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Two Women Trailer


Natalya Petrovna Islaeva is feeling disillusioned in her marriage to her land baron husband Mikhail Rakitin. As good as he is to her, she is open to him about her feelings that perhaps she is not quite as in love with him as he is with her. As heartbroken as he must be, he is understanding, but things get more complicated with the employment of a young tutor for her small son. His youth, vibrancy and good looks overwhelm Natalya, but he is more interested in her elder daughter Verochka. Natalya knows she must forget about this young man and Mikhail insists that he must leave for everyone's sake, but her jealousy and desire threaten to rip apart her family when Verochka learns of her mother's feelings.

Continue: Two Women Trailer

Kubo And The Two Strings Review

Essential

From Laika (The Boxtrolls), this is one of the most beautiful, sophisticated animated films in many years. Not only does every moment of the movie look exquisite, but the story is smart, original and hugely entertaining. The themes it explores with a very light touch are rich and deep, provocative and engaging. And since there's so much to the movie, the comedy is that much sharper, the action that much more thrilling and the ultimate message that much more powerful.

Set in mythical Japan, the story centres on a cheeky young boy named Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson) who lost an eye when he was attacked as an infant by his grandfather (Ralph Fiennes) and two aunts (Rooney Mara times two). His father died in the struggle, but his mother got him out and raised him in a cave, making sure he never stayed outdoors after dark when his grandfather, the Moon King, could see him. A boy with boundless imagination, Kubo uses music and origami to entertain the villagers with the elaborately epic tale of his father's lifelong quest for three important pieces of armour. But one evening he stays out too late, and has to flee from his attacking aunts. Now his only companion is a sardonic monkey (Charlize Theron) and a forgetful warrior (Matthew McConaughey) who has been transformed into a big beetle. Together they decide to search for the armour so they can take on the Moon King once and for all.

This journey is the main body of the movie, encompassing comedy, adventure and some very scary moments. All of the story's twists and turns echo with the complexity of family and relationships, as Kubo tries to understand the things his parents could never tell him about himself. He also, of course, wants to better understand his own magical abilities, which are animated in breathtaking ways throughout the story. Perhaps accomplishing his father's quest will bring answers. And of course the real challenge for Kubo is to realise that everything he needs is right around him.

Continue reading: Kubo And The Two Strings Review

The Lego Batman Movie Trailer


Everyone knows how committed Batman is to his cause, he spends his days in the Batcave plotting different ways to save Gotham from the constant threat The Joker and his other cronies currently hold over the city. The one person who knows Batman better than anyone is his butler Alfred but his ageing helper has grown increasingly worried about his master's current mental state.

Wishing to find a new outlet and possibly offer some joy to Bruce's life, Alfred revokes Batman's Batcave computer privileges in an attempt for the caped crusader to bond with his adopted son. Batman is far from enthused and literally knows nothing about the kid who's living in Wayne Manor but when Dick accidentally stumbles upon the Batcave and all of Batman's elaborate toys, he can't believe his luck! First job is to find a suitable costume and young Dick takes no time re-working a Reggae style outfit.

Now Batman has found a side-kick, how will the two get on and find a way to save the city from The Joker who's planning on taking over control of Gotham.

Continue: The Lego Batman Movie Trailer

Daniel Radcliffe Found Ralph Fiennes "Genuinely Intimidating" On 'Harry Potter' Set


Daniel Radcliffe Ralph Fiennes Alan Rickman Harry Potter

Daniel Radcliffe answered a number of questions from young ‘Harry Potter’ fans, and has revealed which actor used to scare him most while he was filming.

The British actor, currently starring in Swiss Army Man, fielded questions submitted to People magazine by young readers aged 4-11 and answered them for the latest episode of ‘The Jess Cagle Interview’.

Fiennes’ portrayal of Lord Voldemort is one of the most memorable villains in recent movie history, and Radcliffe said that even Fiennes’ presence on set was “genuinely intimidating” – even more so than Alan Rickman (Professor Snape), whom he found friendly after a short time.

Continue reading: Daniel Radcliffe Found Ralph Fiennes "Genuinely Intimidating" On 'Harry Potter' Set

The Lego Batman Movie - Teaser Trailer


As ever, Batman is busy protecting his beloved Gotham city and The Joker is up to his usual tricks causing chaos for our hero. 

As The Joker's rule over the city strengthens, Batman realises that he must loosen up slightly and be open to teaming up with some equally skilled heroes. Following on from the first Lego movie, this film centres on Batman's character. The Lego Batman Movie will see many of the characters from the first movie make reappearances.

The Lego Batman Movie will be released in US cinemas from February 2017 and will see Will Arnett will voice Batman and Zach Galifianakis as The Joker.

Hail, Caesar! Review

Excellent

An intelligent ode to a time when Hollywood made wildly inventive movies without pressure from focus groups, there's a serious edge to what superficially looks like a madcap comical romp. But this isn't one of Joel and Ethan Coen's nutty comedies. It's a pointed exploration of the collision between art and commerce, assembled as a sprawlingly entertaining ensemble movie packed with lively, often hilarious characters.

