Flickreel
Gary Green
Freelance journalist.
England
England
By Gary Green Were you a fan of the comics beforehand? Charlie Cox may be the nicest man on the planet, but that hasn't stopped him from playing one of the most morally conflicted superheroes of recent times in Netflix's hit show Daredevil.
By Gary Green Were you a fan of the comics beforehand? Charlie Cox may be the nicest man on the planet, but that hasn't stopped him from playing one of the most morally conflicted superheroes of recent times in Netflix's hit show Daredevil.
White God represents a virtuoso blend of thriller and melodrama, peppered with a healthy dose of magic realism. For its creator, Kornél Mundruczó, it represents a change in direction; a daring excursion into exciting cinematic territory, influenced as much by La Haine as it is Homeward Bound.
By Gary Green Science-fiction movies have always belonged to one of two camps: the pulp-heavy actioner ( Aliens), or the cerebral cine-poem ( 2001: A Space Odyssey). Once every blue moon, there'll be a movie that belongs, in most respects, to both, and Monsters: Dark Continent is a prime example - but it's not without its flaws.
By Gary Green Jon Stewart has always attracted attention in both political and media spheres; his incisive and outspoken views have rattled the cages of some, and broken those of others wide open. Rosewater, his directorial debut, is his attempt to show us that he is also an important presence behind the camera as well as in front of it.
By Gary Green Clouds of Sils Mari a cheats, tricks, and blindsides its audience, but this is only a good thing in director Olivier Assayas' hands; his latest movie represents cinema in, many ways, its purest form. Juliette Binoche plays Maria, an ageing actor whose career is in flux.
By Gary Green Sex, sex, sex. That's what it all boils down to, even over a hundred years ago: Sigmund Freud gesticulated in Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality that it grips us from infancy, and never loosens its maddening hold.
Sex is at the forefront of everything in The Duke of Burgundy; while this hypnotic film's plot is driven by its characters, the characters are in turn driven by sex. Cynthia (Sidse Babett Knudsen) follows her lover Evelyn (Chiara D'Anna) through increasingly depraved journeys into domination and submission: Cynthia is a reluctant dominatrix, while Evelyn craves humiliation.
By Gary Green Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter begins as a horror film. A red-hooded figure stumbles innocently into a dank cave, dripping with darkness, and upon turning up a dirty rock, discovers a beat-up video tape.
By Gary Green Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter begins as a horror film. A red-hooded figure stumbles innocently into a dank cave, dripping with darkness, and upon turning up a dirty rock, discovers a beat-up video tape.
The depiction of gay relationships on-screen is in constant flux. As society grows, so does TV and cinema, and with it the number of extremely interesting, complex issues and engaging characters we're treated to - gay or straight.
The depiction of gay relationships on-screen is in constant flux. As society grows, so does TV and cinema, and with it the number of extremely interesting, complex issues and engaging characters we're treated to - gay or straight.
By Gary Green With the huge announcement that Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures have come to an agreement concerning Spider-Man - meaning that the character will appear in his own film and in the films of others - there was no mention that Andrew Garfield would be reprising his role as Peter Parker.
By Gary Green Love may be strange, but it's also many other things: frustrating, testing, beautiful. In this fine sixth feature from Ira Sachs, it's also a force of nature. Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) have been together for nearly 40 years, and as a couple, have lived in New York City for most of those.
By Gary Green Love may be strange, but it's also many other things: frustrating, testing, beautiful. In this fine sixth feature from Ira Sachs, it's also a force of nature. Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) have been together for nearly 40 years, and as a couple, have lived in New York City for most of those.
By Gary Green The main problem with The Interview isn't timing. Regardless of whether it was released without a drop of controversy, or indeed with the unfortunate case of it being cancelled by its studio, Sony, following apparent terror threats from North Korean hackers, The Interview was always going to be an absolute dud.
By Gary Green Anthony Lucas, Ashlee Page, Claire McCarthy, David Wenham, Ian Meadows, Jonathan auf der Heide, Jub Clerc, Justin Kurzel, Marieka Walsh, Mia Wasikowska, Rhys Graham, Robert Connolly, Shaun Gladwell, Simon Stone, Stephen Page, Tony Ayres, Warwick Thornton, Yaron Lifschitz 'Because I do not hope to turn again.
