Ben Wheatley Archives - Big Gay Picture Show

Free Fire (Blu-ray Review) – Armie Hammer & co. have a shootout & a half

August 13, 2017 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Armie Hammer, Sharlto Copley, Brie Larson, Sam Riley, Jack Reynor
Director: Ben Wheatley
Running Time: 91 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: August 7th 2017 (UK)

After the complex and rather operatic JG Ballard adaptation High-Rise, Ben Wheatley has gone for something that’s far simpler in terms of plot, but perhaps just as complicated in terms of technical execution with Free Fire.

It’s the 1970s, and in a warehouse in Boston a group of American are hoping to sell some Irish men some guns. Things are already a little tense and distrustful when it’s revealed the weapons aren’t the exact ones ordered, but things get completely out of hand when one of the Yanks realises one of the Irish guys is the man who assaulted his cousin the night before. [Read more…]

Ben Wheatley & Tom Hiddleston May Reteam For Frank Miller’s Hard Boiled Adaptation

November 23, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Director Ben Wheatley’s High Rise got a mixed reception this year, but it was clear from interviews that he and star Tom Hiddleston enjoyed working together. Now they may be getting back together, as Deadline reports that Wheatley is planning an adaptation of Frank Miller’s 1990 graphic novel, Hard Boiled, which Hiddleston may star in.

Warner Brothers is backing the movie, which ‘focuses on insurance investigator Carl Seltz, who learns that he’s really a homicidal cyborg tax collector codenamed Nixon. A fellow robot informs him that he’s the last hope for their race to escape their programmed slavery.’ As this is Frank Miller, it’s even more nuts than that sounds, with multiple personalities, unusual characters and murky morality in play.

It’s not known when the movie might reach cinemas, and Hiddleston isn’t firmly attached yet, but it’s being developed as a star vehicle for him. Wheatley’s next film, Free Fire, is due in theatres early next year.

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ACTORS: Tom Hiddleston DIRECTORS: Ben Wheatley

Free Fire Trailer – Ben Wheatley returns with Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy and Armie Hammer

September 10, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Ben Wheatley made a big splash with the low budget Kill List, Sightseers and A Field In England, before getting a bit more cash and a starrier cast for the recent High-Rise. Now he’s returning with Free Fire, starring Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor, Babou Ceesay, Enzo Cilenti, Sam Riley, Michael Smiley and Noah Taylor.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Justine (Brie Larson) has brokered a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two Irishmen (Cillian Murphy, Michael Smiley) and a gang led by Vernon (Sharlto Copley) and Ord (Armie Hammer) who are selling them a stash of guns. But when shots are fired in the handover, a heart stopping game of survival ensues.’

Take a look at the trailer below. Free Fire receives its World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival on 9th September, its European Premiere at the London Film Festival on 16th October and opens nationwide across the UK on 31st March 2017. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor, Babou Ceesay, Enzo Cilenti, Sam Riley, Michael Smiley, Noah Taylor DIRECTORS: Ben Wheatley FILMS: Free Fire

High Rise (Blu-ray Review)

July 17, 2016 By Tim Isaac 1 Comment

Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons, Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss
Director: Ben Wheatley
Running Time: 120 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: July 18th 2016 (UK)

Director Ben Wheatley was certainly ambitious when he decided to take on JG Ballard’s cult, 1975 novel, High Rise. It’s one of those books that for decades many have proclaimed unfilmable, but there’s no doubt Wheatley and his cast and crew have put their all into it.

Set in a dystopian version of the 1970s (or at least a hyper-real 1970s), Dr. Laing (Tom Hiddleston) moves into a new, high-rise tower – supposedly the pinnacle of modernist living. His apartment is on one of the middle floors, while the poorer people live near the bottom, and the higher up you go, the richer and more rarefied the people become. [Read more…]

High-Rise Trailer – Tom Hiddleston gets naked in a retro-futuristic apartment building

February 9, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

High-Rise got slightly mixed reports at its film festival screenings (although some people absolutely adored it), but there’s no doubt it looks like a really interesting movie – and everyone who’s seen it has praised its ambition and visual style. That style is certainly on show in the new trailer for the movie, which you can watch below.

Some of you will also be pleased to know that the trailer gives us a look at a bit of near nudity from Tom Hiddleston, who seems to have a thing for naked sunbathing in the movie.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘1975. Two miles west of London, Dr. Robert Laing moves into his new apartment seeking soulless anonymity, only to find that the building’s residents have no intention of leaving him alone. Resigned to the complex social dynamics unfolding around him, Laing bites the bullet and becomes neighbourly. As he struggles to establish his position, Laing’s good manners and sanity disintegrate along with the building. The lights go out and the lifts fail but the party goes on. People are the problem. Booze is the currency. Sex is the panacea. Only much later, as he sits on his balcony eating the architect’s dog, does Dr. Robert Laing finally feel at home…..’

Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans and Elisabeth Moss star, with Ben Wheatley directing this adaptation of JG Ballard’s novel. High-Rise arrives in UK cinemas on 18th March.

[Read more…]

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ACTORS: Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss DIRECTORS: Ben Wheatley FILMS: High Rise

New High-Rise Teaser Trailer – Tom Hiddleston is living in a retro-futuristic dystopia

January 7, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago a teaser trailer for the much anticipated High-Rise dropped, but it didn’t show us too much of the movie, instead coming across as a faux promotional video for the retro-futuristic building referred to in the title. Now a more traditional teaser has arrived, suggesting this will be a bizarre but incredibly eye-catching movie.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘High-Rise centers on a new residential tower built on the eve of Thatcher’s England, at the site of what will soon become the world’s financial hub. Designed as a luxurious solution to the problems of the city, it is a world apart.