It's set over 24 hours at Capitol Pictures in 1951 as studio minder Eddie (Josh Brolin) tries to keep several movies in production despite a series of hitches, while twin gossip columnists (two Tilda Swintons) try to get a scoop. Top movie star Baird (George Clooney) has been kidnapped by communist writers from the set of his Roman epic. Water-ballet diva DeeAnna (Scarlett Johansson) is pregnant and unapologetically unmarried. And rising-star Hobie (Alden Ehrenreich) is struggling to make the transition from Western action hero to chamber room drama, clashing with his demanding new director Laurence (Ralph Fiennes). Meanwhile, song-and-dance man Burt (Channing Tatum) is up to something on the set of his sailor musical. With all of this, Eddie begins to think that maybe he should take the offer of a job outside the film industry.

As the movie darts between these various productions, the Coens gleefully reinvent this series of genres that have essentially died out. Yes, the film is a pointed depiction of how Hollywood used to make a wide array of movies for much broader audiences. Each sequence is written and directed with witty details that perfectly catch the way the chaos of a film set can be transformed into a glamorous motion picture in time for the starry red-carpet premiere. And the entire cast rises to the challenge. Clooney is terrific as the dim-witted star who hasn't a clue what's happening around him. Ehrenreich shows real charm as a smart kid struggling in an insane situation. Brolin holds things together in a surprisingly sympathetic role, while Swinton, Johansson and Fiennes add plenty of spark, and the film is stolen by Frances McDormand as a spiky film editor.

Continue reading: Hail, Caesar! Review

Hail, Caesar! Trailer


Ever since his wonderful appearance in Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, we've been waiting for Ralph Fiennes to take up a similar role that shows a completely different side to the actor, now it looks like the Coen Brothers have given the actor such a role. Laurence Lorenz is an eccentric film director who finds himself caught up in a fiasco when Hollywood superstar Baird Whitlock is kidnapped.

Continue: Hail, Caesar! Trailer

Oscars 2015 Date Set, Films To Watch In Advance


Ben Affleck Kevin Spacey Ellen Degeneres Ralph Fiennes

It may seem like it’s only just finished, but Oscars buzz is about to start up all over again. A date has just been set for the Oscars 2015 ceremony, which will take place next year on February 22.

The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson's 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' Is Likely To Be In Contention For Some Heavy Awarding At The Oscars 2015.

A presenter has not yet been confirmed, although Kevin Spacey told Jimmy Kimmel that he’d be more than happy to do the job. Anyone will have a tough act to follow after Ellen Degeneres’ huge success hosting the awards show in March.

Continue reading: Oscars 2015 Date Set, Films To Watch In Advance

'12 Years A Slave' Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor Set For Bond Villain Role


Chiwetel Ejiofor James Bond Daniel Craig Sam Mendes Ralph Fiennes Ben Whishaw Naomie Harris

The Oscar-nominated star of 12 Years A Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor, is likely to become the next James Bond villain, according to Variety. The trade magazine says the British star is the top name on producers' wish list for the 24th official James Bond movie, which will once again be directed by Sam Mendes as well as starring Daniel Craig.

Chiwetel EjioforChiwetel Ejiofor Could Be The Next Bond Villain

Bond 24 is due to begin filming in the summer for a November 2015 release date. Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris are also set to return as M, Q and Moneypenny respectively. 

Continue reading: '12 Years A Slave' Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor Set For Bond Villain Role

Benedict Cumberbatch Take Note: Here's Some Of The Greatest Stage Hamlets


Benedict Cumberbatch David Tennant Ralph Fiennes

Benedict Cumberbatch will be taking on the tricky role of Hamlet next summer for a 12 week run at London’s Barbican theatre. With time to prepare, the 'Sherlock' star might want to read up on some of the famous actors who have put their mark on the role over the last, well nearly 100 years. We picked these famous five actors as a good starting point for Benedict’s research.

Benedict Cumberbatch at the OscarsHow will Benedict Cumberbatch fare as Hamlet?

John Barrymore

Continue reading: Benedict Cumberbatch Take Note: Here's Some Of The Greatest Stage Hamlets

A Week In Movies: Oscars Are A Hit, Stars Turn Out For Grand Budapest, Trailers Arrive For Transformers 4 And Paddington, Julianne Moore Works The Streets


Ellen Degeneres Matthew Mcconaughey Cate Blanchett Jared Leto Ralph Fiennes Saoirse Ronan Willem Dafoe Tony Revolori Mark Wahlberg Kanye West Snoop Dogg Colin Firth

The Oscars 2014

The Academy Awards drew its biggest TV audience in more than a decade on Sunday night, as the Oscars were shared by a variety of hit films and performances. Ellen Degeneres hosted the ceremony, giving the night a populist touch by serving pizza to the A-listers and taking a star-packed selfie that managed to crash Twitter.

As for the winners, 12 Years a Slave won three top prizes - for best film, screenplay and supporting actress - while the blockbuster Gravity took home seven awards. There were also popular wins for Matthew Mcconaughey, Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto and the animated film Frozen. If you need to catch up on any of the above click to find more info on 12 Years a Slave taking Best Picture, Matthew McConaughey and Cate Blanchett's triumph, Pizza anoyone? and Ellen deciding to get a couple of stars together for an impromptu selfie.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Oscars Are A Hit, Stars Turn Out For Grand Budapest, Trailers Arrive For Transformers 4 And Paddington, Julianne Moore Works The Streets

Video - Ralph Fiennes Compares Wes Anderson To A Music Conductor At 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' Premiere


Ralph Fiennes discusses the detailed animated storyboards created by Wes Anderson for his vibrant new comedy 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' in an interview on the red carpet at the movie's premiere. Ralph plays the eccentric main character M. Gustave in the film.

