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

Room (DVD Review)

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The Best Actress category in this year’s Oscars was very strong. Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlotte Rampling and Saoirse Ronan all gave powerful, committed performances that were finely-tuned, expressive and thoughtful. All of them however were overshadowed by one towering performance, from Brie Larson in Room. She was the favourite, and probably won it by a country mile. Put simply it’s a performance that you won’t see the like of in a very, very long time.

The room in question is the tiny space where Larson’s Ma is being held captive and raped nightly by Old Nick (a 17th century term for the Devil). The only light is from a skylight, the room itself is a squalid collection of cheap furniture and utilities, just enough to keep her alive – a sink, a bed. Her only companion is her young son Jack (Tremblay), who it transpires was born in this space, and therefore knows nothing else. The only thing that keeps Ma going is her young boy, but obviously their relationship is strained and difficult. [Read more…]

Frank (DVD Review)

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Michael Fassbender is a top actor who can have his choice of roles, so it initially seemed bizarre that he wanted to make a movie where he spends the vast majority of the runtime with a giant papier-mâché head covering his face. However as I watched more of the movie, I began to realise what an interesting role it must have seemed from his perspective.

For a start it means he has to create a performance and a character with just his body and voice, something he does an extremely good job of. It’s also gives him a chance to play a surprisingly interesting person as it begins to reveal more and more about the man inside the head. [Read more…]

Frank Trailer – Michael Fassbender hides inside a giant papier mache head

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I bet not that many people thought they’d see Michael Fassbender in a film where he spends most of his time wearing a giant papier mache head, but that’s exactly what he does in Frank. The film see Fassbender as Chris Sievey’s creation, Frank Sidebottom.

Sidebottom is a strange figure, who isn’t that well known to the old or the young, but to a certain generation of Brits (and Irishmen, as Fassbender) who were young in the mid-80s through the early 90s, he something of an unexpected icon. With his unique voice, giant spherical head, musical stylings and endless idiosyncracies he became beloved by many. And now he’s got a movie.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Acclaimed Irish director Lenny Abrahamson follows up his award-winning films Adam & Paul, Garage and What Richard Did with an offbeat comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), who finds himself out of his depth when he joins an avant-garde pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Michael Fassbender), a musical genius who hides himself inside a large fake head, and his terrifying bandmate Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

‘Written by Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare At Goats) and Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Men Who Stare At Goats), FRANK is based on the memoir by Jon Ronson. It is a fictional story loosely inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the persona of cult musician and comedy legend Chris Sievey, as well as other outsider musicians like Daniel Johnston and Captain Beefheart.’

Frank is out in the UK in May.

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What Richard Did (DVD)

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What Richard Did got a healthy dose of publicity a couple of months ago when Michael Bay announced he was casting young Irish actor Jack Reynor in one of the lead roles in Transformers 4 after seeing his performance in Lenny Abrahamson’s movie. Reynor is indeed very good, although the film itself is slightly more problematic.

Richard (Reynor) is a young lad who’s popular, has plenty of friends and has status thanks to playing on the rugby team. He begins a relationship with Lara (Roisin Murphy), although there are some issues with her ex-boyfriend, Conor (Sam Keeley). At a party things come to a head when Conor steps into an argument between Richard and Lara, leading to a moment of violence that could have major repercussions for all involved. [Read more…]

Michael Fassbender Is Set To Be Frank Alongside Domnhall Gleeson

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Michael Fassbender is a ridiculously busy man who seems to be on a mission to appear in as many films as humanly possible. He’s just signed up for another one called Frank, which Variety reports he’ll star in alongside Domnhall Gleeson.

If Fassbender has ever dreamed of being a rock star, this will allow him to fulfill that ambition, as he’ll play the leader of an eccentric pop band, who’s joined by Gleeson’s young wannabe musician. Perhaps unsurprisingly the younger man finds himself in over his head.

Jon Ronson, who wrote the book The Men Who Stare At Goats, has come up with the script along with Peter Straughan, while Lenny Abrahamson is set to direct. It’ll start shooting sometime next year.

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