‘Enter Robert Laing (Hiddleston), a young doctor seduced by the high-rise and its creator, the visionary architect Anthony Royal (Irons). Laing discovers a world of complex loyalties, and also strikes up a relationship with Royal’s devoted aide Charlotte (Miller).

‘But rot has set in beneath the flawless surface. Sensing discord amongst the tenants, Laing meets Wilder, a charismatic provocateur bent on inciting the situation. Wilder initiates Laing into the hidden life of the high-rise and Laing is shocked at what he sees.

‘As the residents break into tribal factions, Laing finds himself in the middle of mounting violence. Violence that he also finds emerging in himself’.

The movie hits UK cinemas in March. Take a look at the teaser and a new poster below.

[Read more…]

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ACTORS: Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss, James Purefoy, Tom Hiddleston DIRECTORS: Ben Wheatley FILMS: High Rise

High Rise Teaser Trailer – Tom Hiddleston wants you to join him in a new way of living

December 14, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

There’s been a lot of interest in Ben Wheatley’s take on JG Ballard’s dystopian tale High Rise, to the point that for some film fans, it’s the most anticipated movie of 2016. Now we can get our first taste, and there’s no doubt that it’s looking absolutely gorgeous, with Wheatley creating a mix of the 60s/70s and the future.

Many have said over the year that Ballard’s book is unfilmable, but it looks like they’re given it a damn good go, even if the reviews from film festivals have been decidedly mixed.

‘As the residents break into tribal factions, Laing finds himself in the middle of mounting violence. Violence that he also finds emerging in himself’.

The movie hits UK cinemas next March.

[Read more…]

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ACTORS: Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss, James Purefoy, Tom Hiddleston DIRECTORS: Ben Wheatley

First Look At Tom Hiddleston In Ben Wheatley’s High Rise

February 7, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

I’d almost forgotten about High Rise, but to remind me the first picture from the movie has arrives, via Empire, showing Tom Hiddleston looking rather moody in an elevator.

The film comes from A Field In England and Sightseers director Ben Wheatley, based on J.G. Ballard’s dystopian novel.

One of the more interesting things is that while there’s been a lot of interest by movie types in the novel over the years, many considered it unfilmable. However now it’s in the can, with Hiddleston starring alongside starring alongside the likes of Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, James Purefoy, Luke Evans and Elisabeth Moss.

‘As the residents break into tribal factions, Laing finds himself in the middle of mounting violence. Violence that he also finds emerging in himself’

It should be in cinemas later this year.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Tom Hiddleston DIRECTORS: Ben Wheatley FILMS: High Rise

Luke Evans & Elisabeth Moss Join Tim Hiddleston In Ben Wheatley’s High-Rise

June 25, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

For the last year A Field In England and Sightseers director Ben Wheatley has been putting together an adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s dystopian novel High-Rise.

It was supposed to start shooting this month, but while that start date has been pushed to July, it’s now added to its cast, with Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss, James Purefoy, Reece Shearsmith, Peter Ferdinando, and comedian Dan Renton Skinner joining the previously announced Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller and Jeremy Irons.

Wheatley commented, “Elizabeth Moss and Luke Evans are great additions to our cast. I’m really excited to be working with both of them. I’m looking forward to see what they will bring to the complex relationship between Richard and Helen Wilder.”

We’ve also got a new synopsis, which gives us a few details on how the movie will take on a novel come thought was unfilmable. Here it is: ‘High-Rise centers on a new residential tower built on the eve of Thatcher’s England, at the site of what will soon become the world’s financial hub. Designed as a luxurious solution to the problems of the city, it is a world apart.

‘As the residents break into tribal factions, Laing finds himself in the middle of mounting violence. Violence that he also finds emerging in himself’

The film starts shooting next month in Belfast for release in 2015.

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ACTORS: Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss, James Purefoy, Tom Hiddleston DIRECTORS: Ben Wheatley

Tom Hiddleston Goes Into J.G. Ballard’s High-Rise For Sightseers Director Ben Wheatley

February 5, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Tom Hiddleston is out to prove there’s more to him than Loki, as he’s signed on for Ben Wheatley’s planned adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s novel, High Rise. The director Tweeted the news himself, saying ‘HIGHRISE. shooting June. Starring Tom Hiddleston!’, along with the pic below.

Set in a luxury high-rise building, the book is almost a grown-up Lord Of The Flies, which follows a group of tenants hell-bent on an orgy of destruction. Cocktail parties degenerate into marauding attacks on ‘enemy’ floors and the once-luxurious amenities become an arena for technological mayhem. Human society slips into violent reverse as the inhabitants of the ultra-modern high-rise, driven by primal urges, recreate a world ruled by the laws of the jungle.

There’s no news yet on exactly who Hiddleston will play, but speculation is that he will either be TV producer Richard Wilder, antisocial physiologist Dr Robert Laing, or the wealthy Anthony Royal, who designed the building himself and lives in the penthouse.

Making a movie based on the 1975 book has long been a dream project for producer Jeremy Thomas (who was also Ballard’s friend), and now it seems he’s finally going to make it happen. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Tom Hiddleston DIRECTORS: Ben Wheatley