Continue: Video - Ralph Fiennes Compares Wes Anderson To A Music Conductor At 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' Premiere

How Ralph Feinnes His Stressful Side During Invisible Woman Filming


Ralph Fiennes

He’s worked with some of the finest directors in both the U.K and Hollywood and starred in some of best and biggest films made in the last two decades, but stepping behind the camera heralds new and stressful challenges, as the Ipwish-born actor would attest.

Ralph FeinnesA shaven Ralph Feinnes

"It felt pretty stressful at times. There were days we were squeezing stuff out at the last minute - that creates a lot of tension within. I tried to hide it - it was acting," he said, adding that keeping track of time and costs is an added worry. "The clock is ticking, and you add time. Usually the director can watch a monitor and see (what's been shot)," he said, via Independent.ie.

Continue reading: How Ralph Feinnes His Stressful Side During Invisible Woman Filming

Abi Morgan Sheds Light On 'The Invisible Woman'


Ralph Fiennes

For his second outing as a director (after the Shakespearean thriller Coriolanus), Ralph Fiennes takes on the untold story of Charles Dickens' secret romantic life. The Invisible Woman catches up with Dickens (played by Fiennes) in mid-career as he meets 18-year-old actress Nellie Ternan (Felicity Jones) and embarks on an affair.

Ralph Fiennes The Invisible WomanRalph Fiennes [L] in 'The Invisble Woman'

What makes this different from the usual period drama is the ambitious script by Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady), who writes the story as if it's a repressed 19th century novel rather than a 2013 movie. All of the key story moments are off-screen, leaving audiences to fill in the blanks. And in fine Victorian style, the characters continually refuse to articulate their feelings. 

Continue reading: Abi Morgan Sheds Light On 'The Invisible Woman'

Tilda Swinton Birthday Gala At The Museum Of Modern Art Gathers Legends Of Film And Fashion


Tilda Swinton Ralph Fiennes Wes Anderson Anna Wintour

The much beloved by filmmakers, designers and artists alike Tilda Swinton was honored with a gala event at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The specially scheduled evening coincided with Swinton’s 53rd birthday and boasted a guest list of some of the most revered contemporary creators and friends of the actress. Swinton, who participated in a curious and completely out-of-the-blue performance art piece at the MoMA earlier this year, expressed her gratitude to the museum for the tribute.

“It’s my birthday!” Swinton told The Hollywood Reporter of the cleverly scheduled event in New York. “MoMA is giving me a birthday party, and they’ve invited some of my great friends, so I’m very happy and very grateful.”

While the ethereal actress remained modest throughout, there were plenty of others willing and eager to sing her praises. “I admire the ease and the grace in which she carries her talent,” Ralph Fiennes, event co-chair and Swinton’s co-star in The Grand Budapest Hotel, said of the actress. “She’s a great actress, but it’s her quality of person herself, her soul – it’s her that I think is unique. It shines through in a way that’s very rare.”

Continue reading: Tilda Swinton Birthday Gala At The Museum Of Modern Art Gathers Legends Of Film And Fashion

A Week In Movies: Meryl Streep Takes Action! Daniel Radcliffe Runs! And We Get New Trailers For X-Men, Budapest Hotel And More


Meryl Streep Daniel Radcliffe Jj Abrams Bryan Singer Wes Anderson Ralph Fiennes Jude Law Adrien Brody Saoirse Ronan Owen Wilson Tilda Swinton Bill Murray Zac Efron Miles Teller Martin Scorsese Leonardo Dicaprio Jonah Hill Matthew Mcconaughey

Star Wars Logo

News from the Star Wars universe had fans nervous, as screenwriter Michael Arndt left his Episode VII draft to be rewritten by director Jj Abrams and Star Wars veteran Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote 1980's The Empire Strikes Back. Arndt hinted that the film's release might be delayed until 2016 as a result. Read the full story here.

The biggest rumour this week was that Meryl Streep may join the cast of The Expendabelles, the female spin-off from Sylvester Stallone's Expendables franchise. Cameron Diaz and Milla Jovovich are also up for roles in the adventure thriller. But this would be Streep's first action movie since The River Wild, 20 years ago. See who else is rumoured to join the cast here!

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Meryl Streep Takes Action! Daniel Radcliffe Runs! And We Get New Trailers For X-Men, Budapest Hotel And More

The Invisible Woman Trailer


Charles Dickens may be famous for having written some of history's greatest stories, but his own life story is probably one of the most touching of all. During a major peak in his career, he finds himself madly in love with actress Nelly Ternan who deeply admires all his literary works. He takes regular trips to London to visit her despite already being married to Catherine Thomson for more than 20 years, and Nelly's mother Frances regularly voices her concerns about what the relationship could mean for her 18-year-old daughter's future. Despite all odds, Dickens is determined to spend the rest of his life with his new lover even if that means a scandalous separation from his wife. In a bid to lower the impact it might have on his career, he vows to keep his new relationship a secret from the public.

Continue: The Invisible Woman Trailer

Great Expectations Review


Very Good

Even though Charles Dickens' oft-told story is livened up with a terrific cast and sharp script, it's difficult to see anything terribly new about this BBC-produced version. Especially since it comes less than a year after their previous lavish TV production. But there are plenty of elements in this film that make it worth seeing, as the soap-style plot twists and turns through comedy and romance to its action-thriller climax.