By Gary Green Anthony Lucas, Ashlee Page, Claire McCarthy, David Wenham, Ian Meadows, Jonathan auf der Heide, Jub Clerc, Justin Kurzel, Marieka Walsh, Mia Wasikowska, Rhys Graham, Robert Connolly, Shaun Gladwell, Simon Stone, Stephen Page, Tony Ayres, Warwick Thornton, Yaron Lifschitz 'Because I do not hope to turn again.
By Gary Green Anthony Lucas, Ashlee Page, Claire McCarthy, David Wenham, Ian Meadows, Jonathan auf der Heide, Jub Clerc, Justin Kurzel, Marieka Walsh, Mia Wasikowska, Rhys Graham, Robert Connolly, Shaun Gladwell, Simon Stone, Stephen Page, Tony Ayres, Warwick Thornton, Yaron Lifschitz 'Because I do not hope to turn again.
By Gary Green The weight of history is a heavy burden. Every time fiction attempts to tackle it, a battle between verisimilitude and narrative is fought; there can be only one victor, and each has its casualties.
By Gary Green The weight of history is a heavy burden. Every time fiction attempts to tackle it, a battle between verisimilitude and narrative is fought; there can be only one victor, and each has its casualties.
1982: Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a huge hit for Universal and Amblin. The cute waddling alien causes a phenomena, which of course means merchandising on a near-cosmic scale, which inevitably leads to a video game adaptation.
Kingsman: The Secret Service is one of those films which you enjoy immensely, but fail entirely to pigeonhole. Sure, it can be classed as a spy movie, but does it take the mick out of that genre a little too much to be considered truly canon?
I'm a freelance film critic, writing for HeyUGuys, Time Out Abu Dhabi and The Quietus. Follow me on Twitter: @garygreenscreen Check out my previous work: www.clippings.me/garygreen
By Gary Green The British film industry has always been an exciting front for electrifying cinema, and 2015 looks like it'll be no different. Here are the five British films we're looking forward to most this year.
By Gary Green In the seconds after you witness Colin Firth destroy a church full of gun-wielding maniacs in a gleefully violent five-minute bloodbath, the first thing you'll do when you catch your breath will be to proclaim Kingsman: The Secret Service as the most fun film that could possibly be released this year.
A Most Violent Year is that most rare of things; a gangster flick that rejects crime, and flinches at the sight of blood. But just like Al Pacino's Michael Coreleone in The Godfather, Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) is a man who seems to embrace family above all else.
Welcome to Flickreel, an online film publication which aims to satisfy all of your movie-related needs whilst providing you with a truly pleasurable experience. This service is still evolving, so you may encounter the occasional issue.
By Gary Green Flying past rumbling train tracks, over gliding freeways and underneath an overcast New York City sky, Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' sets the tone for A Most Violent Year 's opening moments perfectly.
By Gary Green Flying past rumbling train tracks, over gliding freeways and underneath an overcast New York City sky, Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' sets the tone for A Most Violent Year 's opening moments perfectly.
The Flickering Myth Podcast gets followed... On today's episode, Flickering Myth deputy editor Luke Owen is joined by special guest Gary Green to give their initial reactions and thoughts to horror movie It Follows. For 19-year-old Jay (Maika Monroe), the fall should be about school, boys and weekends at the lake.
Right up until 2020, DC has announced a slew of superhero movies to rival Marvel Studios' own output, and soon after, Marvel released their own extensive slate, itself running to 2019. We here at Flickreel are going to be taking a brief look at all of these planned films; what they may be about; what names are attached; and if we think they have potential...
Who'd have thunk it? Three smash hit TV series and two record-breaking films later, things are winding up for the cast of The Inbetweeners 2.
Since be broke out with the classic documentary Hoop Dreams in 1994, Steve James has gradually become one of the best documentary filmmakers in the world. Typically covering issues of race and sports in his movies, he's most recently turned his eye to one of the world's most beloved film critics, Roger Ebert, who tragically passed away last year.
What We Do in the Shadows, out this week, is what would be classed as a mockumentary. The movie is a collection of oddball personalities and laugh-out-loud humour; two staples of the mockumentary itself.
Since be broke out with the classic documentary Hoop Dreams in 1994, Steve James has gradually become one of the best documentary filmmakers in the world. Typically covering issues of race and sports in his movies, he's most recently turned his eye to one of the world's most beloved film critics, Roger Ebert, who tragically passed away last year.
Since be broke out with the classic documentary Hoop Dreams in 1994, Steve James has gradually become one of the best documentary filmmakers in the world. Typically covering issues of race and sports in his movies, he's most recently turned his eye to one of the world's most beloved film critics, Roger Ebert, who tragically passed away last year.
