Big Gay Picture Show

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

Me Before You Extended Trailer – Emilia Clarke & Sam Claflin find rom-com love

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me-before-you-poster-slideSynopsis: ‘Often times you find love where you least expect it. Sometimes it takes you where you never expected to go… Louisa “Lou” Clark (Clarke) lives in a quaint town in the English countryside. With no clear direction in her life, the quirky and creative 26-year-old goes from one job to the next in order to help her tight-knit family make ends meet.

‘Her normally cheery outlook is put to the test, however, when she faces her newest career challenge. Taking a job at the local “castle,” she becomes caregiver and companion to Will Traynor (Claflin), a wealthy young banker who became wheelchair bound in an accident two years prior, and whose whole world changed dramatically in the blink of an eye. No longer the adventurous soul he once was, the now cynical Will has all but given up. That is until Lou determines to show him that life is worth living. Embarking together on a series of adventures, both Lou and Will get more than they bargained for, and find their lives—and hearts—changing in ways neither one could have imagined.’

The movie is due out in UK cinemas in early June. Take a look at the extended trailer below. [Read more…]

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Me Before You Trailer – Emilia Clarke & Sam Claflin find rom-com love in the Jojo Moyes adaptation

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me-before-you-poster-slideLove is not going to run smooth for Emilia Clarke & Sam Claflin in Me Before You, but then it never does in the movies, does it? Based on Jojo Moyes’ best-selling novel, the film will hit UK cinemas this June, so it’ll be a bit of counterprogramming to the slew of mega-budget blockbusters we’re sure to have around that time.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Louisa “Lou” Clark (Clarke) lives in a quaint town in the English countryside.  With no clear direction in her life, the quirky and creative 26-year-old goes from one job to the next in order to help her tight-knit family make ends meet.   Her normally cheery outlook is put to the test, however, when she faces her newest career challenge.  Taking a job at the local “castle,” she becomes caregiver and companion to Will Traynor (Claflin), a wealthy young banker who became wheelchair bound in an accident two years prior, and whose whole world changed dramatically in the blink of an eye.  No longer the adventurous soul he once was, the now cynical Will has all but given up.  That is until Lou determines to show him that life is worth living.  Embarking together on a series of adventures, both Lou and Will get more than they bargained for, and find their lives—and hearts—changing in ways neither one could have imagined.’

Matthew Lewis, Jenna Coleman and Charles Dance also star in the movie. Take a look at the trailer below.

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Pride and Prejudice and Zombies UK Trailer – Lily James takes on the Jane Austen classic (plus the undead)

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PrideAndPrejudiceAndZombies-poster1-slideAfter an eternity in pre-production, with an endless series of directors and actors coming and going, and the whole thing looking like it was going to be abandoned at several points, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is finally on its way.

The first UK trailer and poster have now arrived, which you can see above and below.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES is a fresh twist on Jane Austen’s widely celebrated novel. A mysterious plague has fallen upon 19th century England, the land is overrun with the undead and feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is a master of martial arts and weaponry. Casting aside personal and social prejudices, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy must unite on the blood-soaked battlefield to rid the country of the zombie menace and discover their true love for one another.’

Lily James and Sam Riley play Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, with Bella Heathcote, Jack Huston, Douglas Booth, Matt Smith, Charles Dance, and Lena Headey also starring.

The film will be released by Lionsgate UK in cinemas across the UK & Ireland on Friday 12th February 2016. [Read more…]

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The Imitation Game (Blu-ray Review)

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Despite eight Oscar nominations The Imitation Game only walked away with one award, Best Adapted Screenplay. To be honest that wasn’t a shock, as quite a few Oscar watchers had thought it would get nothing. And there are also some, including myself, wondering if the one Academy Award it did win was the right one.