After growing up as an orphan with his blacksmith uncle (Flemyng) and high-strung aunt (Hawkins), Pip (Irvine) is given the chance to live as a London gentleman. He's sure that his anonymous benefactor is the barmy Miss Havisham (Bonham Carter), a broken-hearted hermit he worked for as a child. And since he's still in love with her adopted daughter Estella (Grainger), he decides to use his new position in society to court her. But things don't quite go as expected, and his life takes a surprising turn when scary prison escapee Magwitch (Fiennes) latches onto Pip and begins revealing some surprising connections between all of these people.

This faithful retelling of Dickens' novel is packed with coincidences and revelations, as well as the kind of gleefully thorny rivalries that would be expected on Dallas or Downton Abbey. Overloaded with blackly comical intrigue, it's a compulsively enjoyable film that entertains us on a variety of levels as the story develops. Although director Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) never tries anything too flashy. Which means that despite the high quality, the film is straightforward and perhaps unnecessary.

Continue reading: Great Expectations Review

Review Roundup: Great Expectations Gets Mixed Reception


Jeremy Irvine Helena Bonham Carter Ralph Fiennes

2012 is the bicentennial year of Charles Dickens' birth date, so there have been a variety of new Dickensian adaptations to mark the year and celebrate one of Britain's best ever novelists. Last year saw a visually stunning mini-series of Great Expectations from the BBC and now a new Great Expectations movie is coming out, with an incredible cast, great director (Mike Newell) and great screenwriter (David Nicholls).

Jeremy Irvine is starring as adult Pip and Irvine's own little brother Toby Irvine is appearing as the boy Pip who saves Magwitch. There's an unusual choice of Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch, but his great career suggests to us that he'll be great in any role. Perhaps most exciting of the cast choices is Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham. We've seen her be deranged as Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter, of course that kind of derangement was very different, but no doubt translatable into Dickens. 

Despite that impressive cast, reviews so far have been very mixed. The Daily Telegraph's judgement was perhaps the most negative, saying that "Great Expectations is about as comfortable as a very fat man sitting in a very small aircraft seat." And Variety said that it's "A passable feature-length adaptation that does little to burnish the estimable screen legacy of a Dickens classic." Time Out's review was also impressed with the group of actors, saying "The chief reason to watch Newell's film is for the impeccable acting." But it seems to be Empire Magazine that's hit the nail of the head best: "Newell and Nicholls' safe, schoolteacher-friendly interpretation makes no real case for going down this much-travelled road once more." Indeed, the 1947 version of the movie is so well loved that any remakes seem superfluous. Great Expectations is in cinemas nationwide from tomorrow, November 30. 

Continue reading: Review Roundup: Great Expectations Gets Mixed Reception

Great Expectations Trailer


Pip is a young orphan who has a chance meeting with a frightening stranger while visiting the graves of his parents; a meeting which was to be the catalyst a series of events that would shape his future. Not long after this experience, an unhinged, jilted spinster called Miss Havisham asks Uncle Pumblechook (the uncle of Pip's brother-in-law with whom he lives) to find a young boy to provide company for her adopted daughter Estella. When Pip is chosen, he becomes a regular visitor of Miss Havisham who manipulates him into falling for the pretty but cold-hearted Estella as he grows older. When he becomes a blacksmith's apprentice at his brother-in-law's shop, he is approached by a lawyer who informs him that he has been left a large sum of money by a mysterious benefactor and must journey to London to become a gentleman. Little does he know of the surprises that lay in store for him as he discovers that he has so many secrets to uncover.

This seminal coming-of-age story serves as one of the most influential pieces of English literature in history. Originally written by one of the greatest novelists of the 19th century Charles Dickens, 'Great Expectations' has been adapted to screen by director Mike Newell ('Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', 'Four Weddings and a Funeral') and screenwriter David Nicholls ('One Day', 'Starter for 10'). It is due to hit UK cinemas from November 30th 2012.

Director: Mike Newell

Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Holliday Grainger, Robbie Coltrane, Jason Flemyng, Sally Hawkins, Ewen Bremner, David Walliams, Jessie Cave, Ralph Ineson, Tamzin Outhwaite & Olly Alexander. .

Continue: Great Expectations Trailer

Daniel Craig's Skyfall To Sweep US Box Office: But Should Javier Bardem Have Been 007?


Javier Bardem Daniel Craig Sam Mendes Ralph Fiennes Judi Dench Steven Spielberg

Daniel Craig and Sam Mendes bring their James Bond leviathan Skyfall to U.S. shores this weekend, with box-office analytics predicting a huge opening that should far exceed the debut $67.5 million taken by Quantum of Solace in November 2008.

Skyfall is buoyed by massive showings overseas, superb reviews, an Oscars buzz and, of course, the partnership of Craig and Mendes. Sony has given a conservative estimate of $67 million (perhaps considering the effects of Hurricane Sandy), though Skyfall is likely to fly past that figure. The critically acclaimed movie opens in IMAX at 12.01am tonight (November 8, 2012), and everywhere else at 12.01am on Friday. Though few can deny Daniel Craig his position amongst Bond's finest actors, it all could have been very different, as Javier Bardem explained in a recent interview with Cinema Blend. The actor - who himself gives a gripping performance as villain Raoul Silva in Skyfall - revealed that he was offered the opportunity to play Bond earlier in his career. "Years ago, I was. I don't remember what movie it was for. But yeah, it just was not that time. I didn't feel that it was the time for me to do something like that. And also, I was doing something else, so I passed," he said. It's likely that Bardem was offered the role shortly before Pierce Brosnan was cast for Goldeneye in the early 1990s. The Spanish star has since gone on to win an Oscar (No Country for Old Men) and insists, "I have passed on many things that I could easily regret, but I don't regret any of them, because that also gives room for something else to come that I'm proud of."

