TOP WACHOWSKI FILMS

The sibling directorial pairing of Lana and Andy Wachowski teamed up with Tom Tykwer to create the powerful and inspiring epic Cloud Atlas, based on the best-selling novel by David Mitchell. To celebrate the film’s release on 22 February we are going to take a look at the Wachowski’s best work to date, including The Matrix and V for Vendetta.

THE MATRIX

In 1999 the Wachowski’s brought us the ground-breaking and genre-defining Sci-fi film, The Matrix, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving. The film blew audiences away with its ground-breaking introduction of a visual effect now known as ‘bullet time’, which allows a shot to progress in slow-motion while the camera appears to move through the scene at normal speed. The Wachowski’s both wrote and directed this visual masterpiece which grossed over $450 million at the worldwide box-office. The film spawned two sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, bringing in a whopping $1.6 billion total box-office for the franchise.

THE MATRIX RELOADED

The Wachowski’s returned in May 2003 to bring audiences The Matrix Reloaded, the second instalment in The Matrix trilogy. In the second film Neo and the rebel leaders learn that they have only 72 hours before Zion is destroyed by 250,000 sentinel machines. Neo must try to save Zion while also saving Trinity from the dark fate which plagues his dreams. This second instalment in the franchise grossed a box-office of over $740 million worldwide.

THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS

The Matrix trilogy ended in November 2003 with the release of The Matrix Revolutions. The final film in the trilogy follows Neo as he fights to end the war between the machines and humans. Neo must finally defeat the rogue Agent Smith while the human city of Zion defends itself against invasion by the machines. The Matrix Revolutions made over $425 million at the box-office worldwide and provided audiences with an explosive ending to the franchise, packed with ground-breaking CGI and an epic one-on-one battle between Neo and Agent Smith.

V FOR VENDETTA

The Wachowski’s wrote the 2006 thriller V for Vendetta, based on the comic book of the same name by Alan Moore and David Lloyd and starring Hugo Weaving, John Hurt and Natalie Portman and was directed by James McTeigue. The film followed a shadowy freedom-fighter known only as ‘V’ who uses terrorist tactics to bring down the totalitarian society in which he lives. Caught in between the government and ‘V’ is Evey (Portman), who must decide whose side she is on before the explosive finale.

CLOUD ATLAS

The Wachowski’s latest release is the epic Cloud Atlas, based on the best-selling novel by David Mitchell and stars an award-winning cast including: Tom Hanks, Jim Broadbent, Ben Wishaw, Jim Sturgess, Hugh Grant, David Gyasi and Susan Surrandon. This powerful film is full of drama, mystery, action and enduring love, thread through a single story that unfolds in multiple timelines over the span of 500 years. Characters meet and reunite from one life to the next. As the consequences of their actions and choices impact one another through the past, the present and the distant future, one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.

Cloud Atlas is in cinemas this Friday February 22, 2012.

SHAWSHANK REDEEMED

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION VOTED NATION’S FAVOURITE BEST PICTURE OSCAR® SNUB IN SKY MOVIES HD POLL

Director Frank Darabont's uplifting 1994 prison drama The Shawshank Redemption starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman has been named the best Oscar nominee to miss out on the prestigious Best Picture award according to new research carried out to launch the dedicated Sky Movies Oscars® / HD channel.

Sky Movies HD asked over 1,000 film fans across the UK & Ireland to vote on the 'Best Picture' Academy Award nominees that never won the Oscar to mark the launch of the channel, which will show Oscar winners 24 hours a day from Monday 11th February through to the channel's exclusive live UK broadcast of the 85th Academy Awards® on Sunday 24th February.

The Shawshank Redemption beat the same director's 1999 adaptation of The Green Mile starring Oscar favourite Tom Hanks, pulling in 13.1% compared with the second place 10.6%. Both dramas were adapted from original material from author Stephen King.

Despite being the biggest grossing film of all time, James Cameron's 2009 3D science fiction film Avatar failed to take away the 'Best Picture' award on the night. The film was however named in third place with voters with 6.5%, followed by Steven Spielberg's 1998 acclaimed graphic World War II drama Saving Private Ryan, fourth with 5.4%.

Spielberg's globally loved 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was voted in fifth position (4.9%), edging ahead of George Lucas' original 1977 game-changer Star Wars (sixth place with 4.5%), which would go on to begin the phenomenal franchise of sequels and prequels.

The 1964 London based Disney classic Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke was highly commended by the UK public who voted the film in seventh place in the list (3.7%).

The remainder of the top ten list of ‘Best Picture’ Oscar Snubs tied in eighth place were Brit director David Lean's 1965 epic romance Doctor Zhivago, Quentin Tarantino's 1994 cult mobster film Pulp Fiction and Robert Mulligan’s classic 1962 adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird, all bringing in 2.9% of the votes.

The Best 'Best Picture' Oscar Snub, as voted by the UK & Irish public for Sky Movies HD are:

1. The Shawshank Redemption (lost out to Forrest Gump in 1995) – 13.1%
2. The Green Mile (lost out to American Beauty in 2000) – 10.6%
3. Avatar (lost out to The Hurt Locker in 2010) – 6.5%
4. Saving Private Ryan (lost out to Shakespeare in Love in 1999) – 5.4%
5. E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (lost out to Gandhi in 1983) – 4.9%
6. Star Wars (lost out to Annie Hall in 1978) – 4.5%
7. Mary Poppins (lost out to My Fair Lady in 1965) – 3.7%
8. = Doctor Zhivago (lost out to The Sound of Music in 1966) – 2.9%
= Pulp Fiction (lost out to Forrest Gump in 1995) – 2.9%
= To Kill a Mockingbird (lost out to Lawrence of Arabia in 1963) – 2.9%

Director of Sky Movies Ian Lewis said, “Arguably the most prestigious accolade in the film industry, competition is fierce when it comes to the Academy Award® for Best Picture and as we’ve found even some of the nation’s best-loved movies of all time were pipped to the post in this category.