"The idea for What We Do in the Shadows had been in Jemaine Clement's and Taika Waititi's heads since at least 2006, before Twilight came round and inadvertently sent up the entire vampire myth.
It's difficult to grasp how movies would be different if Roger Ebert were not there to talk about them. Unfortunately for us, we've already been living in that world since April last year, when the famous film critic succumbed - reluctantly - to a battle fought long and hard with cancer.
This comes as no surprise; after the massive script leak of The Hateful Eight earlier this year, Quentin Tarantino's new Western, the director initially called off the entire project. But thanks to some serious script revisions, the movie is going ahead - and with the cast largely announced (which includes Samuel L.
Tight spaces - with Fury takes a group of volatile characters and drops them in the same small space - a Sherman tank. What other movies make the best of a single setting?.
Boob-twerker extraordinaire Sara X Mills - the lovely lady who showed off her musical assets to Mozart - is back with another hot video. Proving that her talents aren't limited to her upper body, the busty model spins round and shows us that she's an expert in the field of original twerking, too.
Be the first to comment 21 October 2014 From A to B Dir. Ali Mustafa, Arabic, English The opening night film is set to be a real puller of the heartstrings. Four children grow up together in Abu Dhabi, forging a friendship built to last.
Welcome to one of the most exciting movie events in the world - the Abu Dhabi Film Festival. But with the huge number of movies playing, what should you go and see?
5 to see: All-star casts - with We witness two acting giants go head-to-head in The Judge. In homage, TOAD takes a look at the greatest movie casts ever assembled..
This girl was probably having a nice time at the beach, but she may not have planned on going topless - until the moment this pesky pooch gets another idea.
Our featured video of Sara X twerking her boobs to Mozart has picked up plenty of fans - but it seems she may have made a (sexy) new enemy in the process. All round good sport, model Bianca Ghez - also blessed in the bikini department - posted a challenge video, with the message, 'Hey Mozart chick, you're doing it wrong'.
Thirty years sounds like a long time. Still The Enemy Within makes that generational gap all but dissolve, using stirring archival footage and revealing interviews with the miners of the 1984 strike.
Our featured video of Sara X twerking her boobs to Mozart has picked up plenty of fans - but it seems she may have made a (sexy) new enemy in the process. All round good sport, model Bianca Ghez - also blessed in the bikini department - posted a challenge video, with the message, 'Hey Mozart chick, you're doing it wrong'.
Real, fake - we enjoy them all the same at Zoo. But a new video has just appeared online that educates us in the difference. It's the most fun lesson we've ever had. Glamour model Jessi June recently posted a video online, set to answer the burning question about her assets: are they real or fake?
You queue for ages at the busy bar. You have to shout so your order can be heard. Then on trying to escape the crowd, you end up spilling your bevvy anyway. You feel pissed, but the other kind. Well all this may all be about to change...
Ah, Mozart. One of our favourite classical composers - refined, sophisticated, and cultured. We promise our love for his music has absolutely nothing to do with this video. Who are we kidding? Busty model Sara X is clearly a fan, too, making her boobs dance along to Mozzy's 'Eine Kleine'.
5 to see: Films with a twist - with Gone Girl, in cinemas now, has a much talked-about twist ending. But does it rival the shock, revelation and craziness of these ones?.
5 to see: Films with a twist - with Gone Girl, in cinemas now, has a much talked-about twist ending. But does it rival the shock, revelation and craziness of these ones?.
The many faces of Dracula - .
The many faces of Dracula - .
If you tried sticking your hand through Maps to the Stars' glossy surface, it would disappear into a thick, black ooze.
The Last Impresario, the new documentary from first-time feature maker Gracie Otto, begins with a casual stroll around the promenade during the Cannes film festival. All of a sudden, actors, directors and other stars of varying backgrounds and talents gather round one man; a sunglasses-wearing old chap.
5 to see: Revenge films - with With The Equaliser out in cinemas, the thirst for revenge is making a comeback. We take a look at the most satisfying revenge flicks ever. .
Welcome to Flickreel, an online film publication which aims to satisfy all of your movie-related needs whilst providing you with a truly pleasurable experience. This service is still evolving, so you may encounter the occasional issue.
Bond villain. Renaissance radical. Igor Stravinsky. Dr. Hannibal Lecter. What do they all have in common? They've all been played by the Danish crossover star Mads Mikkelsen, and his latest star-making turn has been as the cunning, ruthless and megalomaniacal psychologist Hannibal, who helps solve psychopathic crimes - while hiding a dark secret himself.
Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard are the creative minds behind the excellent documentary 20,000 Days on Earth, chronicling a staged day in the life of fabled musician Nick Cave. Blending fact with fiction, the pair have crafted an endlessly exciting exploration of its compelling subject, drawing on both Cave's mythos and humanity.
Elijah Wood has had a strange career. Ever since playing Frodo in The Lord of the Rings movies, the actor has seemingly chosen his projects because they were, above pay or publicity, interesting.
20,000 Days on Earth is a film concerning places. Geographical ones, figurative ones, emotional states, frames of mind - you name it, it's explored in this fine, formally inventive documentary about husky art figure Nick Cave.
CGI celluloid leaps - with A Dame to Kill For takes computer-generated effects to another level. We take a look at the biggest leaps CGI has taken in the movies. .
Kelly Reichardt first came to people's attentions a few years ago, after the director gave the Western an unexpected jolt with 2010's Meek's Cutoff. Not that she was new to the game, having released small-time indie faves Old Joy and Wendy And Lucy, but it was the start of real consideration for a formidable talent.
5 to see: Unrecognisable stars - with Foxcatcher, out this weekend, stars an almost unrecognisable Steve Carell. Which other actors have made us look twice with their crazy transformations?.
As the spindly figure of Cesare ambles along with a damsel in distress slung over his shoulder, hunted by the law on a pathway that defies all architectural sense, a few things are being born into the popular cinema vernacular.
Be the first to comment 26 August 2014 A Bug's Life (1998) When Flik, an accident-prone ant, ruins his colony's annual offering of food to the evil, greedy grasshoppers, he vows to hit the road and bring back a group of 'warrior bugs' to get rid of the grasshoppers once and for all - and save his species.
Steven Quale's first movie was Final Destination 5. Hailed as a slight return to form for a franchise bogged down by the sequel dogma of most protracted horror franchises, perhaps this spelled good things for Quale, maybe by upping the spectacle, action, and tension of a disaster flick?
The Flickering Myth Podcast goes INTO THE STORM... Recorded outside the Empire in London's Leicester Square, Flickering Myth Deputy Editor Luke Owen, staff writer Scott Davis and Gary Green from HeyUGuys sit down to talk about Into the Storm, which is out in cinemas today.
Memorable movie soundtracks - with Begin Again, out this weekend, is filled to bursting with great songs. We take a look at some of the best film soundtracks..
Ever since Jurassic Park exploded into the imaginations of kids everywhere in '93, there hasn't been another film since that has sparked the same interest in our large, scaley (or feathery) friends, the dinosaurs. Not even Spielberg himself with JP's sequel, The Lost World, could match the same fervent love for Raptors and Tyrannosaurs that the original inspired.
Weird movie team-ups - with With Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel takes to the stars to bring us the weirdest team ever assembled. TOAD takes a look at cinema's other unlikely groups..
Waking up on Monday to garbled - and, it turns out, less than accurate - reports that Japanese animation powerhouse Studio Ghibli was going to be closing its doors after 30 years in business was a strangely unsettling experience, coming as it did so closely after the announcement from its leading director Hayao Miyazaki that 2013's serene The Wind Rises would be his last film.
You know the hair. The glasses. The voice. The sheer talent. Richard Ayoade spoke to HeyUGuys about The Double, which is out now on DVD and Blu Ray. Other subjects included The IT Crowd, a new book, Ingmar Bergman, and trying not to bore audiences.
We've all been there before, in some way or other. Okay, maybe without the human faeces in our face, and without driving around in a car with Peter Andre's face scrawled on the side, but the ordeals in The Inbetweeners 2 - and its wildly popular predecessors, the first movie and the three TV series - are ones that chime with our own.
We've all been there before, in some way or other. Okay, maybe without the human faeces in our face, and without driving around in a car with Peter Andre's face scrawled on the side, but the ordeals in The Inbetweeners 2 - and its wildly popular predecessors, the first movie and the three TV series - are ones that chime with our own.
Be the first to comment 4 August 2014 Boyhood, released this weekend, took 12 years to make. In homage to the massive feat, TOAD takes a look at the toughest, longest, and most head-scratchingly difficult movie shoots ever.
With Starred Up, David Mackenzie has crafted an instant classic not just of the prison sub-genre, but one of the best dramas of the year so far.