Though Skyfall, also featuring Ralph Fiennes and Judi Dench, is likely to storm the box-office this weekend, it does face some notable competition. Steven Spielberg's Lincoln opens on a limited release in 11 cities (expanding Nov 16), while 18th Century historical drama A Royal Affair also gets a limited release.

Continue reading: Daniel Craig's Skyfall To Sweep US Box Office: But Should Javier Bardem Have Been 007?

Skyfall Review


Very Good
Things get very personal for 007 in this high-quality thriller, which keeps us gripped even if it never gets our pulses racing. This shouldn't be surprising, since the director is Sam Mendes, known for more dramatic movies like American Beauty and Revolutionary Road. And he gives the film a deep gravitas that we're not used to in the Bond franchise, as well as coaxing the cast to darkly introspective performances.

That's not to say the action is lacklustre. The opening sequence in Istanbul is a riotous chase through the city streets, across the rooftops and onto a train rocketing through a mountainous landscape. At the end of this, Bond (Craig) is presumed dead while the baddie gets away with a list of Western spies. As he starts releasing names publicly, things get difficult for MI6 boss M (Dench), who is pressured to resign by a government minister (Fiennes). So when Bond returns, M puts him on the case, sending him to Shanghai, where he stalks a mysterious woman (Marlohe) to Macau and meets the camp villain Silva (Bardem). Back in Britain, Silva leads Bond and M on a nasty cat-and-mouse chase that ends up at Skyfall, Bond's ancestral home in the Highlands.

Unlike the usual Bond baddie, Silva isn't remotely interested in global domination or incredible wealth: he has a very personal score to settle, which means that there's no ticking time-bomb underneath the action. In other words, Bond is fighting to save his life, not the planet. Which makes the film feel oddly smaller than we expect. On the other hand, this also allows the filmmakers and actors to develop the relationships more intriguingly than usual. Most notable is the close connection between Bond and M, played with with edgy subtlety by Craig and Dench while Bardem steals every scene with his witty innuendo.

Other characters are strong as well, including Harris as Bond's spy colleague, Whishaw as the clever gadget-geek Q, and an almost unrecognisable Finney as Bond's oldest friend. And Marlohe stirs in the only hint of sex and mystery. Each adds life and energy to the film, as does a continual stream of references to 50 years of Bond movies. Some of these are subtle (a 1962 Scotch) while others get a laugh (that iconic Aston Martin DB5). And along the way, Mendes laces the personal drama with political intrigue and some spectacularly staged action scenes. It's consistently entertaining, even if it's dark and thoughtful rather than exhilarating and fun.

Rich Cline

100% Rating: Is Skyfall The Best Bond Movie Ever?


Sam Mendes Daniel Craig Helen McCrory Ralph Fiennes Javier Bardem Judi Dench Neal Purvis Robert Wade John Logan

Sam Mendes must be feeling pretty smug right now. The director of Skyfall, the latest James Bond movie, has scored an impeccable 100% on the Rotten Tomatoes reviews site.

This will make excellent Monday morning news for Mendes, as well as the movie’s stars. The cast list includes Daniel Craig, of course, who plays the lead role, as well as Helen McCrory, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem and Dame Judi Dench.

Skyfall has received a resounding round of applause from critics across the board; even the most cynical of movie reviewers seems to have struggled to find any cracks in this latest offering from the Bond franchise. Writing for the Hollywood Reporter, Todd McCarthy wrote that Skyfall “Feels more seriously connected to real-world concerns than any previous entry, despite the usual outlandish action scenes, glittering settings and larger-than-life characters,” making the movie a credit both to its scriptwriters Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. Equally, Variety’s Peter Debruge remarked that Skyfall puts the “’intelligence’ in MI6. Skyfall reps a smart, savvy and incredibly satisfying addition to the 007 oeuvre.”

Continue reading: 100% Rating: Is Skyfall The Best Bond Movie Ever?

Ben Whishaw: Slicker Version Of Q, Or Just Nerdier?


Ben Whishaw Daniel Craig Javier Bardem Ralph Fiennes Judi Dench

Ben Whishaw isn't exactly a household name yet, though you may recognise him from films such as Perfume: Story of a Murderer, or BBC dramas The Hour and Criminal Justice, but he soon will be in his new role as Q in the new Bond movie 'Skyfall' with Daniel Craig.

2012 is the 50th anniversary of the iconic British movie franchise and as such excitement for the new film is higher than ever. Adele's theme for Skyfall (of the same name) was released last week and the coming fortnight will no doubt prove to heighten the energy surrounding the film.

Whishaw, speaking to ShortList, spoke about his version of Q and said: "I deliberately didn't [study the actors]...What I did do was watch all the early [Bond films] that Q isn't in. It felt like a chance for a fresh start so I didn't want to be bogged down in [previous Q performances]... He's slicker this time. He's still an eccentric, jovial English chap but, because of the genius he has, there's a lethal, powerful side to him. Although he does make a mistake I can't tell you about."