This year’s Oscars® promises yet another close race in this category and once again Sky Movies is thrilled to be bringing the ceremony exclusively to its customers live on the night. We’re also very excited that our customers can enjoy a fantastic selection of the Academy®’s most decorated movies all in one place in the lead up to the big night itself on Sky Movies Oscars® / HD, On Demand and on the move with Sky Go and Sky Go Extra.”

The Sky Movies Oscars®/HD channel line-up boasts 10 of last year’s 12 Oscar-winning feature films - including the 5-time Oscar-winning silent film sensation The Artist – as well as a vast array of previous winners including Forrest Gump, Girl, Interrupted, Philadelphia, Kramer vs. Kramer, Pulp Fiction, Boys Don’t Cry and The King’s Speech. The season will also be available On Demand and on the move with Sky Go and with the recently launched Sky Go Extra, which allows customers to download TV from Sky to watch offline, wherever they are.

The Oscars 2013: Red Carpet Live will air from 1130-0130 on Sky Living / HD and Sky Movies Oscars / HD and The 85th Annual Academy Awards will air live exclusively on Sky Movies Oscars / HD from 0130 until 0400 across Sunday 24th and into Monday 25th February.

TOP 10 GANGSTER PERFORMANCES

In 1949, Los Angeles was under the corrupt control of Mickey Cohen. As he plans to expand his influence across the west coast, a covert squad of LAPD officers team up to end his reign of terror once and for all. Gangster Squad – in UK cinemas 10th January 2013 - is a gangster film for a new generation, starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin and, as the iconic mob boss Mickey Cohen, Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn.

Cinema’s fascination with the gangster genre spans almost a century and has allowed some of history’s greatest acting talent a pedestal to showcase their skills. To celebrate the release of Gangster Squad, we invite you on a journey through the greatest gangster performances ever.


James Cagney as Tom Powers in
THE PUBLIC ENEMY
James Cagney’s loose-lipped, tight-fisted Tom Powers is the celebrated actor’s most ruthless screen incarnation. As Powers rises up through the gangster ranks, he becomes more brazen in what he is willing to do, and more obstinate and violent against those who either disagree with him or cross him.
Memorable quote: “… I didn’t ask you for any lip. I asked if you had a drink”

9. Lee Marvin as Vince Stone in
THE BIG HEAT
One of cinemas most iconic hard-men plays the role he was made for in Vince Stone, who will casually throw hot coffee in his girlfriend’s face and uses violence to hide his human inadequacies. A true sadist riddled with major character deficiencies all combine to create one of cinema’s greatest bad guys of all time.
Memorable quote: “Hey, that’s nice perfume”

8. Ray Liotta as Henry Hill in
GOODFELLAS
Ruthless criminal? Violent wannabe? Whistle-blower? Liotta will never top his sensational performance as real-life mafia gangster Henry Hill. The gangster had it all, but his growing paranoia reaches boiling point when he finds himself on the wrong side of his supposed friends.
Memorable quote: “As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster”

7. Christopher Walken as Frank White in
KING OF NEW YORK
Christopher Walken shows his trademark eccentric style in creating the ultimate modern-day Robin Hood. The actor plays New York drug lord Frank White who, after being released from prison, becomes determined to wipe out the competition, yet instead of keeping the profits he distributes them to poor New Yorkers. Controversial director Abel Ferrara gave Walken free reign which allowed one of his best performances to date.
Memorable quote: “From now on, nothing goes down unless I'm involved. No blackjack no dope deals, no nothing. A nickel bag gets sold in the park, I want in. You guys got fat while everybody starved on the street. Now it's my turn.”

6. Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito in
GOODFELLAS
A pint-sized, foul mouthed, out-of-control villain, Pesci’s real-life gangster Tommy DeVito is not one to mess with. It’s easy to laugh along with his insane antics on screen but audiences learn very quickly not to crack a smile at the man in person. Only Pesci and Ray Liotta knew about the famous “you think I’m funny?” scene when it was shot as legendary director Martin Scorsese wanted genuine reactions from the rest of the cast.
Memorable quote: “Funny how… How am I funny? Funny like I’m a clown… like I amuse you?”

5. Al Pacino as Carlito Brigante in
CARLITO’S WAY
Al Pacino stars as a man desperate for redemption after being released from prison. Slowly he reacts to the realisation that he can’t escape his past, and that it will cost him the woman he loves. Pacino’s portrayal of Carlito remains one of his most heartfelt and memorable to date.
Memorable quote: “The dream don't come no closer by itself. We gotta run after it now.”

4. Robert DeNiro as Noodles in
ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA
Robert DeNiro’s Noodles returns to New York after 30 years to find that the ghosts of his former gangster life still haunt the streets. His stellar performance is so effective in that he walks through each scene like an apparition, a shadow of the man he was, struggling to face his past.
Memorable quote: “I like the stink of the streets. It makes me feel good. And I like the smell of it, it opens up my lungs. And it gives me a hard-on”

3. Al Pacino as Tony Montana in
SCARFACE
The perennial gangster, Al Pacino played Tony Montana as a wild, bordering on insane, violent criminal. Montana approaches the sunny Miami coastline like a destructive hurricane, leaving chaos in his wake. Unhinged and ferocious, he doesn’t think twice about wielding a chainsaw, but it’s the machine gun he lives and dies by.
Memorable quote: “I always tell the truth, even when I lie”

2. Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone in
THE GODFATHER
Marlon Brando knew how to draw a fine line between hero and criminal and with The Godfather he embodied the defining mafia crime boss - the yardstick every actor has aimed for since. Reportedly, Brando wanted Corleone to “look like a bulldog” so stuffed his cheeks with cotton wool to audition; director Francis Ford Coppola loved it and had a mouthpiece made by a dentist for filming.
Memorable quote: “I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse”

1. Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen in
GANGSTER SQUAD

One of Hollywood’s most gifted actors, Sean Penn is well known for playing unsympathetic, cruel characters with depth. As renowned gangster Mickey Cohen, who ran Los Angeles with help from loyal goons, corrupt cops and paid politicians, Penn is at his violent best. Cohen at his core was a warrior, and he was not about to give up the West Coast to the LAPD without a fight.
Memorable quote: “A cop that can’t be bought is like a dog with rabies, there’s no medicine for it, you just gotta put it down.”

GANGSTER SQUAD IS RELEASED IN UK CINEMAS FROM 10TH JANUARY

GOLDFINGER MOMENT TOPS LIST OF BOND BEST BITS

"No Mr Bond, I expect you to die." named best Bond moment in Sky Movies HDpoll

The laser-charged "No Mr Bond, I expect you to die." confrontation between Goldfinger and Sean Connery's Bond has been named the nation's favourite Bond moment in a new poll from Sky Movies HD to celebrate the return of its dedicated Bond channel Sky Movies 007/HD.

After 50 years and 23 films to date, Sky Movies asked over 2,500 members of the public to name their favourite Bond moment as part of a special programme BOND¹S GREATEST MOMENTS which is available on Sky Movies 007/HD and On Demand.

Hosted by Sky Movies presenter Alex Zane, the programme includes contributions from much-loved Bond stars including Daniel Craig and Judi Dench, Bond directors, producers and celebrity fans including Andrew Garfield and Hugh Jackman.

When informed of the winning moment, which received 10.3% of the votes, current Bond star Daniel Craig admitted: "Yes, that would take some beating."

Second in the poll was the breath-taking pre-title moment in The Spy Who Loved Me which showed Roger Moore skiing off the edge of an Austrian mountain to open a Union Jack parachute (7.6%), which narrowly beat the first ever, now definitive "Bond...James Bond" statement from Sean Connery in 1962's Dr. No, which was third with 5.7%.

Marking a change in direction for Bond at the time, Daniel Craig's exciting parkour chase across a building site in Casino Royale was named in fourth place in the poll (5.3%) ahead of The Man With The Golden Gun's barrel roll car sequence, which saw Roger Moore¹s Bond perform a daring car jump across a Bangkok river (4.5%).

Pierce Brosnan made his entry into the poll in sixth place with 3.3% for his tank chase through St. Petersburg in Goldeneye which just beat Roger Moore's novel crocodile 'stepping stone' escape in Live And Let Die in seventh (2.8%). Speaking about the moment, Hugh Jackman jokes: "Roger Moore escaping some situation by jumping over alligators¹ backs ­ am I remembering that right or was that an SNL spoof? It could have been."

The eighth most popular Bond scene was back to four wheels for Daniel Craig¹s Quantum of Solace Aston Martin DBS race through the banks of Lake Garda (2.2%), followed by Desmond Llewellyn's final scene as Q in The World Is Not Enough where viewers saw him advise Pierce Brosnan to "pay attention 007" for the very last time (2%).

A sombre moment rounds off the top ten of Bond moments, courtesy of On Her Majesty's Secret Service and George Lazenby's only turn as 007. Following a tumultuous relationship and just moments after marrying his bride Tracy (played by Diana Rigg), celebrations were cut short when Blofeld carried out a drive-by-shooting that killed her and left Bond grief-stricken (1.7%).

All of these moments and more feature in BOND¹S GREATEST MOMENTS on Sky Movies 007/HD and On Demand.

More about the SKY MOVIES 007 HD Channel

Back from New Year¹s Day, Bond fans will have the films at their fingertips via Sky Movies¹ comprehensive TV on-demand service Sky Anytime+, with all of the films also available on demand and on the move via Sky Go, Sky¹s award-winning multiplatform TV service available across PC, Mac, laptop, iPhone, iPad and Android phones. In addition, customers who subscribe to Sky Movies via NOW TV, the brand new internet TV service from Sky, will also be able to enjoy the entire Bond catalogue. The twenty-third film in the franchise, Skyfall, will be available to rent through Sky Store and on Sky Movies in 2013.

The Top Ten Favourite Bond Moments are:

1. "No Mr Bond, I expect you to die" (Goldfinger) ­ 10.3%
2. Roger Moore pre-credit parachute (The Spy Who Loved Me) ­ 7.6%
3. "Bond... James Bond" (Dr. No) ­ 5.7%
4. Daniel Craig¹s free running on building site (Casino Royale) ­ 5.3%
5. Roger Moore barrel roll car stunt (The Man With The Golden Gun) ­ 4.5%
6. Tank chase/Bond straightens tie (GoldenEye) ­ 3.3%
7. Roger Moore crocodile stepping stones (Live And Let Die) ­ 2.8%
8. Pre-title car chase (Quantum of Solace) ­ 2.2%
9. Desmond Llewellyn's last time as Q (The World Is Not Enough) ­ 2%
10. Bond's new wife is murdered (On Her Majesty's Secret Service) ­ 1.7%

(Others = 54,6%)

Top Ten Documentaries of 2012

People assume that most films are crafted in a filmmaker’s mind, taking a script, translating it to screen and entertaining audiences the world round in that order; however, the documentary provides an honest insight into a subject that has actually occurred in our world, not the world created by the filmmaker.
Searching for Sugar Man, which hits DVD and Blu-ray on 27 December, shows that documentaries can be just as mysterious as crime thrillers; re-counting the story of a 70s rock icon who has long-since faded into oblivion, the film is just one of a many documentaries this year that have dabbled with the element of mystery and played with the conventional formula - making 2012 a pioneering year for the documentary. Here is a list marking the best of the bunch.

