David Thewlis Archives - Big Gay Picture Show

Wonder Woman (Blu-ray Review) – Can one woman beat the whole German army? Pretty much!

October 9, 2017 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Danny Huston, Robin Wright, David Thewlis
Director: Patty Jenkins
Running Time: 141 mins
Certificate: 12
Release Date: October 9th 2017 (UK)

Although DC’s movies have done okay at the box office, the likes of Man Of Steel, Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad certainly haven’t gained the same level of enthusiasm and fan fervour as Marvel’s movies. However, with Wonder Woman they hit the jackpot, with a movie that was well-received by critics, fans and general audiences, grossing over $800 million at the box office. It set a lot of records for a movie directed by a woman along the way, from being the most expensive film with a female director to the highest grossing.

The film starts out on the mystical island of Themyscira, home of the Amazons. Diana (Gal Gadot) has been trained to be the ultimate warrior, although her mother, Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), is determined that she needs to be protected and shouldn’t find out the truth of her birth. [Read more…]

Macbeth (Blu-ray Review)

January 31, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine, David Thewlis, Jack Reynor
Director: Justin Kurzel
Running Time: 113 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: February 1st 2016 (UK)

A rebellion is underway against Scottish King Duncan (David Thewlis), and it looks like it may be the end for his reign, until Thane Of Glamis, Macbeth (Michael Fassbender), scores an unexpected battlefield victory. However, before he can go back to Duncan, Macbeth and his friend Banquo (Paddy Considine) are visited by three witches, who tell the former that he will be King, but that it is the latter’s children who will reign in the future.

Goaded on by his ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth (Marion Cotillard), Macbeth kills Duncan and seizes the throne. However, his greed and aspirations begin to slowly consume him, as he attempts to consolidate his power and ensure that the witches’ prophecy about Banquo’s children will not come true and that his own line will rule Scotland. After the supernatural ladies have a few more things to say, Macbeth makes a decision that could spell disaster for everyone. [Read more…]

Legend (Blu-ray Review)

January 24, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, Christopher Eccleston, David Thewlis, Taron Egerton
Director: Brian Helgeland
Running Time: 131 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: January 25th 2016 (UK)

There are quite a few people who don’t like the glamorisation (almost fetishisation) or The Krays and London’s East End gangsters of the 1960s, feeling these were nasty, vicious men and should be treated as such. If they were hoping this new biopic of the Kray twins would burst their legend, the title should have given them a hint that it wouldn’t (although it does also suggest the film knows it’s helping cement a fantasy of their lives).

Tom Hardy plays both Ronnie and Reggie Kray, with the movie picking up after the twins have already started making their name as gangsters, running nightclubs and operating an expanding protection racket. The film follows their continuing rise and fall, framed by Reggie’s romance and marriage to Frances O’Shea (Emily Browning). While their growing notoriety and the edge of glamour ensures they have the sort of high connections that gives them a certain amount of protection – and perhaps a sense of invulnerability – it also makes them bigger targets for those who would like to bring them down. [Read more…]

New Macbeth Trailer – Michael Fassbender & Marion Cotillard take on the Scottish play

September 1, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Shakespeare on screen has a very mixed history, but director Justin Kurzel (Snow Town) and stars Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard are hope they’ve created the definitive movie version of Macbeth – and from the evidence of this trailer, it looks like they could have done it.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘The highly anticipated tale of war, ambition, love, murder and betrayal, directed by Justin Kurzel (Snowtown) and starring Academy-Award nominee Michael Fassbender (Twelve Years A Slave, Shame, Hunger) and Academy-Award winner Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night, La Vie En Rose) will see a UK release on OCTOBER 2nd.

‘Macbeth is the story of a fearless warrior and inspiring leader brought low by ambition and desire. A thrilling interpretation of the dramatic realities of the times and a reimagining of what wartime must have been like for one of literature’s most famous and compelling characters, a story of all-consuming passion and ambition set in war torn Scotland.

‘MACBETH is from the producers of The King’s Speech and Shame. MACBETH also stars Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum), David Thewlis (the Harry Potter series), Sean Harris (Prometheus), Jack Reynor (What Richard Did) and Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby).’

It’ll be in UK cinemas in October. [Read more…]

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine, David Thewlis DIRECTORS: Justin Kurzel FILMS: Macbeth

Legend Trailer – Tom Hardy is the infamous Kray Twins, including the one who ‘prefers boys’

June 27, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Tom Hardy pulls double duty in Legend, starring opposite himself as both of the infamous Kray twins, who rules the London underworld in the 1960s and became celebrities in their own right while doing it. Now a proper trailer has arrived, which you can see below.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘From Academy Award® winner Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Mystic River) comes the true story of the rise and fall of London’s most notorious gangsters, Reggie and Ron Kray, both portrayed by Tom Hardy in an incredible performance. LEGEND is a classic crime thriller taking us into the secret history of the 1960s and the extraordinary events that secured the infamy of the Kray Twins.’

What hadn’t been clear up until now is whether the film would hide the fact that Ronnie Kray was bisexual (while some say he exclusively slept with men, he identified as bisexual), but the trailer let’s us now this will be a feature, with Reggie letting us know he ‘prefers boys’. Although him being so upfront about this may seem odd for the 60s, it is known that that he was pretty open about it, as he knew no one would dare say anything about it to his face – especially because, as the trailer shows, he was pretty nuts.