Before he sunk a studio with Heaven's Gate, Michael Cimino made The Deer Hunter. Released just three years after the horrific reality of the Vietnam War came to an end, and one year before Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now quickly took it into the realm of metaphors and nightmares, Cimino's sweeping character study occupied the uneasy segue between war and 'post'-war.
Well that's an auspicious start date for a regular column, eh? Welcome to 'Flickers', The Quietus's new film round up, in which a crack team of mavens from the site's cinema section will trawl the multiplexes, re-read the release lists and pointlessly attempt to swim upstream against the streaming sites in search of any interesting cinematic events.
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return is the eighteenth film set in Oz. Or the seventeenth, if you discount 1978's The Wiz, which doesn't exactly take place there, but rather in a fantastical Oz-fitted New York City. Or maybe Dorothy's Return is actually the nineteenth, if you count the 1921 silent film adaptation which never actually made it to movie screens.
With the grand tradition of road movies, characters are obligingly swept away on a journey that will show them new things, throw a bunch of conflict their way, and they will - as a result - grow and change for the better.
Beyond The Edge is a tale of insurmountable odds. As a documentary recounting the 1953 expedition to the tip of Mount Everest, which saw Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Tenzing Norgay become the first to reach its summit, it takes quotes collected from the years since the journey and blends them with dramatic reconstructions of key points in their story.
The hectic I Declare War is out this weekend, brimming with bloody violence and memorable characters. One of the standouts is upcoming actress Mackenzie Munro, who's previously starred in The Borgias and The Story of Luke, as 'alpha female' Jessica.
There aren't many filmmakers that have the patience of Richard Linklater. But patience is only part of what makes his films so magical; Linklater's main strength is his extraordinary vision.
The best movie partnerships on film - with 22 Jump Street is set to have cinemas roaring with laughter at Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum's unlikely duo. We take a look at some of the greatest friendships.
It may have been twenty years since we saw the last great comedy sequel. 1993 saw the release of Wayne's World 2; before that there was 1989's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
Top film role models - with Draft Day sees Kevin Costner take on the role of an NFL general manager. What other teachers, leaders and mentors in film should we be listening to?.
Omar is a movie that toes the line between different genres and different directions in narrative. Nothing is as it seems; the same can be said of its director, Hany Abu-Assad, who strikes a modest figure but is a veritable fountain of knowledge on all things cinema.
Both Nick Nevern and Jason Maza have been making their faces known through British television and film - including both having done the obligatory acting rite of passage of appearing on The Bill - with a blend of dark humour and a passion for all things football, and most things hooligan.
Snowpiercer (2014) Earlier this year, Snowpiercer wowed the UAE with its high-octane thrills and brainy plot. But while it stars Chris Evans, none other than the do-gooder Captain America himself, its bleak vision of the future couldn't be further from the bright colours of his Avenger alterego.
Best (and worst) movie robots - with Transformers: Age of Extinction has finally landed. We take a look at the friendliest - and not so friendly - robots to grace the big screen..
Cinemas comeback kings - with Liam Neeson, star of the romantic thriller Third Person, is one of many actors enjoying a career resurgence. We take a look at the best of the rest..
Nicolas Cage's best movies - with The intense thriller Joe is about to hit the cinemas - could this reboot Nicolas Cage's illustrious career? We take a look at the actor's finest.
© ITP Images With the release of Jersey Boys, the true tale of legendary band The Four Seasons, we take a look at the films starring actors who have made their mark as some of music's biggest stars.
Best animated sequels - with There are high expectations for How to Train Your Dragon 2, which continues the story of Hiccup and his firebreathing friend. We look at the animated sequels.
Hollywood movies shot in the UAE - with Following the announcement that the upcoming Star Wars film has been shot in Abu Dhabi, we take a look at the films that feature the golden sands of the.
All great debut features come from a place of true inspiration. For Diego Quemada-Diez, those places are dotted all over; with his knockout first film, The Golden Dream, which follows the lives of a group of teenagers as they embark on a mission from Guatemala to the U.S., the elements of his work can be traced back to the director's influences (of which there are many) while also standing entirely on their own.
Returning heroes - with When X-Men: Days of Future Past is released this weekend, it'll be Hugh Jackman's seventh appearance as the superhero Wolverine. We look at other characters.
A legacy, by its own design, can only begin when something special comes to an end. It's this same romantic ideal that has seen Hayao Miyazaki direct nine features for Studio Ghibli over twenty-eight years, and the same one that has led him to actively end his role as the Japanese animation giant's creative eyes, ears and hands.