Searching for Sugar Man
A mysterious, informative and riveting documentary about two South Africans who embark on a quest to discover the truth behind their one-time hero, Sixto Rodriguez. Whether a music lover or a documentary fan, Searching for Sugar Man works better if you don’t do a Google search beforehand. You will reap the rewards of this amazing documentary from Malik Bendjelloul.

The Imposter
Like many of this year’s documentaries, The Imposter is best seen not knowing too much about what you are viewing. A Texan boy is found in Spain three years after he went missing, but it soon becomes clear that is all not as straightforward - Bart Layton’s documentary spectacularly confounds all expectation when it is flipped on its head not even 15 minutes in. Your eyes won’t leave the screen for its 100-minute running time.

The Queen of Versailles
The Queen of Versailles has been touted the best doc of the year by many, pitting on-screen the livelihood of a billionaire couple who begin construction on a mansion inspired by a palace in the French region of Versailles. As they fall victim to the economic crisis in the following few years, it is mesmerizing to witness how these people deal with the fallout of their actions.

5 Broken Cameras
A Palestinian farmer provides resistance against the Israeli army in a handheld-footage documentary that has no tricks or gimmicks up its sleeve, but provides emotion in its unflinching manner. The village in which the farmer resides in provide a snapshot of areas in Israel that are resisting the violence and war that surrounds them.

Room 237
Rodney Ascher has had praise heaped upon his documentary which analyses theories of Stanley Kubrick’s classic The Shining – as formulated by five obsessives. With the film split down theory-by-theory, the film ranges from the zany to the zanier as you witness professionals spouting dialogue about Kubrick’s impossible framing and his involvement in faking the moon landing. If you’re a fan of the Stephen King adaptation, there is no doubt you will lap this cult up.

Central Park Five
In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers were convicted of raping a white woman in Central Park – only for a serial rapist confessing to the crime many years later. The film questions the American legal system in an astonishing way, tackling the subject of racial injustice; something that has pulled directors Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon into their own legal battle. Captivating.

The House I Live In
Eugene Jarecki, the brother of Capturing the Friedmans director Andrew, crafted this insightful critique of America’s trouble with drugs as he tracks the individuals working within the judicial system - and the ones behind bars who are dragged unwittingly into the war. Like a cousin of Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic, the documentary shows how this system could potentially worsen matters, with the fight to clamp down on drugs spiralling out of control with every new day.

This Is Not a Film
When Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was placed under house arrest for allegedly conspiracising against national security, he took to filming the events he was subjected to using an iPhone and a digital camera; top marks for bravery. With these devices used in a completely non-gimmicky way, This Is Not a Film is an, erm, extraordinary film. Smuggled out of Iran (allegedly in a cake) and backed by top Hollywood directors, this is a must-see.

Chasing Ice
Critical-acclaim has been received for Chasing Ice - mainly due to the fact that it follows National Geographic photographer James Balog’s attempt to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers by deploying time cameras around the Arctic; deserves to be seen for this mean feat alone.

West of Memphis
Famously produced by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, director Amy Berg’s documentary about the ‘West Memphis Three’s’ wrongful conviction for killing three boys not only informs the audience of these events, but aims to go beyond the duty of filmmaking to secure their release. Brave filmmaking that proves even more gripping than you first think – this documentary will make you feel lots of emotions.

Searching For Sugar Man is on DVD and Blu-ray December 27, 2012.

Charlize Theron: Hollywood beauty

Charlize Theron is considered one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood and regularly tops “sexiest” polls around the globe. Labelled a Hollywood beauty, Charlize’s choice of roles have often disguised her stunning features or turned her appearance into a curse, the latter of which was used to full effect in her latest film “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

To celebrate the release of Snow White and the Huntsman on Blu-ray and DVD on 1st October, we take a look at the films which Charlize Theron has used to redefine the notion of Hollywood beauty into something with more substance and heart.

The Devil’s Advocate (1997)

Charlize Theron’s break out role saw her play the tormented wife of a lawyer (Keanu Reeves) who is oblivious to the fact that he works for Lucifer (Al Pacino). Despite appearing alongside actors with far more experience, she managed not only to hold her own but to convincingly portray a formerly rational woman’s fall into delusion and paranoia. To prepare for this early dramatic role, Charlize visited a psychotherapist for three months to understand the harrowing disintegration of the mind and the effect it can have on appearance.


Mighty Joe Young (1998)

After taking on a number of critically-acclaimed edgy and dramatic characters, the family-friendly “Mighty Joe Young” brought Charlize into the mainstream. Her motherly persona in the Disney picture added another string to her already diverse bow and the warm performance she gives steals the show away from the 16 and a half foot ape she shares screen time with.


The Cider House Rules (1999)

In the charming “The Cider House Rules,” Candy (Charlize Theron) teaches Homer (Tobey Maguire) about life outside of the sheltered orphanage he grew up in. Set during World War II, Charlize plays the lonely girlfriend of a soldier in battle with conviction perfectly suited for the period and her character’s reaction pre and post-abortion is fraught with realistic emotion and inner-turmoil.


Monster (2003)

Charlize Theron’s spectacular turn as the prostitute-turned-serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, is considered one of the greatest movie performances of all time. Catapulting her onto the A-list, “Monster” earned Charlize her first Oscar as audiences witnessed the naturally stunning actress disappear completely into the disturbing and unflattering role of a desperate woman on the edge of sanity.


