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 Last Five Years (DVD Review)

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Normally movie musicals are set in a heightened reality, not just due to the fact that everyone is singing, but also because the universe itself is shifted to the side. Even something like West Side Story is obviously in a fantasy version of New York, several steps away from reality. However The Last Five Years takes a look at a very real story (indeed it’s based on a tumultuous marriage the musical’s writer, Jason Robert Brown, had when he was in his 20s), and sets it in a realistic New York.

Everyone may be singing and it may play with time in unusual ways, but the world and the characters are extremely grounded, with plenty that everyone will be able to recognise from their own relationships. [Read more…]

The Last Five Years Trailer – Anna Kendrick & Jeremy Jordan get romantic in the musical tale

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last-five-years-slideA touching story of heartbreak and passion, The Last Five Years, based on the hit off-Broadway musical, stars Academy Award nominee Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan in this honest and funny portrayal of the highs and lows of a five year relationship.

Told almost entirely through song from a score by Jason Robert Brown, the film, which received its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, is directed and adapted for the screen by Richard LaGravenese and will be released across the UK in Spring 2015.

Filled with the lively energy of New York City’s cultural milieu, the film tells the story of the five-year relationship between rising novelist Jamie Wellerstein (Jeremy Jordan) and struggling actress Cathy Hyatt (Anna Kendrick). As Jamie’s new novel vaults him to the top of the literary scene, Cathy is still doing summer stock in Ohio, and their diverging levels of success pose pressing and dire challenges to their love. The film tells Cathy’s side of the story in reverse order, starting from the end of their marriage, while Jamie’s version of events begins when the couple first meets. [Read more…]

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New Beautiful Creatures Trailer – Alice Englert heads for Southern gothic fantasy

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It’s getting a bit witchy in the Deep South in Beautiful Creatures, with a young woman (Alice Englert) knowing that she’s a ‘caster’ and that on her 18th birthday she’ll be claimed for either the powers of dark or light. Based on Kami Garcia’s novel.

Beautiful Creatures is about two star-crossed teenage lovers: Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), a local boy, and a mysterious new girl, Lena (Alice Englert), who uncover dark secrets about their respective families, their history and their town, which could result in a power shift towards the forces of darkness. Beautiful Creatures is the first of a five book series, so the Warner Bros. will be hoping the movie is a success so they can line up some sequels.

The cast also includes Emma Thompson, Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Irons and Viola Davis. It hits cinemas on February 13th 2013. It certainly looks like it could be pretty good, with a strong cast who can sell the more far-fetched aspects of the plot.

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Anna Kendrick On For Romantic Musical The Last Five Years

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Anna Kendrick has had success in the States turning to music with the a capella comedy Pitch Perfect (which reaches the UK in December), and it seems she’s sticking to tunes with the romantic comedy musical The Last Five Years.

Moviehole reports she’s signed up for the movie, which Richard LaGravenese is planning to direct, based on Jason Robert Brown’s acclaimed stage version. The film is looking for buyers at the American Film Market.

The site says, ‘The show, inspired by the playwright’s own personal life, used a form of storytelling in which the young woman’s story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and the male’s is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters did not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect. It was all quite genius.’ It’s not clear if the film will follow the same structure.

Kendrick will play struggling young actress Cathy, while her novelist husband Jamie is yet to be cast. The film chronicles the duo’s relationship, all through comedic songs sung by the actors.

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Beautiful Creatures Trailer – First look at the latest young adult supernatural franchise

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Ever since Twilight, studios have been looking to create their own young adult supernatural franchises. One of those arriving soon in Beautiful Creatures, based on Kami Garcia’s novel. Beautiful Creatures is set in the US South and is about two star-crossed teenage lovers: Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), a local boy, and a mysterious new girl, Lena (Alice Englert), who uncover dark secrets about their respective families, their history and their town. Beautiful Creatures is the first of a five book series, so the studio will be hoping the movie is a success so they can line up some sequels. It hits cinemas early next year.

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Alden Ehrenreich Takes On Beautiful Creatures

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It’s one down for Blighty, as Eden Lake, This Is England and Harry Brown actor Jack O’Connell is no longer taking the lead male role in the young adult adaptation, Beautiful Creatures, as Variety reports he’s been replaced by Alden Ehrenreich. O’Connell apparently left due to scheduling conflicts.

A coming of age story set in the South, Beautiful Creatures – which is the first of a hugely popular series written by authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl – is about two star-crossed teenage lovers, Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), a local boy, and a mysterious new girl, Lena (Alice Englert), who uncover dark secrets about their families, their history and their town. Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emma Thompson, Emmy Rossum and Thomas Mann will also star.

Ehrenreich is best known for Francis Ford Copolla’s Tetro, and has been a finalist foor many major roles, including Spider-man and The Hunger Games. Richard LaGravenese (P.S. I Love You) will direct from his own screeplay, with shooting scheduled to begin later this month.

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Jeremy Irons Signs On For Beautiful Creatures

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The cast of the young adult novel adaptation, Beautiful Creatures, is fast coming together, with the latest news being that Jeremy Irons is in final negotiations to join the cast of the supernatural love story, according to Variety.

A coming of age story set in the South, Beautiful Creatures – which is the first of a hugely popular series written by authors Kami Garcia and Margaret – is about two star-crossed teenage lovers, Ethan, a local boy, and a mysterious new girl, Lena, who uncover dark secrets about their families, their history and their town. Irons is the most recent in a flurry of casting announcements, joining Viola Davis (Amma), Emma Thompson (Mrs. Lincoln/Sarafine), Emmy Rossum (Ridley), Thomas Mann (Link) and relative newcomers Jack O’Connell (Ethan) and Alice Englert (Lena). Irons will play the role of Macon Ravenwood, Lena’s mysterious and recluse uncle.

Richard LaGravenese (P.S. I Love You) will direct from his own screeplay, with shooting schedules to begin next month. The hope is this will be the first part of a major new teen franchise.

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Emmy Rossum On For Beautiful Creatures

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Emmy Rossum has been performing since she was a teen opera star and can currently be seen in the US version of Shameless. Now Variety reports The Day After Tomorrow and Phantom Of The Opera actress has joined the cast of Beautiful Creatures for Warner Bros. and writer-director Richard LaGravenese.

The story centers on two teenage lovers (Jack O’Connell and Alice Englert) who discover dark secrets hidden by their families. Emmy Rossum will play Ridley, the cousin of Alice Englert’s character, who turned into a dark witch on her 16th birthday. Viola Davis and Emma Thompson are also set to star.

Richard LaGravenese will direct from his own screenplay, which is adapted from Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl’s novel. Production is scheduled to begin next month in New Orleans, with a US release already set for February 1st, 2013

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Emma Thompson Joins Supernatural Drama Beautiful Creatures

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Richard LaGravenese’s supernatural love story, Beautiful Creatures, is certainly pulling together a strong supporting cast, as THR reports that Emma Thompson has joined the recently cast Viola Davis in the teen supernatural drama.

Beautiful Creatures is about a teen boy and girl who must confront a curse that has haunted the girl’s family for generations. Thompson is set to play dual roles as Mrs. Lincoln, a small town religious zealot, and Sarafine, who is the dark witch who possesses her.

The project is a adaptation of a Margaret Stohl-Kami Garcia novel. Richard LaGravenese is directing with Erwin Stoff and Molly Smith producing. Hollywood newcomers Jack O’Connell and Alice Englert have also joined the cast. Filming will begin in April in New Orleans.

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