Continue reading: Ben Whishaw: Slicker Version Of Q, Or Just Nerdier?

'Bond' Singer Adele To Follow In The Footsteps Of Shirley Bassey


Adele Shirley Bassey Nancy Sinatra Jack White Daniel Craig Sam Mendes Judi Dench Javier Bardem Ralph Fiennes Naomie Harris Ben Whishaw

Adele’s ‘Bond’ theme will see the London songstress follow in the footsteps of singing greats Shirley Bassey and Nancy Sinatra, both of whom are responsible for recording some of the most recognizable 007 tunes in the secret agent’s 50 years in film.

The multiple Grammy award winner had long been rumoured to be handed the prestigious role for Sam Mendes’ forthcoming ‘Skyfall’ – again starring Daniel Craig – and Total Film.com confirmed the speculation this week. Adele’s single, named after the new movie, will be the first release from the star since ‘Turning Tables’ from her much-feted ‘21’ album. Given her phenomenally successful couple of years, Adele will certainly be a popular choice for the job and she boasts the kind of heavyweight soulful voice synonymous with the theme tune. One thing’s for sure: it’s almost certain to be an improvement on the poorly received tune ‘Another Way to Die’ by Jack White and Alicia Keys from 2008’s ‘Quantum of Solace’.

‘Skyfall’ – set to open in the UK on October 26 – stars Daniel Craig, alongside Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw.

Skyfall Trailer


James Bond, the legendary MI6 spy we all know and love, is starting to struggle with his own morality in terms of his government job. A psychiatrist notices his unhealthy associations with bits of his career which puts doubts in his future capability. In addition to that, his trust in his boss M is put to the test as her past starts to creep back up on her. MI6 is then place under threat by a nefarious villain known as Raoul Silva. Though, with 007 questioning his own loyalty to the government, just how far is he willing to go to protect it?

Continue: Skyfall Trailer

Skyfall Trailer


James Bond struggles with his career, experiencing lassitude and depression concerning his MI6 role as becomes clear when he is analysed by a government psychiatrist. His allegiance to MI6 chief M is put to the test when secrets from her past come back plague her. The secret service organisation becomes under serious threat and it is safe to assume that villain Raoul Silva is behind it all. How far will agent 007 go this time to eliminate the threat?

Continue: Skyfall Trailer

Wrath Of The Titans Review


Good

While this sequel is just as loud and chaotic as 2010's Clash of the Titans remake, it's also considerably more fun due to some exhilarating action and a refreshing sense of humour. It also looks amazing in 3D on an Imax screen.

Years later, the now-widowed hero Perseus (Worthington) is trying to live as an anonymous fisherman with his pre-teen son Helius (Bell). Then he hears about stirrings of a coming calamity. Indeed, his father Zeus (Neeson) has been kidnapped by Hades (Fiennes) and Ares (Ramirez) as pat of a plan to release Zeus and Hades' evil father Kronos from the underworld. So Perseus teams up with Queen Andromeda (Pike) and rogue demigod Agenor (Kebbell), son of Poseidon (Huston), to rescue his father and stop his brother, uncle and grandfather.

Yes, this is one seriously dysfunctional family, as four generations of men set out to either destroy the world or save it. To be honest, it's never clear why Hades and Ares are so hellbent, as it were, on cataclysmic destruction, but at least this also allows for changing alliances as the story progresses. Not that there's much story, really, as the plot essentially just links a series of action set-pieces.

Fortunately, most of these sequences are entertaining enough to keep us gripped. Highlights include a rather fabulous dragon attack and a desperate, full-on fight with cyclops-giants in a forest. Less convincing are a convoluted underworld rescue-battle and the climactic assault on the volcano-sized Kronos, who rains down fire and destruction rather selectively. (There's also the problem of how the filmmakers can top Kronos in the probable sequel.)

Along the way, there are some refreshing moments of deranged humour, mainly in Kebbell's snarky dialog, Pike's sharp glances and a particularly colourful turn by Nighy (as super-spear smelter Hephaestus). But as the story progresses, there's more than a whiff of Lord of the Rings (the fires of Mount Doom, plus some pointless two-torsoed Orc-a-likes), Harry Potter (the three-pronged Deathly Hallows) and even Star Wars (all that father-son angst). But filmmaker Liebesman keeps things moving briskly, wowing us with so much eye-candy that we just sit back and enjoy the rickety ride for what it is.

Coriolanus Review


Good
Actor-director Fiennes sets Shakespeare's military tragedy in a modern-day war setting, which gives it a meaty kick of recognition. But it's such a bombastic film that it's difficult to find much emotional resonance in it.

Amid political and social turmoil, Martius (Fiennes) is a blunt Roman soldier, subduing insurrections in the surrounding kingdoms, making an enemy of Volscian leader Tullus (Butler) but returning home a war hero and crowned Coriolanus.

Despite the help of his military-leader mother (Redgrave), his loyal wife Virgilia (Chastain) and a respected senator (Cox), Martius is unable - and unwilling - to play the political game, insulting both the senate and the public. Banished from public life, he joins with Tullus and sets about conquering Rome his own way.

Continue reading: Coriolanus Review

Coriolanus Trailer


Caius Marcus is a brilliant Roman general who is hailed as 'the hero of Rome', after returning from a war against the Volscians, a neighbouring Italian tribe. Rome wins the war and takes the city of Corioles. In recognition of his part in the war, Caius Marcus is surnamed Coriolanus.