North Country (2005)

Hiding her natural beauty once again, although not as dramatically, Charlize cemented the idea that she has the innate ability to take on powerful roles about unglamorous women in a man’s world. In “North Country” she becomes the fearless mine-worker that won the first sexual harassment case in American history with such compelling human detail that critics failed to fault her in the often difficult follow up major role.


Young Adult (2011)

Charlize uses her appearance to full effect in “Young Adult,” which tells the tale of a self-absorbed, destructive prom queen who has grown up, yet never let go of her high school glory years. In the gritty stand out role, her character is not particularly likeable, nor is she meant to be, but the Oscar-winner played the flawed part so realistically that critics commented on how unsettling the portrayal of a narcissistic, lonely woman was to experience.


Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
In a role that demanded that she must be the “fairest of them all,” Charlize was perfectly cast as the soul-sucking beast beneath a beautiful exterior. Utilising her full range, her portrayal of the unbalanced Queen Ravenna flits from innocent victim, to evil schemer, to frenzied ruler with such unpredictability that it is no wonder that she instils fear into the hearts of every living thing around her with nothing more than a deliciously icy stare.


Snow White and the Huntsman is on Blu-ray and DVD from 1st October.

Top 5 Oliver Stone Movies

With Oliver Stone’s Savages coming to cinemas across the UK imminently, we’re taking the opportunity to have a look at the very best of his filmography. Spanning over 40 years in its entirety, Stone’s career has been equal parts writer, director, and producer – he even has a penchant for turning up in cameo roles from time-to-time. Savages returns to the familiar ‘power corrupts’ themes consistent in so many of Stone’s works, but it also heralds something of a departure from his more familiar political grounds. This time it’s all about marijuana, drug cartels, and ludicrously attractive young actors. May the good times roll when Savages comes to cinemas from Friday September 21 featuring stars Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, John Travolta, Taylor Kitsch, Benicio Del Toro and Salma Hayek.


Scarface

“Say Hello, To My Little Friend!” – the quote that spawned a million posters. And it was a quote straight from the quill of Oliver Stone, who made his name as the scriptwriter of this iconic 80s flick before his move into mainstream directing. Stone’s natural talent for the medium was plainly evident at this early stage too, not only bringing memorable one-liners to the production with apparent ease, but also nailing a unique tone for the timeless character of Tony Montana. Like Quentin Tarantino with True Romance then, Scarface allows us to see Stone’s vision laid bare without the razzle-dazzle of his directorial style layered over the top.


Platoon

The movie that put Charlie Sheen on the map (and Johnny Depp in a bit part), Platoon also showcased Stone’s still blossoming directorial talent at the highest level for the first time. It was a spectacle that would become a launch pad for the careers of its supporting cast as well – Willem Dafoe, John C. McGinley, and Forest Whittaker to name but a few. Inspired by Stone’s own experiences of the Vietnam War when he enlisted (by request) in the 25th Infantry Division and won a Purple Heart for his services, Platoon is arguably his magnum opus and sits among the greatest Vietnam War movies of all time.



Wall Street

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to suggest that Oliver Stone made Charlie Sheen’s career. First Platoon and then Wall Street – beyond Hot Shots, it’s hard to think of any truly great movies that Sheen’s starred in since. Wall Street was released at the pinnacle of 80s boom, decadence and greed, with a character in Michael Douglas’ Gordon Gecko who’s since become the pop culture shorthand for a ruthless business shark. Dedicated to Stone’s father, who worked on Wall Street throughout most of his life, Wall Street remains one of his most socially critical works to date.



JFK

As it re-examined the investigations surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, Oliver Stone’s JFK also stoked the smouldering embers of ‘Who Shot JFK?’ conspiracy theories nearly 30 years after that tragic day. While many of the supposed investigations of New Orleans District Attorney, Jim Garrison (played by Kevin Costner in his heyday) had been heavily dramatised based on strands of historical fact, JFK nonetheless shone the light back on an assassination that still lacks a full explanation to this day. It remains a chilling piece of political criticism, and one of Oliver Stone’s classic visions of corruption at the highest levels of society.



Natural Born Killers

Following on a couple of years after JFK, Natural Born Killers took Stone’s directing style in bold new directions. With a more psychedelically shot production that marked a departure from Stone’s trademark realism, Natural Born Killers told a killing spree story for the ages alongside the likes of Falling Down and more recent productions such as God Bless America or Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers. Arguably the granddaddy of them all, Natural Born Killers takes us deep within the psyches of mass murdering husband and wife duo, Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (Juliette Lewis), refusing to let go until viewers are suitably traumatised.

Film's most unlikely romances

We have all seen them; the movie where the beautiful blonde falls for the overwhelmingly, plain best friend. From uncomfortable age gaps to nauseating lip locks, Hollywood has made us fall in love with, or cringe at, the unlikely on-screen romances.

If an IQ of 48 and multiple confessions of love to random office appliances in ‘Anchorman’ didn’t have you yearning for a piece of Steve Carell, then his receding hair line and geeky charm in ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’ must surely do the trick. On screen, his next door neighbour charm, sparked the love interest of superstar Keira Knightley, as they share one too many lip locks, and even an uncomfortable encounter in between the sheets. Steve Carell gives hope to any middle aged, common man vying for the heart of the ultra-sexy woman sulking inside her flat next door.

Continuing with the hilarious ogre bags the sultry vixen, Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman kindle sparks in Couples Retreat. Awkwardly hovering above Malin at an enormous 6 foot 5 inches, every screen shot of the unlikely couple seems wildly out of proportion. Although Vince’s witty charm does compensate for his mammoth frame and apparent beer belly, it also landed him coveted spot 9 on the countdown.

