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

American Sniper (DVD Review)

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Often when an actor has a passion project it turns out to be something that should never have been attempted and ends up as a very expensive way to massage their ego. However, while Bradley Cooper was one of the major driving forces behind American Sniper, it was always clear he was onto something interesting. Indeed, at one point Steven Spielberg even signed on to direct, before the gig went to Clint Eastwood.

While Clint may be known as a bit of a hard man actor, he really brings the emotion out of what could have been a rather stereotypical war story in other hands.

The film is about Chris Kyle (Cooper), who found ‘fame’ of sorts when he became the Navy SEAL sniper with the most verified kills in US history. However, the movie isn’t just about his time on the battlefield but also its effects – both how he deals with what he’s doing while on tour (which for a sniper is oddly personal, as it involves very deliberately finding a single person and snuffing out their life) and also when he arrives back home and is suddenly supposed to jump into ‘normal’ life again. [Read more…]

The Oscar Nominations Are Here, With Imitation Game Leading The LGBT Charge!

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oscars-neil-patrick-harrisThe race is on! The Oscar nominations have been announced, so we now know the people and movies that will be vying for a win when the gongs are handed out February 22nd at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

As expected it’s a relatively open field, with no films looking like it’s going to sweep the board, but quite a few now teed up to go for Oscar glory. As expected there was a good showing for both Birdman and Boyhood. However there are others who’ve done well too, including The Imitation Game, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Theory Of Everything and American Sniper.

All of those movie showed up in the Best Picture race, which also includes Selma and Whiplash. Likewise they dominated the Best Director race, with only Theory Of Everything’s James Marsh and Oscar fave Clint Eastwood (American Sniper) missing out on nominations.

In the Best Actor race there were no surprises – indeed it was exactly as most predicted – with Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Michael Keaton (Birdman) and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything). It’s a slightly more unpredictable race in the Best Actress race, with Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night), Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), and Reese Witherspoon (Wild).

It’s a rather mixed picture for LGBT movies, as while The Imitation Game’s eight nominations is undoubtedly good, that’s pretty much it, especially amongst the major categories. There had previously been high hopes for some gay-themed movies in both the Best Documentary and Best Foreign Language Film categories, but in the end none of them made the cut. And with Imitation Game not expected to win any major awards, it could be a bit of a gay drought. Well, sort of, as with Neil Patrick Harris presenting, we won’t be completely forgotten.

It’s a particular shame that Pride got nothing, as with the right marketing the movie should have had a good showing amongst the nominations, as it’s undoubtedly one of the best movies released in the past 12 months. Unfortunately it got absolutely nothing.

But then, it wasn’t the only way the Academy showed they were morons this morning, as they missed the awesome Lego Movie off the Best Animated Movie list, while including the far inferior (but still decent) Big Hero Six. If that wasn’t evidence they’re not very good at this nominating business, I don’t know what is.

You can take a look at the full list of nominees below: [Read more…]

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New American Sniper Trailer – Bradley Cooper turns ace gunman

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american-spider-bradley-cooperIf you’re going to change directors, swapping Steven Spielberg for Clint Eastwood is a great trade. With a limited US release of December 25th, American Sniper is now gearing up to be in the Oscar race, with Bradley Cooper aiming for his third Oscar nomination in a row with the movie.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘From director Clint Eastwood comes “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. But there was much more to him than his skill as a sharpshooter.

‘U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.” However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world.

‘Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the SEAL creed to “leave no man behind.” But upon returning to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.’

The movie arrives in UK cinemas (and goes wide in the US) on January 16th. [Read more…]

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American Sniper Trailer – Plus a poster for the Clint Eastwood directed Bradley Cooper flick

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American-Sniper-posterAmerican Sniper is gearing up to be in the Oscar race, which isn’t too much of a surprise considering it’s directed by Clint Eastwood. To give us a taste the first trailer has arrived along with a poster.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘From director Clint Eastwood comes “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. But there was much more to him than his skill as a sharpshooter.

‘U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.” However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world.

‘Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the SEAL creed to “leave no man behind.” But upon returning to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.’

The movie arrives in UK cinemas on January 16th. [Read more…]

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First Look At Bradley Cooper In American Sniper

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american-sniper-pic1At one point it looked like producer/star Bradley Cooper had scored Steven Spielberg to direct American Sniper. However while the bearded one stepped away he got a great replacement in the form of Clint Eastwood.

Now the first images have arrived, via USA Today, and you can take a look at them above and below.

The action movie is based on the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (Cooper), a Texas native who racked up the most confirmed sniper kills of anyone in US military history. However before he took the record, he was a rodeo cowboy. Tragically though, he was killed by a fellow veteran at a shooting range in February 2013 (it’s not clear if that will be included in the movie).

Cooper did manage to talk to Kyle before he died. He says, “Thank God I got to talk to him once on the phone. It was a very quick conversation. But I did tell him how serious I was about making this movie. And he should just know that whatever fears he had about Hollywood, to just put them aside and trust me. That I was going to do everything I could to tell this story.”

Sienna Miller also stars as Kyle’s wife Taya Renae Kyle.