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Wrath Of The Titans Trailer


It's been ten years since Perseus triumphantly defeated the gargantuan Kraken that roamed the shores of a fishing village. Now, though, he is content to scrape a living as a fisherman, while raising his ten year old son, Helius, alone.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 Trailer


Harry Potter and his friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, continue their search for Voldemort's Horcruxes - dark magical objects that help the user gain immortality. Having found and destroyed one Horcrux - a locket belonging to Hogwarts founder Salazar Slytherin - the three friends travel from Ron's older brother Bill Weasley's house by the sea to the wizarding bank, Gringotts and then to Hogwarts to look for the final remaining Horcruxes.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) Trailer


The final instalment of the Harry Potter series is almost upon us! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will bring the much loved set of films to a close.

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Clash Of The Titans Review


Good
The studio clearly couldn't resist the chance to digitally revisit the creatures so memorably animated by Ray Harryhausen in the 1981 original. The result is an unnecessary remake that's loud, chaotic and mildly entertaining.

Perseus (Worthington) is a demigod who has been raised by humans and now finds himself at the centre of a war between man and the gods Zeus (Neeson), Hades (Fiennes) and Poseidon (a blink-and-you'll-miss-him Danny Huston). Accompanied by a handful of plucky warriors from Argos (including Mikkelsen, Cunningham, Hoult and Matheson) and his spirit-guide Io (Arterton), he heads off to find the secret to defeat Hades' feared Kraken so he can save Princess Andromeda (Davalos).

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Nanny McPhee & The Big Bang Review


Excellent
Emma Thompson is back with a second encounter between her somewhat scary nanny and another houseful of unruly kids. As with the first film, a secondary plot feels corny and superfluous, but it's still thoroughly entertaining.

During the Blitz in London, posh children Cyril and Celia (Vlahos and Taylor-Ritson) are sent to stay with their aunt, Mrs Green (Gyllenhaal), on her farm. While she awaits news of her soldier husband, she struggles to manage her three rambunctious kids (Butterfield, Woods and Steer), pay her bills, fend off her financially desperate brother-in-law (Ifans) and keep the dotty local shopkeeper (Smith) from doing something dangerous. The person she needs is clearly Nanny McPhee (Thompson), who arrives with several stern-but-magical tricks up her sleeve.

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Cemetery Junction Trailer


Watch the trailer for Cemetery Junction

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Clash Of The Titans Trailer


Watch the trailer for Clash Of The Titans.

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Nanny Mcphee and The Big Bang Trailer


Watch the trailer for Nanny Mcphee and The Big Bang

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The Reader Review


Good
Mein Kampf meets Penthouse Forum in Stephen Daldry's The Reader, a chilly and surprisingly detached adaptation of Bernhard Schlink's passion play about a susceptible yet pensive teenage horn dog seduced by the former, female SS trooper who popped his cherry.

Reader reunites Daldry with his The Hours screenwriter, David Hare, and the two collaborate on another aloof, literary period picture. The action transitions between 1995 and 1958, when 15-year-old Michael Berg (David Kross) first comes under the spell of Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet), the stern but attentive woman who paid him a bit of kindness after the boy was felled by Scarlet Fever.

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Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix Review


Good

It's gotten to the point where the quality of the films don't really matter: Now I feel like I'm committed to the whole Harry Potter series. I've reviewed the first five now, so by golly, I'm going to stick it out and finish the lot... even though I still can't bring myself to read any of the books. As always, consider yourself warned that I don't know the intricate backstory developed over thousands of pages in J.K. Rowling's writing. And really, I'm happy to keep it that way.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix continues in the tradition of following another year at the Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has faced nothing but grueling struggle after grueling struggle. His most recent year (Goblet of Fire) saw a friend get killed by his nemesis, the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), who's gaining more power every day and giving Harry severe nightmares. With few exceptions, his friends have largely abandoned him, and the new term comes with even more headaches in the form of Dolores Umbridge (the perfect Imelda Staunton), sent from the Ministry of Magic to teach the defense from the dark arts class and eventually taking over the school as an iron-fisted, fun-crushing bureaucrat.

After much pottering about (ha ha!), the film finally finds its groove as Umbridge goes too far, refusing to teach magic in the classroom, instead preferring to rely on theoretical knowledge so the students can pass their year-end standardized tests. With Voldemort approaching (this guy is always just around the corner), Harry becomes more nervous that he will be unable to defend himself, finally recruiting a handful of students to his cause to teach them what he knows about magical combat. Together they prepare for the day when they know they'll have to use those skills. (In case you haven't seen any of the first four movies, rest assured it isn't far off: This end-of-movie showdown between Harry and the forces of evil has almost become a cliché that pans out every single time.)

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Trailer


Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Trailer

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Maid In Manhattan Review


Good
It wouldn't be the holiday season without fairy tales starring the likes of Santa, Rudolph, or Frosty. This season also finds a small Cinderella story thrown into the jolly mix. Instead of being an ugly stepsister though, this Cinderella spin-off is about a maid, played by the beautiful Jennifer Lopez. And as all fairy tales are pure fiction, Maid in Manhattan certainly fits the bill.