A new Alex Gibney film is always something to be excited about. Whether it was the piercing insight into national security with We Sell Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks, or casting a refreshingly transparent eye on sport icon Lance Armstrong in The Armstrong Lie, Gibney has forged an extraordinarily impressive back catalogue not just in terms of quality, but of proliferation.
Jeff Wexler, Chief of International Division at Studio Ghibli, oversees the process that takes each Ghibli picture - including their most recent, The Wind Rises - overseas and accessible to foreign audiences. Speaking to us direct from Japan, Jeff talks about sticking to the director's original vision, casting stars like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and how the studio's newest effort sits with classics like Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro.
The quality of the documentaries at Sundance London this year has been delightfully high, comprised of fresh directors breaking out boldly (Dinosaur 13) and old masters continuing to prove their mettle (Finding Fela!). While The Case Against 8 doesn't quite fall into either camp, it still holds the power to move you to tears.
Innovative filmmaker Crispin Glover is soon set to tour a series of cinemas across the UK, showing his films such as It Is Fine! Everything is Fine., and What Is It?, along with slideshows, Q&As and book signings. Ahead of his arrival, we asked him three questions - and here are his fascinating, unedited answers below.
Ryan Reynolds is the poster boy for film fan rage everywhere. For inexplicable reasons, he's suffers much insult for his choices, whether he ends up in good movies or bad; he's appeared as the scene-stealing Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity, a gawky superhero in Green Lantern, and was even brave enough to let himself be buried alive in Buried, and has continued to receive unfounded negativity - even though he oozes a particular charm and self-knowing wit in almost every performance.
Criss-crossing ensemble pieces are a small but distinct flavour of this year's Sundance London; along with Little Accidents and Hits, Drunktown's Finest joins them with a slant for interlacing storytelling within a certain location. This time around, we take a visit to a place rich in Indio-American culture with Drunktown's Finest, a low-budget picture with bigger things on its mind.
Warning: This article contains spoilers. Many movies are the sum of their characters. But what if you only have the one? And what if you go even further, like Tom Hardy in Steven Knight's new film Locke, and confine them to a single space?
Sam Claflin, fresh off the success of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, is starring as the lead in a brand new flick from Hammer Horror, The Quiet Ones. He spoke to HeyUGuys about his career so far, how it was to be behind the camera for a change, and how much it takes to scare him...
With his debut feature Honour - starring Paddy Considine and Aiysha Hart - out now in cinemas across Britain, we had the distinct pleasure of discussing the project with the film's writer and director, Shan Khan.
Starred Up, an unconventional father-son story set in prison, represents a number of things for British cinema. Firstly, it's emblematic of how strong UK-set and UK-made productions have been recently; in the past year alone, we've had The Selfish Giant, For Those in Peril, and A Field in England among others, all proving that the country is in very healthy cinematic shape indeed.
There's been a small trend as of late; the landscape of small, independent cinema has taken to a particular geographical one, chiefly South East Asia. A handful of the most critically acclaimed films of the past few years - 2011's The Raid, last year's Mister John, and BIFA-scooping Metro Manila, and now this weekend's The Rocket - are all set in the beautiful region, including the rapidly approaching The Raid 2: Berandal.
This weekend sees the release of Escape from Planet Earth , a family film that follows a hapless alien who's trapped on the dangerous Planet Earth, and his attempt to escape a horrible fate at the hands of the humans.
Last year, Metro Manila won the big awards at the British Independent Film Awards - Best Picture, Best Director and Best Achievement in Production. Before its huge sweep that night, it garnered wide critical acclaim (we gave it five out of five stars ourselves), and praise for the British filmmaker Sean Ellis.
With twenty-five years of filmmaking under her belt, French auteur Claire Denis is still at it. Her latest movie is Bastards, a stark look under the bonnet of the upper class, revealing dark possibilities and even bleaker realities.
The hair. The hat. The shades. You all know him, but mainly for massive guitar solos and trailblazing the rock n' roll lifestyle. But ex-Guns N' Roses axeman Slash has now made his foray into film producing, with Nothing Left to Fear out now on DVD, Blu Ray and VOD ( click here to purchase your copy).
Stories, however they're told, take us on a journey. They can be full of struggle, hardship, and general nasty bits, but once you're in, you're in for good. For Those in Peril, the highly accomplished debut from newcomer Paul Wright, arguably boasts two of them; the main narrative itself, and the child's fable that acts as a metaphorical parallel.
