set flick “Dark Ride,” with “Sopranos” siren Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

8. “VIDEODROME”
Before there was torture porn, there was “Videodrome.” This ahead-of-its-time flick features James Woods and a post-Blondie Deborah Harry (as a redhead!) playing a couple who run afoul of a pirated cable network that shows nothing but torture films with no plot or recurring actors. Might they be real snuff films? You will just have to see for yourself, but with David Cronenberg (“The Fly”) in the director’s chair, suffice it to say things only get weirder. This film single-handedly warped my childhood irrevocably, and I mean that as a compliment. See also Cronenberg’s “Existenz,” which could be a bigger-budgeted sequel to the film and makes for a perfect double feature.

9. “ANGEL HEART”
Believe it or not, there was a time when Mickey Rourke (“Sin City,” “The Wrestler”) looked like a normal guy. Granted, he never was anything remotely resembling normal as a person, which is why he is such a perfect fit for this proto-M. Night Shyamalan chiller. A modern-day film noir, the film is directed by Alan Parker, of “Fame” fame as well as “Pink Floyd: The Wall,” and features a post “Cosby” Lisa Bonet, never hotter. “Angel Heart” revolves around a P.I. investigating a disappearance in New Orleans at the behest of the mysterious Robert DeNiro, at his creepiest this side of “Cape Fear.” Great ending, beautifully shot, and excellent acting all around. A must see, but try to get a hold of the unrated version. See also the equally underrated “Jacob’s Ladder” for a similar nightmarish vision with a twist.

10.”PIECES”
What would a Halloween horror list be without a guilty pleasure slasher flick? One of “Hostel” director and “Inglourious Basterds” star Eli Roth’s faves, this so-trashy-it’s-great gore-a-palooza must be seen to be believed. Featuring stalwart horror husband and wife team Christopher and Lynda Day George (“Day of the Animals”), plus Paul “Bluto” Smith, this would-be murder mystery is sleazy but fun, with loads of gratuitous nudity and gore, plus an ending to end all horror movie endings, “Sleepaway Camp” notwithstanding. For more Georges fun, check out the underrated “Mortuary” featuring a young Bill Paxton, and for more guilty pleasure 80s slashers, check out the recently re-released “The Prowler” with effects by the guru of gore, Tom Savini (“Dawn of the Dead,” “Friday the 13th”) and the underrated original “My Bloody Valentine,” which features restored unrated gore.

Well, there you have it! Have a great Halloween, and remember to lock your doors and bolt your windows, because you never know who—or what—might be lurking out there in the dark.

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SAW 3D DIRECTOR KEVIN GREUTERT ON MAKING JIGSAW'S FINAL MOVIE AND NOT MAKING PARANORMAL ACTIVITY2

Kevin Greutert edited the first five Saw movies and directed the most recent pair—last year’s Saw VI and Saw 3D, which opens Friday. So it isn’t a huge surprise to discover that the horror franchise, in which victims must try to escape torture-traps set by Tobin Bell’s character Jigsaw, has infiltrated his subconscious. “I do have Saw dreams,” says the filmmaker. “I can’t even escape it in my sleep.”

Nor has he been able to escape it in real-life, despite his best efforts to do so. Following the huge success of last fall’s Paranormal Activity, Greutert and TV writer Michael Perry (The Dead Zone, Millennium) were approached to oversee the second film in the PA franchise, despite the original movie taking a big bite from the box office of Greutert’s Saw VI. “When I was approached by the Paranormal guys, I was thrilled,” says Greutert. “We had quite a few meetings and did a lot of pitching with them. And of course Michael stayed on.” Greutert did not. In January, the producers of the Saw movies exercised an option in the director’s contract, which allowed them to extract Greutert from Paranormal 2 and deposit the director on the Toronto set of Saw 3D, shortly before the film was due to start principal photography. Greutert reportedly responded by blogging that “lawyers are sending me to Canada.” “I don’t remember that!” Greutert protests, with mock innocence. “Starting with the release of Saw VI, and the disappointing box-office performance, it’s been a dark time for me, no question. But honestly, this subject, while it’s fascinating, I should probably not say more on it.”

The director does admit to being “very daunted” by the idea of making a 3-D movie with almost no prep time. “I got to Toronto just a little over a week before we went to camera,” he says. “There was a lot of crazy turmoil in this production. Frankly, I’m glad it’s over. Because there were definitely things that I would have done a lot differently if I had been on the film from the beginning. But at the same time, they wouldn’t have brought me on so suddenly and at the last minute if they didn’t trust my opinion. It all worked out.”

While the director may have reluctantly returned to the Saw franchise, Greutert is clearly proud of the latest entry which, in addition to its 3-D mayhem, boasts the long-awaited return to the franchise of actor Cary Elwes. Greutert reveals that audiences will finally find out the fate of Elwes’ character Dr. Lawrence Gordon, who we last saw disappearing to points unknown after severing his own foot at the end of the first movie. “We absolutely find that out,” says the director. “I think that in this film, we’ve done a better job than any of the other sequels in making this movie stand alone, for people that aren’t totally up to speed with all the Saw movies. That said, for sure, it delves deep into the background of most of the characters.” Greutert also says that Saw 3D features “more of the general world, not just the creaky chambers we’ve seen in previous movies. They put some money into this sucker, no question.”

Money, however, can’t buy you everything. Saw 3D was originally slated to hit cinemas on October 22, the same day as Paranormal Activity 2. But in July, Saw distributors Lionsgate pushed the film back a week. The move seems like a wise choice, given the extraordinary box office success of Paranormal Activity 2, which grossed $41.5 over the weekend. “There were assorted reasons for why it happened,” says Greutert of his film’s release date change. “But I think it was a good choice.”

This may be the final year the two franchises have to worry about what the other is doing. Greutert confirms that Saw 3D is the last in the series. Of course, he could just be saying that to, ahem, trap people into seeing the sucker this weekend. “It’s funny how skeptical people are that this really could be the last one,” says Greutert. “Anything’s possible, I suppose, and it’s not something that I personally have any power over. But in my opinion, we have exhausted the Jigsaw storyline with Saw 3D. And any future movies would not be in the annual cycle that we’ve experienced for the last seven years. Realistically it would have to be in pre-production for now. That said, we really did want it to be the last one. If you start making movies that don’t live up to the ‘greatest hits’ in the series, it denigrates the past, and nobody wants that. We want this to go down in history as a great franchise. I think it is the last Saw movie,” he adds, “but it’s absolutely my last Saw movie.” Which would leave him free to direct… Paranormal Activity 3? “Let’s not go there,” he laughs.

You can check out the trailer for Saw 3D below. Are you a fan of the series? Do you believe this will be the last in the series?

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