Author: James Partridge

The best worst movie posters at Cannes 2014

Posted by | May 29, 2014 |

I was very fortunate to be granted a press pass for Cannes this year. With it being my first time at The Big Dance, I took advantage of every opportunity available to me: screenings, interviews, press conferences, functions, and parties! It was particularly fun to wander around the Cannes Film Market, the world’s largest, with thousands of films on show (in various stages of development) all hoping to be picked up for funding and/or release. What you soon realise is that Cannes is not just for the Hollywood big boys or indie darlings. Every man and his dog is here trying to sell a film. A plethora of movie posters line the booths and market walls, all clamouring for your attention. Some of them are absolute shockers! I took a few photos of the most hilariously awful. So here, for your viewing pleasure, are the best worst movie posters from Cannes 2014: . Wrestlers vs Zombies: Ok, I have to admit, I really do want to see this. . Zoombies: I sensing a zombie theme this year. . Goal of the Dead: How far can you stretch a genre?…this far! . Santa Claws: A film so bad, you wish it had zombies! . Krampus – The Christmas Devil: Yes, this is a real movie. Probably better than Santa Claws though. . Pups United: Shoot…Me…Now! . strong>Squirrels: If you’re going...

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Cannes 2014 Interview: Alan Clay (Writer-Director)

Posted by | May 29, 2014 |

While in Cannes I was fortunate to meet writer-director Alan Clay, an ex-pat Kiwi making films in the US. His previous feature Courting Chaos, a romantic comedy about a girl who falls for a Venice Beach street clown, garnered several awards – including Best Comedy Film award at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, Special Jury Award for Romantic Comedy at Worldfest, and Awards of Merit for Best Director and Best Feature Film from the Accolade Awards. Alan was in Cannes to seek funding for his next film Savage Destiny, based on the Philip K. Dick novel Turning Wheel. He kindly took some time out to talk to me about his films, what it’s like for a Kiwi working in the States, and provide some insight for other filmmakers on how make Cannes count. Click Here for Alan Clay...

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Cinema Release Round-Up: 29 May

Posted by | May 29, 2014 |

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon reunite for another gastronomic trip, Seth MacFarlane takes us to his version of the Wild West, Angelina Jolie transforms into a famous Disney witch, and Nicole Kidman plays the iconic Grace Kelly. And this is but a sample of the cinematic feast this week. . Opening today: . THE TRIP TO ITALY……FILM OF THE WEEK UK | 113 minutes | Comedy Director: Michael Winterbottom (The Trip, 24 Hour Party People) Cast: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Marta Barrio, Rosie Fellner The semi-fictionalised versions of Rob and Steve reunite to retrace the Romantic Poets grand tour of Italy, while indulging in more witty banter and gastronomic delights. If you’ve seen the first film, then you’ll know why we’ve made this FOTW. Distributor: Madman . A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST USA | 115 minutes | Comedy, Western Director: Seth McFarlane (Ted, TV’s Family Guy) Cast: Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, Liam Neeson, Christopher Hagen A hapless farmer who falls for a beautiful stranger must face her outlaw husband in a shoot-out…not before he finds his balls! The gags in Ted were hit and miss but overall the film was a fun ride. I expect MacFarlane’s second feature effort will be more of the same. Distributor: Paramount . GRACE OF MONACO France, USA, Belgium, Italy | 103...

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Cannes 2014 Review: ‘Lost River’

Posted by | May 28, 2014 |

“It’s like Marmite” replied a British actress, and fellow screening attendee, to my question of whether or not her fellow Brits would like Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut Lost River. I couldn’t agree more, it really is a love or loathe experience. In my case, it’s love. The film presents us with a single-parent family living in the dying town of Lost River. We meet Billy, a mother so desperate to keep her family together, she’ll take a job in a macabre underworld club. Her oldest, Bones, helps keep the family in coin by collecting scrap from derelict buildings, while finding solace in the arms of a neighbourhood girl called Rat. But the family’s tenuous existence completely unravels when Billy’s new boss develops an unhealthy fascination with her, and Bones crosses the path of sadistic gang leader Bully, who has delusions of being king of this abandoned domain. Ryan Gosling, known best as an A-List actor and heartthrob, could have played it safe with a nice rom-com or family drama as his first director’s assignment. But Gosling embraces his dark and twisted side, unleashing a nightmarish adult fantasy. And I’m so glad he did, even if the result is far from perfect. The influences of Gosling’s mentor Nicolas Winding Refn’s, and other macabre specialists like David Lynch, are everywhere. And the story is a bit of a unholy mess, much like the...

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Cannes 2014 Review: ‘Two Days, One Night’

Posted by | May 27, 2014 |

Two Days, One Night is a refreshingly simple but engaging tale of a woman who refuses to give up. Marion Cotillard plays Sandra, a woman preparing to return to her blue-collar job at a solar panel factor after a health-related absence. The Friday before she’s due to start, Sandra discovers she’s being made redundant after her co-workers are forced to choose between their bonuses and keeping an extra, and now unnecessary, worker on – not pleasant for anyone, let alone someone suffering from depression. Facing the prospect of losing her and her husband’s apartment, Sandra somehow finds the inner strength to challenge the decision. With a second vote set for the Monday, Sandra sets out to convince her fellow employees to forgo their bonuses so that she can keep her job, her home and her sanity. But many of the others need the money and – despite empathising with Sandra’s situation – have their own issues to deal with. This is definitely a one-woman show and the Dardenne brothers, known for their slice-of-life films, couldn’t have found a more perfect muse in Cotillard. Not only does her consistent brilliance transfix you to the screen, she also draws out the humanity in her character, as she does with every character she plays – even when they aren’t particularly glamorous. As for the story itself, I came away with mixed feelings....

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