The celebrated Scottish director Kevin Macdonald is known for his magisterially mounted, adult-inclined works of fiction that are shaded in politics and personal hardships. His movies have leaned toward Oscar glory (Forest Whitaker won Best Actor for his terrifying turn in The Last King of Scotland), while other films have displayed his particular talent for singling out narrative greatness in true-life stories (Marley most recently, and Life in a Day and Touching The Void before it).
We took to Abu Dhabi’s streets to discover the best cheese boards and selections the city has to offer.
Bearded Magazine
The history of Spider-Man on screen - with Ahead of the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, we take a look at the web-slinging superhero's screen appearances, which span almost five decades. .
Marc Singer's groundbreaking documentary Dark Days is available on DVD and download from February 3rd. It shines a light on a largely forgotten sect of homeless people living in the railway tunnels of New York City in the nineties; living away from harshness of the street, the 'Tunnel People' of NYC built their own rudimentary houses and even had electricity, creating a community with its own personality (and fair share of troubles).
Time Out Abu Dhabi
Sam McTrusty talks to Gary Green about Twin Atlantic...
It’s time to bring the decade that made Molly Ringwald and Rob Lowe stars back into fashion.
Gaining just a limited big screen release in Britain, Sebastian Silva's unique drama Crystal Fairy is now out and available to own on DVD - and to mark the occasion, we spoke to the eponymous character herself, Gaby Hoffmann.
The Quietus was recently lucky enough to have Gary Green in attendance at two roundtable interviews alongside Drowned in Sound , Bring The Noise and Hey U Guys with pivotal players in the latest Coen brothers film Inside LLewyn Davis, star Oscar Isaac and musical director T-Bone Burnett.
Gary Green joins Jordan from The Xcerts at their free show at The Haunt, Brighton. They talk about supporting Manchester Orchestra, the death of the single, and Wagner.
In Marc Singer's award-winning documentary, it's not just the film that's black and white. In New York City near the turn of the millennium, for a small amount of people life is very much one or the other; it's eat or starve, live or die.
Samsara is cinema distilled; every crystalline 70mm image evokes an intense private wonder, touching that part deep inside that wants to make a change in this evidently beautiful world.
Gary Green takes a look at Call Me Kuchu, a film documenting the struggles of LGBT rights activist David Kato in Uganda
5 to see: Love/Hate movies - with Only God Forgives makes it UAE debut across cinemas this week - but it's been one of the most opinion-dividing films of recent years. We reveal some.
Painting and filmmaking have a lot in common; although one is inherently static and the other is all about movement, the craft behind each always concerns bringing its subjects to life. Tim's Vermeer just happens to be a film about a painting; Tim Jenison is an inventor, responsible for big software companies and video effects productions.
There’s nothing like middle-aged men playing punk music – but then, there’s nothing like Mission of Burma.
Gary Green watches Ang Lee's blockbuster Yann Martel adaptation, which opens in UK cinemas on Thursday December 20
The scariest screen monsters - with Residents of Abu Dhabi, beware: Godzilla is stomping his way back into cinemas this weekend.Could these giant movie monsters of days gone by take him on?.
The Grand Budapest Hotel, opening across the UAE this weekend and filled with murder and intrigue, continues that great cinematic tradition; staying in hotels sometimes isn’t great. Words Gary Green
The Film Pilgrim
Party stoppers - with Starring Zac Efron and Seth Rogen, Neighbors looks set to bring the party to your nearest cinema. We reveal the silver screen's shindigs and soirees.
Not OK, Computer - with The upcoming Transcendence stars Johnny Depp as a scientist-turned-sinister cyborg. We decode some of cinema's most memorable computer programmes with.
FilmOnTrial
Jazz / electronica adepts Portico Quartet are back with their third, self-titled album.
Be the first to comment 18 February 2014 5. Hotel Oldboy Staying at Hotel Oldboy might not be the worst thing ever; Joe (Josh Brolin) is a money-hungry yuppie working his sleazy way to the top of the fiscal food chain in last year's remake of the 2003 Korean classic, who's ready to let others take the fall in order to make his buck.
It's the eleventh of February in Cairo, Egypt, 2011, and something's in the air. Countless thousands have gathered for days to protest against the nefarious regime of President Mubarak in Tahrir Square, a nondescript public space transformed into a bustling hub of revolution.
Self-assured, electronica-tinged indie with lots of bite.