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Fifty Shades’ Luke Grimes Up For American Sniper

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Luke-GrimesLuke Grimes has recently been getting busy on the set of Fifty Shades of Grey, but that won’t be his only big movie of 2015, as he is in final talks to join American Sniper, which already has the likes of Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller and Jake McDorman attached to star.

The action movie is based on the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (Cooper), a Texas native who racked up the most confirmed sniper kills of anyone in US military history.

However before he took the record, he was a rodeo cowboy. Tragically though, he was killed by a fellow veteran at a shooting range in February 2013 (it’s not clear if that will be included in the movie).

Grimes will play fellow SEAL team member Marc Lee.

Clint Eastwood is directing from a screenplay by Jason Dean Hall (Paranoia, Spread),.

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Clint Eastwood In Talks To Helm American Sniper, Replacing Steven Spielberg

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clint-eastwoodEarlier today, rumours emerged that Clint Eastwood may be thinking about replacing Steven Spielberg as the director of American Sniper, with THR reporting that Clint is indeed in talks for the movie, which has Bradley Cooper attached to write and direct.

Spielberg left earlier this month as he and the studio couldn’t come to agreement on a budget that he felt would do justice to the story he wanted to tell. Clint on the other hand is famed for sticking to fairly low budgets.

The action movie is based on the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, a Texas native who racked up the most confirmed sniper kills of anyone in US military history. Tragically though, he was killed by a fellow veteran at a shooting range last February (it’s not clear if that will be included in the movie).

Filming had tentatively been scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2014, but they may change if Clint signs on, as he’s currently gearing up to shoot the musical Jersey Boys. He does work quickly, so it is possible he can fit in a shoot for American Sniper early next year too.

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Steven Spielberg Drops Out Of Bradley Cooper Starrer American Sniper

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Steven-SpielbergIn what we’re hoping isn’t becoming a pattern, Steven Spielberg has dropped out of the film that was all set to be his next movie. It’s happened previously with Robopocalypse in February and now Deadline reports that he’s decided not to make American Sniper, which he announced as his next effort a few months ago.

The action movie is based on the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, a Texas native who racked up the most confirmed sniper kills of anyone in US military history. Tragically though, he was killed by a fellow veteran at a shooting range last February (it’s not clear if that will be included in the movie).

Filming had tentatively been scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2014, with Bradley Cooper in the lead role. It’s not yet clear if Cooper will still try to get another director and go ahead early next year, although it’s likely as Bradley is producing and it was him who secured the rights to the autobiography last year.

Spielberg is said to have left because he “couldn’t square his vision of this movie with the budget.” A similar problem his Robopocalypse, which went back into script development when it was decided it was simply too expensive to make as it was. There’s no news though and what Spielberg might make instead.

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Bradley Cooper To Star In Chef & Steven Spielberg’s American Sniper

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bradley-cooper-bathtuban After the success of Lincoln, Steven Spielberg has chosen his next movie and decided that he’s going to team up with actor Bradley Cooper for American Sniper, according to THR.

The action movie is based on the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, a Texas native who racked up the most confirmed sniper kills of anyone in US military history. Tragically though, he was killed by a fellow veteran at a shooting range last February (it’s not clear if that will be included in the movie).

Jason Dean Hall (Spread, Paranoia), is writing the screenplay. Shooting is tentatively scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2014. Spielberg was previously going to make Robopocalypse as his next film, but that film was put on hold by DreamWorks in January.

That’s not the only movie Cooper has signed up for though, as Deadline says he’ll star in Chef, which John Wells (August: Osage County) is closing a deal to direct. Derek Cianfrance was previously attached to helm, but he is no longer involved.

Cooper will play Adam Jones, a chef in Paris who ruins his reputation because of an addiction to controlled substances. He sobers up and returns to the City of Lights, determined to create the greatest restaurant in the world, with the goal of receiving three Michelin stars. Omar Sy co-stars. The film will shoot next year.

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David O’Russell May Take On American Sniper With Bradley Cooper

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It’s all a bit speculative at the moment, but David O. Russell and Bradley Cooper might be spending a lot of time together in the next couple of years, as they’ve just completed The Silver Linings Playbook together, and will be moving on to a currently untitled project (formerly known as American Bullshit), which is slated to shoot this February and will also star Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.

However that’s not the end of it, as THR spoke to O. Russell in Toronto, who said, “We’ve also discussed American Sniper, a property Bradley has acquired. I’m really excited to work with him again. He is like an athlete who wants to burst out of the blocks and wants to stretch in all these new ways.”

Cooper recently signed up to develop Sniper, based on the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Jason Dean Hall will write the script about Kyle, who holds the records for most sniper kills by an American. The book has been praised for its frankness in telling a first-person account of a warrior who shoots from far and close distances. It also includes portions written by Kyle’s wife, balancing out the story to show both the home perspective as well as that of a soldier who’s out to kill.

At the moment, there’s no guarante all this would happen, as O. Russell is notorious from dropping in and out of projects. After Thr Fighter is looked like Mark Wahlberg would be his muse, with the actor working on various projects together, which all fell by the wayside, eventually leading to a rumoured estrangement between the pair.

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