You will think twice before drunkenly consuming that final Sex on the Beach after seeing the Katherine Heigl’s baby disaster in ‘Knocked Up.’ Seth Rogan’s character Ben Stone is probably high fiving his stoned buddies, as accidently getting a bombshell like Katherine Heigl pregnant is probably the biggest achievement of his lazy, party loving lifetime.

Covered in grease and wearing bite sized daisy dukes, Megan Fox radiates pure sex appeal in ‘Transformers’ as co-star Shia Labeouf falls short of even a second glance. As much as he may not enjoy it, seeing Shia away from his childish Disney star days feels a bit out of place, and then seeing him holding hands with super star Megan Fox feels like we are now in a different universe. Shia probably had to pay executive producer Steven Spielberg for the role, knowing that was his only chance to ever lock lips with someone that far out of his league.

Sparkled with scenes of bootylicious, ghetto girl Lafwanduh and thick framed, technology loving Kip, ‘Napolean Dynamite’ rewarded us by handing over one of the most unlikely and entertaining onscreen romances. After Kip notoriously has been “chatting online with babes all day,” he finally encounters Lafwanduh in a chat room where their infatuation was instant. The lesson we all learned from ‘Napolean Dynamite,’ is that you, too, can transform from the geeky, computer chat room nerd to a slick, doo-rag wearing, hip hop star and bag ‘hot babes’ like Lafwanduh.

After Leonardo Di Caprio didn’t make it out alive in ‘Titanic,’ Kate Winslet surely downgraded replacing the heart throb with overweight Jack Black in ‘The Holiday.’ After exchanging homes with Cameron Diaz’s character, and flying across the Atlantic Ocean to escape heartbreak during the holiday season, Kate surely got the short end when it came to on screen lovers. Cameron was paired with British heart throb Jude Law, while Kate was left swimming through a sea of Jack Black’s chest hair. She should really have tried to haggle with director Nancy Meyers a bit more to trade roles with Cameron, because a holiday with Jude sounds much more appetizing.

Mike Myers notoriously attracts wildly, beautiful women in the ‘Austin Powers’ series, and continues his sex streak in ‘The Love Guru’ with his latest victim Jessica Alba. Dawning traditional Indian garb, complimented with an untamed beard, long hair, and Italian chef style moustache, Mike plays a self-help guru named Pitka who dedicates his life to helping trouble couples rekindle the love. Apparently Mike’s time in the ashram paid off as he catches Jessica’s attention, even converting her from a tough, American hockey manager to a belly dancing heart throb.

There is something stomach churning, nauseating about picturing Jack Nicholson as a over-50 swinger, bedding women half his age and as beautiful as Amanda Peet, but that is exactly what happens in ‘Something’s Gotta Give.’ Even if Jack eventually falls for a more age-appropriate suitor, you wonder what the first thing that has gotta give is... his hip? Or maybe his back? Most likely his libido.

Self obsessed Zac Efron falls for pleasantly plump Nikki Blondksy in ‘Hairspray,’ but let’s hope Zac is the one falling because vise versa, Nikki is sure to crush his little frame. Zac Efron’s character Link Larkin will go down in history as one of the most notorious pretty boy, chubby chasers, as Nikki will continue to go down in history, sweets in hand.

Every now in then, an unlikely match is exactly what fate intended. Delicacy’s Audrey Tautou and Francois Damien deliver a touching and heartbreaking story of a beautiful, woman’s second chance at love. Markus (Francois Damien) captures your heart with his gap-tooth smile and gentle heart, and leaves you realizing that maybe it is the best friend, or the sweet co-worker, that just might be your perfect unlikely romance.

DELICACY is available on DVD and Blu-ray now, courtesy of STUDIOCANAL

Nordic Noir Character Smörgåsbord

Oscar Svendsen wakes up, terrified and bloodied; a shotgun in his hands, in what was once a respectable strip joint near Svinesund, Sweden. He is surrounded by eight bodies, and police detective Solør has a gun aimed at his chest. Solør is convinced of his guilt, but Oscar persistently denies any wrongdoing.

Reluctantly Oscar starts relating the incredible story of four men who won top prize in a soccer pool and suddenly found themselves 1,739,361 kroner richer. But it turned out to be difficult to divide the money by four.

Jackpot is an exciting, playful and bloody comedy from the producer of Cold Prey. It is based on a story by Norway's leading crime writer, Jo Nesbø. We meet a group of scruffy young men, all of them with a criminal background. Oscar (Kyrre Hellum), Thor (Mads Ousdal), Billy (Arthur Berning) and Tresko (Andreas Cappelen). They work at a factory in the middle of nowhere that makes plastic Christmas trees. And they bet on soccer…

To celebrate the film’s release in cinemas across the UK on August 10th, we thought we'd take the opportunity to look at some of the most memorable characters in Scandinavian crime fiction, from the enigmatic Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, to the melancholy of Kurt Wallander...

Lisbeth Salander

Salander is the embodiment of feminist cool in the 21st century; a woman who takes the worst of what the world can throw at her, and spits it right back in its face before teaching that world a harsh lesson or two about manners. With a photographic memory and formidable hacking skills, she has the ability to take down anyone from a petty thief to the corrupt elite, and uses those powers for good even if her actions are – more often than not – technically illegal.

 The one thing that she’s struggled with, however, is a sustainable social life, and when the much-chased Mikael Blomkvist enters her life, she’s faced with the daunting prospect of bringing down her defences to someone for the first time. It should come as no surprise that this relationship is something of a bumpy ride throughout Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Series.