Gary Green casts an eye over Sacha Gervasi's biopic of the great director
Five memorable movie heroines - with New sci-fi film Divergent fills the mould set by The Hunger Games with its strong, intelligent female lead. We reveal the best heroine roles the silver.
Five '80s movies ripe for a remake - with RoboCop blasts its way into UAE cinemas this weekend, with some cinemagoers arguing that the remake of the 1987 classic is completely unnecessary; others.
Freelance copywriting and proofreading
Famous movie doppelgängers - with Out soon, Enemy sees Jake Gyllenhaal starring as a man on the hunt for his doppelgänger. TOAD revisits some of the most memorable doubles in cinematic.
If the bare walls of your office are getting you down, there's now a fresh solution to this very particular problem. VividLab, a new local company, is looking to brighten up the workplace and lift moods with its selection of motto-driven motivational posters.
Now that the hot summer sun has finally retreated, Murjan Splash Park is one of the top go-to destinations for enjoying the outdoors with your family in the city.
Biggest movie battle scenes ever - with 300: Rise of an Empire will be fighting its way into cinemas this weekend - but will the sequel boast skirmishes worthy of cinema's epic proportions?.
Transform your working place with our motivational posters. Bring some colours into your work place. Inspire your team!
As Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake do battle with money and wits in modern thriller Runner Runner, we get in on the act too and uncover five unmissable heist movies.
The National Symphony Orchestra has just kicked off its new season, and there’ll be something for everyone in its forthcoming concerts. TOAD went to investigate the city’s classical roots.
Gary Green regrets the addition of the latest instalment to the action franchise
Are those the hairs rising on the back of your neck? It must be because Halloween in the capital is just around the corner. Here are the best places to go on the most spine-tingling night of the year.
5 to try: Road movies - with The road movie is a cinema staple, and Tracks - out this weekend - follows that much-loved format. To celebrate its release, we take a trip down memory.
The film successfully pokes holes in America’s backwards school food programme and ‘food deserts’, illustrating the need for a first-world country to have an equally first-world eating situation.
Be the first to comment 28 January 2014 Her (2014) In this day and age, we're all getting increasingly more connected with the technology around us; whether it be our phones, tablets, or laptops, we're able to connect with one another more than ever before.
In essence, the terrifying existential cracks that show up in the protagonist’s work bleed into Strickland’s own.
illy Brown is even but uneventful, and gripping enough to make you care.
As Her infiltrates the hearts and minds of cinemagoers this weekend, we take a look back at some of the most peculiar, weird and downright odd relationships that have made it onto film. Words Gary Green
Essentially an alternative coming-of-age tale, LUV is occasionally powerful, occasionally incomprehensible, but consistently compelling. As Dennis Haysbert’s character declares, ‘America ain’t a country. It’s a company.’
The Abu Dhabi Film Festival is here, but how will you know what to go and watch from the dozens of great movies on offer? We’ve combed through the best films, documentaries and shorts from the collection to bring you the ultimate guide for getting the best from the festival.
The Guestlist Network
With Balog as a figure of implacable conviction, the greatest gift Chasing Ice can give is perspective.
Gary Green checks out the deluxe de-stress massage at Le Méridien’s Eden Spa.
Gary Green revisits two underrated animation classics from Studio Ghibli, available now on Blu-ray for the first time
5 best train movies - with Snowpiercer, out this weekend and starring Chris Evans and Tilda Swindon, is set entirely on a train. We got thinking why they make such good settings.
Just outside Abu Dhabi, there’s a whole other world that’s closer than you think. Al Ain is home to some of the most unique outdoor and sporting activities in the UAE.
5 great supervillains - with Captain America: The Winter Soldier features a mysterious new foe for the comic-book superhero to face. But will he leave as much of an impression as these.
The Inside Llewyn Davis star reveals what makes his unlikely folk hero tick. Words Gary Green
Halloween is upon us, and that usually means scaring yourself silly with a horror movie or two. We can help you choose by taking a trip through some of the most influential scary films of all time.
5 to see: Crazy movie stunts - with Need for Speed has been lauded for its use of real stunts over computer-generated ones, so TOAD takes a look at some of the craziest stunts caught on a.
Snowpiercer, out this weekend and starring Chris Evans and Tilda Swindon, is set entirely on a train. We got thinking why they make such good settings for movies: Here are five that do it best.
Page 46 Issue 39
The Quietus
Ultimately, Nobody Walks tries your patience without ever rewarding it.