The movie tells the story of Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), a socially awkward, somewhat irascible mathematics prodigy who, after the Second World War breaks out, applies to the government to help break the infamous Enigma code, something many believe is impossible. However he doesn’t want to continue with the traditional method of codebreaking, where smart men use pens, paper and just their brains, as he has an idea to use a machine to break down and then check the billions of possible combinations until it finds the right one. If he can do it, it will allow the Allies to read the German military’s secret communications and possibly win the war. [Read more…]

The Imitation Game (Cinema Review)

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Rule one of cinema? Show, don’t tell. This seems to have been totally ignored by Norwegian director Morten Tyldum, who chooses to take one of the most extraordinary British stories of the 20th century and make it in such a dull, flat way it stretches patience to snapping point.

The story itself has been the subject of a West End play in Breaking the Code, and a film already, Enigma, although the central character was fictionalized. Here we get the true story of Alan Turing, the mathematical and linguistic genius who cracks codes for fun. However during WWII the Nazis invent a machine so complex it codes vital messages with 19,000,000,000,000,000,000 possible answers. It’s impossible to crack, right? But with U-boats sinking ships in the Atlantic and the Luftwaffe creating havoc in the skies it’s vital that someone crack the code. [Read more…]

New Dracula Untold Trailer – Luke Evans gives the vampire an origin story

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dracula-untold-slideDracula Untold is bidding to be one of the big movies of this autumn, with its origin story for the infamous bloodsucker. Now a new trailer for the film has arrived, which you can take a look at below.

Luke Evans plays the central role of Romanian prince Vlad, who ends up getting involved in all manner of supernatural shenanigans that eventually lead to him becoming Dracula.

Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon and Charles Dance also star, with Gary Shore directing.

The film is released in UK cinemas on 3rd October. [Read more…]

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The Imitation Game Trailers – Benedict Cumberbatch takes on Alan Turing in the BFI London Film Festival opener

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imitation-game-slideIt’s been a case of co-ordination today, as the moment the BFI announced that The Imitation Game is set to open the 58th BFI London Film Festival, Studiocanal released the UK trailer and in the US The Weinstein Company unveiled theirs.

The movie will open the LFF with a gala screening on Wednesday 8th October at the Odeon Leicester Square, with a live cinecast from the red carpet and simultaneous screenings taking place at cinemas across the UK.

You can take a look at the trailers below.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘THE IMITATION GAME is a nail-biting race against time following Alan Turing (pioneer of modern-day computing and credited with cracking the German Enigma code) and his brilliant team at Britain’s top-secret code-breaking centre, Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. Turing, whose contributions and genius significantly shortened the war, saving thousands of lives, was the eventual victim of an unenlightened British establishment, but his work and legacy live on.

‘THE IMITATION GAME stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek Into Darkness, TV’s Sherlock) as Alan Turing and Keira Knightley (Atonement) as close friend and fellow code-breaker Joan Clarke, alongside a top notch cast including Matthew Goode (A Single Man), Mark Strong (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Rory Kinnear (Skyfall), Charles Dance (Gosford Park, TV’s Game of Thrones), Allen Leech (In Fear, TV’s Downton Abbey) and Matthew Beard (An Education).’

Director Morten Tyldum comments on the LFF announcement, “I am thrilled to be returning to London to share The Imitation Game with the audience of the BFI London Film Festival. The experience of directing this film has been so tremendously rewarding, and I am humbled to share Alan’s Turing’s incredible story on Opening Night.”

Of course Turing was gay, and to be honest the trailers are unlikely to assuage those worried the film will whitewash his sexuality. Although the US trailer does make oblique reference to it, you could still easily believe Keira Knightley is going to be the film’s ‘love interest’. Many will be keeping a close eye on The Imitation Game, as the importance of Turing’s story isn’t just in cracking German codes during World War II and the fact his work helped lead to modern computers, but that after the war he was prosecuted for his sexuality, shunned and made to chemically castrate himself, which eventually led to his suicide.

To sideline that is to do a disservice to a man who may have made many more breakthroughs if he didn’t live in a society that was happy to use him to help save the country, but then destroyed him after because of their narrow view of human love.

Hopefully the trailers are the ones sidelining the issue and not the movie. We’ll have to wait and see. (Many other mainstream films with gay content ignore that aspect in trailers that cater to the masses, with the logic that you won’t turn off gay-friendly people by not including it, but you could turn off others if you do).

