During World War II the UK, those who weren’t fighting had to make all sorts of cutbacks, with food rationed, blackouts ordered at night and limits on nearly everything. However, cinema was seen as so important to raising morale that the government invested large amounts of money in uplifting movies. It certainly worked, as more cinema tickets were sold per year in Britain between 1942 and 1946 than at any other time in history.
Now a film is on the way that wants to take a look at that time, as well as taking on gender issues, with Gemma Arteron as a young, untested screenwriter, charged with lifting the nation’s spirits.
Here’s the synopsis: ‘1940, London, the Blitz; with the country’s morale at stake, Catrin (Gemma Arterton), an untried screenwriter, and a makeshift cast and crew, work under fire to make a film to lift the nation’s flagging spirits; and inspire America to join the war. Partnered alongside fellow screenwriter, Buckley (Sam Claflin) and eccentric actor Ambrose Hilliard (Bill Nighy), the trio set off to make a film that will warm the hearts of the nation and capture the imagination of the American population.’
The movie is due out in April. [Read more…]
Raw has a synopsis that make it sound like it might be a giant advert for vegetarianism, as it’s a coming of age tale about a woman who gives up be a veggie and very soon ends up becoming a cannibal! Not it’s got a trailer for us to take a look at.
Cate Blanchett is already renowned as one of the most versatile actors around, winning herself two Oscar. Hell, she was even convincing as a unique version of Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes I’m Not There. Now she’s taking on 13 different roles in the Manifesto.
Awards Season is upon us! The Golden Globes were last Sunday, the BAFTA nomination were out on Monday, and the Oscars will be revealing their noms next week. Sandwiched inbetween is the nomination announcement for the most important awards of all, the Dorians, voted for by the Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (and I’m not just saying that because I’m a member). The list of this year’s nominees has now been announced!
CHIPS may be fondly remembered in the US, but it never had the same impact over here in the UK. However, Warner Bros. must feel there’s enough life in the franchise, as they’ve decided to take the 1970s Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox TV show, and turn it into a movie.
Avengers: Infinity War is gonna be a big movie, which promises to bring together all the major Marvel universe characters, not just the usual suspect such as Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Thor. There’ll also be Spider-man, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Ant Man and the Guardiand Of The Galaxy too.
Seeing how upset Fox News got at the suggestion you could have a black Santa Claus, they’re probably apoplectic that Disney is planning a movie about a female Santa. 
One of the many live-action adaptations of their animated classic that Disney has is the works is Dumbo, which Tim Burton is planning to direct. (And those who aren’t keen on these live-action versions have Burton to blame, as it was the success of his Alice In Wonderland that kicked it all off).
Madonna has never gotten too much respect as an actress (although she does have a Best Actress Golden Globe for Evita), but the two movies she’s directed showed she has potential behind the camera. Now she’s planning to follow 2008’s Filth And Wisdom, and 2011’s royal drama W.E., with The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells. She’s also been co-writing the script.
While the first part of Tony Kushner’s two-part, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Millennium Approaches, was first performed in San Francisco, it was the 1992 British National Theatre production which helped state the play’s claim to being something exceptional. It and it’s follow-up, Perestroika, went of to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, amongst other gongs.