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

The Darkest Hour (Cinema Review) – A Golden Globe winning Gary Oldman takes on Churchill

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If you need an actor to play Winston Churchill look no further than Harry Potter. The great Gary Oldman is the fifth man to play the wartime PM relatively recently after Timothy Spall, Robert Hardy, Michael Gambon and Brendan Gleeson, and he certainly has the gravitas to carry it off. That’s evidenced by his recent Golden Globe win and BAFTA nomination (the film also scored another eight nominations). Despite that, what he doesn’t have is a script that helps him out much, or a director who brings the story to life. A shame, as it could have been so much more, set during a pivotal month in WWII.

This is apparently the passion project of writer Anthony McCarten, but quite what he is trying to tease out of the well-worn story remains something of a mystery. He also plays fast and loose with history – the idea that Churchill was befriended by his best mate the King seems a stretch, as does the idea that most of Parliament wanted to do a deal with Hitler – some did certainly, but not the majority. Another idea, that a doubting Churchill was buoyed by taking a tube train and is roused by the voices of the people, is frankly ludicrous. Some truly dodgy acting by extras doesn’t help. [Read more…]

Darkest Hour Trailer – Gary Oldman plays Winston Churchill on the eve of WWII

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When you first look at Gary Oldman, you wouldn’t think he’d be the first choice to play British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill. However, as the pic above and trailer below show that after an impressive transformation, he’s far better than you’d think.

Here’s the synopsis for the Darkest Hour, ‘A thrilling and inspiring true story begins on the eve of World War II as, within days of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill (Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman) must face one of his most turbulent and defining trials: exploring a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany, or standing firm to fight for the ideals, liberty and freedom of a nation. As the unstoppable Nazi forces roll across Western Europe and the threat of invasion is imminent, and with an unprepared public, a skeptical King, and his own party plotting against him, Churchill must withstand his darkest hour, rally a nation, and attempt to change the course of world history.’

Kristen Scott Thomas, Lily James, Stephen Dillane, Ronald Pickup and Ben Mendelsohn also star, with Joe Wright directing. It’s due in UK cinemas next January. [Read more…]

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Child 44 (Blu-ray Review)

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When it was first announced Child 44 seemed like a good bet – based on a hit book, directed by Daniel Espinosa (Safe House, Easy Money) and a really good cast. However, when it arrived in cinemas it was met with bad reviews and made hardly any money at the box office.

I’m not entirely sure where all the animosity came from though, as while it has quite a few problems it’s certainly tense, uneasy and very watchable.

Set in post-World War II Soviet Russia, Tom Hardy is Leo Demidov, an investigator for the feared MGB who roots out traitors for Stalin. The organisation is judge, jury and executioner – and it extracts ways to find guilt in everyone they arrest. It’s an era of massive paranoia and one where deviating from the official line on something can be a death sentence. [Read more…]

Child 44 Trailer – Tom Hardy investigates a string of child murders

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child-44-poster1Tom Hardy is getting dramatic for Child 44, and he’s also going a bit Russian, alongside an excellent cast including Noomi Rapace, Gary Oldman, Vincent Cassel, Joel Kinnaman, Jason Clarke and Paddy Considine.

Now the first trailer has arrived, but to watch it you’ll have to click over to Apple.

Based on Tom Rob Smith’s novel, with Safe House helmer Daniel Espinosa directing, the Soviet Union set thriller is about a military police officer named Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy) who has to investigate a string of brutal child murders that took place during the Stalin era. As he begins to dig further and further into the case, he realises that his government is keeping a sharp eye on every move he makes, and refuses to admit that the killings are actually happening.

Oldman is the head of police, who has problems with what Hardy is doing, while Rapace, who’s in the image below, is Tom’s wife.

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Shia LaBeouf, Gary Oldman & Kate Mara To Star In Man Down

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shia-lebeoufShia LaBeouf might have gone a bit, err, peculiar, earlier this year, but it now seems he’s getting back on track as it’s been announced that he will star alongside Kate Mara and Gary Oldman in the psychological thriller, Man Down.

Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Fighting) will direct from a screenplay by Adam Simon (Synapse), which is about a haunted Afghanistan war veteran who attempts to come to terms with his past while searching for his family in a post-apocalyptic America.

Shooting is due to start on October 30th in Louisiana.

Producer Dawn Krantz commented, “When I read this script for the first time I knew it was something very special. We are so thrilled to be able to have put together such an exemplary cast with an outstanding director to tell the story.”

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Ryan Reynolds Will Be A Criminal Alongside Kevin Costner & Gary Oldman

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ryan-reynolds-slideRecently Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Oldman signed up to star in the thriller Criminal, and now another big name has joined the cast, as Ryan Reynolds has signed up for the movie, according to Variety.

The movie is about a ruthless killer who chooses to take part in a scientific experiment instead of spending the rest of his life in jail. He gets implanted with the brain of a recently-murdered CIA field operative in the hope that he will stop a diabolical plot.

It’s not currently 100% clear which actor will play which role, except that Oldman will be the head of the CIA. Presumably Reynolds and Costner will be the killer and the dead CIA agent, but it’s unclear which way round it will be.

Ariel Vromen is set to direct from a script by Douglas Cook and David Weisberg.

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Gary Oldman Is Set To Get Criminal With Kevin Costner

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gary-oldman-robocopIt seems there’s not going to be too much fallout from Gary Oldman defending the homophobic and racist rants of fellow celebs, as thanks to him quickly calling himself an ‘asshole’ for doing so, all seems to be forgiven. It’s certainly not stopped him booking new roles.

A few weeks ago Kevin Costner signed up for the thriller Criminal, and now he’s got some company as Gary Oldman has signed up to co-star, according to THR.

The movie is about a ruthless killer who chooses to take part in a scientific experiment instead of spending the rest of his life in jail. He gets implanted with the brain of a recently-murdered CIA field operative in the hope that he will stop a diabolical plot.

Oldman will play the head of the CIA.

Ariel Vromen (The Iceman) will direct from a script by Douglas Cook and David Weisberg

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Final Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes Trailer Arrives & It’s Looking Pretty Epic

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dawn_of_the_planet_of_the_apes_poster-slideCaesar and his simian chums have certainly moved on since Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, but their relationship with the few humans that survives a devastating plague isn’t that great.

Indeed it’s pretty much all out war.

Now the final trailer is here and it’s looking pretty epic.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.’

The film hits cinemas next month. [Read more…]

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RoboCop (2014) (DVD Review)

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Unlike some movies, there was no real reason not to remake Robocop. Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 original is a great movie, but it leaves plenty of room for reinvention in the 21st Century. Indeed it’s probably why when MGM started digging around in their back catalogue for film to do-over, RoboCop was near the top of the list.

Although it took several years to actually get it done, the results are now here with Jose Padilha (Elite Squad) directing and Joel Kinnaman in the title role. [Read more…]

Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes Trailer – Caesar and his simian chums are building a nation

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Things have certainly moved on for Caesar and his chums since Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, but their relationship with the surviving humans certainly isn’t that great.

Now we can take by far our best look yet at Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes with a full trailer.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.’

It certainly looks pretty cool. [Read more…]

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