Emily Browning (Sucker Punch), David Thewlis (The Theory of Everything, The Harry Potter series), Christopher Eccleston (Thor: The Dark World) and Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service) also star. Legend is released in cinemas across the UK on September 11th. [Read more…]

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Tom Hardy, David Thewlis, Emily Browning, Christopher Eccleston DIRECTORS: Brian Hegeland FILMS: Legend

Stonehearst Asylum (Blu-ray Review)

June 21, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Jim Sturgess, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley, David Thewlis
Director: Brad Anderson
Running Time: 112 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: June 22nd 2015 (UK)

There’s certainly a great cast of British and Irish actors brought together for Stonehearst Asylum – virtually everyone in it you’ll recognise from something – so it’s a bit of a shame that they’ve gathered in service of a movie isn’t bad, but which never really takes off.

It’s 1899 and Young doctor Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) arrives at the remote and isolated Stonehearst Asylum, a place where Europe’s finest families hide their relative who have issues that they feel mean they aren’t suitable for polite society. Newgate wishes to study the methods of the head of the institution, Silas Lamb (Ben Kingsley), who is apparently trying to create a utopian mental health facility, where instead of the harsh, tortuous methods of the past, the patients are treated with dignity and as much normality as possible. [Read more…]

The Zero Theorem Trailer – Back into the wild world of Terry Gilliam with Christoph Waltz

January 27, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Terry Gilliam’s storytelling can sometimes be a bit iffy, but his movies are always great to look at, and The Zero Theorem looks like it will be no exception. It also has a story that offers plenty of potential as well.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘An eccentric and reclusive computer genius plagued with existential angst works on a mysterious project aimed at discovering the purpose of existence – or the lack thereof – once and for all. However, it is only once he experiences the power of love and desire that he is able to understand his very reason for being.’

Christoph Waltz leads the cast with David Thewlis, Melanie Thierry, Ben Whishaw, Tilda Swinton and Matt Damon also starring. It’s due out in the UK in March, although no US release is set yet. [Read more…]

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Christoph Waltz, David Thewlis, Melanie Thierry, Ben Whishaw, Tilda Swinton, Matt Damon DIRECTORS: Terry Gilliam FILMS: The Zero Theorem

Red 2 Trailer – Bruce Willis and co. are back in action

January 18, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Red was a surprise success in 2010, attracting an older audience to an action film than would normally go to the multitude of young guy oriented flicks we get each year. Now a sequel is on its way and the trailer is here.

The likes of Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich are back, this time joined by the likes of Catherine Zeta-Jones, Anthony Hopkins and David Thewlis.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘In RED 2, the high-octane action-comedy sequel to the worldwide sleeper hit, retired black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses reunites his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device. To succeed, they’ll need to survive an army of relentless assassins, ruthless terrorists and power-crazed government officials, all eager to get their hands on the next-generation weapon. The mission takes Frank and his motley crew to Paris, London and Moscow. Outgunned and outmanned, they have only their cunning wits, their old-school skills, and each other to rely on as they try to save the world-and stay alive in the process.’

The film hits cinemas in the UK on August 2nd.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Anthony Hopkins, David Thewlis DIRECTORS: Dean Parisot FILMS: Red 2

Anjelica Huston & David Thewlis Join Milla Jovovich In The Winter Queen

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

A few months ago, Milla Jovovich signed up to star in The Winter Queen. Now she’s got some company as it’s been announced that both Anjelica Huston and David Thewlis are in talks to join her. They will play Lady Astair and Count Zurov opposite Jovovich’s Lady Amalia.

Based on the internationally best selling novel by Boris Akunin and helmed by acclaimed Russian director Fedor Bondarchuk, The Winter Queen tells the story of intrepid young police detective Erast Fandorin and a mystery that begins with the suicides of several wealthy young men throughout 1886 Russia and ends in an extensive plot for global domination.

Fandorin’s naïve wit and the suave yet volatile Count Zurov are his only protection from the ever more elaborate attempts on his life as he follows the conspiracy from Russia to England and back again; navigating unknown worlds with charm if not with ease. The enigmatic femme fatale Amalia seems to be somehow at the centre of it all, but can the saintly British aristocrat Lady Astair, founder of a string of orphanages which have greatly benefited from the wills of the affluent dead men, really be trusted?

Additional casting announcements will be made shortly with principal photography expected to commence this April.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Anjelica Huston, David Thewlis, Milla Jovovich FILMS: The Winter Queen

David Thewlis Takes On Terry Gilliam’s Zero Theorem

September 27, 2012 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Terry Gilliam never has an easy time setting up a movie, but it looks like it’s all steam ahead on The Zero Theorem, which is set to start shooting in Bucharest next month. We already knew Christoph Waltz is set to take the lead role, and now The Playlist has discovered David Thewlis has signed up too.

Unfortunately we don’t know what part he’ll be playing, but the film is set in an Orwellian corporate world where “mancams” serve as the eyes of a shadowy figure known only as Management. Waltz will play Qohen Leth, an eccentric and reclusive computer genius plagued with existential angst who works on a mysterious project aimed at discovering the purpose of existence – or the lack thereof – once and for all.

His work is interrupted now and then by surprise visits from Bainsley, a flamboyantly lusty love interest, and Bob, the rebellious whiz-kid teenage son of Management. But these visits turn out to be intentional diversions orchestrated by Management to keep control on Qohen’s progress.

It all sounds perfectly Gilliam-esque and could make for a very interesting movie.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: David Thewlis, Christoph Waltz DIRECTORS: Terry Gilliam FILMS: The Zero Theorem