The movie opens across the UK on November 15th. [Read more…]

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Benedict Cumberbatch Is Gay Codebreaker Alan Turing In New Imitation Game Pics

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Benedict Cumberbatch & Charles Dance in The Imitation Game

While some are still angry that Benedict Cumberbatch is playing Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, early buzz says it could be the strongest performance of the his career so far (although many Leo DiCaprio fans will never get over the fact he was supposed to star at some point).

Now a couple of new pics have arrived via Empire, which may not convince anyone he look anything like Turing, but we’re sure his fans will be excited.

The film is a biopic of Turing, a pioneer of modern-day computing who is credited with helping crack the fiendish German codes, such as Enigma, during the Second World War. The film chronicles the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team at Britain’s top-secret code-breaking centre, Bletchley Park. Turing, whose contributions and genius significantly shortened the war, saving thousands of lives, was the eventual victim of an unenlightened British Establishment.

Tragically in the 1950s Turing admitted to the police he was gay while reporting a robbery, believing they would protect him and catch those who’d stolen from him. Instead it was him who found himself in court. After he was convicted he was shunned by the establishment and despite his incredible mind he found himself pushed to the sidelines. He committed suicide (although some say it was an accident) not too long afterwards.

Director Morten Tyldum says of what drew him to the film, “It is such a complex story. It was the gay rights element, but also how his ideas were kept secret and how incredibly important his work was during the war, that he was never given credit for it.”

Cumberbatch stars alongside Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, Rory Kinnear, Charles Dance, Allen Leech and Matthew Beard. The film currently has an Oscar-bait November release date set.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley & Mark Strong in The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley & Mark Strong in The Imitation Game

 

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Mark Strong Joins Alan Turing Biopic Imitation Game As It Starts Shooting

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mark-strongAfter being in development for years, the biopic of gay computing pioneer and codebreaker Alan Turing, The Imitation Game, finally started shooting in the UK yesterday. With that news came info that the likes of Mark Strong and Charles Dance have joined the cast.

Turing is a pioneer of modern-day computing who credited with helping crack the fiendish German codes, such as Enigma, during the Second World War. The film will chronicle the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team at Britain’s top-secret code-breaking center, Bletchley Park.

Turing, whose contributions and genius significantly shortened the war, saving thousands of lives, was the eventual victim of an unenlightened British Establishment, who prosecuted him for being gay and forced him to agree to be chemically castrated.

Tragically Turing admitted to the police he was gay while reporting a robbery, believing they would protect him and catch those who’d stolen from him. Instead it was him who found himself in court. After he was convicted he was shunned by the establishment and despite he incredible mind he found himself pushed to the sideline. He committed suicide (although some say it was an accident) not too long afterwards.

As what he’d done during the war was a state secret, it took decades for him to get the public credit he is due.

Benedict Cumberbatch takes the lead role in The Intimidation Game, with Keira Knightley as Turing’s friend and fellow code-breaker Joan Clarke (the author of the book the film is based on has already criticised the film as he believes the script overplays their relationship. Also starring are Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, Rory Kinnear, Charles Dance, Allen Leech and Matthew Beard ).

Norwegian filmmaker Morten Tyldum (Headhunters), is directing from a screenplay by Graham Moore, based on the book Alan Turing: The Enigm” by Andrew Hodges.

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Sam Worthington Up For The Riders

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While he waits for James Cameron to finally get ready to shoot the sequels to Avatar, Sam Worthington has been busy filming up his schedule. Now he’s attached to another movie, The Riders, according to Moviehole.

Based on a novel by Tim Winter, the film is about an ‘Australian expatriate Scully (Worthington) who prepares to start a new life with his wife Jennifer and young daughter Bille in Ireland. His life is blown apart when he goes to the airport to meet his family, but finds only Billie and no message from his missing wife. With Billie in tow, he travels to Korcula and Paris in search of Jennifer: beginning a journey of self discovery that will alter the course of his life in ways he could never have envisaged.’

Timothy Spall and Charles Dance are also set for the movie, which will shoot on the Dalmatian Coast and in Paris, with Robert Connolly directing. The plan is for the film to be ready for release by January 2014.

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