Lopez is Marisa Ventura, a divorced mom forced to raise her young son Ty (Tyler Posey) on her salary as a maid for a ritzy Manhattan hotel. Each day, she drops Ty off at school and travels by subway from the Bronx to work where she arrives just in time for the morning briefing on the glamorous guests the maids will serve that day. These guests include the newly single socialite Caroline Sincaire (Natasha Richardson), who has come to the hotel to sulk, and New York Assemblyman Chris Marshall (Ralph Fiennes) who is there to prepare for his upcoming campaign for Senator.

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Strange Days Review


Good
I've never really given much thought to what the turn of the millennium is going to bring. Will it be a new beginning for society and the world? Or will it bring on the apocalypse foretold by Revelations?

Strange Days continuously plays these two possibilities off of each other, and in L.A., on December 31, 1999, it seems either one is equally likely. Ralph Fiennes plays Lenny Nero, a bottom-feeder ex-cop who peddles "clips," full-sensory pieces of memory from real people's lives. These clips are played on "the wire," a device which delivers experiences directly into the brain. The very illegal wire is also the source of a whole slew of problems, including the murder of one Jeriko One, a very influential rap star, and the subsequent stalking of Faith (Juliette Lewis), Nero's ex-girlfriend, for whom he still pines.

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Spider Review


Good
The strangest thing about David Cronenberg's Spider is how out of sync it is with the director's other works. Slow, laconic, and intermittently fascinating, Spider is a movie in which virtually nothing happens. Placed amidst an oeuvre that includes eye-poppers like The Fly, Shivers, Videodrome, and the recent eXistenZ, the movie stands as his most understated piece since 1988's Dead Ringers.

The pacing of Spider is totally understandable, seeing as it entirely takes place in and around a halfway house for recently-released mental patients -- and, obliquely, within the mind of its central character. "Spider" (Ralph Fiennes) is a muttering mess, a paranoid schizophrenic who wears four shirts atop one another and scribbles illegibly in a little book he carefully hides at the end of each day. Just out of the loony bin, Spider hops a train to London, finds his depressing room at the inn, faces annoyed berating at the hands of stern Mrs. Wilkinson (Lynn Redgrave), and immediately begins shutting himself into a cocoon. "Caterpillar" might be a better nickname -- for the man and for the movie.

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The End Of The Affair Review


Weak

Even if "The End of the Affair" didn't invite comparisons to "The English Patient" with Ralph Fiennes' auto-pilot performance as another reflective World War II-era Englishman immersed heart and soul in an adulterous love affair, this Neil Jordan adaptation of Graham Greene's novel would still be an ambitious misfire.

Beset by the oversimplification of abstract and heavy concepts of heart, mind and religion, the film looks beautiful with its foggy and well-heeled London society appointments, and it's nothing if not emotional, what with the likes of Fiennes and Julianne Moore as the (naturally!) doomed lovers and Jordan staple Stephen Rea as the betrayed, milquetoast husband/best friend.

But while Jordan's talent for screenwriting and direction are evidenced in dialogue ("I'm jealous of these shoes because they take you away from me. I'm jealous of this stocking because it kisses your entire leg...") and structure (Fiennes' point of view transitions into Moore's as he reads her stolen diary), the director's use of other stale and banal plot devices betray the pedestrian underpinnings of this seemingly complex film.

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Ralph Fiennes

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Ralph Fiennes

Date of birth

22nd December, 1962

Occupation

Actor

Sex

Male

Height

1.83


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Ralph Fiennes Movies

The Lego Batman Movie Movie Review

The Lego Batman Movie Movie Review

A spin-off from 2014's awesome The Lego Movie, this raucously paced action-comedy is proof that...

Two Women Trailer

Two Women Trailer

Natalya Petrovna Islaeva is feeling disillusioned in her marriage to her land baron husband Mikhail...

Kubo and the Two Strings Movie Review

Kubo and the Two Strings Movie Review

From Laika (The Boxtrolls), this is one of the most beautiful, sophisticated animated films in...

The Lego Batman Movie Trailer

The Lego Batman Movie Trailer

Everyone knows how committed Batman is to his cause, he spends his days in the...

Kubo And The Two Strings Trailer

Kubo And The Two Strings Trailer

Kubo is a young boy who lives with his mother. Kubo has always been influences...

The Lego Batman Movie - Teaser Trailer

The Lego Batman Movie - Teaser Trailer

As ever, Batman is busy protecting his beloved Gotham city and The Joker is up...

Hail, Caesar! Movie Review

Hail, Caesar! Movie Review

An intelligent ode to a time when Hollywood made wildly inventive movies without pressure from...

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A Bigger Splash Movie Review

A Bigger Splash Movie Review

Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino (I Am Love) reteams with Tilda Swinton for this fresh, tricky...

Hail, Caesar! Trailer

Hail, Caesar! Trailer

Ever since his wonderful appearance in Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, we've been waiting...

James Bond - Spectre Movie Review

James Bond - Spectre Movie Review

For his latest adventure, James Bond mixes the personal drama of Skyfall with the vintage...

Hail, Caesar! Trailer

Hail, Caesar! Trailer

Eddie Mannix is a fixer who works in Hollywood where he tames celebrities and keeps...

Spectre Trailer

Spectre Trailer

James Bond has never played by the rules, but this time he may have gone...

A Bigger Splash Trailer

A Bigger Splash Trailer

Marianne Lane is ready for a relaxing European vacation, re-energising after a particularly busy time...

Spectre Trailer

Spectre Trailer

It seems James Bond's flighty career has all boiled down to this moment. He's in...

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