With the 35th annual Toronto International Film Festival coming to an end, the film world is abuzz with news of the latest indies to keep an eye out for. It’s just a shame that UK cinemagoers are going to have to wait so long for them to get a wide release. In the mean time, a fortunate few will be able to catch the likes of Blue Valentine, Black Swan and Catfish at the BFI London Film Festival which will take place 13th-28th October. This week’s indie news:
- Mark Ruffalo continues his foray into the mainstream with a motion-capture version of Hulk.
- Arthur Penn, godfather of independent cinema and director of Bonnie and Clyde, has died.
- The Guardian has launched its film season, complete with handy tips for wannabe filmmakers and free DVDs including Mulholland Drive.
In cinemas now – Made in Dagenham
Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Rosamund Pike, Jaime Winstone and Miranda Richardson star in this 1960s-set drama about the real-life strike that took place when female workers fought back against sexual discrimination at the Ford Dagenham car plant. Directed by Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls), this British film is already tipped for award success and has received high praise from the likes of Time Out, The Guardian and Screen Daily.
Out on DVD Monday 4th October – The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Se7en
Continuing the festival/British theme this week is the DVD release of The Disappearance of Alice Creed. Starring Bond Girl Gemma Arterton, this gritty British thriller co-stars Mike Leigh favourite Eddie Marsan and Sweet Sixteen’s Martin Compston as her kidnappers. The film has proved to be a huge success on both sides of the Atlantic and has taken American festivals by storm.
“A terrifically enjoyable British film from debut writer-director J Blakeson, who on the tightest of budgets delivers a professionally honed thriller… It's taut, claustrophobic and very well put together, with nice performances all round… Blakeson is a name to watch.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Also released tomorrow is the Blu-ray edition of David Fincher’s modern masterpiece Se7en. I’ve pre-ordered my copy from HMV and I can’t wait to see it in all its fabulous Blu-ray glory, packed full of extra features. I have to admit I already have the DVD and I can’t normally justify buying re-releases on Blu-ray. Se7en, however, definitely calls for forking out a few quid. It’s hard to believe this intense thriller is fifteen years old as Fincher’s flick is still as hard-hitting today as it was in 1995. Of course it doesn’t hurt that Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey have barely aged. Se7en is one of the most original, shocking and well-written whodunits of recent years. If you haven’t seen it yet, grab the Blu-ray. You won’t be disappointed.Hot new trailer: Barry Munday
Patrick Wilson stars as a guy who loses his testicles, only to find that he has knocked a girl up who he can’t remember (Judy Greer). He decides to get involved and be a ‘proper dad’ but then has to deal with the sexual advances of her much hotter sister (Chloe Sevigny).
It looks suitably quirky and funny enough for my tastes and I’m a sucker for anything starring Patrick Wilson. I also think Judy Greer is often over-looked as she is a fantastic comedienne and I’ve been a fan of Chloe Sevigny since her incredible Oscar-nominated performance in Boys Don’t Cry. Which leads me to…
Actor or filmmaker of the week: Chloe Sevigny
This young lady is just too damn fabulous for her own good. Aged just 35, she is an accomplished actress, model and designer, but the ‘it girl’ didn’t appear on the big screen until 1995 with Kids. Her breakthrough role came in the Oscar-nominated Boys Don’t Cry in 1999 which she followed with the likes of American Psycho (2000), Dogville (2003), The Brown Bunny (2003) and Shattered Glass (2003). In the last few years she has really come of age in her film roles, appearing in Woody Allen’s Melinda and Melinda (2004), Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers (2005) and David Fincher’s Zodiac (2007). She rounded out her collection of big-name collaborations last year with a leading role in Werner Herzog’s My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done. She is also currently starring in the TV show Big Love and her next film releases will be the Rhys Ifans drug flick Mr Nice and the 2011 film The Wait, about two sisters who keep their deceased mother in their house when they are told she’ll come back to life.Indie great you might have missed: Little Children
Going back to Barry Munday and the gorgeous Patrick Wilson, my indie recommendation this week is the Todd Fields’ drama Little Children. Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, Wilson plays Brad Adamson, a married father of one who meets Kate Winslet’s lonely mother in a playground. Things soon heat up between the couple (take note – both gorgeous stars get their kit off!) but the most interesting part of the film is the pedophile subplot. Jackie Earle Haley is captivatingly revolting as a registered sex offender living in a perfect suburban community and it is testament to his acting ability that we find ourselves sympathising with him.So that’s it for this week. See you next time, same bat time, same bat channel.
Emma Farley a.k.a. filmgeek
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