Independent film in the big smoke and occasionally beyond
There’s not been a lot coming out of comic-con this year that’s pricked up my ears, other than the news of the Tron sequel clip screening. I was beginning to wonder whether anyone had bothered to take phones in, or had annoyingly strong morals due to the lack of clips popping up online, but thankfully they now seem to be popping up as quick as Mickey Mouse can whip them down. Continue reading ‘Tr2n dot com 2000′
Continuing its mission to uncover the most inventive and inspiring new music promos from across the globe, BUG returns with extraordinary clips previously unseen on the big screen, as well as a revealing interview with one of music video’s hottest talents. And of course, you can expect the usual brilliant insights from BUG host, Adam Buxton. An essential night out for aspiring film-makers and fans of music video alike - and Adam will also be taking BUG 08 on the road straight after the show: BUG makes its first appearance at the Big Chill Festival the following night.
BUG 08 | Thursday 31st August July 20:45pm | BFI Southbank |£tbc
Frank Sinatra Double Bill
High Society | Dir. Charles Walters | USA | 1956
A rich young woman preparing for her marriage runs into problems with her emotions and choice of groom.
Some Came Running | Dir.Vincente Minnelli | USA | 1958
Minnelli’s masterpiece, a witty and passionate indictment of hypocrisy and complacency in post-war, small-town America.
27th, 28th July 1:30, 6:15pm | Riverside Studios | £7.50 | Book Online
Join RUSHES Short Film Festival for a fantastic double bill of Aussie thrillers, Wolf Creek and Rogue + Q&A from Director Julian Argus, followed by an exclusive preview programme of films from this year’s Shorts Film Festival.
Rushes Australian Day
2pm | Wolf Creek | Dir. Greg Mclean | Australia | 2005
Three backpackers find themselves in deep water after their car breaks down in the outback in this nerve-shredding horror thriller.
4pm | Rogue | Dir. Greg Mclean | Australia | 2007
An American travel writer on a river cruise catches the eye of a huge hungry crocodile in this energetic action thriller.
7pm | Shorts Film Festival Australia 2008 Rushes Program
Some of the best in Australian short films… Selected on the basis of outstanding storytelling within 20 minutes or less, this year’s program comprises the best of the early entries to the 2008 Shorts Film Festival.
Sunday 27th August 2pm onwards | Roxy Bar & Screen | Free!
Curzon Midnight Movies
A sneak preview of the London International Animation Festival, coming to Curzon Cinemas in September. Screenings kick off with a specially selected short film followed by an amazing animated feature. Special guest host: Nag Vladermersky (LIAF director). As usual we will have a DJ in the pre-screening party from 9:30pm, and the chance for YOU to choose the tunes in our Plug ‘n’ Play set (bring your MP3 players!).
Paprika | Dir. Satoshi Kon | Japan | 2006
From the director of Perfect Blue comes this dazzling anime, following a beautiful psychiatrist plunging into people’s dreams in the search of a murderer. Dr. Atsuko Chiba is a genius scientist by day, and a kick-ass dream warrior named PAPRIKA by
night. In this psychedelic sci-fi adventure, it will take the skills of both women to save the world…
Fantastic Planet | Dir. René Laloux | France/ Czechoslovakia | 1973
Rene Laloux’s mesmerizing sci-fi classic based on the book Om en Serie by Stefan Wul is a landmark of European animation. La Planete Sauvage tells the tale of a race of humanoid creatures called Oms fighting for their freedom from the giant blue-skinned Traags who keep them as pets. A group of rebel Oms travel to a strange planet where they try to uncover the secret of the Traags’ existence. The film which won the Grand Prix Award at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival prefigures much of the work of Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli (Princess Mononoke Spirited Away) with its palpable political and social concerns cultivated imagination and memorable animation techniques.
29th August 11:40pm | Curzon Soho | £12/10 (£8/7 Members) On the door/ In Advance | Book Online
“Bracing for KAPOW! headlines tomorrow re. Batman, Batmum and Batsis” (Sizemore).
I don’t know whether to be disappointed or reaffirmed yesterdays complete lack of decent Batman/ Bale headlines (although I wasn’t able to catch The Sun). Instead the papers from what I’ve seen seem content as simply labelling Bale as Batman. Surely the tabloid’s inter office e-mails/ text messages must be fit to bursting with puns of unfulfilled potential. Continue reading ‘Where are all the Batman Puns?’
If its not Iron Man, the Hulk’s ‘not-any-better-not-a-sequel’, another Hellboy or the shiny new Watchmen trailer (which I agree with Graeme McMillan’s comments on i09 that is perhaps looking a little too shiny) then its people writing and talking about comics- like me. But then again I’m not so sure this Summer is all that different from those gone by in terms of the dearth of comic adapts.
Being a fair weather comic fan I’m slowly getting into the seasonal spirit and am glad to see the ICA and BFI joining in with all the hype and hoohar by bringing a retro and eclectic array of films to the mix. Continue reading ‘Comic-a-rama’
I spotted this lurking at the Tesco on Liverpool Street yesterday which I think is a relatively new addition. Sadly my short lunch break twinned with the lady faffing at the machine prevented me from investigating further. However I’ve scoured the net and found that its part of a trial DVD rental booth scheme between Tesco and Movie Booth. Continue reading ‘Tesco Movie Booths’
Great documentary that shows how dub influences much of the music we hear today, from electronic music to hip hop. Key names from reggae and electronica, including Lee Scratch Perry, Don Letts, Aba Shanti-I, Basement Jaxx, Bunny Lee, Dennis Bovell, David Katz, Mad Professor, Mutabaruka, Roots Manuva, Sly & Robbie and U-Roy, talk about the birth of dub, how it helped to change the way we perceive music and how its presence is still felt today.
Screening will be followed by a director Q&A.
Dub Echoes | Dir. Bruno Natal | UK | 2007
Sun 3rd August 4pm | ICA | £8 (£7/6 Concessions/ Members) |Book Online
The second Hellboy animated adventure. When Hellboy, Liz Sherman and Abe Sapien are assigned to investigate the ghost-infested mansion of a publicity-hound billionaire, they uncover a plot to resurrect a beautiful yet monstrous vampire from Professor Bruttenholm’s past.
Manga Matinee | Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron | Dir. Victor Cook, Tad Stones | USA | 2007
Sun 27th July 2:30pm | ICA | £8 (£7/6 Concessions/ members) | Book Online