Sarah Lund

As the key investigator in hit Danish TV series The Killing, Sarah Lund is a welcome departure from some of the worn-out female character tropes of Nordic Noir. Her steely determination and dedication to the case bring back memories of DCI Jane Tennison from Prime Suspect, while her independence and fearlessness are reminiscent of Amelia Donaghy in the Bone Collector. In short, she’d be part of any dream team of female TV and movie detectives who’d teach the men a thing or two.

Which is lucky, because she needs all of her wits and cunning to solve the particularly fiendish case at the centre of The Killing’s plot. When so many around her manage to lose their heads, she always seems to keep hers – Sarah Lund, we salute you.

Mikael Blomkvist

Where there is a Yin, there is a Yang, and where there’s a force of nature like Lisbeth Salander, there has to be a Mikael Blomkvist to balance out the universe. He starts out Larsson’s Millennium Series in a state of disrepute after being bankrupted in a court case for making uncorroborated claims against a businessman and social high-flyer in Sweden.

From here he’s compelled to take on investigative work away from the prying eyes of the media in which he was once a key figure. And it’s in this work that he crosses paths with Lisbeth Salander, where his methodical investigative work and her gutsy, determined attitude form the perfect balance: Blomkvist the scalpel, and Salander the katana sword.

Kurt Wallander

If you read Scandinavian crime fiction for long enough, eventually you’ll come across a pattern – many of the older, male detectives have self-destructive lifestyles and a tortuous past. Take Kurt Wallander, for example: he was nearly killed in a stabbing as a young police officer; his wife left him and he retains a difficult relationship with his daughter, Linda, who attempted to commit suicide as a teenager; he’s been falsely sued for police brutality, drinks and consumes junk food destructively, and in later books contracts diabetes and is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In short, his life’s a train wreck.

His potent talent for police work is perhaps a saving grace and a curse, then. On the one hand, he throws himself deep into his work in order to forget the other problems in his life; on the other, those problems are often a result of his tireless dedication to the job. We’re pretty certain he’d have had a happier life as the opera singer he dreams of being.

Saga Noren and Martin Rohde

The duo form the principal protagonists of hit TV series, The Bridge. Swedish homicide detective, Saga Noren (Sofia Helin) and her Danish counterpart, Martin Rohde (Kim Bohdnia) work together to solve a mystery  involving the dead body of a woman found on the Øresund Bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden.

Both characters have very different personalities, but are forced to look past this as they head-up their respective country’s investigation. Noren is a single woman who rarely involves herself in anything serious with the opposite sex – her ideal type of relationship is taking somebody home from a bar at the end of the night. Signs of autism are also exhibited in Noren’s character, particularly a lack of social skills, which she identifies as a reason not to further her career into management.

On the contrary, Martin Rohde is a family man who has been married twice with a number of kids. Compared to Saga – who always looks the part – Martin doesn’t care much about his appearance and usually turns up for work in scruffy attire. So it’s a kind of opposites attract situation then, or rather an opposites-must-get-along-for-the-good-of-two-nations situation, and it drives The Bridge’s drama along well.

JACKPOT IS IN UK CINEMAS, AUGUST 10, 2012

Music documentaries - The definitive list?

Music documentaries are a genre unto their own - sometimes they give you a glimpse behind the scenes of your favourite band, and sometimes they're about someone you've never heeard about who become your favourite band.

Following great acclaim at Sundance and festivals around the world, Searching For Sugar Man comes to UK cinemas this month and definitely falls into the former category. You've probably never heard of Sixto Rodriguez - he was meant to be the new Bob Dylan, but he quickly disappeared back into obscurity. Yet not in South Africa - where he went on to be bigger Elvis. All this success went completely unknown to Rodriguez himself, and Searching For Sugar Man is the remarkable story of two South African fans trying to find out what happened to their hero.

To mark its release, let's have a look down some of the best music docs of all time.

Anvil! The Story Of Anvil 
An opening of Heavy Metal icons such Slash, Lemmy and Lars Ulrich singing the praises of a band you've never heard of makes you think it's all just a Spinal Tap style spoof. But no, after never quite hitting the big time in the early 80s, Canadian Metal band Anvil have still been plugging away despite the lack of success - at the beginning of the film frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow is having to make a living delivering school dinners in Toronto! It's a heart-warming underdog tale of never giving up your dream.

Dig!
It doesn't matter if you've never heard of The Dandy Warhols (who you might remember from a Vodafone advert a few years back) or The Brian Jonestown Massacre -  the rivalry between them is a fascinating story of delusion and self-destruction. The small modicum of success the Warhols receive turns them into insufferable prima-donnas, and Massacre's frontman Anton Newcombe seems to sabotage every opportunity his band gets.

Gimme Shelter
The film of the Rolling Stones infamous 1969 Altamont show is not only a great music doc but also an important historical document. The free show was intended to be the next Woodstock, but when a riot broken out and one of Hells Angles providing security stabbed a fan to death, it symbolised the death of the 60s peace and love dream.

Some Kind Of Monster
Intended to be a fluffy behind the scenes piece on the making of Metallica's new album, Some Kind Of Monster turned into a sort of real life Spinal Tap when the band almost split up and ended up in group therapy. It starts off hilarious and ends up genuinely uplifting.

Don't Look Back
Warts-and-all, fly-on-the-wall docs following around musicians are now ten a penny - they take up about half off ITV2's schedule. But in 1967 this Cinéma vérité style film following Bob Dylan's UK tour was revolutionary. The opening scene, with Dylan holding big cue cards for the lyrics to Subterranean Homesick Blues has also become iconic in its own right.

Marley 
Last King Of Scotland director Kevin MacDonald won an Oscar for One Day In September, his documentary about the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, and was selected to produce the definitive record of the life of reggae megastar Bob Marley. The epic two-and-a-half-hour running time leaves no stone unturned.

The Devil And Daniel Johnson
Cult singer-songwriter Daniel Johnson was beloved by Kurt Cobain, and has battled with schizophrenia and manic depression throughout his life. This sensitive documentary tells his fascinating story and is riveting viewing.

Kurt And Courtney
Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's suicide in 1994 send shockwaves around the music world. Veteran documentary maker Nick Broomfield set out to investigate the claims that Cobain's wife Courtney Love was involved in his death, and found himself in a legal minefeild and a cobweb of deception.

Beats, Rhymes And Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest
Hip-hop is a musical genre that really rather poorly represented in terms of good documentaries, but this biography of alternative rap legends A Tribe Called Quest goes a long way to rectifying this. Directed by Michael Rapaport (best known for playing Phoebe's brother on Friends), the film tells the long complicated story of the band's history.

Searching For Sugar Man
In the early 1970s, Detroit singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez was tipped to be the new Bob Dylan - but both his albums bombed and he went back to working in construction. Yet somehow - and no one really knows how - the record got bootlegged to South Africa and became the soundtrack to the anti-Apartheid movement, outselling the Rolling Stones and Elvis. The film follows two South African fans on the trail of their idol (who rumour has it committed suicide on stage) and their story is one so incredible you couldn't make it up.

Searching For Sugar Man is in cinemas July 26, 2012.

Steven Spielberg’s Alien Invasion

Produced by the legendary Steven Spielberg, Falling Skies – out on DVD 2nd July –chronicles the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that leaves most of the world completely incapacitated. The spectacular series joins a wealthy back catalogue of sci-fi films that Spielberg has put his unique mark on and to celebrate the release, we look at the best extra-terrestrial tales that the three-time Oscar-winner has brought to our screens.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Steven Spielberg’s first major foray into the supernatural follows Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) after he has an alien encounter, becoming obsessed with five musical notes and a mountain-like figure; the movie was unusual for its time as it portrayed aliens as peaceful beings, rather than destructive monsters. Despite being released in the same year as the groundbreaking ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ became Columbia’s most-successful film of the time and was honoured with eight Oscar nominations.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

In one of the most-loved children’s film of all time, a young boy named Elliot (Henry Thomas) discovers an alien and tries to get him home without raising the suspicions of his parents or the government. Spielberg admitted that he had based ‘E.T.’ on the imaginary friend he had made up during childhood and shot the entire film at a child’s eye level so the audience would feel more involved with Elliot’s adventure. The film surpassed ‘Star Wars’ at the box-office to become the highest grossing movie in history, a position it kept for over a decade.

Men In Black (1997)

In this Spielberg-produced sci-fi comedy, a NYPD cop (Will Smith) joins a secret organisation that protects Earth from galactic invasions whilst monitoring ‘legal aliens’ who have chosen to peacefully live amongst humans. ‘Men In Black’ is considered to be the film that projected Smith onto the Hollywood A-list, however he reportedly turned down the lead role thinking he wasn’t good enough for a Spielberg movie; Smith’s wife talked him into reconsidering and he has since starred in two sequels.

War of the Worlds (2005)

Spielberg adapted the H.G. Wells classic into a tale of a man’s (Tom Cruise) fight to save his family during an alien invasion; it was a change in approach for the director who stated that "for the first time in my life I'm making an alien picture where there is no love and no attempt at communication." Spielberg owns one of the surviving copies of the original Orson Welles radio script and had planned to make it into a film decades earlier but decided against it when ‘Independence Day’ was put into production.

Transformers (2007)

Despite turning the franchise down at first, famously calling it a “stupid toy movie,” Michael Bay’s desire to work with Spielberg was the reason he eventually agreed to take the helm on ‘Transformers.’ Although having such differing styles, Spielberg’s main piece of advice to Bay was that at the heart of the explosive action should be a simple tale of a boy and his car; this combination of quality storytelling and stunning action sequences made ‘Transformers’ a surprise box-office smash and spawned two sequels.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Released nineteen years after the last installment, the fourth Indiana Jones adventure revolved around an extra-terrestrial psychic skull. To compensate for the time difference and Harrison Ford’s obvious ageing, Spielberg set the film in the late 1950s; this allowed him to take into account the Cold War, and once he learnt that Joseph Stalin had been interested in crystal skulls, he made the Soviets the script's villains.

Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

Despite having the most ridiculous title since ‘Snakes on a Plane,’ Spielberg’s alien western was received as a credibly fun if ultimately unsuccessful action movie. Charting the story of a man (Daniel Craig), who wakes up in the Wild West with a forgotten past and a mysterious shackle around his wrist; Spielberg provided the director, writers and cameramen with a collection of famous westerns to make sure that they got the authentic look of the genre that he desired.

Super 8 (2011)

The parallels to the Spielberg-written ‘The Goonies’ was unmistakable in this exhilarating tale of a group of friends who film a train crash whilst making an amateur movie, only to suspect supernatural activities behind it when looking back at the footage. Director J.J.Abrams stated that ‘Super 8’ “paid homage” to producer Spielberg’s childhood adventure films and even featured the famous bicycle from E.T. as part of the metal junk that gets attached to the water tower in the final scenes.

Falling Skies (2011)

Spielberg transferred his passion for extra-terrestrials onto the small screen in last year’s sci-fi drama ‘Falling Skies.’ The series takes place six-months after aliens take over the earth, where history professor Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) helps lead a small army named 2nd Massachusetts in the battle of their lives to preserve their families and what is left of humanity. Wyle admitted that Spielberg’s presence on set was a testament to how much he cared for the project, mentioning that the producer shaped the script, made the editing suggestions and gave notes on how the aliens should look.

FALLING SKIES, SEASON 1 IS RELEASED ON DVD ON JULY 2, 2012